Rephonic
Artwork for Word on the Reef

Word on the Reef

Tanya Murphy
Great Barrier Reef
Climate Change
Coral Bleaching
Marine Conservation
Sea Turtles
Australian Marine Conservation Society
Scott Reef
Cairns
Australia
UNESCO World Heritage
Australian Government
Biodiversity
Marine Biology
Citizen Science
Whale Sharks
Fossil Fuel Industry
Ningaloo Reef
Tourism
Community Engagement
Voter Responsibility

Diving into marine science adventures on the Great Barrier Reef and beyond!

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes75Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Life SciencesScienceNature

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Word on the Reef

Latest Episodes

Beyond the Great Barrier Reef lies one of the world's largest marine protected areas: the Coral Sea Marine Park. Home to spectacular reefs, abundant marine life and some of the planet's best dive sites, it's one of Australia's last great ocean wilder... more

YouTube

Reef and Rainforest tour guide Steven Gill is on a mission to bug you... in the best possible way. Armed with a camera, a handful of LEGO bricks and an infectious love for the tiny creatures we usually overlook, he's proving that the smallest critter... more

YouTube

Fifty shades of coral? Not quite... but those colours tell an incredible story. This week we're diving into CoralWatch, the world's longest-running DIY reef science project. Discover how anyone with a mask, a colour chart and a love of coral can help... more

YouTube

Scientists have discovered that marine species are migrating away from the equator at a rate of 40 to 70 kilometres per decade to get to cooler waters as climate change heats up our ocean.

But far from being a viable escape plan, this mass poleward ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Jan Strugnell
Evolutionary Molecular Biologist, Professor and Director in the Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Agriculture at James Cook University
James Cook University
Episode: S3 E16: Fish out of their (Usual) Waters: Why Marine Life are Moving Poleward
Simon Miller
Great Barrier Reef Fisheries Campaign Manager
Australian Marine Conservation Society
Episode: S3 E15: Seafood Fishing and Aquarium Harvesting on the Great Barrier Reef: Are they Sustainable?
Phil Laycock
Manager of the Cairns Saltwater Creek Habitat Restoration Project with OzFish Unlimited
OzFish Unlimited
Episode: S3 E14: Reef Fish Beneath our City: Restoring Cairns' Urban Waterways and Oyster Reefs with Phil Laycock
Libby Evans-Illidge
Leader of the Indigenous Partnerships Program, Australian Institute of Marine Science
Australian Institute of Marine Science
Episode: S3 E13: The First Scientists: How Indigenous Knowledge can Help Protect our Oceans
Dr. Caitlin Smith
James Cook University Marine Ecologist, turtle researcher
James Cook University
Episode: S3 E12: Mud, Blood and Sea Turtles: Caitlin's Quest to Give Turtles a Future
Kathy Townsend
Professor of Marine Biology, University of the Sunshine Coast; lead researcher with Project Manta
University of the Sunshine Coast; Project Manta
Episode: S3 E11: Project Manta: The Secret Lives of Gentle Giants
Helene Marsh
Dugong expert, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Science
James Cook University
Episode: S3 E10: Dugong Wars: The Fight to Save Mermaids with Professor Helene Marsh
Gary Cobb
A Nudibranchs Central champion, photographer, and author of Nudibranchs Central and nudibranch.com.au
Nudibranchs Central / Nudibranch.com.au
Episode: S3 E9: Meet Gary, the King of Nudibranchs (AKA the Ocean’s Craziest Sea Slugs)
Dr. Lissa Schindler
Marine Ecologist and Great Barrier Reef Campaign Leader
Australian Marine Conservation Society
Episode: S3 E8: UNESCO Sounds Alarm on the Great Barrier Reef + Cyclone Narelle’s Fallout

Hosts

Tanya Murphy
Host of Word on the Reef
Brett Goodban
Cairns Aquarium's marine educator and co-host

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 47 ratings
  • A reef lovers best resource

    I have loved the ocean and coral reefs since I was very young, sir David Attenborough made sure of that with the Blue Planet documentaries. I have never had the chance to see a coral reef in person unfortunately. I hope to someday. This podcast has fantastic information about one of the great wonders of the world.

    I will say there are days I need to take time away from environmental news, this podcast included. I sometimes don’t have the heart to listen to the bad news. I don’t think the bad ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MavJL
    Canada4 months ago
  • So good!!

