Hello!

I’m Rachael and I’ve written about how podcasts help me with my mental health stuff. This is meant to be an introduction but two sentences looked a bit ropey so I’ve added this one. I’m a single mum, an artist and I’m autistic.

The reasons I love podcasts are multiple. They’ve carried me through night feeds and coursework, through long car journeys and housework. As soon as I wake up, I put on the newest episode of one of my favourites or I carry on a binge from my latest discovery. I often replay episodes if sleep eludes me, they’re comforting and familiar.

Listening to podcasts has had a massive benefit on my mental health. Social anxiety disorder is something I have suffered from since I was 10 years old. The severity of it has fluctuated over the years and at its most severe I avoided leaving the house; because the thought of people seeing me was too much to cope with. When I listen to a podcast it helps interrupt the anxiety cycle. My focus isn’t solely on the people around me, the anxiety symptoms, trying to predict my next encounter with someone or rehearse the potential small talk I might need. I get absorbed in the topic and conversation and I stop overthinking the situation. I used to listen to music but I found that increased my heart rate which would amplify other physical symptoms. I found in shops that pausing a podcast or taking out headphones gives me some thinking time.

It’s an accessible way to make connections with people, most podcasts have online communities so finding like-minded people, legends (All Killa No Filla) or other dangerous loners (Hardcore Listing) is too easy. And many have live events where it’s really normal to go by yourself and you already have something in common with everyone else in the room. I often struggle to make a conversation because small talk is hideous but podcasts have given me a secret arsenal of topics to drop into all kinds of discussions. There are podcasts for every mood, for me they have given an easy way to consume knowledge, which in turn makes the world feel so much bigger but also helps me connect with others, helping with isolation and loneliness.

My recommendations:

Dane Baptiste Questions Everything

Insane In The Men Brain

Off Menu

Stuff You Missed In History Class

Stuff You Should Know

Gossipmongers

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Follow Rachael or check out her art on Facebook @wellswellsandwells, Instagram @wellswellsandwells and Twitter @WEEEELLLLSSSS.

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What can you tell us about your podcast?

Military Wives: The Official Film Podcast, hosted by me, Gaby Roslin, is an exclusive podcast to support the release of ‘Military Wives’ in cinemas on March 6th. If you love cinema, you are going to love this film and this podcast series. I had the privilege of chatting to inspirational women like Oscar® Nominee and BAFTA® Winner Dame Kristin Scott Thomas (Darkest Hour), BAFTA® Nominee Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe) and incredibly moving conversations with women from the real Military Wives Choirs, plus Oscar® Nominee director Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty). Each episode includes a special taster track from ‘Military Wives – The Official Soundtrack’ also released on March 6^th.

Inspired by the incredible true story of friendship, love and support on the home front, the film shows a group of women come together as their partners serve in Afghanistan. Together they form the very first military wives choir, helping each other through some of life’s most difficult moments and becoming a media sensation and global movement in the process. It will have you crying, laughing and on your feet singing – this is the feel-good film of the year.

What are your thoughts on the rise of companion podcasts for films and TV shows?

I think it’s brilliant! As far as I know, there hasn’t been a podcast like ours to support the cinema release of a film, so I think this is super exciting. Audiences love talking about films with their friends and family so a companion podcast is another great way to add to those conversations. Especially for films like this with fascinating backstories and lots to talk about. I think the rise and popularity of them demonstrates just how much listeners want this type of in depth content and I am looking forward to doing more of them.

Can you remember the first podcast you listened to?

I can’t actually remember my first podcast but It may have been the brilliant My Dad Wrote A Porno, which I still love!

What are your current favourites?

My favourite podcasts are Feel Better, Live More with Dr Chatterjee, Bryony Gordon’s Mad World and  Is it Just Me? by Jo Elvin

Why should people check out Military Wives: The Official Film Podcast?

Cinema is one of the top interests for podcast listeners, so this five-part series is just what audiences need to whet their appetites before seeing the film on the big screen. Also, after speaking to members of the real military wives’ choirs who told me incredibly emotional and important stories of what life is really like as a military spouse, I think this podcast is a significant way to show people just how much the military and their families give up to keep us safe. I feel strongly that listeners need to hear their stories as a reminder of things that a lot of us may take for granted.

