About This Podcast
The Rise of the Superbugs podcast series explores how antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is becoming more common and how these resistant microorganisms, also referred to as ‘superbugs’, affect people and society.
The podcast episodes look at how antimicrobials are used – and overused – and how superbugs can also affect our pets. The podcast series explores how superbugs exist in the natural environment but how antimicrobial resistance is increasingly making infections difficult or impossible to treat.
The Rise of the Superbugs podcast explains why AMR is something everyone should care about. It combines storytelling with evidence-based research to increase awareness about one of the great health threats of the 21st century. It takes a constructive journalism approach using podcast storytelling in a way that Australians can both understand the problem and be part of the solution.
Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobials are medicines used to treat infections in humans, animals and plants. These include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics. As a result of misuse and overuse, resistance to these medicines is increasing, making infections harder to treat. According to the World Health Organisation, AMR is one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity.
Researching and raising awareness through podcasting
The podcast series is produced by a team of researchers and podcast producers, supported by funding and resources from the Australian Research Council. The podcast series is a research outcome from the Discovery Project “Building the Australian response to the ‘superbugs’ crisis” (ARCDP170100937), by an interdisciplinary team led by Associate Professor Mark Davis, Monash University, Australia.
Production Team
Professor Mia Lindgren || Executive Producer, University of Tasmania
Mia Lindgren is a Professor of Media and Director, Research Strategy in the College of Arts, Law and Education at the University of Tasmania, Australia. She is also adjunct Professor at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. Her research examines forms of journalism and audio storytelling, with attention to podcast journalism , technology, and health communication. Mia’s multidisciplinary research has been funded by five Australian national competitive grants (ARC and NHMRC).
Dr Britta Jorgensen | Host and Producer
Britta is a podcast maker and researcher with a background in community radio and journalism. She is currently the Supervising Producer at UTS Impact Studios and a sessional lecturer in podcasting at the University of Sydney. In 2020 she completed a practice-research PhD on independent podcasting in Australia. She’s also a producer of environmental film podcast, Seeing Green. She’s produced audio stories for Deadset Studios, ABC Radio National, the Judith Neilson Institute, Duolingo and the CBAA. She’s taught and mentored emerging producers and won a 2018 Burning Seed grant for her interactive audio installation, The Complaints Department. She has written podcast criticism and published peer-reviewed research in podcast studies. Britta is enjoying the sunshine, rainforests and reefs of Queensland.
Sarah Mashman | Producer
Sarah Mashman is an award winning audio journalist and producer. Working across regional and urban studios, Sarah has led productions for SBS, CBAA and the ABC. Sarah has an interest in human centred stories that refocus the story on the guest and their experience and won the Create Provoke award at the 2021 Hearsay International Audio Arts Festival. She is the running producer of ABC RN’s arts and culture show, Stop Everything! and works on independent and branded podcasts including From the Embers and The Few Who Do. Sarah is currently living in Tasmania being distracted by the wallabies in her backgarden.
Silvi Vann-Wall | Producer
Silvi is a journalist and podcast maker with a background in radio, film and television. Her audio career began at the age of 16 on Melbourne’s SYN fm. She has since produced audio for the University of Melbourne (Eavesdrop on Experts; A Walk On The Wise Side), ABC Radio National (Blueprint; Drive; Life Matters), and FBi Radio’s All The Best. Most recently, her chronic illness podcast Pill Pop was awarded with a grant and co-production deal under The Wheeler Centre’s So You Think You Can Pod competition. She can usually be found inside her homemade recording booth, with her headphones on and a cat in her lap.