The Podcast for nature nuts from wildlife cameraman Jack Perks. Jack interviews celebrities, artists, scientists and conservationists giving a light hearted look into their specialisms, stories and backgrounds seeing what drives people to become so utterly fascinated by the natural world.
Episodes
Tuesday Feb 23, 2021
Tuesday Feb 23, 2021
I chat to TV angling star Matt Hayes who is one the most recognised names in British angling having been on TV for more than 20 years and appeared in over 200 programmes. Whether he’s on his solo adventures or paired up with Mick Brown he’s programs are widely regarded as some of the best angling tv programmes made with the great rod race, lake escapes and total fishing being highlights. I speak Matt about his start in angling tv, how its changed over the years and how salmon fishing has taken up a lot of his time in recent years along with quick fire questions at the end like favourite fish, venue and methods.
Matt's Website - https://www.matthayes.tv/
Britains Hidden Fishes - https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/britain-s-hidden-fishes/x/15889418?create_edit=true#/
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
In todays show I’m talking to ace fly angler Marina Gibson and this is part of a series of podcasts all month talking to influential and celebrity anglers. I’m also working on a crowd funder this month Britains hidden fishes which I’m aiming to make a 1 hour long on british fish, think blue planet but a much smaller budget and there’s a link to that in the description.
Marina has got to be the most well known female angler in the country. she runs on the northern fishing school which helps people of all ages connect with fishing. She’s appeared on multiple tv shows, YouTube videos and magazine articles not to mention being a brand ambassador for Orvis fishing company.
We chat about what drives people to go fishing, how women anglers are perceived in the sport and if women are indeed better anglers along with quick fire questions at the end like favourite fish, venue and methods.
Marina's Website - https://marinagibsonfishing.com/
Britains Hidden Fishes - https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/britain-s-hidden-fishes/x/15889418?create_edit=true#/
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
This week I’m chatting to legendary tv angler Jeremy wade, This the last in of a series of podcasts this month talking to influential and celebrity anglers. I’m also working on a crowd funder this month Britains hidden fishes which I’m aiming to make a 1 hour long film on British fish, think blue planet but a much smaller budget and coincidentally Jeremy is narrating that film, there’s a link to that in the description.
I remember watching Jeremy in jungle hooks a few years before he blew up on river monsters and it was such breath of fresh air seeing all these weird and wonderful fish being caught by someone who was engaging and clearly invested in these animals. Jeremy has spent nearly 40 years trailing around the world catching fish and has since written books and started in many tv shows like river monsters, dark waters and mighty rivers.
We talk about about the monsters that eluded him, his break into television and a catfish that swims up your penis along with loads of other adventures he’s been on.
Jeremy's Website - https://jeremywade.co.uk/
Britains Hidden Fishes - https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/britain-s-hidden-fishes/x/15889418?create_edit=true#/
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
In todays podcast I’m going down the rabbit hole of podcasting and talking to fellow wildlife podcaster Ryan dalton who runs the successful podcast into the wild. We talk about what prompts people to start podcasts, how we pick guests, are pet hates in podcasting and tips for making one here’s the chat. Ryan is a stand up comedian, self confessed eco freak and of course podcaster.
Ryan's Podcast - https://intothewild.podbean.com/
Britains Hidden Fishes - https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/britain-s-hidden-fishes/x/15889418#/
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
This week I have Megan McCubbin who is a zoologist, conservationist, photographer and recent addition to the Springwatch presenting team we talk about what it was like joining the watches, going uncover in Asia to expose the bear bile industry and setting up the self isolation bird club. We also talk about what its like being Chris Packhams step daughter and if theres a feeling of stepping out of his shadow or not?
Megan's Insta - www.instagram.com/megan_mccubbinphoto
Britains Hidden Fishes - https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/britain-s-hidden-fishes/x/15889418#/
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
Today I’m talking to a childhood hero of mine I remember growing up in the 90’s and watching all the wildlife programmes on animal planet and two people really stood out to me the late great Steve Irwin and todays guest mark o’shea who hosted o’shes big adventure where he’s go around catching dangerous reptiles to collect data, venom and help people understand them. He’s now taken up the role of Professor of Herpetology at the University of Wolverhampton and previous to that was working with reptiles at the west midland safari park for 33 years not to mention all the other tv work he’s done.
We talk about his fascination with snakes, what it's like to be bitten by a venomous snake and how o’sheas big adventure started.
Mark's Website - http://www.markoshea.info/home.php
Britains Hidden Fishes -
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
In this weeks podcast I’m speaking to fellow East Midlander Jack Baddams. He’s worked as a bird ringer, volunteered at sherwood forest and currently works on Springwatch as researcher. So we discuss a bit about Jacks career but also look are all non native species bad? Are we at the point of no return with some alien species and discuss a new type of conservation gaining momentum compassionate conservation where you don’t kill any thing.
