Guardians of Language and Country

About Guardians of Language and Country

Guardians of Language and Country is a series exploring how emerging technologies, grounded in a deep connection to Country, are helping to preserve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. Join host Donnie Johannessen and producer Alden Lyall on a journey through Far North Queensland as they speak with Mamu, Gunggandj, Kuku Yalanji, and Western Kuku Yalanji elders and rangers, sharing stories of language, land, and community. Celebrate these custodians of culture, discover histories new and old, and learn a few new words along the way.

Publisher

SBS

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 May 2025

Latest episode

18 Jun 2025

Latest episodes

4 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Jun 2025

   Western Yalanji: Connecting to language and Country through virtual reality

   Brad Grogan discusses Western Yalanji people preserving their language through teaching, knowledge sharing, and virtual reality projects that connect them to their Country, while Lindsay Gore and Nisha Williams share insights on language use in this interview episode.

2. 

   12 Jun 2025

   Gugandji: Growing language with the next generation

   Host Donnie Johannesen and producer Alden Lyall explore how the Gungandji Aboriginal Corporation, featuring Lenise Harry and educator Candice Sexton, utilizes school programs and technology to preserve their language and culture for future generations in this interview episode.

3. 

   4 Jun 2025

   Kuku Yalanji: Promoting fluency on Country with breath to breath teaching and digital preservation

   Host Donnie Johannessen and Alden Lyall interview Kuku Yalanji community members about preserving their language through technology, breath-to-breath teaching, and daily cultural connection, ensuring its survival for future generations.

4. 

   28 May 2025

   Mamu Ngiirma: Language, culture and technology

   Hosts Donnie Johannessen and Alden Lyall interview Mamu elders Stephen Purcell, Alf Joyce, and ranger Francis Joyce about preserving the Mamu Ngiirma language and culture through technology and community projects in Far North Queensland.

Who has been a guest on Guardians of Language and Country

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Brad Grogan
• Lindsay Gore
• Nisha Williams
• Lenise Harry
• Candice Sexton

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

30,370,468

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 54 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

72

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

0

Contact Guardians of Language and Country

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.