Podcast appearances and mentions of rodney fox

The 1975 film that emptied the beaches was built on real horror — the 1916 Jersey Shore attacks that killed four, the unsolved disappearance of Tom and Eileen Lonergan, and the science of why great whites bite at all.EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/jawsREAD or DOWNLOAD the full transcript of this episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/jawsFEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: In June of 1975 we were exposed to one of the scariest movies ever made. For this podcaster, it's just not Independence Day until I watch it – and you still can't get me to swim in the ocean. We'll look at what made ‘Jaws' so successful… and so frightening. We'll also look at the true story of a string of shark attacks in 1916 that inspired the novel and the film. And while 1975's ‘Jaws' was inspired by a series of shark attacks but greatly fictionalized, the film ‘Open Water' from 2003 is based on a very real and terrifying story. But the truth behind the movie is a dark mystery that goes way beyond the horror of what you see in the film. We'll look at several other real shark attacks that are almost too incredible to believe, and also try to answer the question as to why shark attacks don't happen more often as you would expect them to, seeing as humans should be easy pickings.CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding (My First Experience With a Horror Movie)00:02:16.983 = Show Open00:05:28.642 = The Real-Life Inspiration for “Jaws”00:15:01.913 = The Horror of “Jaws” ***00:40:05.165 = The True Darkness of “Open Water” ***00:52:06.811 = Real Shark Attacks01:04:18.086 = Why Sharks Attack Humans ***01:23:44.579 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakLISTEN ON PODCAST APPS: Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*SOURCES and RESOURCES:“The True Darkness of Open Water” by Erin McCann for Ranker: https://tinyurl.com/y8vaqgra“The Real-Life Inspiration for ‘Jaws'” by Christopher Klein for History: https://tinyurl.com/yb5s35xc“The Horror of ‘Jaws'” by Jackie Flynn Mogensen for Mother Jones: https://tinyurl.com/y2mxf8us, Andrew Housman for ScreenRant: https://tinyurl.com/yae8ohh6, Meagan Navarro for Bloody Disgusting: https://tinyurl.com/y7p8q9lw, Tim Donnelly for the New York Post: https://tinyurl.com/y9twrcc7, and Rachel Paige for Hello Giggles:https://tinyurl.com/ycdlb6je“Real Shark Attacks” by Charles W. Bryant for How Stuff Works: https://tinyurl.com/y9scmg9x, and Lou Boyd for Mpora: https://tinyurl.com/y9e55t4u“Why Sharks Attack Humans” by Richard Gray for BBC: https://tinyurl.com/ycf563up(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: July 03, 2020This episode of Weird Darkness dives into the world of sharks — the 1975 film that made a generation afraid of the water, the 1916 New Jersey attacks that shaped America's fear of the sea, the unsolved disappearance behind a 2003 horror movie, a catalog of real maulings, and the science of why sharks bite people at all.It opens with Steven Spielberg's Jaws, the 1975 blockbuster that grossed $7 million its first weekend and ranked sixth on IMDb's list of the ten best horror films. The mechanical shark, three models all nicknamed "Bruce," sank on first submersion and corroded in the saltwater of Nantucket Sound, forcing Spielberg to keep the animal off-screen for all but roughly four minutes and to build terror through John Williams' two-note score instead. Screenwriter Carl Gottlieb, who now calls it "the fish movie," predicted audiences would fear the ocean the way they feared showers after Psycho. Clinical psychologists Ali Mattu and James Hambrick, both trained to talk people out of irrational fears, admit the film gave them their own galeophobia, with Mattu once showering while standing on the edge of the tub to avoid a drain-based attack. Author Peter Benchley, who wrote the novel, spent his final years advocating for shark conservation after fishermen killed sharks by the thousands in the film's wake, cutting large shark populations along the eastern seaboard by an estimated fifty percent.From there the episode turns to the real attacks that preceded the fiction, the deadly summer of 1916 along the Jersey Shore. Charles Vansant, a 25-year-old from Philadelphia, bled to death in the lobby of the Engleside Hotel in Beach Haven on July 1 after a shark clamped his left leg in three-and-a-half feet of water. Five days later Charles Bruder, a 27-year-old Swiss bellboy captain, lost both legs off Spring Lake, and on July 12 the killing moved more than a mile inland up Matawan Creek, taking 11-year-old Lester Stillwell and Stanley Fisher, the 24-year-old tailor who dove in to recover the boy's body. President Woodrow Wilson convened a cabinet meeting over "the shark horror," and shark hunter Michael Schleisser later killed a shark in Raritan Bay with human bones reportedly found inside, after which the attacks stopped.Next the episode examines Open Water, the 2003 film built on the disappearance of Tom and Eileen Lonergan, experienced divers left behind by the Outer Edge dive boat at St. Crispin Reef on the Great Barrier Reef on January 25, 1998. No one noticed them missing for roughly forty-eight hours. A dive slate later recovered miles away bore the date January 26 and a plea for help, their diaries revealed unhappiness and Tom's stated readiness to die, and their wetsuits and air tanks washed ashore without a single bite mark or trace of blood. Australian diver Ben Cropp argued tiger sharks took them within two days, while boat owner Jack Nairn faced a manslaughter acquittal and a civil negligence conviction that shuttered his company, and more than twenty people claimed to have seen the couple alive afterward, leaving the truth unresolved.Next comes a run of documented real-life attacks stretching across centuries. The USS Indianapolis sank near Guam on July 30, 1945, dropping roughly 900 sailors into the water where sharks reduced the survivors to 317. Barry Wilson, a 17-year-old tuba player, became the first person killed by a shark in California history, and free-diving abalone hunters Omar Conger and Randall Fry were both taken by great whites, Fry's body recovered with his head separated from it. Bethany Hamilton lost her left arm at thirteen and returned to competitive surfing, spearfisherman Rodney Fox survived a torso bite by gouging the shark's eyes and now educates the public about the animals, and Brook Watson lost a leg to a shark in Havana Harbour in 1749 at the age of fourteen.The episode closes with the science of why sharks bite people, drawn from researchers including Gavin Naylor of the Florida Program for Shark Research and marine biologist Blake Chapman. Attacks correlate with the overlap of people and sharks in the same water, which is why rising seal populations off Cape Cod — rebounding under the 1972 Marine Mammal Act — drew great whites that delivered Massachusetts its first fatal attack in eighty-two years in 2018. Most bites appear to be cases of mistaken identity, the flash of a foot resembling bait fish, and the three species most often responsible are the great white, tiger, and bull sharks, the last hunting murky water by smell and electroreception rather than sight. The odds of dying in a shark attack sit near one in 3.7 million, yet Hannah Mighall, mauled by a five-metre great white in Tasmania's Bay of Fires at thirteen, still carries the toothy bite scar on her leg and the nightmares that came with it, alongside her refusal to see the animals culled for what they did to her.

