Find him here

He tells me about a recent paper published titled Postglacial Recolonization of the Southern Ocean by Elephant Seals Occurred From Multiple Glacial Refugia.

We discuss climate impact on elephant seals in the past and in the future.

The effect of commercial hunting and traditional harvest.

Dark intraspecific extinction.

We touch on how animal numbers looked in New Zealand when humans arrived, how to save elephant seals, if ChatGPT is any good for DNA work and more.

An interesting read is the article Pascale collaborated on that was published in The Conversation.

Jonny tells me about how water is sourced, how you get a job in Antarctica, staying alive and more.

Podcast link

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EverythingAntarctica

Link to, a book Jonny says is a must read  'The Worst Journey in the world'

The pilot, run with Dairy Trust Taranaki, aims to create New Zealand’s first commercially viable net zero dairy farm within ten years. 

Since 2022, the Fonterra-owned 290ha farm has achieved an approximate 27% reduction in absolute emissions and a 5.5% reduction in emissions intensity. 

I spoke to Talia Grala, environment programme manger at Fonterra, about the project.

Have a look at a press release about the project here.

He talks fly gear for Taimen, how crazy the trip was, and lots more.

Rob's website https://www.robfish.co.nz/

His Instagram https://www.instagram.com/robfish.co.nz/

Topics we cover is her background and her own adventures, nutrition for older athletes and those upping their game, sugar, protein and salt intake, mental fitness and more.

We geek out a bit about how cool podcasts are and more.

Book an appointment with her at https://www.mikkiwilliden.com/ or listen to her nutrition advice on https://podcast.mikkiwilliden.com/episodes

In this episode Ryan talked to Ben who previously worked as a hunting guide/culler in Scotland.

Ben's instagram page is a way of getting people to appreciate the necessity for responsible wildlife management and that hunting maintains healthy animal populations for future generations.

Thanks again to Ryan for the collaboration.

The Gary Fetke interview with Ryan on the modern diet, carbs and more is worth a listen. https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/the-stag-roar-life-less-ordinary/id1257836237?i=1000429186527

The Stag Roar: Life Less Ordinary https://www.stagroar.co.nz/

His YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@WhatInTheWorld_Tom

CBC Manitoba report on Tom rescuing the dog form sure death https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQSlSn2LpHE

Tom's Instagram profile https://www.instagram.com/whatintheworld_tom?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Check out his Instagram

His YouTube channel Strider Media has some cool philosophical ramblings on hunting and good outdoor adventure videos of a man with his dog.

https://www.youtube.com/@strider_media

His Instagram account

instagram.com/strider_adventures

Her website: http://www.erinforsyth.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erin_forsyth/?hl=en

Franco also tells me about hunting roe deer in France, his vet practice and the possibility of more research projects in New Zealand.

Download the 14 page report on pink eye here:

https://nztahrfoundation.org.nz/project-pinkeye

Franco's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/altitudeandtrails/

Thar are artiodactyl ungulates related to goats and sheep.

The New Zealand Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) are an introduced species but have now become part of the landscape.

He talks about his latest paper 'Dead on the Beach? Predicting the Drift of Whale Remains Improves Management for Offshore Disposal', the role the nutrients of a dead whale plays in the ecosystem, the challenges they faced, why this cheaper option is not the current way of doing, he tells me about sitting in whale carcasses for arthritis treatment, the software they used to map the whale's 150km drift path, the sharks that fed on the carcass and more.

His paper https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/12/7/1156

All music by Jacques van Wyk

Have a look at their work on https://www.nongmoproject.org/

The trial was followed by a paper that describes their techniques, questions and results in depth.

Metin tells me about flint knapping, new ideas in archeology, clovis people, life 13,000 years ago, what we know, what we thought we knew, what we don't know...you'll get it once you listen to the podcast.

We agree that the clovis story is the story of all of us.

For images go to my Instagram account.

All deer species are introduced into New Zealand.

Hunters say they have to be sustainably managed, with lobby groups saying they have to be removed as much as possible, often via poison bait or by helicopters operators who shoot them, as they destroy native flaura.

FYI folks, we had connectivity issues and the sound is quite poor at times.

