Word on the Reef

EXPLORE

Society & Culture

Health & Fitness

© 2024 PodJoint

https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts221/v4/82/08/37/82083727-64d3-2ebf-cf6f-9b78fb50af5d/mza_11092730520177212058.jpg/600x600bb.jpg

Word on the Reef

Tanya Murphy

50 episodes

4 days ago

Spring has sprung and it’s baby-making season on the Great Barrier Reef! In this episode we talk coral spawning with marine scientist Dr Katie Chartrand, plus, we dive into the world of mangrove forests with CAFNEC's Shannon Bredeson. More information: JCU Tropwater Spawning SchoolCAFNEC's Mangrove Watch ProgramSupport the show Help Keep Word on the Reef Afloat! Please take 2 minutes to fill out our Word on the Reef Listener Survey to help us apply for funding for the show! PROTECT THE REEF...

Show more...

All content for Word on the Reef is the property of Tanya Murphy and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Spring has sprung and it’s baby-making season on the Great Barrier Reef! In this episode we talk coral spawning with marine scientist Dr Katie Chartrand, plus, we dive into the world of mangrove forests with CAFNEC's Shannon Bredeson. More information: JCU Tropwater Spawning SchoolCAFNEC's Mangrove Watch ProgramSupport the show Help Keep Word on the Reef Afloat! Please take 2 minutes to fill out our Word on the Reef Listener Survey to help us apply for funding for the show! PROTECT THE REEF...

Show more...

Episodes (20/50)

Word on the Reef

S2 E34: Coral Spawning Research and Protecting Mangroves on the Great Barrier Reef

Spring has sprung and it’s baby-making season on the Great Barrier Reef! In this episode we talk coral spawning with marine scientist Dr Katie Chartrand, plus, we dive into the world of mangrove forests with CAFNEC's Shannon Bredeson. More information: JCU Tropwater Spawning SchoolCAFNEC's Mangrove Watch ProgramSupport the show Help Keep Word on the Reef Afloat! Please take 2 minutes to fill out our Word on the Reef Listener Survey to help us apply for funding for the show! PROTECT THE REEF...

4 days ago

44 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E33: Top 50 Dive Sites of Australia and the Great Barrier Reef: Part II

Marine biologist and scuba legend Steve Sinclair is back again this week to finish revealing the Top 50 Dive Sites in Australia. Steve has spent over five decades exploring every reef, wreck and cave from Tasmania to the Top End — and now he’s sharing his secret spots with us! From world-famous coral gardens on the Great Barrier Reef to secret, world-class dive spots you’ve never heard of, Steve shares insider stories and tips from a lifetime beneath the waves. Plus — find out how you could w...

3 weeks ago

40 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E32: Top 50 Dive Sites of Australia and the Great Barrier Reef

Think you know Australia’s best dive sites? Think again! Marine biologist and scuba legend Steve Sinclair has spent over five decades exploring every reef, wreck and cave from Tasmania to the Top End — and now he’s revealing the Top 50 Dive Sites in Australia. From world-famous coral gardens on the Great Barrier Reef to secret, world-class dive spots you’ve never heard of, Steve shares insider stories and tips from a lifetime beneath the waves. Plus — find out how you could win free dive trip...

1 month ago

44 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E31: Art Meets Ocean: How Creativity, Science & Community Are Protecting the Great Barrier Reef

What do underwater art museums, bomb tests, and citizen science have in common? They're all part of the story of the Great Barrier Reef’s past, present—and possible future. Our guest this week is Dr. Adam Smith—freediver, marine biologist, and founder of Reef Ecologic, a Townsville-based social enterprise leading innovative reef conservation through research, education, and community action. In this episode, we dive into how art, science, and storytelling are being used in powerful ways to p...

1 month ago

47 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E30: Seeing Green: Divers Investigate South Australia's Algal Bloom Disaster

Today we're traveling back to South Australia for an update on the devastating toxic algal bloom that's been unfolding there over the last seven months, and what it it's been like for the divers who know and love these waters. Marine Biologist and Divemaster Sarah Franke from Divers for Climate has just returned from a research trip to learn about how the disaster is impacting the South Australian community. She'll also take us inside the Senate Inquiry into the disaster, and let us know whic...