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, shark expert and conservationist Rodney Fox joined Michael McLaren on the program.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is episode two of Swimming with Shadows: A Radiolab Week of Sharks.Jaws spawned a thousand imitators: sharks in tornados, sharks in avalanches, sharks that battle giant octopuses. Hollywood has officially turned sharks into monsters of every shape and size. And yet, somehow, there will always be more.But drop below the surface, into the cold, quiet blue, and another creature appears. One that has survived mass extinctions, outlasted ancient predators and pre-dates Mount Everest, the existence of trees, even the rings of Saturn. A shark that is somehow even more remarkable than sharks in tornadoes.Today, we go visit that shark. Special thanks to Andrew Fox, the entire team at Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions, John Long whose book The Secret History of Sharks inspired our obsession with sharks, and Greg Skomal, whose wonderful new book on his life studying white sharks is Chasing Shadows: My Life Tracking the Great White Shark.EPISODE CREDITS: Reported by - Rachael Cusickwith help from - Pat WaltersProduced by - Rachael Cusick and Simon Adlerwith help from - Pat WaltersSound design contributed by - Jeremy Bloomwith mixing help from - Jeremy BloomFact-checking by - Natalie Middletonand Edited by  - Pat WaltersEPISODE CITATIONS:Videos - Loved learning about all the different kinds of sharks there are? Check out even more Jaida Elcock's videos on sharks.Book - The Secret History of Sharks by John Long Chasing Shadows: My Life Tracking the Great White Shark by Greg SkomalSignup for our newsletter!! It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up (https://radiolab.org/newsletter)!Radiolab is supported by listeners like you. Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab (https://members.radiolab.org/) today.Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @radiolab, and share your thoughts with us by emailing radiolab@wnyc.org.Leadership support for Radiolab's science programming is provided by the Simons Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Episode one of Swimming with Shadows: A Radiolab Week of Sharks.Rodney Fox went into the ocean one summer day in 1963. He came out barely alive, his body torn apart by a great white shark. At the time, it was one of the worst shark attacks ever survived.After he recovered, he was pulled back into the shadowy world he feared most. Again and again and again. That shark attack left behind a question that still lingers, for Rodney, and for all of us: When you can't see the thing that scares you, what kind of monster does your mind create? And how do you fight past it?Special thanks to Surekha Davies, Asa Mittman, Scott Poole, and Maria Tatar.EPISODE CREDITS:Reported by - Rachael Cusickwith help from - Pat WaltersProduced by - Rachael Cusick and Pat WaltersSound design contributed by - Jeremy Bloomwith mixing help from - Jeremy BloomFact-checking by - Diane Kellyand Edited by  - Pat WaltersSignup for our newsletter!! It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Sign up (https://radiolab.org/newsletter)!Radiolab is supported by listeners like you. Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab (https://members.radiolab.org/) today.Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @radiolab, and share your thoughts with us by emailing radiolab@wnyc.org.Leadership support for Radiolab's science programming is provided by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Science Sandbox, a Simons Foundation Initiative, and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