Gwyn is working on a book he hopes to publish in a year with the evidence and his years of Chamois hunting as topics.

We speak abou local herds, how they were caught in Austria, how they were shipped and almost perished on their trip, what they were fed and loads more. He gives me Chamois hunting tips.

In this episode I speak to Prof. Dr. Frédéric Leroy about the campaign against meat.

Frederic is part of a research group in industrial microbiology and Food Biotechnology at the Department of Bioengineering Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit in Brussels.

He talks about the the intricacies and politics of the EAT Lancet diet and its stakeholders, he tells me about one liners, hyperbole and simplification of the meat and livestock argument, climate and the vilification of meat, we talk about why he took to Twitter to tackle misinformation about meat, how studies about meat’s place in healthy diets have been inaccurate, why a UN environmental group says meat is our most pressing issue, we talk about fermented meat, issues with the Global Burden of Disease study, why the fight against CO2 has left the building, and the influencers in the campaign against meat.

Frederic on Twitter/X @fleroy1974

C3 supplies flies world wide.

He tells me about ice fishing for trout with flies and a hand line in Sweden, how he learned to fly fish on chalk streams in the UK as child on the same rivers Frank Sawyers was a river keeper, how difficult it is to find a tying partner, who the greatest fly tyers in the world are, why tying a hare and copper commercially is difficult, he speculates that the 101 is the perfect fly, recruiting people for fly tying who needs a leg up in life, paying royalties for new fly patterns, how you get space in a fly shop, the politics in the fly industry and the challenges the industry faces.

https://www.category3flycompany.com

For those interested to read on some of the UK father of fly fishing Sean mentions go to:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Sawyer_(writer)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._E._M._Skues 

She tells me about shotguns that kick, training deer and pheasant dogs, the work Fish & Game does to rehabilitate create and save habitat for fish and game birds, what type of horse she wants for hunting, taking time out to get outside, the type of people Fish & Game has in its arsenal of talent, hunters as examples for other hunters, conservation, utilisation, social license of hunters, the role influencers play in the industry, broken bones and scars and much more.

We talk about conservation, tropical diseases, having your passport taken, sucking as a client, the Indifly Corps, creating livelihoods for small communities and of course his amazing art and the techniques he uses.

Follow him on instagram @johanndupreez_art https://www.instagram.com/johanndupreez_art/

For indifly go to https://www.indifly.org

We talk about how changing climate policies play a role in the possible disruption of the dairy industry.

We talk about why meat possibly won't face a big disruption from novel proteins.

We praise milk for its nutritional properties.

We talk about how she is perceived in the industry as a result of sounding the alarm bell to possible threats.

We theorise how the dairy market will look in future.

We talk about regenerative farming.

She talks about her views about what will happen on her farm in future.

He talks about how he got into ferreting, training ferrets, how an obsession became a job, getting permits to transport ferrets, that are also an introduced pest and why his ferrets are named after psycho killers.

Find him at www.jimsbunnyhunters.com 

We talk about his cassava harvester, the challenges smallholder farmers face with cassava production, the need for governments in Africa to support mechanisation and processing.

We talk about the perception of cassava and perceptions about smallholder farmers. 

He gives me tips on training a dog to hunt deer.

We lament that we don't get out enough.

He tells me about his horse wrangling and hunting guide days overseas.

We discuss working with people with opposing views and diplomacy.

We discuss the challenges the council face and the challenges deer, tahr and chamois face.

Cohen talks about how the study came about, the methods they used, and their findings.

He also talks about his passion for hunting deer over his German Short Haired Pointer, how he joined Fish and Game, and how he began fishing.

All music by Jacques van Wyk

When the shop closed everyone missed his no nonsense approach, humour and willingness to talk fishing for hours.

In this podcast he tells me about growing up in Italy and fishing in the traditional 'al tocco' style since he was a kid.

He tells me how in the region where he grew up the biggest decision a kid makes is picking between soccer or motorbike racing, he chose racing.

We talk about catching marble trout in Italy.

He tells my about the connection he feels with fish when he catches them on dry fly.

We talk about fishing for Instagram.

And how he now fishes while carrying his 11 month old son on his back.

