Episodes

  • Recycling in style
    Aug 25 2025

    Our culture’s voracious adoption of "fast fashion", with its exploitation and carbon footprint, is creating mountains of waste around the world. So how can we change Australia’s attitudes? In this episode of The Churchill Collective, Adam Spencer explores innovative recycling and upcycling techniques with Jane Milburn, an agricultural scientist who has embraced the “slow fashion” movement as the founder of her company, Textile Beat. Jane discusses how emphasising the importance of natural fibres and personal style can reduce fashion waste. Drawing parallels with the "slow food" movement, she advocates for a thoughtful approach to clothing consumption. Jane shares her Churchill Fellowship experiences, highlighting global initiatives that inspire local actions to combat unsustainable practices.


    The Churchill Collective is produced for the Winston Churchill Trust by:

    SoundCartel
    +61 3 9882 8333

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    25 mins
  • Breaking Boundaries, a Playbook for Sportswomen
    Aug 11 2025

    Making Australia the best country in the world to be a sportswoman is an admirable dream, and one woman is working to make it happen. Sydney Swans Executive General Manager for AFLW, Kate Mahony, has dedicated her professional life to the cause. In this episode of The Churchill Collective, host Adam Spencer joins Kate to explore the triumphs and challenges of Australian women's sport, and how Australia can lead the way in supporting female athletes by adopting the best practices from overseas. Kate Mahony’s Churchill Fellowship journey took her across the globe to bring back innovative methods to inspire local change in female medical care, resources, and the unique needs of sportswomen.


    The Churchill Collective is produced for the Winston Churchill Trust by:

    SoundCartel
    +61 3 9882 8333

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    22 mins
  • Cracking cold cases and improving policing
    Jul 28 2025

    Australian police forces may have superb track records in solving homicides, be they new or cold cases. But there is always room for improvement, particularly when detectives find themselves confronted by growing caseloads. In this gripping episode of The Churchill Collective, host Adam Spencer shines a torch into the world of homicide investigation with Detective Inspector Tim Day of Victoria Police. From solving cold cases and gangland murders to learning groundbreaking techniques overseas, Tim shares his extraordinary journey in law enforcement. Discover how his passion for forensic medicine evolved into a stellar career in policing, and how his Churchill Fellowship helped bring innovative investigative methods back to Australia.


    The Churchill Collective is produced for the Winston Churchill Trust by:

    SoundCartel
    +61 3 9882 8333

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    23 mins
  • Walking with the animals
    Jul 14 2025

    Zoos have changed for the better in recent decades, but there are many good ideas left to be discovered overseas. In this episode of The Churchill Collective, host Adam Spencer chats with Sarah Brown, the Director of Community Engagement at Zoos South Australia, about innovative methods to enhance zoo experiences for both animals and visitors. Learn about Sarah's Churchill Fellowship journey, her groundbreaking work with cross-fostering endangered species, and the exciting integration of so called 'phygital' technology to connect people with nature. Listen and learn about the vital role zoos play in preserving biodiversity.

    The Churchill Collective is produced for the Winston Churchill Trust by:

    SoundCartel
    +61 3 9882 8333

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    16 mins
  • A thirst for quenching
    Jun 30 2025

    What would it be like to enter a remote community with shocking water quality, only to leave the people with fresh, clean liquid finally running from their taps? This is the life of Churchill Fellow Eric Vanweydeveld. In this episode of The Churchill Collective, host Adam Spencer interviews Eric about the critical issue of water quality in regional and remote Australia. Eric shares his journey of studying innovative water treatment solutions abroad and bringing that knowledge back to Australia. He discusses the significant challenges faced by remote communities, especially First Nations, and how new technologies like containerised water treatment and renewable energy can make a difference.


    The Churchill Collective is produced for the Winston Churchill Trust by:

    SoundCartel
    +61 3 9882 8333

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    15 mins
  • A “brush” with fame
    Jun 16 2025

    A talented hair artist and wigmaker, Selena Pertzel was never going to be content in a normal salon. In this episode of The Churchill Collective, host Adam Spencer introduces us to Selena and explores how and why she left her hairdressing job on the Gold Coast to become one of the most important hair artists in the Australian film industry. Selena recounts her work on films like the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and ‘The Great Gatsby’ and what it’s like to work with stars like Johnny Depp and Russell Crowe. She also discusses her Churchill Fellowship experience, where she travelled to London to learn the art of custom wig-making, aiming to contribute to the growth of the Australian film industry.


    The Churchill Collective is produced for the Winston Churchill Trust by:

    SoundCartel
    +61 3 9882 8333

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    18 mins
  • A thorny problem for native reptiles
    Jun 2 2025

    Climate change is gradually threatening the existence of many of Australia’s endemic species, but is the country doing everything it can to help preserve them? Could we learn from experiences overseas? In this episode of The Churchill Collective, host Adam Spencer explores this emerging crisis with environmental scientist and author Timothy Low, who specialises in preserving our native reptiles. Tim discusses his experiences from his Churchill Fellowship, which was designed to uncover new ideas for species preservation from the Northern Hemisphere, and explains how global initiatives can inform scientists back home in Australia.

    The Churchill Collective is produced for the Winston Churchill Trust by:

    SoundCartel
    +61 3 9882 8333

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    23 mins
  • Mincing it in France
    May 19 2025

    France is the place to go to learn some of the best cooking skills, and in this episode of The Churchill Collective, we travel to the French countryside to discover new skills that can be brought back and enjoyed in Australia. Host Adam Spencer explores the passions behind that country’s charcuterie tradition, and how artisan chef Sascha Randle intends to bring it all home to Australia. The first recipient of a memorial fellowship dedicated to the late daughter of TV Chef Maggie Beer, Sascha describes her journey from Melbourne to France, where she’s perfecting traditional French charcuterie techniques. Sascha discusses her background, the art of charcuterie, and her experiences learning from renowned French chefs. She shares her vision of bringing these refined skills back to Australia to inspire local culinary practices and elevate the nation's food culture.

    The Churchill Collective is produced for the Winston Churchill Trust by:

    SoundCartel
    +61 3 9882 8333

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    20 mins