The Great Southern Reef is an 8,000-kilometre stretch of temperate rocky reefs and kelp forests that hugs the southern coastline of Australia from Sydney to Perth. It’s home to incredible marine life like leafy sea dragons, giant cuttlefish, octopuses, and playful seals. It’s a $11.56 billion cornerstone of local economies and part of our way of life for millions of Aussies. But it’s also under serious threat.

Join us as we chat with Stefan Andrews, marine biologist, filmmaker, educator, and Co-Founder of the Great Southern Reef Foundation, who walks us through the rich biodiversity of this unsung natural wonder—and the climate challenges it now faces. From marine heatwaves and toxic algal blooms to kelp die-offs and urchin outbreaks, we uncover the alarming changes unfolding beneath the waves.

But it’s not all doom and gloom - there’s hope, and action we can take. This episode will open your eyes to a whole new world.

Learn More

• www.greatsouthernreef.com
• www.instagram.com/greatsouthernreef

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email info@wordonthereef.org
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: info@wordonthereef.org

Climate Change is the biggest threat to coral reefs worldwide, causing unprecedented coral bleaching events. But here's the good news: individuals can take powerful, practical climate action to help save the Great Barrier Reef — and some of the soltuions might surprise you!

Joining us this week is marine scientist and climate campaigner Dr Yolanda Waters, founder and CEO of Divers for Climate, to share real, tangible ways to take action — no matter who you are or where you live.

In this episode:

• What’s really holding people back from urgent climate action?
• Does community action actually work?
• Making it personal: how to align your climate action with your passions and skills
• Political lobbying 101 (it’s easier than you think!)
• The A-B-C of climate action: six categories to remember
• Why joining an action group aligned to your interests makes a huge difference
• How being a First Nations ally fits into climate justice
• What’s more impactful: lifestyle changes, social actions, or civic action?
• “If I recycle and use a keep cup, is that enough?”
• The role of citizen science, coral surveys, and coral restoration
• How to talk about climate change in ways that motivate and inspire
• Why we need more storytellers — not more statistics
• How to turn your love for the reef into a meaningful career in climate and conservation

Take Action Now:

• Sign the Divers For Climate Statement: www.diversforclimate.com
• Follow Divers for Climate on Instagram: www.instagram.com/diversforclimate

📸 Thumbnail Image by Darian Woods

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email info@wordonthereef.org
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: info@wordonthereef.org

This week we head to the remote beaches of the Great Barrier Reef—where plastic pollution is piling up faster than we can clean it. But is picking up rubbish really the solution? Or just the beginning?

Join us as we play trash detective with marine debris expert Heidi Tait, founder of Tangaroa Blue and the Australian Marine Debris Initiative. From her early days as a dive instructor to shaping global plastic policies, Heidi shares her extraordinary story—and the innovative ways she’s turning data into action.

Discover where this plastic really comes from, why even the most isolated coastlines aren’t safe, and how you can be part of the movement to stop pollution before it hits the beach.

Plus, hosts Tanya Murphy and Brett Goodban break down what the latest Federal Election means for the future of the Great Barrier Reef.

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email info@wordonthereef.org
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: info@wordonthereef.org

Brett Wright has spent the past 30 years taking visitors to the Great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas with his tour company Windswell Adventures—and he's seen the changes up close. From worsening coral bleaching to the devastation of extreme weather events, climate change is no longer a distant threat, but a reality affecting his livelihood and the Reef he loves. Brett shares a heartfelt call for stronger climate leadership, while reminding us that the Reef is still alive, breathtaking, and worth fighting for.

Also in this episode: How do we talk to others about climate change in a way that inspires, not alienates? Zef Aster, Outreach Campaigner and long-time volunteer with the Australian Marine Conservation Society, shares practical tips for starting meaningful conversations and creating real community impact.

Join diver and conservationist Tanya Murphy and marine educator Brett Goodban as we explore marine science on the Great Barrier Reef and beyond!

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email info@wordonthereef.org
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: info@wordonthereef.org

In this special Election Edition of Word on the Reef, Tanya Murphy and Brett Goodban dive into one of the most critical questions facing Australians ahead of the Federal Election: Who has the best plan to save the Great Barrier Reef?

To find out, we’re joined by Maria Poulos Conklin, Head of Government Relations at the Australian Conservation Foundation, who breaks down ACF's powerful Election Scorecard, comparing how each major party stacks up on climate and environmental policies... and let's just say it's a little confronting!

PLUS, all the major political candidates for the Far North Queensland electorate of Leichhardt have been invited to share their Reef protection policies with us. Today we're joined by Dr Phillip Musumeci, Greens candidate for Leichhardt, to talk about tube worms, space lasers and why sheep are big fans of solar energy. 🐑

If you care about the Reef and having a safe climate, this episode is a must-listen before you head to the polls.

🎧 Listen now and share with a mate who's still deciding their vote.
🌐 Scorecard link: www.acf.org.au/scorecard

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email info@wordonthereef.org
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: info@wordonthereef.org

The federal election is just two weeks away — and it turns out some politicians are still floundering when it comes to climate change. While the Reef suffers, some parties are busy serving up red herrings instead of real solutions.

This week Tanya Murphy and Brett Goodban dive into the national emergency that should be making front-page news: the GBR's sixth mass coral bleaching in nine years. That’s right — the Reef’s in hot water, and some leaders are still dodging the science like slippery eels.

We’re joined by special guest Simon Miller from the Australian Marine Conservation Society to unpack the science, the politics, and the solutions. If you care about the Reef, this is the election to vote like it. For more information on how you can help, visit www.fightforourreef.org.au

Also in this episode:

🐡 Brett shares what the fish think of your vote (and Big Chang the fish throws some serious side-eye.)
🗳️ Which parties are promising action, and which want to scrap climate targets altogether
🚒 And why this election might be our last real chance to save the Reef

📸 Photo by Angelina Pilarinos

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email info@wordonthereef.org
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: info@wordonthereef.org

This week, our guest is West Australian coral ecologist Associate Professor Zoe Richards, who's had some extraordinary adventures—diving with crocodiles, discovering new coral species and surveying nuclear bomb sites!

We'll journey to Micronesia to uncover an ancient civilisation that built mysterious structures from coral, and to Ningaloo, the world’s largest fringing reef, now sadly in the grips of a mass bleaching event.

From emus on the beach to seals frolicking with corals, this is both a love letter to WA’s reefs and a powerful wake-up call for their protection.

📸 Sea Lion on acropora coral at the Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia, Photo by David Juszkiewicz

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email info@wordonthereef.org
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: info@wordonthereef.org

This week we're heading back to spectacular Lizard Island to uncover what’s changed since last year’s record-breaking coral bleaching event.

New research station co-director Dr David Abrego takes us a vivid tour of this world-renowned reef science hub and shares the sobering reality of back-to-back bleaching events that are pushing corals to the brink.

From flying over glittering turquoise waters to diving deep into marine heatwaves, coral adaptation, and reef restoration, this episode is a rollercoaster of awe, hope, and heartbreak. Discover why Lizard Island has been visited by the likes of David Attenborough and former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, how it inspired world heritage protection, and why what happens there could determine the fate of reefs everywhere.

Highlights include:

• The stunning geography and biodiversity of Lizard Island
• The science behind coral bleaching and why it’s now annual
• Hopeful insights into coral resilience and adaptation research
• What each of us can do—right now—to help protect the reef
• How solar-powered science and climate action are lighting the path forward

This is more than just a reef update—it’s a call to action. Because if we protect the reef, we protect ourselves.

Support the show

• Got questions? Text us on 0437 835 937 or email info@wordonthereef.org
• Sign the Petition, asking the Australian Government for stronger policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Support Word on the Reef on Patreon
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram
• If you'd like to ask a question, be a guest on the podcast or suggest a topic, contact: info@wordonthereef.org