All music by Jacques van Wyk

He talks about hunters getting involved in politics, how to use climate change to get funding to secure more bird habitat, how denying climate change is not helping, how being a hunter does not automatically make you a conservationist.

He gives me tips about buying my first bird dog, he talks about working for the police and about electronic dance music, his favourite shotguns and more

Have a look at https://projectupland.com

All music for the podcast by Jacques van Wyk.

We also talk about how to see when rhino are stressed, litigations against the South African government, how rhino populations in South Africa grow by over 7% per year despite natural losses and poaching, all thanks to private owners, how private rhino owners own more than 60% of rhino in the world and carry a massive conservation burden.

All music by Jacques van Wyk.

I speak to Michael Andrew, editor of Lifestyle Block magazine about homesteading in New Zealand.

We ask are preppers crazy? (No they're not!) We talk self sufficiency, hunting, fishing, bartering, permaculture and how he is building his own homestead in Raglan, New Zealand.

Note; the interview was done late last year, so when he refers to next year he means 2024.

All music by Jacques van Wyk

But a team of researchers recently used environmental DNA to find it again and also managed to get hold of one of the moles and take DNA sample swabs.

I speak to Dr. Samantha Mynhardt, a Conservation Genetics Researcher, about their discovery on the South African West Coast.

We talk about the potentials of the use of environmental DNA in conservation, the sniffer dog they used to detect the golden mole, why it is better if some species are left undiscovered but why finding the De Winton's mole is good, the threats against it and more.

Samantha is part of the Drylands Conservation Programme, for the Endangered Wildlife Trust and an extraordinary lecturer for the Department of Botany and Zoology at the Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

So, in this episode I speak to Riley Meason and Gabe Ross from The Weekend Mish.

They talk about how they started hunting, building a YouTube channel brand, their participation in the reality TV show Tracked, how they handle criticism, their recent hunt in the USA and why it rocked, big missions and taking risks, what a trophy is, the future and more.

Gabe cuts out a few times and Riley and I just keep talking.

We laugh at our own jokes.

Good times!

Check them out on https://www.youtube.com/@TheWeekendMish

All music by Jacques van Wyk

They talk about their deep frustrations with the idea that maximum production means maximum profit.

Some of what they say might be triggering to anyone who does not understand the curve of diminishing returns.

Barrie talks extensively about the software model, E2M, that he wrote.

He voices his frustration with how averaging is used to make decisions on farms.

Melinda talks about the connection between soil and animal health.

She talks about a need for plant system modelling in Overseer, and how soil optimal ranges are based on averages that are useless for individual farms, and how she believes farms have to be treated as individuals.

She talks about how there is little understanding of how what happens in soils has an impact on livestock health.

She says she doesn’t use the term regen as it is basically just good farm practice.

Barrie says if a greenhouse gas tax kicks in and software uses averages to calculate future fertiliser use on farms, then the best and most efficient farmers will be penalised the most.

They voice opinions on sale reps.

Some useful information.

A E2M intro and demo

https://youtu.be/kSHcWXJ08Sc

John King explaining diminishing returns  https://youtu.be/F9ytTwU_TUQ

E2M-technical-foreword.pdf (landcare.org.nz)

This is a full and at times complex overview of E2M

Sarahs Country discussion on E2M 

 https://youtu.be/bl3tuI7im3I  

E2M Detailed Overview 

https://youtu.be/SmEx7irZP14

Annette Litherland, Takaka Study

Takaka-Case-Study-3.pdf (landcare.org.nz)

https://landcare.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/E2M-technical-foreword.pdf

And last but not least a explanation by ChatGPT that Barrie provided on E2M:

"E2M (Enviro-Economic Model) is a unique farm-planning tool that can identify how to achieve a particular outcome on a farm within the many constraints that farm operates within—whether it be maximising economic performance or minimising external inputs, nutrient losses, or emissions. It is a full farm systems model, summarising farm operations in fortnightly increments including pasture growth, grazing, fertiliser use, economics, nutrient outputs, and greenhouse gas emissions. E2M works differently to other farm systems models available in Aotearoa New Zealand (and the world)—and this makes it much more efficient and effective than those models.

E2M is based on a linear-programming platform and can model whole farm systems including greenhouse gas emissions. It differs from other farm systems models worldwide as it avoids the restrictions that linear programming exhibits when integrating multiple complex systems."

He later had a whole area of the country named after him: Mackenzie Country.

In this episode I speak to curator Sean Brosnahan and exhibition developer William McKee from the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum.

Below are links to stories of pioneers from New Zealand history, a project Sean and Will are working on.

Journey to New Edinburgh documentary:  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeriCkBw8zMgqxdPz1XlkILIAlugr3JD_&si=JAoO6JENAJIovQJv  

100 Pioneers Stories:  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeriCkBw8zMjEtYJjSuU_HPqF3GZf9EVj&si=JP-paYudjG9iXqbp

Definition of Pakeha: A Maori term for the white inhabitants of New Zealand.

All music by Jacques van Wyk

In this episode I speak to Greg Smith, CEO of wool carpet manufacturer Bremworth, about how regulations and selective science is showing wool is somehow worse for the planet than synthetic materials.

We delve into government intervention and how politicians appease voters and their climate views.

The lawsuit against Bremworth.

And what the future holds.

We talk about Greg's mind-shift when he leaves the jewellery world for primary industries.

Why are governments intervening in the industry? (at min 15:44)

Did he expect the backlash from synthetic industry when Bremworth began promoting wool?

The impact of the cyclone and flooding on Bremworth's factory.

https://bremworth.co.nz

All music by Jacques van Wyk

We talk about why New Zealand needs a food plan and strategy, how introduced species like deer and trout play a role in a food plan, we touch on food waste, regenerative agriculture, we bemoan how white bait is managed, and we talk about the role of the export market, the supermarket duopoly, Supie, the role consumers have to play in making new systems work and more.

Maori definitions used by Angela for foreign listeners;

Kai moana: Food from the sea

Whanau: Extended family or community

Mahinga kai: cultivation or food gathering place

I also talk to Ross Bailey, an Australian fly fisherman who has in the past caught Australian grayling as bycatch. The Australian grayling is protected and you are not allowed to target them. Ross shares how he caught them on the fly, what fly patterns they went for, what rivers they are found in, how hard they fought. He also talk about catching their far-off cousins in Europe and Alaska.

The grayling was hyper-abundant and was New Zealand's most common fish. It is, for now, the only extinct New Zealand fish.

Dr Nic and Lachlan do a deep dive into a DNA study they did, what they found, the wide ranging theories of how the fish became extinct, what it ate (which is a clue to how you'd fish for it if you are a fly-fisherman), we establish that you don’t have to fish every weekend to be able to study fish, we talk about possible reintroduction of the fish, and Lachlan says Nic is a rainmaker when it comes to getting funding for studies. We also talk about dogs, wolves and why using fish as fertiliser isn't a good idea.

I speak to brand strategist, creative, photographer and foodie Tim Kaverman from Eat What you Kill Co about all this and more.

With the system not focusing on profit the farmer is free to focus on regenerative agriculture methods. Families who wish to volunteer their free time do so and assist the farmer where he feels he may need a hand.

The Herenboeren are involved with government and are active in the discussion on new approaches to agriculture in a changing world.

Follow him on Instagram @journojay

All music by Jacques van Wyk.

Logo by Gerhard Human. 

Website: https://themissionflymag.com

Instagram: @themissionflymag

All music by Jacques van Wyk 

Website: https://pracmednz.com

Instagram: @pracmed_nz

All music by Jacques van Wyk 

- fund trees at 'give a little'

All music by Jacques van Wyk

The first is an interview with him in his hometown Taupo. Alex talks about growing up in the UK, his move to New Zealand, learning to fly fish in rivers, fish handling, why some people suck and others don't, the equipment he uses to make videos for his channels, how much lock down sucks for guides, why trout rock, fishing king fish on the fly.

The second half is a recording of a talk he held at an Auckland fly fishing club on how to effectively fish the Tongariro river in the North Island of New Zealand. He discusses presentation, his theory of how weight plus depth equals fish, how too little slack on the water affects presentation, why he doesn't use tapered leaders but builds his own, and more.