PODCAST

Word on the Reef

Tanya Murphy

Diving into marine science adventures on the Great Barrier Reef and beyond!

science nature

All Episodes

45:17

S2 E40: Fact or Fiction: Media Misinformation and the...

Word on the Reef ·

2025/12/21

Have you ever felt confused by conflicting media reports about the health of the Great Barrier Reef? If so, you're not alone. New research shows news coverage has often failed to clearly communicate the risks climate change poses to the reef, sometimes fuelling misinformation and climate denial. So what's really happening on the Great Barrier Reef? To help unpack this, our guest today is Dr. Gabi Mocatta, Senior Research Fellow in Climate Science Communication at the University of Tasmania. P...

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41:14

S2 E39: Saving Sea Lions & Albatrosses PLUS Good News...

Word on the Reef ·

2025/12/14

What does the world's largest bird, with a wingspan of up to 3.5 metres, and the Australian Sea Lion have in common? Both are endangered due to their high risk of entanglement in fishing nets. Today's guest, Zoologist Alexia Wellbelove gives us a birds-eye view on how changes to fishing practices can help bring Albatrosses and Sea Lions back from the brink. We'll also unpack recent changes to Australia's nature laws which scientists hope will help slow the alarming rate of extinctions in Aust...

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56:09

S2 E38: Before the Flood: How Fossils Built the Great...

Word on the Reef ·

2025/12/09

What do the Egyptian Pyramids, the Greek Parthenon, the Notre Dame Cathedral and Melbourne's Parliament House all have in common? They are all built out of fossilised reefs, aka limestone! Today we’re taking a journey through deep lime - I mean time - to answer some of those burning questions like: How old is the Great Barrier Reef? What ancient forces built this coral colossus? Why are there fossilised reefs hundreds of metres above sea level and kilometres inland? And perhaps most important...

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40:29

S2 E37: Pig of a Problem: Saving Baby Sea Turtles...

Word on the Reef ·

2025/12/06

Pigs can't fly, nor can they dive in the ocean. But they are posing a serious threat to endangered sea turtles by pigging out on turtle eggs and hatchlings in Cape York. This is not the good kind of bacon and eggs combo. It's Ham-ageddon for our nesting sea turtles! Cape York Natural Resource Management representatives Dr Manuela Fischer and Scott Morrison (no relation to the former Australian PM) are working on a solution! Today they join us in the studio to explain how we can deal with this...

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44:11

S2 E36: Disappearing Islands: The Race to Saving Sea...

Word on the Reef ·

2025/11/30

As the planet warms, more than 3000 sea turtle eggs have been evacuated from low-lying Raine Island on the Great Barrier Reef to save them from rising sea levels. It's an emergency intervention never attempted before on the Great Barrier Reef. But can the eggs survive the relocation? And what does this new frontier mean for the future of our sea turtles and other island-dwelling animals? Dr Mark Read from the Marine Park Authority explains all in this eye-opening episode. Learn more about the...

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42:17

S2 E35: Muddying the Waters: Deforestation and the...

Word on the Reef ·

2025/11/22

Did you know Australia has one of the highest deforestation rates in the developed world? About 20% of Queensland's vegetation has been bulldozed since colonisation -- one million hectares in the last three years alone -- mainly for cattle farming. What impact is this having on the Great Barrier Reef, and what can we do to fix it? To find out, this week we're chatting with Dr Maximilian Hirschfeld, Water Quality Campaign Manager at the Australian Marine Conservation Society. Take Action: Sign...

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44:41

S2 E34: Coral Spawning Research and Protecting...

Word on the Reef ·

2025/11/11

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...

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40:48

S2 E33: Top 50 Dive Sites of Australia and the Great...

Word on the Reef ·

2025/10/24

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...

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44:31

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

Word on the Reef ·

2025/10/17

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...

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47:11

S2 E31: Art Meets Ocean: How Creativity, Science &...

Word on the Reef ·

2025/10/10

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...

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42:25

S2 E30: Seeing Green: Divers Investigate South...

Word on the Reef ·

2025/10/03

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...

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38:19

S2 E29: Caring for Yirrganydji Sea Country on the...

Word on the Reef ·

2025/09/28

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...

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42:39

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

Word on the Reef ·

2025/09/21

💸 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

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41:17

S2 E27: Stronger Storms, Stronger Solutions: Saving...

Word on the Reef ·

2025/09/06

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...

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39:36

S2 E26: Restoring Seagrass on the Great Barrier Reef...

Word on the Reef ·

2025/08/31

💸 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,

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43:09

S2 E25: Just Say Yes: Why You Should Volunteer with...

Word on the Reef ·

2025/08/25

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...

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40:13

S2 E24: Not Just a Pretty Shell: The Beautiful and...

Word on the Reef ·

2025/08/16

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, ...

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43:04

S2 E23: All the Sharks: Aliah Banchik's Journey...

Word on the Reef ·

2025/08/10

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...

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41:21

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

Word on the Reef ·

2025/08/01

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...

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40:59

S2 E21: SPOTTED: The Great Barrier Reef's first known...

Word on the Reef ·

2025/07/26

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...

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Word on the Reef

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