This one's been a long time in the making... What started as an exploratory conversation between Brett and his two guests - friends, Matt Lindenberg and Justin Sullivan - has now (a year later) become a relationship between colleagues and collaborators of BHS in conservation and in epic adventures.
A lot has happened since this recording, including the tragic loss of Anton Mzimba, a friend and an inspiring leader in the treacherous world of anti-poaching. We listen to this with a sense of reflection and respect for this man whose legacy lives on. Linked to Anton is the film RHINO MAN, which we discuss with Matt - lead producer and director - in this episode. The documentary has now been viewed and endorsed by the Prince of Wales and The Royal Foundation. A huge honour and well-deserved spotlight for this locally filmed story of Field Rangers.
You're likely to know both of our guests in their own capacity, and the same goes for the peanut gallery in this episode, which consists of guests and friends who joined us for this fascinating conversation at Serondella in the Greater Kruger!
A bit of background before you get stuck in to listening:
Justin Sullivan. A filmmaker defined by a need for expression and a calling for story-telling and interpretation, Justin is an award-winning creator. He has filmed over 200 rhino dehorning operations, but most of his career has been spent on blazing mountains documenting wildfires. Based in the Greater Kruger, this qualified firefighter & documentarian is honing in on his passion for conservation. When we recorded this conversation, Justin's dream was to go to the Congo. Now, as we publish, Justin has just returned from a second trip to the Congo, documenting a story about Field Rangers marbled with equal parts inspiration and danger.
Matt Lindenberg. The Founder and Executive Director of the Global Conservation Corps (GCC) – a non-profit organisation using education as a way of connecting people and wildlife on the border of the Kruger National Park. His passion for conservation and giving kids the opportunity to learn about and love wildlife comes from his own experience growing up in the little town of Sabie in Mpumalanga. Today, GCC’s Future Rangers Programme works with 20 schools to give 10,000 children each week access to environmental education and experiences.
Along with inspiring chats about challenging work in the conservation space, this episode packs a punch and is marked with sideline comments and interactions from our campfire audience. Be sure to listen out for shout-outs, animal sounds, quick-fire questions and awkward moments, which all weave through the unfolding of our latest episode.
Find more info at these links and make sure you show your support to these legends!
Matt:
https://globalconservationcorps.org/
https://www.instagram.com/rhinomanthemovie/
https://www.instagram.com/theglobalconservationcorps/
Justin:
https://www.justinsullivan.org/
https://www.instagram.com/justin___sullivan/