Blazing the Trail | Episode 3: Playing with Fire

In this episode of Blazing the Trail, host Dr. Amy Mosig-Way is joined by Prof. John Gowlett, Prof. Polly Wiessner, and First Nations Gamilaraay man Wayne Brennan to explore the profound impact of fire on human evolution. The control of fire marked a pivotal moment in our history, offering more than warmth, protection, and a way to cook food— it shaped our culture, behaviour, and even our physiology. Tune in to uncover how fire transformed early human life that set us on a unique evolutionary path.

Creators & Guests

Host

Dr Amy Way

Dr Amy Mosig Way is a research archaeologist holding a joint position between the Australian Museum and the University of Sydney, where she lectures in First Nations archaeology and Archaeological field methods. Her expertise lies in high-resolution stone artefact analysis and Amy is working on projects examining the first human occupation of Central Europe and occupational change over time in mountain and arid zone environments in Australia. At the Australian Museum, she leads the archaeological research program with key responsibility for implementing long-term community-centred archaeological projects in NSW. Previously, she has held a coveted Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, where she researched Middle Stone Age stone artefact assemblages.

Writer

Madeline Robinson

Madeline G.P. Robinson is a PhD candidate and Archaeology Support Officer in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Sydney. She specialises in photogrammetry, 3D modelling, photography, and spatial archaeology, with a focus on early coastal adaptations during the mid to late Holocene. Madeline has conducted research and fieldwork across diverse locations, including Australia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Malta, Alaska, Arizona, Cambodia, and most recently in Sri Lanka.

Editor

Peter Adams

Media Producer for University of Sydney School of Humanities. Has an Honours Degree in Screen and Sound and has decades of experience in the media industry.

What is Blazing the Trail ?

This podcast series explores our shared epic human journey. Our story begins in Africa, when our family included other human species. Through time, our intelligence and curiosity developed, we learnt how to create and control fire, how to communicate with each other, and ultimately thrive in every environmental niche on this planet. Join us in this series as we investigate where we come from, and what makes us human.

This series a co-production between University of Sydney, Australian Museum, BreakThru Films, University of Liverpool, and University of Wroclaw.