Best Chris Elphick Podcasts (2024)

1
Best of the History Blokes – Part 2 1:05:39

1M ago1:05:39

1:05:39

This is the second and final highlights episode and therefore the absolute final, final ep of the History Blokes. So, that's it from us. Thanks to all of you for listening!By Conan Elphicke and Chris McCombe

1
Best of the History Blokes – Part 1 1:10:25

1M ago1:10:25

1:10:25

This bumper edition of The History Blokes includes highlights from the series.By Conan Elphicke and Chris McCombe

1
Smallpox epidemic of 1789 36:59

2M ago36:59

36:59

In this, the final original episode of The History Blokes, Conan looks at the smallpox epidemic that devastated Sydney's Aboriginal population a year after the First Fleet arrived. Meanwhile, Chris walks us through the Black Death and the Spanish Flu. Stay tuned though for two best-of compilation eps coming soon!…

1
#34 THE GARDEN PRESS EVENT - Islington London 46:07

2M ago46:07

46:07

In this episode Joff hops on the train to Paddington and navigates the London underground to find The Business Design Centre in Islington, London. It's the Garden press Event and he get to talk to some amazing people who have produced some equally amazing and well thought out products. Previous guest on the podcast Andy from Dahlia Beach tells us a…

1
Creation of Australian citizenship and the national flag 42:30

3M ago42:30

42:30

In this, the penultimate episode of The History Blokes, Conan looks at Australian citizenship, which didn't exist until the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948. He also examines the emergence of the Australian flag, which was designed in 1901 but didn't become the official national flag for another 50 years. There's a strong Kiwi flavour to this e…

1
Miles Franklin 37:55

4M ago37:55

37:55

Happy new year, everyone! In this ep, Conan warbles about author Miles Franklin who so beautifully captured both the spirit of rural Australia at the time of Federation and the frustrations of so many young women who yearned to escape the ties that bound. In the intermission, Chris looks at the Ern Malley affair, which has been described as the 20t…

1
Charles Kingsford Smith 43:48

5M ago43:48

43:48

In this episode, Chris and Conan deploy a grovelling apology for the long delay since they last laid an ep. More importantly, Conan talks about aviation pioneer Charles Kingsford Smith and the trans-Pacific flight that made his name, while Chris looks at a bizarre episode in Australian aviation history that took place over Bass Strait during the 19…

1
#33 ADRIAN BLOOM -FOGGY BOTTOM - a garden to share 38:52

5M ago38:52

38:52

In this episode Joff talks to Adrian Bloom about his new book FOGGY BOTTOM - A GARDEN to SHARE. From breaking turf in an empty meadow in 1966, to its near maturity in 2023 it is the story of a garden and its plants. That’s a 56-year-old garden with stories to tell. More important in Adrian’s view is what the Foggy Bottom Garden represents today and…

1
Harold Florey and the discovery of penicillin 44:34

9M ago44:34

44:34

Penicillin was the wonder drug that changed the world. It was the first antibiotic and proved an effective treatment against many diseases that are today considered relatively minor, but were more often than not deadly prior to its use. Discovered in 1928 by Alexander Fleming, the drug was made medically useful in the 1940s by a team of Oxford scie…

1
David Unaipon – inventor, author, orator, activist 40:32

10M ago40:32

40:32

We might recognise him from the $50 note but how much do most of us really know about David Unaipon? Born in 1872, this brilliant First Nations man was born on a church mission near Adelaide. During his remarkably long life (he died aged 94) Unaipon patented many inventions, wrote several books about Aboriginal culture and myth, preached Christiani…

1
The Wreck of the Batavia 49:10

11M ago49:10

49:10

In 1629, the Dutch ship Batavia wrecked 60 kilometres off the Western Australian coast. Of the 330 souls on board, about 100 drowned immediately. As the stricken ship slowly foundered, the survivors found refuge on nearby islands. Little did they know that one of the most horrific events in Australian history was about to unfold.…

1
A history of Anzac Day 38:34

1y ago38:34

38:34

In this slightly late ep, Conan looks at the history of Anzac Day from its inception in 1915 (yes, 1915 not 1916!) to the present, while Chris discusses the Anzacs' superbly executed withdrawal from Gallipoli in December 1915.By Conan Elphicke and Chris McCombe

1
'Black box' flight recorder 34:38

1y ago34:38

34:38

Most people don't know that the black box flight recorder was invented by an Australian, namely Dr David Warren AO. And that its invention dates back to the 1950s. Listen with rapt attention as Conan and Chris delve into why, how and what obstacles David faced.By Conan Elphicke and Chris McCombe