A little over three years ago I interviewed Andre Borell, director of Envoy: Shark Cull, a hard-hitting documentary highlighting the archaic shark mitigation systems employed by the Australian government throughout Queensland and New South Wales. The doco, narrated by Eric Banna, was initially aired exclusively on Stan and three years down the line has a much greater global audience through many other popular media streams including Netflix. During today's episode, I grab an update from Andre and an excellent insight into his latest project, the Shark Stop wetsuit. Now, in its second round of funding, the Shark Stop wetsuits were originally designed by surfer Haydon Burford, who wanted to find a wetsuit similar to the impact protection for motorcyclists via Kevlar. Through his research and development, he created what we see now as the bite-resistant wetsuit Shark Stop. Tested by Flinders University on board the Rodney Fox vessel, Andre shares the impressive results and findings, so join me as we delve deeper into the creation, those results, the progress of the business, and the opportunities available for investors seeking to make a change. Please enjoy.Links:Watch on The Scuba GOAT Podcast: YouTube channelSharkstop website: https://sharkstop.co/Investment details: Birchall websiteFlinders University: Peer-reviewed reportSocial links for Andre:InstagramDo you have feedback or an opinion to share with us? SMS us now. Nomadic Scuba - Your dive travel agencyPromoting liveaboards, Resorts, Group expeditions, Dive shops & hand-picked dive ambassadors.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showLove the show? Reviews help us grow and let us know you're listening - If you can spare two minutes, please leave a review here. Want to be a guest on the show? GREAT! - use this link, drop your details & let's get chatting. Dive Travel with Nomadic Scuba Everyone needs a solid travel buddy… Founded by Matt, Nomadic Scuba is an online booking agency for scuba divers. Chances are, Matt himself will sort out your trip - he's a bit of a planning geek (and loves it!). Check out Nomadic Scuba today and Breathe life into your adventure!ShoppingScuba GOAT Amazon Shop - Click here to viewAdvertisingInterested in advertising on the show? Sponsoring an episode or partnering with us? Get in touch today for more details on how we can work together.

