E5 - Surviving Alone and the Grampians bushfires – with Suzan Muir

In this episode I meet with Suzan Muir, who spent 63 days surviving in the wilds of southern New Zealand on the show Alone. She and her husband John, one of Australia’s most experienced explorers, live on the property Inanna surrounded by the Grampians NP, where they provide nature connection experiences for visitors. Suzan’s skill as a nature guide has developed through decades of wilderness adventures; guiding both adults and children.

We talk about Suzan’s experience on the show Alone, including the bush skills and relationship to place which are essential to surviving alone on Country. We then talk about the 2025 bushfire in the Grampians, including an 7000 ha back burn that was deliberately lit with the apparent aim to reduce risk to human communities. Suzan reflects on the immense toll the backburn took on native wildlife and the unresolved questions around whether it was necessary. Finally, we explore a project we’ve been working on together to monitor biodiversity and fuel loads in the years following the fire.