1 month ago

42 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E29: Caring for Yirrganydji Sea Country on the Great Barrier Reef with Gavin Singleton

First Nations people have been caring for land and sea along the Great Barrier Reef Coast for thousands of years. In this powerful interview, Traditional Owner Gavin Singleton explains the enduring connection First Nations people have with the Reef, what they're doing to help protect it, and how we can all foster a stronger connection with each other and the Reef. The didgeridoo recording at the end of this episode is from Gavin's 2018 TEDx Talk at JCU. More information: Dawul Wuru Aboriginal...

1 month ago

38 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E28: Corals' Last Stand: The Fight to Save Scott Reef

💸 WIN $100! Fill out our Word on the Reef Listener Survey before 30 September 2025 to go in the draw. 🪸 Scott Reef, Australia’s largest remote offshore reef, is a breathtaking sanctuary for corals, fish, rare sea snakes, nesting turtles, and pygmy blue whales. But this natural wonder is under threat from a mega gas drilling and carbon dumping proposal. Fossil fuel campaigner Louise Morris from the Australian Marine Conservation Society joins us to explain what’s at stake and how we can fight ...

1 month ago

42 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E27: Stronger Storms, Stronger Solutions: Saving Coral After Cyclones

Cyclones are part of life in the tropics, but climate change is making them stronger and more destructive. On the Great Barrier Reef, their force can pulverise thriving coral gardens into unstable rubble fields where baby corals struggle to grow. But there’s hope! In this week’s episode, we dive into an innovative solution that’s helping damaged reefs bounce back — and discover how you can play a role in bringing them back to life again! This week's guest: Freda Nicholson, marine biologist an...

2 months ago

41 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E26: Restoring Seagrass on the Great Barrier Reef with Dr Tim Smith

💸 WIN $100! Fill out our Word on the Reef Listener Survey before 30 September 2025 to go in the draw. 🌱 Seagrass meadows are the unsung heroes of the Great Barrier Reef – nurseries for fish, food for turtles and dugongs, and a frontline defence against climate change. But after a massive die-off, Dr Tim Smith and the team at JCU TropWATER faced a huge challenge: how do you restore these fragile ecosystems while dealing with crocodiles, stingers, and waist-deep mud? The answer: helicopters, ho...

2 months ago

39 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E25: Just Say Yes: Why You Should Volunteer with Reef Check on the Great Barrier Reef

Ever dreamed of exploring the Great Barrier Reef for free—while making a real difference? With Reef Check Australia, volunteers can join survey dives and help clean up marine debris, all while experiencing the Reef up close. But what does it take to become a qualified reef surveyor? In this episode, Reef Check Australia’s General Manager, Jodi Salmond, shares how you can get involved and play a hands-on role in protecting this natural wonder. Sign the Petition: Support Cameras on Trawl Fishin...

2 months ago

43 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E24: Not Just a Pretty Shell: The Beautiful and Terrifying Molluscs of the Great Barrier Reef

What has no arms, no legs, and no brain, but can flash like a disco light, help control pests and kill you in minutes? Queensland Museum's mollusc expert Darryl Potter has spent three decades fearlessly tracking down these armoured beasts all along the Great Barrier Reef, and he's here to tell us why they're more than just an ornament for your bathroom. It's one shell of a show! Support the show PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, ...

3 months ago

40 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E23: Swimming Against the Current: Overcoming Fear, Failure, and Neurodivergence to Become a Global Shark Advocate

Growing up with ADHD and Dyslexia, Aliah Banchik never thought she could achieve calm focus, let alone become a successful scientist, artist and Netflix star. Then she discovered sharks. In this inspiring episode, Aliah shares her mission to reshape how we see both sharks and neurodivergence, revealing the beauty in misunderstood animals and people alike. We’ll also chat about her journey on Netflix’s All The Sharks—no spoilers, we promise! Support the show PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petit...

3 months ago

43 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E22: Dammed if you Don't: Saving Fish from Migration Mayhem

Did you know some of our marine fish are living DOUBLE LIVES? That’s right, they want the best of both worlds, saltwater and freshwater. So one minute they’re living the dream on a beautiful coral reef, next minute they’ve decided they need a tree change, and they’re swimming up into our rivers. What are they doing there? And importantly – what happens when humans build dams, causeways and other watery traffic jams that block these fish from finishing their migration missions? This week's gue...

3 months ago

40 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E21: SPOTTED: The Great Barrier Reef's first known Whale Shark Aggregation Site

Whale sharks—harmless, majestic giants—have long been mystery visitors on the Great Barrier Reef, their movements shrouded in secrecy... until now. In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have identified the Reef’s first known whale shark aggregation site. Join us as we uncover where these elusive creatures have been hiding with Ingo Miller—marine biologist turned shark detective. On a mission to find and protect the world’s largest fish before it’s too late, Ingo followed the clues to thei...

3 months ago

40 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E20 Everything Kirsty Webeck Needs to Say About Sea Creatures

Australian comedian Kirsty Webeck loves sea creatures. She's learned a lot about them through her lifelong passion for snorkelling - and now she's here to share what the sperm whales don't want you to know. She is currently touring with her live standup show called Everything I Need to Say About Sea Creatures and it's a real hoot to have her joining us on Word on the Reef this week! We also chat with Dave George from the Cairns Nautilus Scuba Club, who shares why joining your local dive...

3 months ago

40 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E19: Modern Day Castaway: A Gruelling 50 Days Alone on the Reef

Meet Mike Atkinson — former military pilot turned solo adventurer, survival expert, and filmmaker. In one of the boldest voyages ever attempted, Mike hand-carved a dugout canoe and sailed it 1,500 kilometres up the Great Barrier Reef — from Townsville to the Torres Strait — using only traditional, handmade fishing and hunting tools. No engine. No GPS. No esky. Surviving on stingray, dried kangaroo, and sheer determination, Mike faced crocodiles, storms, and solitude — all in a quest to recon...

4 months ago

43 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E18: Sex Under the Sea: The Weird World of Marine Reproduction

Welcome to the ocean -- where your genitals are on your face, males give birth, and gender is more of a suggestion than a rule. You can snooze in a bubble of your own vomit or switch sexes overnight without anyone batting a fin. What a world! This week we’re joined by Mike Scotland - marine biologist, underwater photographer, and editor of DiveLog Magazine. With 50 years of diving, thousands of dives, and two books under his weight belt (Marine Biology in the Wild and Diving With Sharks), Mik...

4 months ago

38 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E17: Trawl Wars: The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park vs. The Fishing Industry

The 1990s was a wild west era for fishing on the Great Barrier Reef. Even after being declared a Marine Park and a World Heritage area, more than 95% of the Great Barrier Reef was still being fished, and things were heading downhill fast. Then came a bombshell report that exposed what was really going on beneath the surface -- and all hell broke loose. What followed was a fierce battle known as the ‘Trawl Wars,' and unfortunately, it did not happen in a galaxy far, far away. In this episode,...

4 months ago

44 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E16: Shark Tracker: The Wild Life of Richard Fitzpatrick

Richard Fitzpatrick wants to change the way you think about sharks. Ever since he kept a pet shark as a kid, Richard has made it his life’s mission to rewrite the story of one of the ocean’s most misunderstood predators. Now an Emmy-winning cinematographer, marine biologist and shark researcher, he’s spent more than 15,000 hours swimming with sharks — filming them, tagging them, and tracking them for science, often using wildly unorthodox (and very hands-on) methods. In this episode of Word o...

4 months ago

48 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E15: Save the Reef from your Sofa: Citizen Science with Nicole Senn

Did you know you can help with coral research on the Great Barrier Reef without even leaving your couch? On this week's episode of Word on the Reef, get ready to swipe right on high-value corals as we dive into the incredible world of citizen science. Our guest is Nicole Senn, Head of Engagement at Citizens of the Reef and passionate ocean advocate, who reveals how everyday people all over the world are helping monitor coral health - no snorkel or flippers required! Nicole shares how the data...

5 months ago

44 minutes