On today's bucket list episode, we are following award-winning travel writer James Stewart as he attempts the ‘Everest of Cage Dives'.In the Neptune Islands of Australia, home to the most great white sharks on the planet, there is a cage dive that drops you all the way to the ocean floor. And it was set up by the man who survived the shark attack that inspired the movie, Jaws.This adventure should be on the bucket list of any ocean adventure fan. But it's not for the feint hearted. Listen in and see if you would dare to take on the most intense great white shark experience on the planet.Highlights include: Hearing the story of one of the most horrific great white shark attacks of all time Learning about the story of Rodney Fox, how he became the inspiration for Jaws the movie, and went on to invent cage diving. Finding out what it feels like to descend to the bottom of the ocean floor as seven great white sharks circle you on all sides. Finding out about great white shark science and conservation Note: Many cage diving trips are unethical, Rodney Fox's are the gold standard in conservation. Listen to the episode to find out why, and what to look out for when booking your trip. Book this trip directly: rodneyfox.com.au.Follow James Stewart for more ocean adventures: @itsjamesstewartCONNECT WITH USIf you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you're reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed. Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma!Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcastArmchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar wrote and presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap.

On today's bucket list episode, we are following award-winning travel writer James Stewart as he attempts the ‘Everest of Cage Dives'. In the Neptune Islands of Australia, home to the most great white sharks on the planet, there is a cage dive that drops you all the way to the ocean floor. And it was set up by the man who survived the shark attack that inspired the movie, Jaws. This adventure should be on the bucket list of any ocean adventure fan. But it's not for the feint hearted. Listen in and see if you would dare to take on the most intense great white shark experience on the planet. Highlights include: Hearing the story of one of the most horrific great white shark attacks of all time Learning about the story of Rodney Fox, how he became the inspiration for Jaws the movie, and went on to invent cage diving. Finding out what it feels like to descend to the bottom of the ocean floor as seven great white sharks circle you on all sides. Finding out about great white shark science and conservation Note: Many cage diving trips are unethical, Rodney Fox's are the gold standard in conservation. Listen to the episode to find out why, and what to look out for when booking your trip. Book this trip directly: rodneyfox.com.au. Follow James Stewart for more ocean adventures: @itsjamesstewart CONNECT WITH US If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you're reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed. Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma! Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar wrote and presented the show, Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Our theme music is by the artist Sweet Chap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to part three of our Geographe series, where we dive into the world of mining with our guest company, Geographe. In this episode, we sit down with Rodney Fox, the Operations Manager in Bunbury, and Clayton Hyder, the Chairman of Geographe, to learn about their long-standing history and the innovative technologies they are using. Click here to watch

Rodney Fox was torn apart by a great white shark and it took 462 stitches to put him back together again. He was then instrumental in filming Jaws, the most terrifying shark film of all time. But over time, this salty seadog has become the apex predator's fiercest protector (R)

Rodney Fox was torn apart by a great white shark and it took 462 stitches to put him back together again. He was then instrumental in filming Jaws, the most terrifying shark film of all time. But over time, this salty seadog has become the apex predator's fiercest protector (R)

On this episode, Wes tells the story of South Australian man Rodney Fox and his extremely bloody encounter with a great white shark. Jeff makes an incredible comeback during the Were You Listening quiz, while Mike admits to crying during an unexpected movie. ~~ To advertise on the show, contact us! ~~ Tooth & Claw is brought to you by QCODE. Support the show and get access to an extensive library of exclusive episodes like this by supporting the show on Patreon or joining the Grizzly Club on Apple Podcasts. For the latest updates on the show and all things wildlife, follow us at toothandclawpod.com and social:  Instagram: @ToothandClawPodcast Twitter: @ToothandClawPod Wes: @GrizKid Jeff: @jefe_larson Mike: @mikey3ds                          Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rodney Fox was torn apart by a great white shark and it took 462 stitches to put him back together again. He was then instrumental in filming Jaws, the most terrifying shark film of all time. But over time, this salty seadog has become the apex predator's fiercest protector

Rodney Fox was torn apart by a great white shark and it took 462 stitches to put him back together again. He was then instrumental in filming Jaws, the most terrifying shark film of all time. But over time, this salty seadog has become the apex predator's fiercest protector

