We interview people who are working to protect, or are working in harmony, with the Australian environment. Focusing on the island of lutruwita Tasmania, we tell stories of people and place, exploring hard-fought campaigns, in-depth ecological research, community care and science communication.
We ask nature-driven folks who they are, what they’re learning, how it all ties into the bigger picture and what we can do to curb our eco-anxiety and make some small steps towards a better world. We can't wait to share these stories with you!
Cats, rats and crustaceans: island eradications with DR ROSIE WILACY: PART TWO
PART TWO:
In this episode(s), we’re thrilled to be joined by Dr. Rosie Willacy, a invasive species ecologist based in Tasmania. Rosie has spent years dedicating her research and work to the understanding the ecosystems on Christmas Island and developing decision making frameworks for managing invasive species. Yanti and I were stoked to be in the same place at the same time, and absolutely loved getting deep into this topic with Rosie together. We enjoyed the chat so much we had to split it into two! Enjoy!
3 Mar 2025
Cats, rats and crustaceans: island eradications with DR ROSIE WILLACY: PART ONE
PART ONE:
In this episode(s), we’re thrilled to be joined by Dr. Rosie Willacy, a invasive species ecologist based in Tasmania. Rosie has spent years dedicating her research and work to the understanding the ecosystems on Christmas Island and developing decision making frameworks for managing invasive species. Yanti and I were stoked to be in the same place at the same time, and absolutely loved getting deep into this topic with Rosie together. We enjoyed the chat so much we had to split it into two! Enjoy!
24 Aug 2024
Lawsuits, blockades and citizen science; protecting NSW’s forests with DAILAN PUGH
Dailan Pugh is a forest activist based on Bunjalung country in Byron Bay. Dailan is one of Australia’s most dedicated and longstanding forest activists, and has been working both on the frontlines and behind the scenes to prevent the logging of forests in north-east NSW for over forty years. We take a deep dive into the goals and strategies of the North East Forest Alliance and the ongoing failure of
government policy in protecting Koalas.
You can find out more about the North East Forest Alliance's work at: https://www.nefa.org.au/ (https://www.nefa.org.au/)
4 Jul 2024
The sociology of forestry with MEGAN LANGRIDGE
Megan Langridge is a social scientist interested in environmental sociology - the way that people relate to, and are informed by, their environment. Meg cast her sociologist's eye on people within the forestry industry for her honours thesis at the University of Tasmania, and in this interview we discuss what she learnt from a practice of listening to people within the industry. Something Meg said while we were chatting before the interview, is that she asks people to suspend their disbelief just for this moment while we delve into another point of view. So let's give that a go!
Meg's research paper on the sociology of forestry workers (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/14407833221147060)
Meg's research profile at utas (https://discover.utas.edu.au/Megan.Langridge/publications)
This episode was produced on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung land by Yanti (https://linktr.ee/suyanti_w). Music by Daniel Kowald.
24 Jun 2024
30 years of Landcare Tasmania with PETER STRONACH
Peter Stronach has spent his life in local, grassroots conservation, and is now CEO of Landcare Tasmania. For the past 30 years he has been based in Tasmania, and coincidentally, Landcare Tasmania is also celebrating its 30th birthday this year. In this conversation Pete shares his reflections on three decades of experience in community-based conservation in Tassie. We discuss how valuable it is to empower local people, with networks growing from local communities and local patches, to catchments, to the island scale.
This episode was produced by Yanti (https://linktr.ee/suyanti_w) on muwinina land. Music was produced by Daniel Kowald.
9 Jun 2024
Organic Landcare with NADIA DE SOUZA PIETRAMALE
In this episode, Carla talks with Nadia de Souza Pietramale from the Organic Landcare group, based in Mullumbimby NSW. Nadia has been working in Bush Regeneration for almost 30 years, and for the last 14 years, she has not used chemicals. In this episode Nadia and I discuss how big chem companies have set the narrative about the management of weeds in Australia,
and explore how the organic approach of patience, community, manual labour and learning from country can have just as good, if not better, outcomes.
