A shark bite happened. But public opinion shifted in a totally unexpected direction…

And it wasn’t what researchers predicted.

In this episode of Ocean Ideas: Tooth or Dare, Dr. Chris Pepin-Neff of the University of Sydney shares a surprising discovery from a real-world study in Cape Town - and what it reveals about how we assign blame after predator encounters.

From orcas to polar bears to sharks, this episode explores:

🔍 Why perception matters more than danger

🌡️ How climate change is reshaping predator behaviour

🧠 And how one simple question at an aquarium reduced shark fear by 30%

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts to find out what the Cape Town study uncovered - and why it changes everything we think we know about “shark attacks.”

Speaker: Dr. Chris Pepin-Neff, Associate Professor of Public Policy in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney.

Filmed at Bondi Pavilion.

Thank you Impressive Immersive Media for the visuals and audio.