'I am surprised they don't attack us more often'. Andrew Fox' reply might seem surprising. But indeed, when we enter the ocean, we automatically become part of the sharks' world and hence part of the marine food chain. Andrew Fox is the son of Australia's famous champion spearfisherman and shark bite-victim Rodney Fox. Rodney invented cage diving with sharks to lose his fear and to learn about the sharks' behaviour. Not wanting to be deterred by the deathly reputation of the top predators of the ocean, he was one of the pioneers of shark research in Australia and started his own company to take people on expedition to get up and close with the grey giants. Andrew has continued his father's company and vision, supporting great white shark research unlocking the species' secrets. Join us on a journey to get to know great whites on a personal level. And yes, they do have individual personalities. Cat and Dom interview Andrew Fox about his father's pioneering work, the company's vision and what Andrew still finds fascinating about these animals. Listen in to the interview! Liked this episode? Follow us on Twitter @BoilingPointFM  Facebook and Instagram.

‘I am surprised they don’t attack us more often’. Andrew Fox’ reply might seem surprising. But indeed, when we enter the ocean, we automatically become part of the sharks’ world and hence part of the marine food chain. Andrew Fox is the son of Australia’s famous champion spearfisherman and shark bite-victim Rodney Fox. Rodney invented [...]Read More... from Why do great white sharks attack people?

Few things are scarier than being attacked by a shark. Australian Mick Fanning was in a professional surfing competition, which was being broadcast live around the world. Viewers watched as a shark approached him and he was quickly rescued by nearby safety crews – the only damage was the leash that connected him to his surfboard had been chewed through. In 1963, Rodney Fox was competing in a spearfishing tournament. A great white shark attacked and bit him around his midsection, puncturing his diaphragm, crushing his rib cage, and leaving many of his organs exposed. He survived with surgery and around 400 stitches. One summer on the Jersey Shore, five shark attacks happened in 10 days, resulting in four deaths. That period is often thought to be the inspiration for the classic movie, Jaws. As scary as it sounds, the reality is that shark attacks are quite rare. In fact, your odds of being attacked by a shark are around 1 in 11 million. Of course, that's not much comfort if you're one of the unlucky people to actually experience a violent attack by a shark. Just ask Brook. If you would like to help Brook with her ongoing recovery, here is her GoFundMe account. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling. Get 10% off your first month by visiting BetterHelp.com/WHATWAS. This episode is sponsored by StoryWorth. Preserve your loved one's memories in a keepsake book, and get 10% off your first order at StoryWorth.com/WHAT.

Sup spooky souls! We are back with another animal attack, and no surprise that we are traveling to Australia once again. This episode will discuss the infamous shark attack on Rodney Fox, which led to some of the most famous shark bite photographs ever taken. Rodney's attack became so notorious, that Steven Spielberg even enlisted his help when making the film, Jaws. Go check out Rodney's Fox photos on our Instagram, linked below!     https://ultimate-animals.com/rodney_fox_cage_diving/ https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/jun/07/jaws-40-years-shark-diving-australia https://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/02/17/2493781.htm https://www.rodneyfox.com.au/about-us/rodney-fox/ https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiS0_-PpJPyAhXUFlkFHXmuDJYQFjAEegQIBBAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fewwthatscreepypodcast%2F%3Fhl%3Den&authuser=2&usg=AOvVaw37b_VYI5nfQr1_ltYpPk8x

This week we talk about Alcides Moreno, a window washer for skyscrapers. When he stepped onto the scaffold 47 stories high, the cables slipped for their attachment point and he is now falling. We also talk about Rodney Fox, a spear fisherman competing in the annual South Australian Spearfishing Championship. When he travels a little further out to sea he is faced with a big problem. Listen to how they survived now!   Drink of the Week: Mimosa   

Mick Fanning will forever be known as the man who fought off a great white shark while competing on live TV at Jeffreys Bay in 2015. Now, the Australian sporting icon is conquering his fear of sharks in his new documentary, Save This Shark!

