DOC Sounds of Science Podcast

Latest Episodes:

35: A Flipping Good Time with Dr. Jody Weir May 05, 2025

Show notes

Marine biologist and primatologist Dr Jody Weir has extensive expertise on marine animals, specifically: fur seals, dolphins and turtles – all things finned and beautiful.

Jody has also researched lemurs in Madagascar, bears and wolves in Canada, and turtles in Barbados. Learn about her exciting and varied career in our latest episode.

The audio at the beginning of the episode is a kekeno New Zealand fur seal. The music used is Let’s Get Down to Business by Cast of Characters.

34: Better unguLATE than never with George Ledgard Dec 04, 2024

Show notes

George knows everything there is to know about hooved creatures that walk on their toes—ungulates, for those in the know—and he’s a keen hunter as well as a technical advisor on the topic of wild animals.

Hear about where we’re at with hunting and wild animal control, from one of our foremost experts who is also a hunter. George wears all the hats.

The audio at the beginning of the episode is a Western weka.

The music used is Let’s Get Down to Business by Cast of Characters

Content warning for (respectful and scientific) discussion of hunting and dead animals

Full shownotes and transcript at www.doc.govt.nz/podcast

33: Pen(guin) pals with Cassie Mealey Jul 28, 2024

Show notes

Cassie has the most interesting answer possible to the question ‘what do you do for fun?’ She rehabilitates penguins.

As one of our technical advisors specialising in fauna, in addition to running swim practice for penguins in her backyard, Cassie has a lot of wildlife rehabilitation stories and tips.

Listen to this unmissable episode now.

The audio used at the beginning is a tawaki/Fiordland crested penguin splashing in pool and making honking sound
The music used is Let’s Get Down to Business by Cast of Characters
Shownotes and transcript at www.doc.govt.nz/podcast

32: Parrot patter May 28, 2024

Show notes

Terry is an expert in all kinds of parrots, specifically kākā, kākāriki karaka/NZ parakeet and kākāpō.

He’s spent a lot of time catching and monitoring birds, studying them, and advising on the impacts of predator control on non-target species. Plus, he has some field stories that are so incredible, you’ll think he’s lying. At first, we thought he was lying.

The audio at the beginning of the episode is the call of the North Island kākā
The music used is Let’s Get Down to Business by Cast of Characters

Transcript and shownotes available at www.doc.govt.nz/podcast

31: All things kākāpō part 2 Apr 03, 2024

Show notes

Part 2 of our special with kākāpō scientist, Dr. Andrew Digby. We ask listeners’ questions about kākāpō, talk about some of the biggest wins and disappointments in kākāpō management, and learn new facts about this rare, unusual species.

Transcript and shownotes at www.doc.govt.nz/podcast

30: All things kākāpō part 1 Mar 05, 2024

Show notes

Dr. Andrew Digby does a deep dive on the science of kākāpō management, recalls weird behaviour he’s observed from them in the field, and explains some of the big challenges the population are facing, including disease outbreak and low fertility.

Transcript and full shownotes at www.doc.govt.nz/pocast

29: Summer supercut Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

To celebrate summer in Aotearoa, we’ve put together a supercut, packed to the brim with all the best bits from previous episodes.

From cryptic species to sharks to seal production—this supercut has something for everyone.

Full shownotes and transcript at www.doc.govt.nz/podcast

28: Volcanology Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

Volcanologist Hollei Gabrielsen (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Whitikaupeka) on providing advice about volcanoes, particularly in Tongariro National Park; and how her whakapapa, heritage, informs her work.

Hollei discusses what you need to know to head out on an adventure in Tongariro, and answer listeners’ questions about lava, caldera, phreatic (steam) explosions, and more.

The audio at the beginning is alpine wind ambience.

The music used is Let’s Get Down to Business by Cast of Characters.

Full shownotes and transcript at www.doc.govt.nz/podcast

27: In a galaxiid far, far away Nov 13, 2023

Show notes

Freshwater scientist Nixie Boddy on researching non-migratory galaxiids, native fish, and her adventures in the field—some of which involve costumes.

Nixie has a huge amount of knowledge about how non-migratory galaxiids interact with threats and river flows, and the broader ecology of their habitat. In this episode she explains fish passage, electric fishing, and many other mysteries of the deep/shallow. It’s another must-listen.

The audio at the beginning is an alpine stream in Fiordland National Park

The music used is Let’s Get Down to Business by Cast of Characters

Shownotes and transcript: www.doc.govt.nz/podcast

#26 Field yarns with Tim part 2 Oct 04, 2023

Show notes

Kiwi ranger Tim Raemaekers on the tokoeka kiwi monitoring programme in Fiordland, the predator control challenges at Shy Lake, and the emotional roller-coaster of starring in a conservation mini-series on YouTube. We also get into the detail of what makes stoats such a massive threat to kiwi and how 1080 can buy kiwi time.

Tim led the kiwi monitoring project at Shy Lake from 2017-2022 and is the star of the Fiordland Kiwi Diaries, the YouTube series following DOC rangers in Fiordland as they work to save the iconic tokoeka kiwi.

The audio at the beginning is a tokoeka kiwi duet
The music used is Let’s Get Down to Business by Cast of Characters

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

DOC Sounds of Science Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected