The Planet Earth Podcast BBC Radio 4

In the final episode of The Planet Earth Podcast, Mike Gunton and the Planet Earth team share their own thoughts on the pressures our planet is facing today, and how we might change our behaviours to protect it. Contributors from across the series including Emma Napper, Abdullah Kahn, Steve Greenwood and Sir David Attenborough open up about what it means to work on a series like Planet Earth and how those working on the frontlines of conservation inspire them to keep hoping for a better future.

As the natural world faces unprecedented pressures, who are the conservation heroes working on the front line to protect our most precious species? Mike Gunton hears from BBC Factual Commissioner Jack Bootle on why human stories are so important to the Planet Earth brand, while conservationist Carla Daniel shares how she makes sure sea turtles remain safe on the busy streets of Barbados. Chimp expert Matt McLennan describes how his conservation work helped to bring a Planet Earth III sequence to our screens, and Sir David Attenborough offers his own thoughts on conservation heroes.

What would Planet Earth be without the incredible sounds – both real and designed – that help bring the natural world to life? From vultures feasting on bones to the wonderful voice of Sir David. Mike Gunton talks to sound recordist Chris Watson about the techniques used to capture sounds on location, while dubbing mixer Graham Wild shares some of the more surprising ingredients that go into creating the sounds of an elephant giving birth. Composers Jacob Shea and Sara Barone describe how they came up with the theme of Planet Earth III, while Sir David Attenborough remembers his own time recording sounds for his earliest programmes.

How have high-tech drones, digital cameras and slow-motion technology changed the way the Planet Earth team films the natural world? Mike Gunton speaks to Innovation Producer Colin Jackson about finding the right equipment for the right story, and filmmaker Theo Webb describes the difficulty of drone-flying in a cave system. Sir David Attenborough also reminisces about technology changes over the course of his own career.

In this episode we discover the secret sauce that makes a Planet Earth sequence. Mike Gunton shares his insights on how to find a great animal story, from dynamic characters to recognisable narrative arcs. Planet Earth III Series Producer Matt Brandon talks about the steps of finding the right stories to fit the Planet Earth brand, whilst filmmakers Charlotte Bostock and Kiri Cashell reveal how they go about constructing animal sequences that will touch, surprise and shock audiences, and ultimately make them care about our planet.

This week, Mike Gunton talks to the filmmakers that have lived in extreme locations for weeks at a time to capture the amazing animal sequences we love. Planet Earth II Producer Emma Napper describes her time camping alongside creepy-crawlies while filming in the Brazilian rainforest, while Alex Walters recalls her time on the isolated Ellesmere Island, filming wolves for Planet Earth III, and some of the close calls that come with living so close to wild predators. Sir David Attenborough remembers his own experiences on location, from the camaraderie in camp, to the frustration at trying to spot and film animals that don’t want to be seen.