Dr Karl is best known here in Australia for his ability to make science not only accessible, but engaging and fascinating, He’s been a staple in our media landscape from his early days on Triple J, to his multiple podcasts, books, and extensive media presence - a true science story-teller.
With the launch of his memoir ‘A Periodic Tale’ we explore in this conversation his early years as the only child of Holocaust survives who fled to Australia in 1950. He then described undertaking a convoluted cacophony of a career. From working as a physicist in a steelworks, to racing modified rally cars, his drug-crazed hippie years in Papau New Guinea, to training as a medical Dr off the back of an off-handed comment that Dr Fred Hollows said to him once. After he applied to be a NASA astronaut in the 1980s and 'failed', he ended up live broadcasting the first space shuttle launch on Triple J instead. Unexpectedly, that blasted off his media career, and from there it was a stratospheric rise from radio to TV, books, newspapers, speaking, podcasts and the internet.
You will hear from this conversation a little about how Dr Karl’s brain works - he has an insatiable curiosity that continues to drive pure wonder and awe. Actually he teaches us all that you don’t have to know the answers, as long as you continue to ask questions.
This conversation is one worth holding onto, and allowing it to ignite your own curiosity. And I can thoroughly recommend Dr Karl’s memoir ‘A Periodic Tale’ to absorb more of his wisdom and experiences.
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Dr Karl is best known here in Australia for his ability to make science not only accessible, but engaging and fascinating, He’s been a staple in our media landscape from his early days on Triple J, to his multiple podcasts, books, and extensive media presence - a true science story-teller.
With the launch of his memoir ‘A Periodic Tale’ we explore in this conversation his early years as the only child of Holocaust survives who fled to Australia in 1950. He then described undertaking a convoluted cacophony of a career. From working as a physicist in a steelworks, to racing modified rally cars, his drug-crazed hippie years in Papau New Guinea, to training as a medical Dr off the back of an off-handed comment that Dr Fred Hollows said to him once. After he applied to be a NASA astronaut in the 1980s and 'failed', he ended up live broadcasting the first space shuttle launch on Triple J instead. Unexpectedly, that blasted off his media career, and from there it was a stratospheric rise from radio to TV, books, newspapers, speaking, podcasts and the internet.
You will hear from this conversation a little about how Dr Karl’s brain works - he has an insatiable curiosity that continues to drive pure wonder and awe. Actually he teaches us all that you don’t have to know the answers, as long as you continue to ask questions.
This conversation is one worth holding onto, and allowing it to ignite your own curiosity. And I can thoroughly recommend Dr Karl’s memoir ‘A Periodic Tale’ to absorb more of his wisdom and experiences.
This episode comes with a content warning.
This conversation with Chanel Contos contains descriptions of sexual violence, assault and we talk about sexual acts. Parts of this conversation may be distressing for some listeners.
The statistics Chanel shares are confronting which is why she has made it her mission to drive a conversation and impact policy change in this country about consent education. We can’t talk about consent without talking about what consent is not.
I’m really proud of this conversation and believe it’s important to sit in the uncomfortable and the hard.
But please be aware that discretion is advised before you choose to listen. And if this episode brings up anything for you please reach out to organisations like LifeLife on 13 11 14
Chanel Contos founded Teach Us Consent, a campaign that mandated consent education in Australia. In order to achieve this, she worked closely with politicians from across the political spectrum, including prime ministers.
Chanel was the recipient of the Australian Human Rights Commission Young People’s Medal in 2021, and in 2023 she was named NSW Young Woman of the Year for her persistent efforts towards eradicating rape culture. Chanel has also been presented with the prestigious Diana Award for her humanitarian work, and in 2022 she was listed as one of the BBC’s 100 inspiring and influential women worldwide.
Chanel has a Masters in Education, Gender and International Development from University College London and was recently appointed by Julia Gillard to chair the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership’s.
She shares her message in her latest book ‘Consent Laid Bare’ - riding the gap between policy makers and the experiences of young people. Calling for greater awareness, education and at its core - empathy - in sharing what is healthy intimacy. Consent is complex - particularly in a society where messages are mixed at best, toxic at worst.
Chanel’s book is a battle cry from a generation no longer prepared to stay silent. She is a powerhouse on a mission. This is an important conversation for those who care about youth and the generations to come.
Youth Advisory Committee. www.teachusconsent.com
Host: Ali Hill www.alison.hill.com.au
Guest: Chanel Contos www.instagram.com/chanelc/
Editor: Jason Strozkiy https://www.strozkiymedia.com/
Talent Producer: Maddy Westrbrook https://thenoblegroup.com.au/
Stand Out Life
Dr Karl is best known here in Australia for his ability to make science not only accessible, but engaging and fascinating, He’s been a staple in our media landscape from his early days on Triple J, to his multiple podcasts, books, and extensive media presence - a true science story-teller.
With the launch of his memoir ‘A Periodic Tale’ we explore in this conversation his early years as the only child of Holocaust survives who fled to Australia in 1950. He then described undertaking a convoluted cacophony of a career. From working as a physicist in a steelworks, to racing modified rally cars, his drug-crazed hippie years in Papau New Guinea, to training as a medical Dr off the back of an off-handed comment that Dr Fred Hollows said to him once. After he applied to be a NASA astronaut in the 1980s and 'failed', he ended up live broadcasting the first space shuttle launch on Triple J instead. Unexpectedly, that blasted off his media career, and from there it was a stratospheric rise from radio to TV, books, newspapers, speaking, podcasts and the internet.
You will hear from this conversation a little about how Dr Karl’s brain works - he has an insatiable curiosity that continues to drive pure wonder and awe. Actually he teaches us all that you don’t have to know the answers, as long as you continue to ask questions.
This conversation is one worth holding onto, and allowing it to ignite your own curiosity. And I can thoroughly recommend Dr Karl’s memoir ‘A Periodic Tale’ to absorb more of his wisdom and experiences.