Find out how you can get involved at
https://organiclandcareinc.org/ (https://organiclandcareinc.org/)
https://www.facebook.com/people/Organic-Landcare-Inc/100093499616080/ (https://www.facebook.com/people/Organic-Landcare-Inc/100093499616080/)
https://www.instagram.com/organiclandcareinc/?locale=en-TH (https://www.instagram.com/organiclandcareinc/?locale=en-TH)
26 Apr 2024
Resilience in Microorganisms with ROSIE FUGGLE
Rosie Fuggle is a microbial ecologist at the University of Sydney. She started her research career questioning why seagrass transplantations around the world were failing - what were we overlooking? Could it be to do with microorganisms in the sediment? This research led her to ask broader questions about resilience in microbial communities. In this conversation she introduces us to the vast world of micro-organisms and the ways in which they challenge and affirm traditional ecological theory.
Follow Rosie's research here. (https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/about/our-people/research-students/rose-fuggle-571.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2yIa8KQAHcWWLzonK6kHwuyWctX9eUjjnRhJE9u_JitSwqDB1DBmzb0d0_aem_Af4PhV0Fk0v1uTtW80wxWW9GODjHLZMD97zvze1mnFTbeIZUXdww61j355dBLw9L6-Ku4Vuccf7Y0INowIyuBhu4)
This episode was recorded on the land of the Muwinina people.
Produced by Yanti (https://linktr.ee/suyanti_w), music by Dan Kowald.
7 Mar 2024
Stories of ecological hope and anguish with the Bugis/Javanese pirate NOVA RUTH SENYANIGTYAS
Mbak Nova Ruth Senyaningtyas is an artist, musician and environmental advocate. She and her partner Grey Filastine perform stories of ecological crisis and hope around the world from aboard their boat the Arka Kinari. Their shows mix the traditional music of east Java, Nova's home, and electronic music.
In our conversation, Nova shares her insights on the role of art in activism, climate change from the point of view of the global south, and lessons learnt from a life on the ocean.
( https://www.arkakinari.org/)
on spotify (https://open.spotify.com/artist/6kzcTsd8INQTVvNoCDaPRG?si=ZVxh79DDTH-h3G2PFsbxQw)
Nova Ruth on bandcamp (https://novaruth.bandcamp.com/track/imbang)
Songs sampled in the episode are from the album 'Napak Tilas' (https://novaruth.bandcamp.com/album/napak-tilas), released 2019 by Nova Ruth: Wong Kang Murka (https://novaruth.bandcamp.com/track/wong-kang-murka) and Di Antara Perbatasan (https://novaruth.bandcamp.com/track/di-antara-perbatasan).
Thank you to Dan Kowald for intro music and Bellendena Small Grants Scheme for their support.
Recorded on the land of the Muwinina people.
27 Feb 2024
Connecting humans to nature and the Bruny Island Bird Festival with ELLA ROLES
Ella Roles is a keen bird watcher who is passionate about sharing experiences of the natural world with others through guiding and events. She is the coordinator for this year’s Bruny Island Bird Festival, held in March, which brings together science, conservation, community and creativity on the little island of the east coast of Tasmania. We explore the many facets of the role she takes facilitating people’s experiences in the natural world, and are introduced to some of the incredible birds of lutruwita/Tasmania.
The Bruny Island Bird Festival (https://www.brunybirdfestival.org/)will run from the 15th - 17th of March 2024.
Shoutout to Daniel Kowald for the intro music and the Bellendena Small Grants Scheme for their support.
16 Feb 2024
Glossy Black Cockatoo Citizen Science with HARRY HACKETT
Carla and Yanti are excited to be back with a second season of Driven By Nature. In our first interview of 2024, Carla interviews Harry Hackett, who is working to conserve Glossy Black Cockatoos on Bundjalung country in north-east NSW.
Harry, affectionately nicknamed-named after 70s TV presenter and naturalist Harry Butler, works with environmental NGO Wildbnb Wildlife Habitat on The Glossies Northern Rivers project. This project is a partnership between Wildbnb, WWF-Australia and NSW Saving our Species. We take a deep dive into the ecology and threats to the Northern River’s glossy black cockatoos and will see just how powerful the role of the community can be to protect threatened species.
