Seacreatures

Episode 63: Dolphins with Martina Zimmitti 16.04.2026 53mnt

Send us Fan Mail Matt and guest Martina Zimmitti chat all about the world of dolphins. Martina has spent years as a dolphin training and thus shares some amazing insights on what it is like to work with these incredible animals. Learn about the world of dolphins, from how they behave and their social interactions to what the day in the life of a dolphin is like. Martina provides some amazing insights into one of everyone's favourite marine mammals. Check out Martina's Instagram ht...

Episode 62: Whales with Vanessa Pirotta 09.12.2025 48mnt

Send us Fan Mail Matt and Vanessa chat all about the wonderful world of whales! From the differences between toothed and baleen whales to how they all have belly buttons and that they are a relative of the hippo. Vanessa brings a wealth of amazing whale knowledge to the SEACREATURES podcast. Part 1 of our end of year whale theme! Check out Vanessa Pirotta's website https://www.vanessapirotta.com/ Her social media channels https://www.instagram.com/drvanessapirotta and her book&nbs...

Episode 61: Nautilus with Johanna Sherrill 12.11.2025 48mnt

Send us Fan Mail Matt and Johanna chat about the mysterious Nautilus! A still very understudied but amazing animal closely related to Octopus and Cuttlefish. Johanna who worked as a veterinarian treating Nautilus has all kinds of cool and awesome information about these deep sea ancient species. From the how their shell works to what they eat, everything Nautilus is covered on this episode of Seacreatures Podcast. Check out the books Johanna recommends https://www.goodreads.com/book/sho...

Episode 60: Manta Rays with Mox Ismail 13.10.2025 55mnt

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Matt talks to Mox all about Manta Rays. Mox has spent most of his life diving and snorkelling with these amazing animals and is able to share some very special insights. From cephalic lobes to theories on what Manta Rays eat, tune in to learn more about these gentle giants of the sea. Learn more and connect with Mox on his social media accounts https://www.instagram.com/mox_dives https://www.instagram.com/m.o.c.s_initiative Learn more about Manta R...

Episode 59: Quirky Seacreatures with Kirsty Webeck 19.06.2025 40mnt

Send us Fan Mail Matt chats to comedian Kirsty Webeck all about some weird and wonderful ocean animals. From the Vampire squid to the Wobbegong shark and the Costasiella seaslug the ocean is home to some very quirky seacreatures. Learn about the shark that can bite its own tail, the squid that has bioluminescent mucus instead of ink and the seaslug with solar all on this episode of the Seacreatures Podcast. Check our Kirsty Webeck's website for upcoming shows (some of which are partially abou...

Episode 58: Livyatan the Ancient Sperm Whale with Ben Francischelli 22.04.2025 45mnt

Send us Fan Mail Matt and palaeontologist guest Ben Francischelli chat all about the extinct super predator Livyatan. A 3 million year old giant Sperm Whale that roamed the oceans and likely preyed upon animals like the Megalodon Shark. With huge 40cm teeth, Livyatan was perhaps one of the biggest predators to ever live! Ben talks us through what its like to look for the fossils of a Livyatan and the inferences we can make from these ancient fossils. Check out Ben's work on his Instagra...

Episode 57: Ruby Seadragons with Nerida Wilson 10.02.2025 35mnt

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the podcast, guest Nerida Wilson talks to host Matt Testoni all about the little known species the Ruby Seadragon. Whilst the Weedy and Leafy Seadragons garner lots of attention there is actually a third species of Seadragon in the world that was only described in 2015. So what do we know about a species so new to marine biology? Find out in this episode of the Seacreatures Podcast. To learn more about Nerida's project Seadragon Search check out...

Episode 56: Lumpsuckers with Ruben Vermeule 14.12.2024 27mnt

Send us Fan Mail On this episode Matt chats to Ruben Vermeule all about diving with Lumpsuckers in the Netherlands. Learn about this amazing fish that is commonly dived with but not talked about enough. From creating a "nest" to turning orange they are one quirky fish! Check out Ruben's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/eendierofzo/ Check out Dan Musil (our theme composer) https://danmusilmusic.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/dan.musil.music Visit the Seacreatures Inst...

Episode 55: Stromatolites with Zoe Kean 20.10.2024 34mnt

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the Seacreatures Podcast, Matt chats to Zoe Kean all about the world of Stromatolites. These ancient single celled organisms are one of the original, oldest and first seacreatures on our planet and can still be found in small isolated locations today!!!! Zoe uses them in her latest book to both start and finish explaining why we are who we are in a biological sense. Learn more about Stromatolites in Zoe Kean's book at her book launch https://w...

Episode 54: Sharks with Madi Green 31.08.2024 43mnt

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Seacreatures we chat to Madi Green, a forensic marine ecologist all about the wonderful world of sharks. Matt and Madi chat about everything shark including how some shark babies are born with tiny sheaths on their nose and what species is the world smallest shark. Learn more about sharks here https://www.shark-references.com/ Check out some of Madi's work on her Instagram https://www.instagram.com/madigreenmarine/ Check out the Big Fish Card Game here h...

