Animals & Us with Natalie Stockdale (Kintsugi Heroes)

Shane Gehlert grew up in Adelaide with lots of freedom. He explored sheep stations, rode motorbikes, camped, and developed a lifelong love of animals while enjoying the Australian outback and wildlife. Living on a property with alpacas, goats, and chickens, Shane’s bond grew deeper after caring for a baby goat called Rosie. This experience sparked his curiosity about the lives and intelligence of animals.

Shane is an artist, photographer, and filmmaker and writer who found his passion for academia later in life by pursuing a degree in psychology.

He became interested in psychology while painting, listening to podcasts like "All in the Mind." Shane is now finishing his psychology degree and uses research and evidence to explore human and animal minds.

Shane has spent 25 years as an artist. He created distinctive chrome kangaroo paintings, explored surrealism, and met inspiring mentors in Broken Hill before moving to the Sunshine Coast, embracing creativity in his work.

He wrote Oh My Goat. Just How Intelligent are the Animals We Eat? His book combines stories, research, and art, encouraging readers to think about animals, their lives, and the food we eat.

His love for travel and a deep fascination with animals has taken him all over the world, where he enjoys observing and photographing the incredible creatures with which we share this planet. Shane lives in Queensland, Australia, with his wife, Cristine, and a menagerie of rather spoilt animals.

Links

Book on Amazon: https://amzn.asia/d/1aXBi3c

Author website: https://www.shanegehlert.com

art website https://www.outbackart.com.au/

Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CritterChannel-h4t

*****

We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Animals & Us (Kintsugi Heroes).

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

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Theme Song: "Follow the Sun" by Xavier Rudd

Darryl grew up on a little farm near Wagga, making his own fun among animals. He became patient and observant, allowing animals to do their own thing, which shaped his curiosity.

As a child, Darryl’s fascination with animals grew. Digging up burrowing frogs and watching blue tongues in his mother’s garden inspired his interest. He emerged with a desire to learn more and observe.

At fifteen, Darryl cared for a magpie named Jimmy after a storm. A painful experience with a local bully and Jimmy’s fate became a turning point, sparking his fixation for knowledge.

Darryl went to university and found his interest in urban wildlife. Initially, others did not understand or value his studies, but he believed learning about animals living with us was worth doing.

He was a pioneer in studying urban wildlife, discovering the richness of birds in cities. He focused on comparing urban versions of species like magpies with their “wild cousins” and encouraged native plant landscaping.

Darryl loved teaching students, even leading transformative trips to Borneo. He inspired many to connect with nature and turn ordinary people into fanatics, always focusing on the importance of everyday engagement.

Darryl believes we are all part of nature. Connecting closely with wildlife from backyard tadpoles to magpies is vital for well-being and understanding our place within nature’s fate. He promotes local native landscaping.

He recently 'retired' to devote himself to full-time writing. He am committed to encouraging people to connect with the natural world in whatever way they can.

Website:

darryljonesnature.com

Books (all published by New South Publishing):

The Birds at My Table. 2018.

Feeding the Birds at Your Table. 2019.

Curlews on Vulture Street. 2022,

A Clouded Leopard in the Middle of the Road. 2022.

*****

We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Animals & Us (Kintsugi Heroes).

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

YouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || Website

Theme Song: "Follow the Sun" by Xavier Rudd

Dr Sarah Pye was born in Gibraltar, spent 13 years sailing in nature with her family, then moved onto a boat, learning from animals, weather, and the world around her. She has always loved animals. Night watches at sea, meeting dolphins and whales, resulted in her developing a deep appreciation for hands-on animal encounters that shaped her views on nature.

Sarah travelled widely, started her own boat business in the Whitsundays, and began writing books and storytelling, using real experiences to connect people with wildlife and conservation.

A trip to Borneo led Sarah to help Dr. Wong and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, starting projects, writing children’s books, and supporting wildlife through education and action.

Sarah runs workshops for children, shares stories, encourages action, and believes everyone can do something to help animals and the environment.

An award-winning author Dr Pye is passionate about wildlife and storytelling. Her doctorate focused on how narratives can engage non-scientists in conservation. She wrote a biography of Malaysian conservationist, Dr Wong Siew Te, Saving Sun Bears, which was followed by six children's books about Wildlife Wong's adventures in the Bornean jungle.

When she’s not teaching sustainability at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Sarah has just launched Curious Kai Asks Why, which refocuses her attention on Australian flora and fauna.

Links

Web: sarahrpye.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/SarahRPye

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_sarahrpye/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sarahrpyeauthorspeakerenvi6784

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahpye/

*****

We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Animals & Us (Kintsugi Heroes).

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

YouTube || Facebook || Instagram || LinkedIn || Website

Theme Song: "Follow the Sun" by Xavier Rudd