Jack's Insta - https://www.instagram.com/jabaddams/
Tuesday Apr 13, 2021
Tuesday Apr 13, 2021
Today I’ve got an old friend on, Jacky Poon. We went to college and university together and its been great watching his career go from strength to strength. He lived in Nottingham for a few years before moving back to china in the yuan province. He’s a camera operator, director and drone pilot having worked for then blue chip BBC series such as Seven Worlds One Planet, Disney nature, National Geographic you name it and we talk about the emerging wildlife film industry in china, what its like working on these major series and how he dressed up as a panda to film them and to be blunt if pandas are fucked?
Jacky's Website - www.jackypoon.org/
© www.jackperksphotography.com
Wednesday Apr 14, 2021
Wednesday Apr 14, 2021
Celebrating one year of podcasting I decided to release an extra episode on the subject of dogs and UK wildlife which can come into conflict. I also talk about the past year for the podcast, some stats and where it's heading.
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
This week I’m speaking to Hannah O’Regan who is an Associate Professor in Archaeology at the university of Nottingham. We discuss when bears roamed the UK, when they died out and if there’s a possible future for bringing them back.
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
In todays show we’ll be looking at how wolves got domesticated, if dogs and wolves are the same species and how dogs have changed are own evolution.
One thing I wanted to find out was how we got from the might wolf to a walking sausage so I got in touch with Greger Larson. He studied at Oxford and the University of Colorado before receiving his PhD in Zoology in 2006. He is now the Director of the Palaeogenomics & Bio-Archaeology Research Network Greger where he is continuing his focus on the use of ancient DNA to study the pattern and process of domestication.
Monday May 03, 2021
Monday May 03, 2021
In this episode I’m chatting to German biologist Katrin Linse of the British Antarctic Survey who has spent the last 25 years researching biodiversity and in particular looking at what’s living deep in out oceans.
We talk about giant squid, megaladon, the mysterious "bloop" and how animals adapt to live down in the depths.
Tuesday May 11, 2021
Tuesday May 11, 2021
I’m chatting with MNHP tutor Adrian Brown he is a senior lecturer on the BA(Hons) Marine & Natural History Photography and heads the third year of the degree course. He also runs the professional photographic practice modules during the student's second year.
In this episode we talk about the course, what it takes to get on it and what percentage of students make it into wildlife photography.
Adrians Website - http://adrianbrown.com/
Tuesday May 18, 2021
Tuesday May 18, 2021
Today I’m joined by Sally Le Page who is a biologist and full-time science YouTuber you may of seen some of her content including shed science, nature dates and the secrets of sex but there’s loads of content to explore on her channel which if you want to check it out is her name. PhD from the University of Oxford and specialises in breaking science to appeal to wider audience.
We talk about what prompted her to start making science films for YouTube, the downsides of being a YouTuber and touch upon diversity in nature programmes like spring watch.
Tuesday May 25, 2021
Tuesday May 25, 2021
All to often I focus on the living things on this podcast but thought it was be great to delve into the past and what many animals leave behind, bones and there’s one person who sprung straight to mind to speak about them and that’s Ben Garrod. Ben is a professor of Evolutionary Biology and Science Engagement at the University of East Anglia and also a primatologist. You may of seen him on one of the many tv programmes he’s featured on like secrets of bones, Attenborough and the giant dinosaur and baby chimp rescue. He’s also got a book coming out.
Today we talk about how closely related we are to chimps, the science of bones and dispelling some myths from dinosaur films like jurassic park.
Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
This week I’m talking to prolific nature writer & biologist Amy Jane-beer who is based in Yorkshire and writes columns for the Guardian, BBC Wildlife and Countryfile Magazine. She currently has two books coming out with A Tree A Day in September and The Flow: a return to the river going to take a little bit about those and nature writing in general.
We discuss how she picks stories to write about, wild swimming and planting tree to offset carbon.
Tuesday Jun 08, 2021
Tuesday Jun 08, 2021
When you think of Wales three things come to mind, rugby, rolling green hills and iolo Williams in worryingly short shorts. For those that don’t know iolo he is currently one of the main presenters for the hit BBC nature show spring watch and has also appeared in many other programmes including rugged Wales, great welsh parks and welsh language programmes for S4C.
Iolo also isn’t shy to stand for nature from raptor persecution to egg collectors he’s a vocal activist for the natural world.
Today we talk about what wildlife encapsulates Wales, starting out with the watches and how surprisingly egg collecting still goes on today. One of the obvious things with iolo is how much of a all rounder he is whether its birds, mammals, plants whatever they’ll be something he’s deeply interested in.
Tuesday Jun 15, 2021
Tuesday Jun 15, 2021
In this weeks episode I’m talking to Francesca trotman who is the founder of love the oceans a non-profit marine conservation organisation working in Jangamo Bay, Mozambique. Their mission is to protect the marine environment in Jangamo, Mozambique, by conducting education projects and scientific research that will support the establishment of a Marine Protected Area.
One of the main ways of setting up these marine protected areas is working with the community so we talk about what made fran set up this charity, if the locals were sceptical and if something like this could work in the UK?
Tuesday Jun 22, 2021
Tuesday Jun 22, 2021
This week I’m joined by the celebrated street artist Mark Anthony aka ATM who’s work has featured rare birds all over Britain and further afield. You can see his fantastic work in places like Camden, Walthamstow, Turnpike and and Acton. Being interested in art and birdlife from a young age it was a natural progression to combine the two.
We cover he started street art, the reaction from the public to these large bird pieces and what if any permissions Mark needs to do his art.
ATM's Website - https://atmstreetart.com/
Tuesday Jun 29, 2021
Tuesday Jun 29, 2021
In todays show I’m nattering to the aptly named Helen scales who is a marine biologist and prolific nature writer having recently released the brilliant abyss which covers deep sea creatures. Helen also teaches at Cambridge University and delivers talks to groups and people of all ages.
We talk about why people should care about fish, why write about the deep sea and the curious habits of the pearl fish.
Tuesday Jul 06, 2021
Tuesday Jul 06, 2021
In this weeks show I’m chatting to hamza yassan who many will know him from his CBeebies programme Let’s Go For a walk as well as appearing on the one show, country file and the recent channel four series Scotland: My life in the wild. He has a passion for birds, is a skilled ornithologist and bird nest recorder with excellent field craft and habitat knowledge. Hamza is also a published wildlife photographer as well as a wildlife tour guide.
We chat about the main challenges of wildlife filmmaking, what it's like presenting to kids and making the switch from camera op to presenter.
Tuesday Jul 13, 2021
Tuesday Jul 13, 2021
In todays show I’m chatting to springwatch presenter Gillian Burke. Gillian finds herself living in Cornwall now and over the years has done lots of narration and voicework before making the leap to the big screen and presenting for many BBC wildlife programmes most notably the watches. She’s also a biologist, public speaker and writer.
Today we talk about how voice work is different to presenting , if she was nervous joining the watches team and why we see so few people from BAME communities on nature reserves.
Tuesday Jul 20, 2021
Tuesday Jul 20, 2021
This week I’m joined by fellow countryfile presenter Joe Crowley, Joe has presented a host of television programmes from holiday hit squad to police 5 but is best known for his regular slots on both the one show and country file. It's here he embraces his passion for the outdoors and in particular rivers and recently made a film for panorama about the disgusting amounts of raw sewage entering British rivers which is the main topic of todays chat.
Tuesday Jul 27, 2021
Tuesday Jul 27, 2021
This week I’m with wildlife camerawomen Jessica Mitchell who is well known for her variety of work including time-lapse, topside and especially underwater. She’s filmed for groups such as Natural World, BBC & Oxford scientific films to name a few.
Today we cover the pressures of being a wildlife camera op, whether it should even be called cameraman or camera operator and the distant lack of women in that role plus much more. Here’s our chat.
Friday Jul 30, 2021
Friday Jul 30, 2021
In this Bonus episode I talk about the topic of wildlife photography going into decline as a career choice. Is it still a viable career and what have been the changes in it over the years?
Tuesday Aug 03, 2021
Tuesday Aug 03, 2021
This week I’m joined by Bertie Gregory who is a British wildlife filmmaker. He’s been named a National Geographic Young Explorer and The Youth Outdoor Photographer of the year, Bertie's goal is to find stories that get people to fall in love with the natural world.Bertie currently splits his time between shooting behind the camera as a cinematographer for the BBC's landmark series and hosting shows for National Geographic. Bertie recently won a BAFTA for his cinematography in the latest BBC David Attenborough series, ‘Seven Worlds, One Planet’.
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
Today I’m talking to singer - song writer kitty Macfarlane who mashes up folk tunes with natural sounds to make some incredible pieces of music. She’s guest presented radio shows on BBC Radio 3 & 4 was nominated for a horizon award. Her debut album namer of clouds is out now.
We chat about why she uses nature as a theme for her music, how she incorporates the sounds of nature into her songs and why she wrote a song about eels!
https://www.kittymacfarlane.com/
Tuesday Aug 17, 2021
Tuesday Aug 17, 2021
In todays episode I’m having a chin wag with Chris Yates, Chris is an angler preferring to use more traditional techniques and is well known for being part of Hugh miles passion for angling as well as catching the bishop a former uk record carp. Chris is also a brilliant writer and naturalist and we spoke for hours about bird watching after the podcast. I have to thank Hugh miles for setting this up as it was part of a fundraiser for Britains hidden fishes and all and in all was a fabulous day.
We talk about what british record fish Chris would want to beat now, the mysterious burbot and put some listeners questions to him.
Tuesday Aug 24, 2021
Tuesday Aug 24, 2021
This week I’m talking to Sheena Cruickshank about parasites that love nothing more then living in the human body. She’s a professor at the university of Manchester and specialities in immunity & infection.
We talk about 50ft worms in your gut, how pubic lice are declining and how some parasites might actually make you healthier.
Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
This week I’m joined by wildlife photographer dan Ruston. Dan is based in Dorset and quite frankly is a master at fieldcraft getting closer to species like roe deer, peregrine and red fox which he has a special affinity for.
We talk about what fieldcraft really means in wildlife photography, the use of commercial hides and how starting off in a gamekeeping background helped his photography. Here’s are chat.