Episode 53: Seals with Mary-Anne Lea 28.07.2024 36mnt

Send us Fan Mail Matt and Professor Mary-Anne chat all about the world of Seals. Mary-Anne shares lots of awesome information about seal biology, facts about how they sleep and dive, and even what it's like to sit next to a 3 tonne Elephant Seal. Check out Professor Mary-Anne Lea's work here https://mpredlab.org/ and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mpred_lab/ or X (Twitter) https://x.com/icetempete Check out Dan Musil (our theme composer) https://danmusilmusic.com/ or https://...

Episode 52: Lionfish with Klaus Stiefel 30.06.2024 27mnt

Send us Fan Mail Matt and Klaus talk all about the world of the Lionfish in this episode of the SEACREATURES podcast. Klaus shares some amazing insights into why Lionfish are so environmentally damaging in the Caribbean but beloved and in the Pacific. And, we chat about Klaus's latest book! Check out Klaus's website here https://pacificklaus.com/ and see his awesome photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/pacificklaus/ and his latest book (featuring a great chapter on Lionfish!) https://shop...

Episode 51: Squid with Gretta Pecl 31.05.2024 36mnt

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Matt chats to squid and climate scientist Gretta Pecl all about the amazing world of squid! From their bizarre and various mating behaviours to why their skin and ink is so cool. If you love squid facts this is the episode for you! Check out Gretta's citizen science project REDMAP here https://www.redmap.org.au/ Gretta's squid articles here https://www.redmap.org.au/article/squid-the-biology-basics/ https://www.redmap.org.au/article/squid-mating-calamari-nup...

Episode 50: An interview with your host Matt Testoni 27.04.2024 33mnt

Send us Fan Mail In episode 50 of the seacreatures podcast we celebrate this milestone show by mixing the it up a bit and having your host Matt Testoni as the guest. Matt's good friend Suz Kroeber interviews the seacreatures podcast host all about why he loves diving, how he goes about taking underwater photos, and his ocean passion. Check out Matt Testoni's photography on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/matt_testoni_photography/ or at https://www.mtunderwatermedia.com Check out Dan Mu...

Episode 49: Basking Sharks with Rachel Brooks 28.03.2024 42mnt

Send us Fan Mail Matt chats to ocean artist Rachel Brooks all about the amazing world of the Basking Shark. Not only do Rachel and Matt chat about some cool facts, they also delve into the vast amount of unanswered questions that remain about the lives of Basking Sharks. From where they breed to why they might have Lampreys attaching to them, its all a bit of a mystery. Check out Rachels amazing art here https://rachelbrooksart.com/ or here https://www.instagram.com/rachelbrooksart Learn m...

Episode 48: Eels with Malcolm Johnson 19.02.2024 35mnt

Send us Fan Mail Matt chats to Eel advocate and enthusiast Malcolm Johnson all about this amazing seacreature. Malcolm talks all about how Eels start their lives as tiny larvae way out at sea and migrate, and morph as they journey back into rivers and lakes, before returning decades later to the sea where they were born. Learn more about Eels with Malcolm by visiting his webpage https://bio.site/malcolmsjohnson or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maclikesthesea/ and watc...

Episode 47: Whale Sharks with Jake Wilton 03.02.2024 30mnt

Send us Fan Mail Matt chats to wildlife photographer Jake Wilton all about the world of the Whale Shark. From how to photograph one these incredible animals to what it's like to swim and work alongside the worlds biggest fish. Checkout Jake Wilton's fantastic photographic work on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jakewiltonphoto and his website https://www.jakewiltonphoto.com/ Learn more about Whale Shark identification and citizen science by visiting https://www.sharkguardian.org/whale-...

Episode 46: The Gloomy Sydney Octopus with Lawrence Sheele 22.12.2023 22mnt

Send us Fan Mail Lawrence Sheele and Matt Testoni talk all about the amazing world of the Gloomy Octopus (also known as the Sydney Octopus) in this episode of the Seacreatures Podcast. Lawrence talks all about how the Gloomy Octopus is one of the only octopus to be observed as living in a small community, nicknamed Octopolus and why this seacreature is one of his all time favourite animals. Check out Lawrence's website https://www.lawrencescheele.com/ and his Instagram https://www.inst...

Episode 45: Horseshoe Crabs with Quinn Whitesall McHerron 24.11.2023 27mnt

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Matt and marine biologist Quinn chat all about the incredible animal that is the Horseshoe crab. Quinn explains how this unusual seacreature is not a crab at all, but is actually more closely related to scorpions, has unique and medically special blood, and walks a huge distance on the seafloor to lay eggs up on dry land! Learn more about Horseshoe crabs and Quinn's work here https://www.littoralsociety.org/horseshoe-crabs.html https://www.littoralsociety.or...

Episode 44: White's Seahorse with Dave Harasti 23.10.2023 33mnt

Send us Fan Mail In this episode join Matt and Dave Harasti as they chat all about the White's Seahorse. An endangered species that lives, in all places, Sydney Harbour. Dave talks all about his amazing work making seahorse hotels that create new habitats for the White's Seahorse. To learn more about White's Seahorse visit https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/threatened-species/what-current/endangered-species2/whites-seahorse and to see Dave Harasti's amazing photography visit http://www...