The Australian Highlights series is the place where we find the innovative people and ideas which are not – yet! – common knowledge.
Hosted by Rachel Rayner, Science Explainer, this series takes the form of regular podcast episodes and online articles where we explore the captivating stories behind Australia's groundbreaking creative moments. With a focus on game-changing women and Indigenous trailblazers, this collection of interviews, explainers and articles shines a light on the ingenuity and diversity that propel Australia forward.
We’ll hear from people themselves doing amazing work; industry leaders that have been inspired by innovators from our past; and those who are enabling people to step forward and be spotlighted themselves. It's a lot of fun, as we've got comedians hearing these amazing stories for the first time!
There will bonus episodes of snippets and stories that didn't make it into the full interviews and there will be regular catch-ups where you can hear a rapporteur account of previous episodes.
So come join us. Head to our website for more information, australianhighlights.com.au (https://australianhighlights.com.au/), follow us on our socials, or send us an email if you know someone who should be highlighted on this show: news@australianhighlights.com.au (mailto:news@australianhighlights.com.au)
The production of this series is funding by the Meta Australian Journalism Fund, administered by The Walkley Foundation, and is supported by Comedy Victoria.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Lyn Harwood literally watches the grass grow. Lyn, along with partner Bruce Pascoe, is bringing back connection to our Country through lived experience and ancient agriculture.
She is building widespread recognition for Australian native foods: the grains, grasses and more that were grown and harvested by Aboriginal peoples for tens of thousands of years. This journey is captured in the book, Black Duck: A Year at Yumbarra.
Lyn takes host Rachel and comedian Alex Ward through the beauty of the farm, the work that goes into it, and how much we're learning about our country's roots (literally).
Alex also grows her own food, including foraging in urban areas. Magnolias have never sounded so...tasty?
Links
Find out more about Black Duck Foods (https://www.blackduckfoods.com.au/), Yumbarra farm and get involved (https://www.blackduckfoods.com.au/get-involved)
Buy the book (https://kooricurriculum.com/products/black-duck-a-year-at-yumburra-by-bruce-pascoe?srsltid=AfmBOopoKnr-FWD4foYBgg_j6hEHQxFX2iITI_HHMnogGLAX_ScWa2MS), Black Duck: A Year at Yumbarra
Great article (https://theconversation.com/bruce-pascoes-black-duck-is-a-healing-and-necessary-account-of-a-year-on-his-farm-following-a-difficult-decade-after-dark-emu-224971)on the book, by Julienne van Loon
Check out where to see Alex next (https://comedy.com.au/tour/alex-ward/)
Credits
Producer: Rachel Rayner, Science Explainer
Guests: Lyn Harwood, Alex Ward
Music: Michelle Cashman
Editor: Graham Hunter
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
4 May 2026
Bonus: The creativity of comedy
Extracted from our conversation on Innovation vs Invention (Ep 26), Mandy Scotney expands on the innovative world of the comedian, the fountains of funny, and where the politics comes in.
Follow Mandy and find out what she’s up to next (https://www.mandyscotney.com/)
Credits
Producer: Rachel Rayner, Science Explainer
Guests: Jonathan Englert, Mandy Scotney
Music: Michelle Cashman
Editing: HoboHut Media
Made possible through Meta Australia Journalism Fund, administered by the Walkley Foundation, with support from Comedy Victoria.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
2 May 2026
Innovation or Invention
Innovation is a loaded term, a buzzword. When this is a podcast on innovation, what do we mean? Are we using the term correctly? Where does invention sit in all of this?
Jonathan Englert and Mandy Scotney from Episode 6, Culture Shocks, are back to unravel the conundrum of language and entrepreneurship. Jonathan draws from his PhD looking into Australian innovation, where he interviewed various inventors and explored his relationship to Australian culture.
Comedian Mandy Scotney, on her own PhD journey and fresh off a successful tour of her award-nominated show, Married for Six Weeks, brings some much-needed rationality to Jonathan and Rachel's whimsy.
Links for more:
Highlight article by Rachel Rayner, Science Explainer (https://www.australianhighlights.com.au/cultureshocks)from Episode 6
Bonus episode on Mandy's stand up comedy process, is our episode 27!
Exploratorium's Tinkering Studio (https://www.exploratorium.edu/tinkering), and an article on making bubble-blowing machines (https://www.exploratorium.edu/tinkering/blog/2014/05/06/bubble-machine-evolution)
Barry Marshall, who worked out that bacteria cause stomach ulcers (https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2005/marshall/facts/) in the 1980s
Lawrence Hargrave, who is credited as supplying key innovations (https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/lawrence-hargraves-first-flight)to enable airplanes in the 1890s.
David Skellern, a key figure in the story of inventing fast Wifi (https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/wi-fi) in the 1990s.
Henry Hoke, who built a collection of innovations like the rope hammer and the leg pull (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQSvfgnXFNA) from the first half of the 20th century.
Mark Thomson, keeper of Henry Hoke’s archives and founder of the Institute for Backyard Studies. (https://www.ibys.org/)
Follow Mandy and find out what she’s up to next (https://www.mandyscotney.com/)
Credits
Producer: Rachel Rayner, Science Explainer
Guests: Jonathan Englert, Mandy Scotney
Music: Michelle Cashman
Editing: HoboHut Media
Made possible through Meta Australia Journalism Fund, administered by the Walkley Foundation, with support from Comedy Victoria.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Who has been a guest on Australian Highlights
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Professor Lynette Russell AM
Tori Crisp
Dr Heather Bray
Nicholas Richard
Caitlin Creak
Podcast Authority Score: 24 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
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48
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
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