Here are some of the links to the resources mentioned in this episode.
Glossy Squad Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/TheGlossySquad/)
Wild Bnb Wildlife Habitat (https://wildbnb.com.au/)
Black Cockatoo Identification (https://glossyblack.org.au/field-guide-glossy-black-cockatoo/)
Shoutout to Daniel Kowald for the intro music and the Bellendena Small Grants Scheme for their support.
3 Aug 2023
Cultural Fire with JASON SMITH
Jason Smith is a palawa man and cultural fire practitioner based in the Huon Valley of Lutruwita Tasmania. Join us as we chat about the ancient and evolving practice of cultural burning. This episode was recorded around the campfire on melukerdee land in the Huon Valley. Along with our conversation is audio from a cultural burning workshop Jason held in June. Let the crackling of the fire, the rustle of leaves and the song of black cockatoos transport you there with us.
If you are in the neighbourhood, I highly recommend attending one of Jason’s workshops! I think you’ll be convinced. He advertises them on the facebook page Patrula Nayri (Fire good)Traditional Fire Workshops Cygnet. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/346059253213338/)
Thanks to Bellendena Small Grants Scheme for the support to buy better recording equipment, making your listening and our creating experience so much more enjoyable.
Recorded on melukerdee country, produced on muwinina country. Our utmost respect to ancestors, elders and community members.
Intro music by Dan Kowald.
Production by Yanti.
14 Jul 2023
Telling the story of the Western Spiny-tailed skink with DR HOLLY BRADLEY
Dr Holly Bradley is a conservation scientist based in Perth. She recently completed a PhD on the ecology of the meelyu, the Western Spiny-tailed Skink, using novel techniques such as plasticine models and lidar
imaging. During her research, Holly collaborated with a local traditional owner from the Badimia community, to share knowledge on this threatened species. Together, they are writing a picture book in the critically endangered Badimia language, sharing the story of the meelyu to generations to come.
5 Jun 2023
Restoring the Merri Creek with ANN MCGREGOR
This episode was recorded to the land of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and produced on the land of the Muwinina people. We extend our deepest respect to the people of these lands, their ancestors, and their care of Country.
The Merri Creek is a 70 km long creek which runs from the Great Dividing Range through the northern suburbs of naarm, where it joins the Yarra. Ann McGregor has been active in restoring Merri Creek and building community around this place since the 70s, when it was infested with weeds and treated as a drain and sewer, to today. Thanks to the work of Ann and many other people who have come together over this waterway, it now hosts multilayered indigenous vegetation, birds, lizards, snakes bats and more, and has become a welcome refuge for city folk. Ann is a town planner by trade, and throughout our talk you can hear how her knowledge of planning and sustainable development inform her work in this space. We talk about the urban stream syndrome, the importance of engaging with local government, birds of the Merri, and the dream of the return of the platypus.
Friends of the Merri Creek (https://www.friendsofmerricreek.org.au/home)
Upcoming events (https://www.friendsofmerricreek.org.au/events)
Merri Creek Management Committee (https://www.mcmc.org.au/about-merri-creek)
Wurundjeri Narrap Rangers (https://www.instagram.com/narrap_rangers/?hl=en)
MCMC insta (https://www.instagram.com/merri_creek/?hl=en)
1 May 2023
Restoring functional habitat with DR DAVID PATON
Dr David Paton is an ornithologist in tarntanya/Adelaide. After a long career of researching South Australian ecosystems through birds,
feral predators, fire and pollination, Dave and some colleagues founded BioR, a not-for-profit that aims to restore 150,000 hectares of functional habitat. In this episode, Dave and I chat about the decline of birds in our landscape and how community-driven restoration could be key to preventing ecological collapse.
https://www.bior.org.au/events/bior-planting-festival-frahns-farm-2023/?mc_cid=650d798718&mc_eid=4c5fc1ddd9 (https://www.bior.org.au/events/bior-planting-festival-frahns-farm-2023/?mc_cid=650d798718&mc_eid=4c5fc1ddd9)
10 Apr 2023
Private land conservation with PHIL WISE
Have you ever noticed the green, diamond ‘land for wildlife’ signs that brand the fronts of many bush blocks across Tasmania, and wondered what the heck they are? In this episode, we interview Phil Wise, coordinator of Tasmanian Land Conservancy’s Land For Wildlife program, that aims to help land holders protect, restore and understand the natural values of their properties. We chatted with Phil on rainy day at his beautiful property on the bushy outskirts of Hobart. There’s a fitting backdrop of currawongs and raindrops, as we talk about the ecological and community benefits conservation on private land.
Land For Wildlife Website: https://tasland.org.au/programs/land-for-wildlife/
9 Mar 2023
The highs and lows of being a wildlife vet with EVIE CLARKE
Short tailed shearwaters, eastern quolls, tawny frogmouths, galahs and noisy minors - you name a Tasmanian native species and Evie has probably given one a few stitches or a drop of medicine.
Evie is a wildlife vet who grew up nipaluna Hobart. After moving to naarm Melbourne to study veterinary science, and practicing there on horses and farm animals for some years, she is now back on the little island working with our wonderful native creatures. At Bonorong wildlife sanctuary Evie cares for animals which have been hurt due to contact with humans and our infrastructure, helping many of them find their way back to the wild. Evie is also a sculptor, putting her intimate knowledge of native animals into her creations.
Evie Silver sculpture on insta (https://www.instagram.com/evie.silver.sculpture/)
Evie Silver sculpture on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086363291539)
This podcast was recorded on the land of the muwinina people. We pay our respects to palawa/ pakana elders past present and emerging, and their care for country and community. We invite you to take a moment to think of the people on whose land you are listening from.
11 Feb 2023
Eels, Erhu and Wonder with EMILY SHEPPARD
Emily Sheppard is a musician and scientist based in lutruwita / Tasmania. She is classically trained as a violinist, and her music now ventures broadly across many genres and collaborations. After completing a bachelor of Natural Environment and Wilderness Studies, she researched nutrient cycling in seaweed for her honours thesis. She spends much of her time free diving in the rich underwater worlds around the coasts of lutruwita. Her scientific training and deep curiosity about aquatic ecology inform musical projects through which she both participates in the ecologies that she loves and shares her sense of wonder with her audiences.
Links
Where Water Meets (https://linktr.ee/Yyan_and_Emily)
Emily Sheppard Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/artist/3CwGh5mq37y6HJfhgQl6aG)
Emily and Yyan’s Ted X Talk (https://www.eventfinda.com.au/2023/tedxhobart-2023-curiosity/hobart)
NZ tour dates (https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/tour/18914/Where-Water-Meets.utr)
6 Jan 2023
Academia and forest activism with DR JEN SANGER
lutruwita / Tasmania is home to the tallest flowering trees in the world, growing in her vast but diminishing old growth forests. Dr Jen Sanger shares her love of these places and tells us about their enormous capability to capture and store carbon. We hear some mind blowing figures, discuss exciting alternatives and delve into the murky world of bias in science.
Jen environmental scientist, tree climber, activist and science communicator. She has a PhD in epiphytic plants, co-runs The Tree Projects, a not-for profit that raises awareness about the value of trees and she is also a member of the independent science council of Tasmania and the Tasmania Climate Collective. Jen is also an artist and her political stickers have branded the bumpers of thousands of cars across Tasmania. Of the many cool things we could have talked to Jen about, our interview focuses on her recent research into the carbon emissions produced by the Tasmanian native forestry industry. We couldn’t have picked a more badass woman for our first interview and we hope you enjoy it.
The Tree Projects (https://www.thetreeprojects.com/)
Tasmania's Forest Carbon: From Emissions Disaster to Climate Solution (https://www.wilderness.org.au/images/resources/TasmaniasForestCarbon.pdf)
Jen's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jendrawsnature/?hl=en)
6 Jan 2023
Welcome to Driven by Nature!
Carla and Yanti give a quick introduction of who we are and what to expect in our podcast.
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