1
#32 DEREK GOW - straight talking rewilder-farmer-turned-ecologist 35:15

1y ago35:15

35:15

Derek Gow is a farmer and nature conservationist. Born in Dundee in 1965, he left school when he was 17 and worked in agriculture for five years. Inspired by the writing of Gerald Durrell, all of whose books he has read - thoroughly - he jumped at the chance to manage a European wildlife park in central Scotland in the late 1990s before moving on t…

1
Sir Douglas Mawson – Australia’s greatest Antarctic explorer 30:42

1y ago30:42

30:42

In this episode, Conan rambles delightfully about Douglas Mawson whose expeditions helped stake for Australia 42 per cent of Antarctica. He is also famous for one of the most extraordinary feats of endurance in the history of Antarctic exploration. Chris meanwhile delivers some cool facts about the coldest continent.…

1
#31 LIZ ZORAB with her book THE SEASONED GARDENER 38:50

1y ago38:50

38:50

Liz Zorab is author of the bestselling 'Grounded – A Gardener's Journey to Abundance and Self-Sufficiency'. She spent more than 20 years working with specialist housing charities and in community development, with an emphasis on innovative volunteering practices. An award-winning gardener, she gained an RHS Silver Medal for a community-led garden f…

1
Edith Cowan – Australia’s first female parliamentarian 35:16

1y ago35:16

35:16

Edith Cowan won a seat in the Western Australian parliament 102 years ago today. It made her the first female Australian parliamentarian and only the second in the British empire. But Cowan was more than a milestone; she was a remarkable individual who devoted her entire adult life to helping the disadvantaged. We also take a brief look at the Grea…

1
Matthew Flinders – explorer, cartographer, cat-lover 39:31

1y ago39:31

39:31

In what critics are already calling the Matthew Flinders episode, The History Blokes look at this somewhat overlooked European explorer. Flinders, like Cook, contributed to the colonisation of Australia, but his feats looked at in isolation reveal a brave and determined man beset by frequent misfortune. Flinders, his crew and a Guringai man called …

1
#30 THE GARDEN PRESS EVENT 2023 - Islington, London. U.K. 43:34

1y ago43:34

43:34

In this episode sponsored by Genus Gardenwear Joff Elphick takes his annual pilgrimage up to the big smoke where he visitis the old horticultural halls - now known as The Business Design Centre - to meet horticutlural businesses for The garden Press Event. He speaks to Simon for Hydrialife who tells us about his self contained award winning water f…

1
Decimalisation – Australia gets a new currency 39:28

1y ago39:28

39:28

This Valentine’s Day, if you’re thinking of romance and candlelit dinners, you’re wasting precious mental energy. Turn your mind instead to the fact that it is the 57th anniversary of decimalisation – when Australia ditched pounds, shillings and pence in favour of dollars and cents. Though driven by economic imperatives, decimalisation was of great…

1
#29 The Generous Gardener - garden lectures and specialist plant sales 21:22

1y ago21:22

21:22

The Generous Gardener ran by Sarah Biddulph and Sarah Rivett- Carnac offer a series of garden lectures throughout the year in Rodmarton Manor a beautiful arts and craft property located in Gloucestershire between Cirencester and Tetbury. Lectures in 2023 are being delivered by a brilliantly curated set of speakers most of whom are well known to kee…

1
Australia Day / Invasion Day 38:20

1+ y ago38:20

38:20

In this episode, Chris and Conan (or Chronan, as they are coming to be known among their gazillion devotees) delve into the thorny issue of Australia Day / Invasion Day. Conan reveals the long and chequered history of 26 January and its various iterations. How the states struggled to agree on a date for a national day, and even a name for it. The B…

1
#28 Chris Baines - THE RHS COMPANION TO WILDLIFE GARDENING - How to make a wildlife garden 48:29

1+ y ago48:29

48:29

In this episdoe sponsored by Genus Gardenwear Joff talks to wildlife expert Chris Baines about his book THE RHS COMPANION TO WILDLIFE GARDENING - how to make a wildlif garden. First published in 1985 this book has now been fully updated and revised by Chris with new illustrations and highlights the changes in garden wildlife over the last 30 years.…

1
Polio in Australia 37:45

1+ y ago37:45

37:45

In this episode, Conan and Chris look at the polio epidemics that hit Australia in the mid 20th century, the controversial Australian nurse who defied medical authorities to improve treatment, the two American scientists who finally came up with vaccines, and how Australia contributed to the near elimination of polio around the world. You’ll also: …

1
Ronald Ryan – the last person to be hanged in Australia 33:10

1+ y ago33:10

33:10

In this, the first episode of The History Blokes, Conan Elphicke and Chris McCombe examine the story of Ronald Ryan - the last person to be executed in Australia. Chris constantly gawps in wonder as Conan lays on this remarkable account of one Victorian Premier's determination to see Ryan swing, despite huge public opposition. And just when things …

1
#27 Barbara Segall - SECRET GARDENS OF THE SOUTH-EAST 25:26

1+ y ago25:26

25:26

In this episode sponsored by Genus gardenwear Joff Elphick talks to Barbara Segall about her new book GARDENS of the SOUTH-EAST published by Frances Lincoln. Within its 144 pages are 20 gardens many of which often remain overlooked but all of which display the passion of the owners or gardeners that look after them. It's a fascinating talk with not…

1
#26 Michael Perry - Mr Plant Geek- HORTUS CURIOUS 42:18

1+ y ago42:18

42:18

In this episode sponsored by Genus Gardenwear Joff Elphick talks to Michael Perry aka Mr Plant Geek about his career in horticulture and his new book Hortus Curious - discover the worlds most weird and wonderful plants and fungi. We talk about his work with Thompson and Morgan where he worked on plants like the Tom-tato and the Egg and chips plant.…

1
#25 Harriet Rycroft - POTS -a Bloom Gardeners Guide 37:35

1+ y ago37:35

37:35

In this episode sponsored by Genus Gardenwear Joff Elphick travels to the north of the Cotswolds to visit Harriet Rycroft, a garden speaker, consultant, writer, and an expert in container gardening. They talk about her book 'POTS' and wander around Harriet's back garden, home to nearly 800 pots. The book has 4 chapters - Learn - Plan - Grow - Care …

1
#24 The Malvern Autumn Show 2022 27:31

1+ y ago27:31

27:31

In this episode sponsored by the amazing Genus Gardenwear Joff talks to a number of the interesting exhibitors that can be found at The Malvern Autumn Show. Andie from Dahlia Beach tells us how her company, the first cut-your-own Dahlia farm in the UK came about. She also telss us about her plans to open the farm for 'dig your own' dDahlia plants a…

1
#23 Tamsin Westhorpe - Grasping the Nettle. 47:47

1+ y ago47:47

47:47

In this Episode sponsored by Genus Gardenwear I talk to Tamsin Westhorpe about her latest book Grasping the Nettle - tales from a modern country gardener. Tamsin is a hands-on gardener who opens her garden Stockton Bury near Leominster to the public. She had worked as a parks greenkeeper, an interior landscaper, she had her own shop, and is probabl…

1
#22 Silvana De Soissons, Natural Skincare for all Seasons 34:49

2y ago34:49

34:49

In this episode sponsored by Genus Gardenwear Joff talks to Silvana de Soissons about her book Natural Skincare for all Seasons. Chapters in the book include An introduction to the skin. Plotting the skincare garden. Choosing skincare plants.The natural skincare garden through the seasons. Formulations and Techniques. Joff and Silvana discuss No di…

1
#21 Sandra Lawrence - Miss Wilmott's Ghosts 39:15

2y ago39:15

39:15

In this episode sponsored by Genus Performance Gardenwear Joff talks to Sandra Lawrence author of 'Miss Wilmott's Ghosts - The extraordinary life and gardens of a forgotten genius'. They discuss Ellen Wilmott, her upbringing, and her inherited wealth. The 11th century castle and the hidden 'treasures' in its damp cellars. The legendary parties at E…

1
#20 Kathy Slack author of 'From the Veg Patch' 43:22

2y ago43:22

43:22

In this episode sponsored by the amazing Genus Performance Gardenwear Joff taks to Kathy Slack who's book 'From the Veg Patch' was published last year by Ebury Press. They discuss the vegetables Kathy grows and the some of the deliciuos recipes in the book.By Joff Elphick Kathy Slack

1
#19 The Garden Press Event, London 2022 34:04

2y ago34:04

34:04

In this episode sponsored by the amazing Genus Performance Gardenwear Joff travels to the old horticultural halls in Islington, London, where he talks to the charities and businesses who attend the event. His first visit is to David Wyndham-Lewis of the horticultural charity Perennial who offer suppoert to those in the industry who may find themsel…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Chris Elphick Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide