Totally Cooked: Episode 15 – Dr Karl’s secret science stories

In this very special episode of Totally Cooked, Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and Iain Strachan sit down with one of Australia’s most beloved science communicators: Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. With his signature mix of curiosity, clarity and charisma, Dr Karl has spent decades explaining the universe, one radio segment, podcast, and bestselling book at a time. He joins us for a conversation about climate change, misinformation, science storytelling, and why making facts fun still matters.

We trace the arc of his science communication career from the 1980s to today’s social media battlegrounds, ask whether you really need to ‘dumb things down’ to reach an audience, and discuss what it takes to talk about global warming in a world that sometimes seems to prefer fiction over fact. For listeners around the world, Dr Karl is Australia’s answer to Brian Cox, Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson rolled into one, an icon of scientific clarity in chaotic times.

Iain records Totally Cooked on the lands of the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation. Sarah records Totally Cooked on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging and recognise their unqieu and continuing connection to the land, skies, waters, plants and animals.

Show Notes

In this episode, we look at:

• Fossil fuel companies paid only $30 in taxes despite massive profits.
• Insurance companies recognized climate change risks as early as the 1970s.
• Public perception of climate change has evolved significantly since the 1980s.
• Misinformation is a major barrier to climate action.
• Fossil fuel subsidies are detrimental to the economy and environment.
• Effective science communication requires storytelling and engagement.
• Optimism is crucial for motivating climate action.
• Digital platforms can amplify misinformation but also provide opportunities for education.
• The future of climate communication lies in adapting to new media.
• Collective action is essential to combat the climate crisis.

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Listen Now

This episode will be released and available to stream and download on Friday 12 December, 2025.

Watch on YouTube

Further Reading

ABC. (n.d.) Dr Karl Kruszelnicki (Official ABC Profile). Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/dr-karl-kruszelnicki/2914092 (Accessed: 10 December 2025).

University of Sydney. (n.d.) Dr Karl’s University of Sydney Biography. Available at: https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/industry-and-community/community-engagement/dr-karl.html (Accessed: 10 December 2025).

Wikipedia. (2025) Karl Kruszelnicki. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Kruszelnicki (Accessed: 10 December 2025).

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2021) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6): Summary for Policymakers. Available at: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_SPM_final.pdf (Accessed: 10 December 2025).

CSIRO. (2022) State of the Climate 2022. Available at: https://www.csiro.au/en/news/All/News/2022/State-of-the-Climate-2022 (Accessed: 10 December 2025).

UNESCO. (2021) Guidelines for Science Communication. Available at: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000377075 (Accessed: 10 December 2025).

Pew Research Center. (2022) The Role of Science in Public Life. Available at: https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2022/02/15/americans-perceptions-of-scientists-and-their-role-in-society/ (Accessed: 10 December 2025).

Climate Council. (n.d.) Climate Change and Misinformation. Available at: https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/misinformation-about-climate-change/ (Accessed: 10 December 2025).

Australian Academy of Science. (n.d.) Communicating Climate Change. Available at: https://www.science.org.au/curious/earth-environment/communicating-climate-change (Accessed: 10 December 2025).

ABC. (n.d.) Dr Karl’s Great Moments in Science (Podcast Archive). Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/greatmomentsinscience/ (Accessed: 10 December 2025).

Why listen to Totally Cooked?

Because it’s time to feel empowered, not overwhelmed. Totally Cooked is a science-backed, straight-talking podcast about weather, climate change, and what it all means for life on Earth – especially here in Australia.

Hosted by climate scientist Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and science communicator Iain Strachan, Totally Cooked breaks down how human activity is changing the Earth’s systems—from our skies to our seas—and what we can do about it.

From greenhouse gases to fire weather, supercomputers to Antarctic ice cores, this is climate science without the jargon, and where no subject is too complex or controversial.

Totally Cooked is for anyone who wants to understand the science of climate change—without needing a PhD. Whether you’re a high school student, policy maker, journalist, teacher, concerned citizen or just a little climate-curious, this podcast will give you the tools to think clearly and act confidently.

• Cut through the noise with clear, honest science.
• Understand the why behind climate change;
• Learn how climate change impacts real-world weather;
• Hear from the best researchers and scientists in their field and from around the world;

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