Totally Cooked: The Climate & Weather Podcast

In this episode of Totally Cooked: The Climate & Weather Podcast, hosts Iain Strachan and Professor Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick are joined by Associate Professor Sarah Hamylton (University of Wollongong) to explore the fascinating world of maps, oceans, and climate science. From the evolution of cartography to cutting-edge spatial analysis, the conversation uncovers how maps shape our understanding of the planet, and what we might be losing in the digital age. If you’re interested in geography, climate research, or the science behind how we map the Earth, this episode is packed with insight. Drawing on Sarah Hamylton’s new book Plotting the Oceans: Stories of Powerful Maps & Their Makers, the episode journeys through remarkable stories from history and science. Discover how Charles Darwin contributed to our understanding of coral atolls during the voyage of the Beagle, and meet pioneering ocean mapper Marie Tharp, whose work helped reveal the structure of the sea floor and support the theory of continental drift. These stories highlight the powerful role of maps in advancing science and changing how we see the world. The episode also connects past discoveries to today’s climate challenges, from coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef to the conservation battle over Aldabra Atoll and its giant tortoises, once nearly replaced by a controversial military base. With compelling storytelling and expert insight, this episode of Totally Cooked brings together history, climate science, and environmental change, making it essential listening for anyone interested in oceans, mapping, and the future of our planet. Iain records Totally Cooked on the lands of the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation. Sarah records Totally Cooked on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and recognise their unique and continuing connection to the land, skies, waters, plants and animals. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the state of climate change politics in Australia, and is the country doing enough to respond to the climate crisis? In this episode of Totally Cooked: The Climate & Weather Podcast, hosts Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and Iain Strachan speak with independent MP Zali Steggall about how Australia’s climate debate has changed since her landmark election victory over former prime minister Tony Abbott in 2019. Zali discusses whether climate action has been pushed down the political agenda by cost-of-living pressures, international conflict and changing global politics. The conversation explores the Australian Government’s climate policies, the shifting positions of the Liberal and National parties, the rise of One Nation, and the influence that independents and smaller political parties can have on climate and energy policy. The episode also examines the future of climate science and research in Australia, including CSIRO funding cuts and concerns about the country’s scientific capability. Zali explains how climate action connects with housing affordability and cost of living, what communities can do to make their concerns heard, and what she hopes to achieve through the new Community Strong political party. Iain records Totally Cooked on the lands of the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation. Sarah records Totally Cooked on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and recognise their unique and continuing connection to the land, skies, waters, plants and animals. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Peter Stott has spent decades proving that human activity is rapidly warming our climate, and confronting those determined to deny it. In this episode of Totally Cooked, Peter joins hosts Iain Strachan and Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick to recount some extraordinary moments in the fight for climate science. He takes us inside a meeting in Moscow that was hijacked by advisers to Vladimir Putin and turned into a show trial, explains how An Inconvenient Truth landed him in the UK High Court, and reflects on the hacking scandal that became known as Climategate. The conversation also explores Peter’s pioneering role in the development of extreme weather attribution. Beginning with the devastating 2003 European heatwave, scientists have learned to determine how human-caused climate change increases the likelihood and intensity of individual extreme events. Peter explains how the field developed, why accurate reporting of heatwaves matters, and where attribution science goes next. Finally, Peter discusses his book, Hot Air: The Inside Story of the Battle Against Climate Change Denial, and what working with artists and musicians has taught him about communicating climate science through stories. Iain records Totally Cooked on the lands of the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation. Sarah records Totally Cooked on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and recognise their unique and continuing connection to the land, skies, waters, plants and animals. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, and why does it have such a powerful influence on weather and climate in Australia and around the world? In this episode of Totally Cooked: The Climate & Weather Podcast, hosts Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and Iain Strachan unpack ENSO, the natural climate cycle behind El Niño and La Niña. Joined by climate scientists Mandy Freund from the University of Melbourne and Shayne McGregor from Monash University, we explore how changes in Pacific Ocean temperatures, trade winds and atmospheric pressure can shift rainfall, heat, drought and flood risks across the globe. We also trace the history of ENSO research and explain how scientists observe and forecast its changing phases. With a strong El Niño developing in 2026, the team cuts through the “super El Niño” headlines to examine what forecasts can tell us about the months ahead. They also consider how ENSO interacts with the Indian Ocean Dipole, Southern Annular Mode and Madden–Julian Oscillation, and what climate change means for the impacts of future El Niño and La Niña events. Iain records Totally Cooked on the lands of the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation. Sarah records Totally Cooked on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and recognise their unique and continuing connection to the land, skies, waters, plants and animals. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drill into the frozen depths of Earth’s climate history in this episode of Totally Cooked: The Climate & Weather Podcast. Your hosts Iain Strachan and Prof Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick are joined by Dr Tessa Vance (University of Tasmania, Australian Antarctic Program) to explore paleoclimatology, and find out how Antarctic ice cores unlock thousands of years of rainfall, drought, and climate variability across Australia and the Pacific, helping put today’s human-caused climate change into crucial context. From remote drilling sites like Law Dome to the challenges of extracting and analysing ice cores, this episode reveals how scientists reconstruct long-term climate records far beyond Australia’s short observational history. Discover evidence of droughts and wet periods that rival or exceed those on record, and learn how slow-moving climate drivers like the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) shape decades-long swings between dry and wet conditions. The conversation also uncovers a surprising link between Antarctic sea salt and Australian bushfire risk via a Southern Ocean ‘weather bridge’. Plus, hear about the ambitious Million Year Ice Core Project, aiming to extend climate records back up to two million years, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in climate science, extreme weather, and Antarctic research. Iain records Totally Cooked on the lands of the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation. Sarah records Totally Cooked on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and recognise their unique and continuing connection to the land, skies, waters, plants and animals. NEW TO TOTALLY COOKED? Totally Cooked is a science-backed, straight-talking podcast about weather, climate change, and what it all means for life on Earth – especially here in Australia. Hosted by climate scientist Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and science communicator Iain Strachan, Totally Cooked breaks down how human activity is changing the Earth’s systems—from our skies to our seas—and what we can do about it. From greenhouse gases to fire weather, supercomputers to Antarctic ice cores, this is climate science without the jargon, and where no subject is too complex or controversial. FORE MORE: https://www.21centuryweather.org.au/engage/totally-cooked-the-weather-climate-podcast/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.