Australian Highlights

The Australian Highlights series is the place where we find the innovative people and ideas which are not – yet! – common knowledge. Hosted by Rachel Rayner, Science Explainer, this series takes the form of regular podcast episodes and online articles where we explore the captivating stories behind Australia's groundbreaking creative moments. With a focus on game-changing women and Indigenous trailblazers, this collection of interviews, explainers and articles shines a light on the ingenuity and diversity that propel Australia forward. We’ll hear from people themselves doing amazing work; industry leaders that have been inspired by innovators from our past; and those who are enabling people to step forward and be spotlighted themselves. It's a lot of fun, as we've got comedians hearing these amazing stories for the first time! There will bonus episodes of snippets and stories that didn't make it into the full interviews and there will be regular

Australian Highlights is a society podcast hosted by Rachel Rayner, with 30 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Rachel Rayner hosts Australian Highlights, a society show with 30 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #28

  Lyn Harwood, native foods

  May 22, 202638 minS2

  <p>Lyn Harwood literally watches the grass grow. Lyn, along with partner Bruce Pascoe, is bringing back connection to our Country through lived experience and ancient agriculture. </p><p>She is building widespread recognition for Australian native foods: the grains, grasses and more that were grown and harvested by Aboriginal peoples for tens of thousands of years. This journey is captured in the book, Black Duck: A Year at Yumbarra. </p><p>Lyn takes host Rachel and comedian Alex Ward through the beauty of the farm, the work that goes into it, and how much we're learning about our country's...

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  Episode #27

  Bonus: The creativity of comedy

  May 4, 202612 minS2

  <p>Extracted from our conversation on Innovation vs Invention (Ep 26), Mandy Scotney expands on the innovative world of the comedian, the fountains of funny, and where the politics comes in.</p><p>Follow Mandy and find out what she’s up to next</p><p>Credits</p><p>Producer: Rachel Rayner, Science Explainer</p><p>Guests: Jonathan Englert, Mandy Scotney</p><p>Music: Michelle Cashman</p><p>Editing: HoboHut Media</p><p>Made possible through Meta Australia Journalism Fund, administered by the Walkley Foundation, with support from Comedy Victoria.</p><p > Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in...

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  Episode #26

  Innovation or Invention

  May 1, 202632 minS2

  <p>Innovation is a loaded term, a buzzword. When this is a podcast on innovation, what do we mean? Are we using the term correctly? Where does invention sit in all of this?</p><p>Jonathan Englert and Mandy Scotney from Episode 6, Culture Shocks, are back to unravel the conundrum of language and entrepreneurship. Jonathan draws from his PhD looking into Australian innovation, where he interviewed various inventors and explored his relationship to Australian culture.</p><p>Comedian Mandy Scotney, on her own PhD journey and fresh off a successful tour of her award-nominated show, Married for Six Weeks, brings...

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  Episode #25

  LIVE: Space food

  Apr 7, 202637 minS2

  <p>What snack would you like on a trip to Mars?</p><p>Professor Jenny Mortimer is a space horticulturalist, who is looking at the best nutritious solutions for astronauts hurtling through the solar system. She has already sent food into space, all to test whether it would survive a trip to Mars. Will it whet the appetite of cabaret star Minnie Andrews?</p><br><p>Credits</p><p>Producer: Rachel Rayner, Science Explainer</p><p>Guests: Jenny Mortimer, Minnie Andrews</p><p>Recorded at the Adelaide Fringe Festival</p><p>Tech: Luke Morris</p><p>Music: Michelle Cashman</p><p...

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  Episode #24

  LIVE: Brains and Biostats

  Feb 23, 202641 minS2

  <p>We’re all about the good life – but we’re not heading to a wellness retreat in Byron Bay. We’re measuring our quality of life using cold, hard stats, and looking at our brains with a portable scanner. No ice baths required! Champagne encouraged.</p><br><p>See images discussed in the episode and more on the website.</p><br><p>In this live recording of the Australian Highlights series for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival we’re exploring local medical innovations, from a portable brain scanner currently being tested by the Royal Flying Doctor Service, to advancements in statist...

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