You can listen to Military Wives: The Official Film Podcast here

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Companion podcasts are a brilliant way of keeping up conversations and hype for films and TV shows. Last year, Chernobyl was a massive hit for Sky TV and its success was supplemented by The Chernobyl Podcast. Each episode of the show was discussed and dissected by hosts Peter Sagal and Craig Mazin, allowing fans of the show to theorise, speculate and otherwise immerse themselves in the story of the show. It’s this immersion which makes companion shows so popular, it gives the listener the opportunity to indulge in a little obsession, allowing opportunity for “water-cooler” discussion and expands the footprint of the show or film.

With the release of Military Wives, Lionsgate and Cameo bring us their very own companion podcast, hosted by TV and Radio’s Gaby Roslin. Joining Gaby in this five-part series will be Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan, who star in the film, as well as the director Peter Cattaneo. The show will also feature interviews and conversations with some of the women who make up the Military Wives Choirs.

Gaby Roslin says “I have loved speaking to these fascinating guests. I am thrilled to be part of this podcast series; it is exactly what film fans and podcast listeners are looking for. As podcast listening continues to rise, I think this is a new and exciting way to reach audiences especially for films like this with fascinating backstories and lots to talk about.”

Military Wives is in cinemas from 6th March.

Listen to Military Wives: The Official Film Podcast here

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Who are you and what’s your podcast about?

Kelly: Kelly Pegg – Journalist, Broadcaster and Writer. Hot Mess Mums is about creating a club for Mums and women everywhere where we can all say honestly how we feel without being judged. We want to make our listeners feel supported, we want to make them laugh and feel inspired and most importantly feel that they are part of club and we are on this crazy ride together.

Jenny: Some guests are friends, some are experts and some are celebrities who come to share their advice and anecdotes, with a bit of our own expertise in life thrown in too!

What was the first podcast you ever listened to?

Kelly: Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place. I love how she talks about mental health and happiness, in this day an age it’s so important that we all become a bit more aware of how to look after our minds as well as our bodies.I was a big fan of hers when she was on Radio 1 and I love how honest she is about how certain things effect her like trolling on social media. She always comes across as such a nice person and I remember sitting next to her at a restaurant in Ibiza desperately wanting to say hi and tell her how much I like her but I was worried I might come across as a total stalker so I decided not to!

Jenny: The Joe Rogan Experience

Why did you decide to start podcasting in the first place?

Kelly: I’d worked in radio for more than 15 years starting in local and working up to national level. I loved the whole concept of connecting with my audience, creating that “me too” moment and being real. All of a sudden that changed and I’d become a music announcer where personality, and real, relatable content had been taken away. I also wanted to present with another female and again it was something that sadly wasn’t being promoted so The Hot Mess Mums Club podcast was born. A podcast where women could feel proud to be themselves, no pretence, we laugh at our mistakes, celebrate our triumphs and hopefully break a few taboos along the way.

Jenny: Having been a guest on some podcasts presented by my friends, like Kate Thornton, I was hooked! My close friends kept nagging me to do one as they are all big podcast fans and wanted to have me in the car with them on the way to work by the power of podcast!

Which podcasts do you take inspiration from?

Kelly: I actually don’t and I don’t mean that to sound arrogant, however I didn’t want to copy anyone or lift ideas from different podcasts. I wanted our podcast to be unique and brutally honest. There are a lot of parenting podcasts that talk about being the perfect parent but that is not what The Hot Mess Mums Club is about. It’s about celebrating not being perfect, laughing at the mistakes we make as Mums, being honest by saying it’s actually not that great being a parent all the time and it’s OK.Being a Mum can feel incredibly lonely so letting women know they are not alone and its never just them is so important.

Jenny: Joe Rogan! He’s a dynamic, outspoken and cocky American, who covers so many subjects that I’m interested in, especially health and fitness. He swears a lot, that’s the only problem!

Who’s your dream guest for the podcast?

Kelly: Madonna. I adore her, she is so amazing and the queen of reinvention. Her life story about how she moved to New York with nothing and through hard work and never giving up became the most famous female music artist in the world is quite something. I’d have so many questions for her including how does she get those arms of hers to look so incredible!

Jenny: Jennifer Hudson! She’s a hard working Mum, with such warmth and charisma. I could spend hours chatting to her and I’d get her to sing at the end of course!

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far as a podcaster?

Kelly: Not in a million years did I expect the podcast to be so successful or to be so well received. I’m beyond grateful and to have the quality of guests we have and sponsors who are getting involved is a dream come true.It has never been about money only a love for communicating and being real and if anything it’s taught me to always do what you love, never give up and enjoy the moment without looking or worrying too far ahead.

Jenny: Don’t be lazy with your words; be natural and true to yourself, but recognise the disciplines of broadcasting and know when to shut up!

Which episode would you say is the perfect introduction to your podcast?

Jenny: Lynsey ,Queen Of Clean did an episode with us and we all got on so well! That one was the perfect balance of laughs, helpful tips, honest confessions and entertainment!

Kelly: I, like Jenny, absolutely love our episode in Season 2 with Lynsey Queen of Clean. It was honest, funny and warm and it felt like we’d all been going out with each other for ages! We chatted about everything from OCD to the school gates and Mums whatsapp groups. It was our biggest performing episode of the season and charted in the top 10 of the iTunes chart in the UK and abroad, I’m so proud of that.

Where can the Pod Bible readers find out more about you?

Kelly: 100 per cent by listening to our podcast – I’m totally honest about everything and everyone in my life, there is no pretense or falseness. I’m actually probably a little too honest! We also have a instagram page @thehotmessmums.

Jenny: Best to discover what I’m up to on my instagram: @jennypowelltv. It’s all on there .. warts and all !!

——-

Listen to The Hot Mess Mums Club here!

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Feel Better, Live More

I’m always looking for little life hacks that make me feel healthier, and this podcast delivers them in spades. From making sure to get a decent dose of sunlight to prioritising connection and eating within a 12 hour window, it offers timeless health wisdom you can incorporate into your everyday life. Rangan is a great guy too; personable and sincere.

Fortunately With Fi and Jane

These two are broadcasting royalty, and as a double act are up there with the two Ronnies. Cheeky, probing and wise, they can run rings round anyone, and often do. I actually got invited on several months ago, and to avoid being made mincemeat of I anxiously resorted to a prop: a homemade bottle of milk kefir. Jane wasn’t a fan.

The Joe Rogan Experience

The podcasters’ podcaster, Rogan is the Godfather of the medium. Joe basically obeys no rules when recording, so I’m not sure how well he’d fit in at the BBC, but it makes for great listening and is hilarious and intelligent in equal measure. The episodes are long and can meander, but anyone who can get Edward Snowdon on is clearly doing something right.

Desert Island Discs

I love listening to people talk about their lives and the lessons they’ve learnt, and Desert island Discs does that with the added bonus of beautiful music to punctuate the chat and ratchet up the emotion. It’s often a tear-jerker, and being invited on is like getting an OBE in my book.

Under The Skin With Russell Brand

I recently watched Russell’s first appearance on the Jonathan Ross show on YouTube and crikey he’s come along way. A man unafraid to show his vulnerability and basically seeking to do good in the world, Russell gets some great guests who tend to have one thing in common: a sense that there is more to life than there may first appear.

Simon Mundie can be found on Twitter @simonmundie

Listen to Don’t Tell Me The Score here  https://play.acast.com/s/dont-tell-me-the-score

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BBC Earth Podcast Producer, Eliza, answers Q&A’s about how to find the best contributors for each podcast, what techniques she uses to glean the best information from their experience and knowledge, as well as telling us some of the surprising and unexpected tales that have surfaced from these interviews, and how they enrich the themes of each episode.

1. How do you begin the process of finding experts and interesting contributors once the theme of a podcast has been decided on?

To begin with, themes spark ideas of who we can talk to. Our radio team in Bristol make a whole host of natural history output for BBC Radio 4 and 3, plus we’re over the car park from the natural history TV department, so we tap into the brilliant roster of knowledge at our doorstep.

After mining our own contacts, we embark on the mammoth task of finding more stories and contributors. This is mostly done online via science journals, websites and recommendations. For the rest of the year when we’re not making the BBC Earth podcast, we’re sifting and saving striking natural world stories for future series.

2. Once you have decided on a topic and focus for a particular podcast, do you tailor the content from the contributors to fit the topic, or do you often find the original theme alters once you have some content to work with?

The themes are a useful jumping-off point for research, but once we’ve found good stories, we prioritise that over the theme. When we’re editing, it’s important that the story is vivid and clear. The presenter, Emily Knight, is an expert at tying together disparate stories with her script.

On rare occasions, we’ve found that the original theme doesn’t fit with the stories anymore and something else strikes us as more appropriate, but we usually stick to the theme.

The range of contributors on each podcast is always extremely varied, the only common feature being their link in some way to the natural world and the topic being explored in that particular episode. How do you go about finding such a diverse cast of interviewees?

It’s important for us that we reflect a range of expertise and places – the BBC Earth podcast shouldn’t be left solely in the domain of scientists and environmentalists of the UK and America. For this series we’ve spoken to poets, mechanical engineers, wildlife camera-people, anthropologists… and from locations including Mongolia, Ethiopia and Hawaii.

Emily and I have slightly different interests, which also helps us look for stories in different places and reflect a wider variety of voices.

What is the biggest challenge when interviewing contributors from all over the world?

Time zones! Having to work out the best time to speak to a contributor in say – New Zealand – is extremely difficult. There’s a 12-hour time difference, so right now, it’s Friday in the UK and Saturday in New Zealand, pure chaos! That being said… it’s worth it for being able to bring listeners truly global stories.

3. What makes a good contributor for a podcast?

A few things… being a good storyteller is key. So the way they create images in the mind’s eye and use metaphor. Also, if they can communicate complex ideas so that even my Granny can understand what they’re on about, that’s a bonus. And finally, something more difficult to define which is just the quality of their voice. Does it draw you in and keep you listening? Then they’d be perfect.

4. The stories in the BBC Earth Podcast are often told with great enthusiasm and vigour by the contributors themselves – how do you get such succinct and interesting narratives from the subjects being interviewed? Are there certain techniques you use or is it simply down to careful editing?

Editing definitely plays a big part in it. We often restructure the story after we’ve done the interview, so it’s as clear as possible. We add sound design to help illustrate it. But there are ways to get the most out of the interviewee: planning what you want the final piece to be before the interview so you can structure your questions around that; asking them to re-tell the story in different ways; encouraging them to use a lot of sensory detail… Also, they may have told this story more than once, so it helps to think of new angles to have a fresh response.

5. Can you tell us about one or two favourite stories you’ve done for the BBC Earth Podcast?

Oh, it’s hard to choose – there’s something special about them all! But I really enjoyed speaking to the anthropologist Bumochir Dulam in Mongolia. It was a feat trying to set it up, but he was so kind when I finally spoke to him. He told me the story of nomad families and their camel coaxing rituals in the Gobi desert. A local musician will play the horsehead fiddle to encourage bonding between the mother and their calves.

Another highlight was going to pigeon fancier Jon Day’s house in East London. It’s rare to do these interviews in person due to geographical constraints, so it was a joy to meet Jon and his flock of pigeons in person.

When do you feel it’s necessary to steer the discussion during an interview?

As producer, I’m always steering the discussion… We have limited time booked in a studio and it’s crucial we get all the pieces of the story, so we don’t regret missing something afterwards. Also, someone may be so used to telling the story in a particular way, that it’s important to steer them away from that and encourage them to tell it in a way that has the most impact.

6. As well as interesting people featured in the podcasts, there are also a host of fantastic creatures scattered throughout the series – my favourite being the lone whale in ‘Isolation’. Do you prefer letting nature and science speak for itself, or is human experience important?

It’s important to let nature and science speak for itself, which is why we often have experts on the podcast who expand our understanding of the world through their research. But nearly always, there’s something deeper going on with the scientist – their study will have affected them in some fundamental way, and that’s interesting to probe. For example, Doug Larson is an ecologist in Ontario, Canada who discovered an ancient forest living above a motorway on an escarpment. These trees were protected by being out of sight from humans and were successful because they needed little resources to survive. Studying these trees for years affected Doug’s outlook on the world and made him think about his own future, and how to live well in old age. For me, a story can be more moving when you hear how the natural world has influenced human experience.

The podcast themes are often large constructs reflecting ideas relating to the human condition – isolation, lack of control, ritual etc. When creating a podcast, how important is it to you that it connects with listeners in a metaphysical way?

The metaphysical level is where we hold our values, morals and outlook –and we can learn how others experience this through stories.

For series three I spoke to Rāwiri Tinirau about the Whanganui River of New Zealand and its 170-year battle. To Rāwiri’s people, this river is an ancestor and so should be treated as such. He told the story about how the river was finally granted personhood status in 2017. On one level, there were the facts of the story and the long-running legal case. But on the metaphysical level, there were the deep, emotional connections his people have had for hundreds of years, and it’s through bringing both elements together in a story that we can truly understand its gravity.

Questions by Chris Knowles

This article was produced as part of a paid advertising package. To enquire about advertising with Pod Bible email info@podbiblemag.com.

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What is Eco Anxiety?

As we hear more worrying news daily about our planet’s environment – polar ice caps melting, species becoming extinct, the Amazon rainforests burning – there has been a steady increase in people being diagnosed with a condition known as Eco Anxiety, an extreme form of worry or depression related to the negative effects of climate change. Although the condition has become more prevalent in recent years, at present it is not recognised as a mental disorder and does not feature in the Diagnostic And Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders – the U.S. guide for diagnosing psychological illness – but has been described by Psychology Today as being “a fairly recent psychological disorder afflicting an increasing number of individuals who worry about the environmental crisis”.

One apparent reason for its absence from the canon of clinical mental disorders is that Eco Anxiety has similarities to other clinical anxiety disorders, but differs in that it has a ‘rational’ cause.

Caroline Hickman, a teaching fellow at Bath University, and a member of The Climate Psychology Alliance (CPA), a group of psychologists who are committing their specialist knowledge to focus on climate change says, “The symptoms are the same [as clinical anxiety], the feelings are the same, but the cause is different.” She goes on to clarify this by stating  “The fear is of environmental doom – that we’re all going to die.”

News about freaky global weather disasters or scary ecological predictions can trigger this particular form of anxiety, but for some, even simple things like seeing car fumes being emitted, or becoming overwhelmed by plastic packaging in a supermarket aisle, can bring on symptoms such as hyper ventilation or panic attacks, though for many it is simply uncontrollable worry and sleepless nights that are the problem. Sam, who suffers with Eco Anxiety and features in Radio 1 and 1Xtra’s “Me And My Eco Anxiety” podcast explains it like this: “When you go to sleep… you start thinking about everything…the state of the planet really, and the potential future of it, knowing that there’s only so much you can do as one person”

The science is even more alarming. Last year’s report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was intractable in its call for urgent curbs on carbon emissions by 2030 as a bare minimum if we intend to harbour any hope of halting global warming, whilst a paper that went viral by Professor Jem Bendall entitled Deep Adaptation: A Map For Navigating Climate Tragedy and published in the same year, was even more gloomy in its conclusions, stating that we need to prepare for the possibility of complete societal collapse as a result of climate change. With a daily barrage of bad news in the media about the planet’s future it is inevitable that a lot of people have become deeply concerned, and in some individual cases this has developed in to something more traumatic.

Eco Anxiety is especially prevalent in young people who feel that their future is uncertain – yet see very little action being taken by their governments and those who should be in a position to tackle what they perceive as an emergency. Alice, who features in the BBC’s Costing The Earth podcast on Eco Anxiety, and is a member of Birth Strike, a group of young people so fearful of the future they are refusing to have children, says that “it’s almost the norm to speak about this level of hopelessness” amongst young people in her circle. It is this very inability to be able to do anything, or to influence those who could, that leads to a feeling of helplessness, and inevitably, acute frustration and anxiety. But this is also the key to dealing with Eco Anxiety as Dr Lorin Lindner, an American clinical psychologist who uses nature and eco-psychological methods to treat her patients told us. She declares that we must “stop allowing ourselves to be paralyzed by the news of these fateful events (and) take action. Do one thing to help your local community garden, support a group doing work in the trenches, do one little thing to make our climate better.”

Making small changes in your own life such as using less plastic, cycling to work, joining and contributing to environmental pressure groups, or using eco-friendly products can all help combat the feeling of powerlessness which is often at the root of Eco Anxiety. In other words, start taking action in whatever way you can. Small changes cannot combat the global issues at stake, but they can make you feel like you are helping to make a difference. As Dr Lindner says “The antidote to despair and anxiety is Action, otherwise we feel helpless and hopeless to enact the change we know is necessary.”

Another form of treatment that can help with Eco Anxiety is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBD. This is essentially the notion to replace negative thought patterns with more logical and healthy ones by inducing the patient to engage with possibilities that can be ‘coped’ with instead of focusing only on scenarios that are devastating.

Dr Lindner adds that getting back in to nature itself is also beneficial to our wellbeing and can be a way to stave off the effects of Eco Anxiety

“Get out in Nature – put your feet in the dirt, build a sand castle, breathe in the forest air – research shows that depression and anxiety are impacted significantly by being outdoors, around animals, or in a natural setting.”

Dr. Daniel Maughan says in the Costing The Earth podcast, as climate change is such an acute issue and will affect us all in the near future, action must increase within our society itself, and this will inevitably affect the sense of impotence that lies at the root of our Eco Anxiety.

“…if the government makes some changes, if we as a society can start responding in a positive way to this potential catastrophe, then that might help alleviate this learned helplessness”.

Written by Chris Knowles

Images courtesy of Getty

Relevant links:

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.ecowatch.com/more-children-are-being-treated-for-eco-anxiety-but-also-turning-fear-into-political-action-2640400343.amp.html

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/b2e7ee32-ad28-4ec4-89aa-a8b8c98f95a5

https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wellbeing/a24395537/ecoanxiety-definition-treatment/#r3z-addoor

https://www.ukhypnosis.com/2019/06/16/identifying-and-helping-with-eco-anxiety/

https://theconversation.com/im-a-psychotherapist-heres-what-ive-learned-from-listening-to-children-talk-about-climate-change-123183

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/09/15/parents-told-not-terrify-children-climate-change-rising-numbers/?WT.mc_id=tmg_share_tw

https://climatepsychologyalliance.org/

https://www.climatepsychologyalliance.org/about/who-we-are

https://medium.com/asparagus-magazine/eco-anxiety-climate-change-coping-treatment-cbt-72625b481f54

https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/eco-anxiety2.htm

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/stories/eco-anxiety

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.livescience.com/amp/65843-climate-change-anxiety-is-real.html

https://www.lifeworth.com/deepadaptation.pdf

http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1654087,00.html

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1. The first satellite recording of the ‘milky seas’

The vast patches of incandescence spotted by numerous mariners on the oceans at night have for centuries remained a mystery. Floating above the water level like a thick glowing mist for miles in every direction, these rare and utterly beautiful phenomena have been puzzled and pondered over by sailors and scientists alike. We do know that the effect is caused by billions of bioluminescent bacteria, but as Steven Miller, a senior research scientist at Colorado State University says, “there is not concrete evidence of how they form, (or) why they form”.

Working with highly sensitive satellite equipment he believed he had the tools to finally observe and record this spectacle. By matching reports from the captain of steamship Lima, a vessel sailing off the coast of Somalia in 1995, who observed a whitish glow on the horizon – followed by the ship being surrounded by “a field of snow” 15 minutes later – he was able to match the precise time and date of satellite pictures which identified for the first time, a ‘smudge’ of light in the exact same location.

“It was the first confirmed satellite view of a bioluminescent milky sea” he goes on to say, a discovery that has lead to more satellite imaging of sightings of bioluminescence and the beginning of understanding this rare and amazing natural occurrence.

2. Fossilized DNA and preserving endangered species

We would love to see a Dinosaur  cloned, making Jurassic Park a reality, or perhaps a woolly Mammoth, but with the discovery of fossilized DNA it is extremely unlikely according to Beth Shapiro of the University of California. Beth studies DNA in fossils in order to find out why some ecosystems are more resilient than others. “Dinosaurs are all rocks..” she says “..the only thing we can get DNA from are the things that died more recently than that”. This is because we would need a preserved cell from the extinct animal, and these are impossible to find in anything other than more recently extinct species. Cloning by extracting the nucleus from a preserved cell and inserting it in to the egg of the nearest current species has the theoretical potential, but so far it has not been successful in cloning an extinct organism. What is possible and more exciting for Beth is applying these and other techniques to endangered species where there are real possibilities to help save them from becoming extinct. One technique she is most inspired by is genome editing technology, where a living cell can be manipulated by inserting specific sequences of letters to create stronger DNA codes. She uses the examples of coral where specific attributes of the DNA code in more robust species are being transferred to less successful coral species in order to give them a greater chance of survival.

3. The singing wolves

Well, not strictly wolves, this discovery of African wild dogs (aka painted wolves) singing to each other was made by Nick Lyon, one of the producers of the BBC Dynasties series, whilst on location in Zimbabwe tracking and observing a pack of painted wolves for an episode in the series. Circling the wolves in a helicopter one day he noticed that they were opening their mouths, so he landed the helicopter in order to find out why. On alighting he was greeted by a sound he had never heard before, indeed something he believes nobody before had ever observed from this species – the wolves were singing! Pairs were singing to each other before coupling off, but at certain points the whole pack were singing in unison. The wolves had recently and unexpectedly been made leaderless, which is an unusual situation for them to have been in, so it is thought that possibly it was a response to this. At this point we can only speculate on the reasons for this amazing scenario, but luckily Nick was able to record the sound on his mobile phone, and since then work has begun to try and understand this unusual, never seen before behaviour.

4. A new ecosystem

Finding a new species is the dream of most explorers, but to locate a whole new virgin ecosystem became an unbelievable reality for ecologist Julian Bayliss. Using satellite imagery to scour Northern Mozambique he came across a dense forest like area of vegetation in a crater on top of what appeared to be a mountain. On further investigation this mountain (named Mount Lico), turned out to be an inselberg, a sheer piece of non-volcanic rock, and according to the local inhabitants, nobody had ever scaled it in living memory. He embarked on a mission to investigate it further using a drone in order to see over the lip of the crater, and what it captured confirmed all his wildest hopes. When the photos from the drone were recovered and downloaded on to his laptop later it showed that “the whole of the forest was there…it was really the first view of a lost world…”.  When an expedition finally took him in to the forest, new species of butterflies, amphibians and mammals were recorded, and scientists are still finding treasures in its undisturbed terrain.

5. Discovering caves – miracles of darkness

Tim and Pam Fogg are climbing experts who work for the BBC getting people in to very difficult places, often underground. They have been on extensive worldwide cave explorations, one of which took place in complete darkness for 8 continuous days, where they woke up each day to the disconcerting effect of complete silence and total blackout. When they visited the stunning caves of the Northern Borneo rain forests in 2004, where huge limestone tunnels and amphitheatres hide treasures of giant stalactites and stalagmites, they discovered their undisturbed footprints in a passage that they had traversed in 1989 – nobody else had been there since.

These caves are really the last largely unexplored places in the world, comprising their own ecosystems that can include rivers, fish, and wildlife such as snakes, centipedes and cave crickets. Tim says about their expeditions, “We’ve been lucky enough to take a lot of steps that no other human has ever taken and cast light on places that no other human has ever seen and no light has ever been .. and that’s pretty special!!”

Written by Chris Knowles

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