Mick Fanning will forever be known as the man who fought off a great white shark while competing on live TV at Jeffreys Bay in 2015. Now, the Australian sporting icon is conquering his fear of sharks in his new documentary, Save This Shark!

This week, Mel tells Josie the story of Rodney Fox, a South Australian spear fisherman who, after being horrifically mauled by a great white shark wound up making a whole business out of diving with the creatures themselves.Wanna skip the zest? Head to 17:35.CREDITS:Traveller.com.au, 2006https://www.traveller.com.au/great-white-fever-5zfwABC interview, 2002 produced by Peter Lindonhttps://web.archive.org/web/20131114194437/http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?http://www.abc.net.au/dimensions/dimensions_in_time/Transcripts/s518746.htmRodney Fox.com.auhttps://www.rodneyfox.com.au/about-us/rodney-fox/The Advertiser, Nathan Davies, 2019https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/rodney-foxs-stolen-signed-jaws-book-returned-after-25-years/news-story/f01efcf744c24fd4411d14b8ce500abfKids News, Claire Peddie, 2018https://www.kidsnews.com.au/environment/honour-for-shark-victim-rodney-fox-who-overcame-his-fear-to-become-a-shark-saviour/news-story/19f3c726a3feae9ddfb11367353fdd13The Guardian, James Stewart, 2015https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/jun/07/jaws-40-years-shark-diving-australiaOnya Magazine, Caitlin Jones, 2013https://www.onyamagazine.com/australian-affairs/history/the-great-white-sharks-best-friend/ABC Adelaide, Brett Williamson, 2012https://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/02/17/2493781.htmAs always, love us please:Join our Patreon Fan Club at https://www.patreon.com/thezestishistoryJoin The Zest Is History Podcast group on FB by searching for "The Zest Is History Podcast" on Facebook.Send us mail! The Zest Is History, PO Box 453, Rose Bay NSW 2029.Follow us on Instagram @thezestishistory and Twitter @ZestHistory.Follow Mel on Instagram @melissamason_ and Josie on Instagram @josierozeHooroo! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Follow award-winning writer James Stewart as he takes on 'The Everest of Cage Dives'. Rodney Fox survived one of the most horrific Great White Shark attacks in history and was the inspiration for Jaws, the movie. He went on to invent the concept of Cage Diving. But Rodney's trips aren't for the feint-hearted. Most cage dives keep you safe on the surface. Rodney's takes you all the way to the bottom of the ocean floor. Highlights include:Hearing the story of one of the most horrific Great White Shark attacks of all timeLearning about Rodney's story, how he became the inspiration for Jaws and went on to invent cage divingDescending to the bottom of the ocean as seven Great White Sharks circle you on all sidesLooking a 20-foot Great White Shark in the eye, seeing its teeth close enough to touchFinding out about Great White Shark science and conservationGradually, as James begins to control his fear, trapped on the bottom of the ocean with seven Great White Sharks circling him, he realizes that, far from monsters of the deep, Great Whites are actually one of the most important and beautiful animals in the marine ecosystem.Note: many cage diving trips are unethical, Rodney Fox's are the gold standard in conservation. Listen to the episode to find out why, and what to look out for when booking your trip.To book this trip, please visit: www.armchair-explorer.comFollow James Stewart:https://twitter.com/itsjamesstewartFind out more about shark conservation at https://www.sharktrust.orgThe Armchair Explorer podcast is adventure storytelling with beats, original music and cinematic effects. Each episode one of the world's greatest adventurers tell their best story from the road. No long-winded interviews, just straight to heart of the action.Host Aaron Millar is a multi-award-winning travel writer, journalist and author. He contributes regularly to The Times of London, National Geographic Traveller (UK), and many other national and international publications. He has presented travel documentaries for National Geographic TV, written two books for London publisher Icon - 50 Greatest Wonders of the World & 50 Greatest National Parks of the World - and is the 2014 and 2017 British Guild of Travel Writers Travel Writer of the Year, the IPW Best Destination Writer 2017 and Visit USA’s Best National Newspaper Writer 2014, 2016 & 2017. Aaron grew up in Brighton, England but is currently hiding out in the Rocky Mountains of Louisville, Colorado. @AaronMWriterhttps://www.instagram.com/aaronmwriter/https://twitter.com/AaronMWriterFacebook: @armchairexplorerpodcastOriginal music by Michael Comber, aka L.I.D. (Life in Development): http://lidmusic.co.uk. Check out more from Mike here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1FHmkcsnRqo0OaNSHKRLiu