    This really good! I love learning about coral reefs!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Plants vs zombieshhnjju
    Canadaa year ago
  • Favourite pod!

    Such a fantastic and educational show promoting important ecological values and breaking down the science, impacts and actions we can all take in a really accessible way. Favourite pod!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alyssa Nuttall
    Australiaa year ago
  • Excellent listen

    Loving listening to this podcast. Giving a voice to the reef and the people who love it

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rasfarm
    Australia2 years ago
  • Very informative

    Thoroughly enjoyed listening and learning about our Great Barrier Reef, I am looking forward to the next episode. Thank you Tania for your flight over the reef and the knowledge you have shared, you are very easy to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Amber Toby
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The host's warmth and clear voice make complex topics engaging and easy to follow.
Listeners appreciate accessible science storytelling that connects reef health with everyday actions.
Guests consistently bring credible expertise and practical insights for conservation and policy.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#64
Australia/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#22
Finland/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#101
India/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#135
Taiwan/Science/Nature

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S3 E16: Fish out of their (Usual) Waters: Why Marine Life are Moving Poleward
Q: To start off, can you please tell us about yourself and your background?
Jan explains his academic journey from the UK to Australia, focusing on evolutionary biology of cephalopods and his long-term position at James Cook University, with emphasis on using genetics to answer applied questions in fisheries, aquaculture, and conservation.
S3 E15: Seafood Fishing and Aquarium Harvesting on the Great Barrier Reef: Are they Sustainable?
Q: What progress has been made on reducing bycatch and protecting threatened species?
Bycatch reduction devices like Tom's Fish Eye are being trialed with promising results for sea snakes, turtle exclusion devices (TEDs) have reduced turtle bycatch, and cameras on boats are being rolled out to improve data on bycatch and species interactions.
S3 E15: Seafood Fishing and Aquarium Harvesting on the Great Barrier Reef: Are they Sustainable?
Q: How much fishing still happens on the Great Barrier Reef and what kinds of fishing are most impactful?
The Reef is a multi-use park with about two-thirds open to some form of fishing and one-third in sanctuaries; commercial fishing is the largest extractive activity, with various forms including trawling for prawns and recreational, First Nations, and charter fishing.
S3 E12: Mud, Blood and Sea Turtles: Caitlin's Quest to Give Turtles a Future
Q: What makes sea turtles important to the ecosystem?
They act as environmental proxies for reef health and serve as charismatic icons that help raise public awareness and engagement in marine conservation.
S3 E11: Project Manta: The Secret Lives of Gentle Giants
Q: What role does climate change play in manta conservation?
Climate change affects plankton distribution and ocean currents, which in turn disrupts feeding patterns, migration routes, and reproductive timing, making manta populations indicators of broader ocean health.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Word on the Reef

What is Word on the Reef about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on marine science around the Great Barrier Reef and other ecosystems, blending rigorous research with real-world applications. Episodes feature scientists, conservationists, and technologists who explore climate effects, reef restoration, Indigenous partnerships, and citizen science, often highlighting practical actions listeners can take to support reef health. A standout quality is the breadth of topics—from underwater gliders and coral restoration to ocean acidification and eco-psychology—paired with accessible storytelling that connects policy, community involvement, and on-the-ground conservation. This mix makes it valuable for researchers, conservation professionals, educators, divers, and sustainability-minded listen... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Word on the Reef?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Word on the Reef. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Word on the Reef and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Word on the Reef get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Word on the Reef, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Word on the Reef?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Word on the Reef, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Word on the Reef have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Word on the Reef has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Word on the Reef?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Word on the Reef:

1. The Prestige Reef Dork Show
2. ZOE Science & Nutrition
3. Submerged

How many episodes of Word on the Reef are there?

Word on the Reef launched 2 years ago and published 75 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Word on the Reef?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Word on the Reef?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Word on the Reef from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Word on the Reef?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Word on the Reef. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Word on the Reef?

Recent guests on Word on the Reef include:

1. Jan Strugnell
2. Simon Miller
3. Phil Laycock
4. Libby Evans-Illidge
5. Dr. Caitlin Smith
6. Kathy Townsend
7. Helene Marsh
8. Gary Cobb

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days