Yarning up Guula (Koala) Podcast

I had a yarn with Gawan (Uncle) Wayne Anderson, a Birrbay and Worimi man, to yarn about connection to Country. Uncle Wayne shares from lived experience learning through relationship with Country, and being with Country. In this episode, we yarn about what it means to be with place. And as part of this series, we ask: If Country had a message for us about conservation, what would it be?   I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, skies, and songlines from which this podcast is recorded and shared and pay deep respect to Elders, past and present, and to the old people whose voices continue to resonate through wind, river, fire. Wherever you are listening from, we invite you to pause and acknowledge the Country that sustains you. This podcast is offered in the spirit of relational listening, listening as kin, and in recognition that sovereignty was never ceded. Cultural content warning: This podcast may contain the voices, stories, and names, and perspectives of human and more-than- human kin who have passed.

I'm honoured to yarn up with Nancy Pattison, a proud Dunghutti woman whose life and work are grounded in cultural strength, community care, and deep relationship with Country. Nancy carries extensive experience working across community initiatives, cultural advocacy, and conservation conversations. She has deep connections with South West Rocks and attends to her relationship with place daily. Nancy's work continues to strengthen intergenerational knowledge-sharing working with young women in connection and caring for Country in environmental and community spaces. In this episode, Nancy generously shares her connections and what it truly means to protect what protects us. As part of this series, we sit with one guiding question: If Country had a message for us humans about conservation and care, what would it be?   I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, skies, and songlines from which this podcast is recorded and shared and pay deep respect to Elders, past and present, and to the old people whose voices continue to resonate through wind, river, fire. Wherever you are listening from, we invite you to pause and acknowledge the Country that sustains you. This podcast is offered in the spirit of relational listening, listening as kin, and in recognition that sovereignty was never ceded. Cultural content warning: This podcast may contain the voices, stories, and names, and perspectives of human and more-than- human kin who have passed.

Dr Aunty Rhonda Radley is a Birpai and Dunghutti woman and has dedicated decades to community leadership in education, conservation, and wellbeing, working tirelessly to strengthen Aboriginal voices, cultural authority, and intergenerational wellbeing. Her work bridges grassroots community practice and high-level policy reform, always grounded in culture, kinship, and accountability to Country. In this episode, we yarn about relationships with Country, listening, and responsibility. As part of this series, we also hold one guiding question: If Country had a message for us humans about conservation and care, what would it be?   I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, skies, and songlines from which this podcast is recorded and shared and pay deep respect to Elders, past and present, and to the old people whose voices continue to resonate through wind, river, fire. Wherever you are listening from, we invite you to pause and acknowledge the Country that sustains you. This podcast is offered in the spirit of relational listening, listening as kin, and in recognition that sovereignty was never ceded. Cultural content warning: This podcast may contain the voices, stories, and names, and perspectives of human and more-than- human kin who have passed.

Welcome back to the podcast. I'm honoured to yarn with Oliver Costello, a Bundjalung man and the CEO and co-founder of Jagun Alliance, and a founding member of Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation. Oliver has spent decades working at the intersection of community, culture, and conservation, walking alongside Aboriginal communities to strengthen cultural land management and the revitalisation of cultural burning practices. Through Firesticks, he has helped reignite conversations that restore right relationship between people and Country. Through Jagun Alliance, he supports communities to lead their own solutions, grounded in culture, kinship, and self-determination. In this episode, we yarn about what it really means to care for Country as a lived, cultural responsibility. And we ask a question we’re carrying through this series: If Country had a message for us humans about conservation right now: what would it be?   Marrungbu (thank you) Oli   I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, skies, and songlines from which this podcast is recorded and shared and pay deep respect to Elders, past and present, and to the old people whose voices continue to resonate through wind, river, fire. Wherever you are listening from, we invite you to pause and acknowledge the Country that sustains you. This podcast is offered in the spirit of relational listening, listening as kin, and in recognition that sovereignty was never ceded. Cultural content warning: This podcast may contain the voices, stories, and names, and perspectives of human and more-than- human kin who have passed.

Welcome to the first episode of this short podcast series Yarning about First Nations approaches to caring for Country, conservation, and our living relationships with more-than-human kin. Each episode invites a conversation with people walking different paths of conservation, stewardship, and custodianship, asking one guiding question: If Country had a message for us humans about conservation, what do we think that would be? Today, we are honoured to begin with Dr Chels Marshall. Dr Chels Marshall is a Gumbaynggirr Conservation Researcher whose work bridges ecology and relational care for landscapes and species. With a strong grounding in conservation science and on-ground practice, her work focuses on practical, place-based approaches to biodiversity protection, including koala conservation. Chels brings both rigorous ecological knowledge and a deep respect for the social and cultural dimensions of environmental care. Marrungbu (thank you) to Dr Chels Marshall for having a yarn.   I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, skies, and songlines from which this podcast is recorded and shared and pay deep respect to Elders, past and present, and to the old people whose voices continue to resonate through wind, river, fire. Wherever you are listening from, we invite you to pause and acknowledge the Country that sustains you. This podcast is offered in the spirit of relational listening, listening as kin, and in recognition that sovereignty was never ceded. Cultural content warning: This podcast may contain the voices, stories, and names, and perspectives of human and more-than- human kin who have passed.