Rodney Fox was born in 1940 in South Australia. Growing up near water, he quickly developed a passion for swimming, spearfishing and the ocean—and he went on to become the South Australian Spear Fishing Champion at age 22. Exactly one year after he won the championship, he was competing to defend his title when he was attacked by a great white shark and was badly wounded. Rodney used the experience to help increase shark awareness around the world and has been involved in dozens of film projects. He developed the first shark cages for underwater viewing and founded the Fox Shark Research Foundation alongside his son Andrew in 2001. In this episode of Anchored, Rodney and I discuss his attack, his role in Jaws, shark conservation and media glamorisation of animal attacks. Buy Rodney's Books: Sharks, the Sea and Me, Sharkman

Rodney Fox See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When Australian spearfishing champion Rodney Fox survived an horrific attack by a Great White Shark in 1963, it inspired him to learn more about the predator that tried to eat him. He invented the Shark Cage to help him do it safely. Rodney's was one of the worst non-fatal shark attacks ever recorded. He's been describing his miraculous escape from the jaws of death to Rebecca Kesby.(Photo: A Great White Shark - Getty Images)

When Australian spearfishing champion Rodney Fox survived an horrific attack by a Great White Shark in 1963, it inspired him to learn more about the predator that tried to eat him. He invented the Shark Cage to help him do it safely. Rodney's was one of the worst non-fatal shark attacks ever recorded. He's been describing his miraculous escape from the jaws of death to Rebecca Kesby. (Photo: A Great White Shark - Getty Images)

Fatal shark attacks on humans have been on the increase in Australia. For Discovery, marine biologist Dr Helen Scales finds out how scientists are exploring new, humane ways to reduce this number. At the start of this year, the state government of Western Australia decided to undertake the culling of sharks longer than three metres, after what they called an “unprecedented number of attacks”. In February, thousands of Australians protested against the cull, with conservationists claiming that it will make no difference to the number of attacks. An outspoken critic of the strategy is Rodney Fox, who was almost killed by a Great White shark when he was a young man but who subsequently made a 50-year-long career filming sharks, shark tourism and shark conservation. Rodney talks to Helen about the day he was attacked and his thoughts about the Western Australian cull. Rodney argues that another approach is needed.On a mission to reduce shark attacks, a team has been formed at the Ocean Institute, University of Western Australia (UWA). Their task is to think like a shark to understand how a shark's brain perceives and reacts to light, sound and vibrations, and how the shark's finely tuned senses might be manipulated in the hunt for more effective, humanitarian shark repellents. Research revealed that Great Whites have large chunks of their brain dedicated to vision. So UWA are developing and testing a shark-proof wetsuit that mimics the appearance of poisonous, striped sea snakes. Other solutions under study include bubble curtains and the use of devices which generate electric fields around swimmers.Helen also questions whether sharks deserve their reputation as the most fearsome predators of the sea. Have they been misunderstood and mythologised by popular culture through films such as Jaws and Deep Blue Sea. Proving that even the most predatory of sharks are not automatic man-eaters, Helen herself goes diving with dozens of huge bull sharks (one of the most aggressive species) and comes to the surface unscathed. These three metre long monsters have been trained to be hand-fed by locals while tourists watch close by. Helen also talks to veteran shark researcher Eugenie Clark about the predators' learning abilities and intelligence. Dr Clark was able to train sharks to learn to press the correct buttons with their snouts to get a food treat. She even presented the Crown Prince of Japan with a baby nurse shark who never made a mistake.(Photo: Courtesy of Helen Scales)