Are we really on track for Net Zero? Part 2

Sit tight, and assess. That’s the plan in this Totally Cooked Movie Special, as we dive deeply into the 2021 Netflix hit Don’t Look Up. Your hosts, climate scientist Professor Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and cinema nerd Iain Strachan, join Leonard Di Caprio and Jennifer Lawrence to scream into the void as a planet-killing asteroid hurtles directly for Earth. Will President Meryl Streep and her sleazy Chief of Staff Jonah Hill protect us? Do we have faith in eccentric tech billionaire Mark Rylance? And is it a good idea to leave your wife for hard-drinking TV host Cate Blanchett when we only have months to live? There’s only one way to find out… 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 unique and continuing connection to the land, skies, waters, plants and animals.

In this episode of Totally Cooked: The Climate & Weather Podcast, hosts Iain Strachan and Professor Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick are joined by Associate Professor Sarah Hamylton (University of Wollongong) to explore the fascinating world of maps, oceans, and climate science. From the evolution of cartography to cutting-edge spatial analysis, the conversation uncovers how maps shape our understanding of the planet, and what we might be losing in the digital age. If you’re interested in geography, climate research, or the science behind how we map the Earth, this episode is packed with insight. Drawing on Sarah Hamylton’s new book Plotting the Oceans: Stories of Powerful Maps & Their Makers, the episode journeys through remarkable stories from history and science. Discover how Charles Darwin contributed to our understanding of coral atolls during the voyage of the Beagle, and meet pioneering ocean mapper Marie Tharp, whose work helped reveal the structure of the sea floor and support the theory of continental drift. These stories highlight the powerful role of maps in advancing science and changing how we see the world. The episode also connects past discoveries to today’s climate challenges, from coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef to the conservation battle over Aldabra Atoll and its giant tortoises, once nearly replaced by a controversial military base. With compelling storytelling and expert insight, this episode of Totally Cooked brings together history, climate science, and environmental change, making it essential listening for anyone interested in oceans, mapping, and the future of our planet. 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 unique and continuing connection to the land, skies, waters, plants and animals. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the state of climate change politics in Australia, and is the country doing enough to respond to the climate crisis? In this episode of Totally Cooked: The Climate & Weather Podcast, hosts Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and Iain Strachan speak with independent MP Zali Steggall about how Australia’s climate debate has changed since her landmark election victory over former prime minister Tony Abbott in 2019. Zali discusses whether climate action has been pushed down the political agenda by cost-of-living pressures, international conflict and changing global politics. The conversation explores the Australian Government’s climate policies, the shifting positions of the Liberal and National parties, the rise of One Nation, and the influence that independents and smaller political parties can have on climate and energy policy. The episode also examines the future of climate science and research in Australia, including CSIRO funding cuts and concerns about the country’s scientific capability. Zali explains how climate action connects with housing affordability and cost of living, what communities can do to make their concerns heard, and what she hopes to achieve through the new Community Strong political party. 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 unique and continuing connection to the land, skies, waters, plants and animals.

Professor Peter Stott has spent decades proving that human activity is rapidly warming our climate, and confronting those determined to deny it. In this episode of Totally Cooked, Peter joins hosts Iain Strachan and Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick to recount some extraordinary moments in the fight for climate science. He takes us inside a meeting in Moscow that was hijacked by advisers to Vladimir Putin and turned into a show trial, explains how An Inconvenient Truth landed him in the UK High Court, and reflects on the hacking scandal that became known as Climategate. The conversation also explores Peter’s pioneering role in the development of extreme weather attribution. Beginning with the devastating 2003 European heatwave, scientists have learned to determine how human-caused climate change increases the likelihood and intensity of individual extreme events. Peter explains how the field developed, why accurate reporting of heatwaves matters, and where attribution science goes next. Finally, Peter discusses his book, Hot Air: The Inside Story of the Battle Against Climate Change Denial, and what working with artists and musicians has taught him about communicating climate science through stories. 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 unique and continuing connection to the land, skies, waters, plants and animals. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, and why does it have such a powerful influence on weather and climate in Australia and around the world? In this episode of Totally Cooked: The Climate & Weather Podcast, hosts Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and Iain Strachan unpack ENSO, the natural climate cycle behind El Niño and La Niña. Joined by climate scientists Mandy Freund from the University of Melbourne and Shayne McGregor from Monash University, we explore how changes in Pacific Ocean temperatures, trade winds and atmospheric pressure can shift rainfall, heat, drought and flood risks across the globe. We also trace the history of ENSO research and explain how scientists observe and forecast its changing phases. With a strong El Niño developing in 2026, the team cuts through the “super El Niño” headlines to examine what forecasts can tell us about the months ahead. They also consider how ENSO interacts with the Indian Ocean Dipole, Southern Annular Mode and Madden–Julian Oscillation, and what climate change means for the impacts of future El Niño and La Niña events. 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 unique and continuing connection to the land, skies, waters, plants and animals.