What would you do if you won $12,000 on Deal or No Deal? This is the story of one man who spent his gameshow winnings on the purchase of camels, in order to find a rather metaphysical Pot of Gold: a bit of adventure in his life. Armed with four friends, three camels and not much preparation, Nathan Carter set off walking from Perth to Melbourne across the desert— and found much more than he’d bargained for.
Originally produced for FBI's All The Best program,
Produced by Fiona Pepper.
Supervising Producers: Belinda Lopez and Giordana Caputo.
Sound design by Belinda Lopez.
Documentary audio recorded by Leon Bryant.
Music credits: ‘Bees’ by Caribou; ‘Hello Hammerheads’ by Caribou; ‘Darlin’ Won’t You Come’ by Bob Evans; ‘Tears’ by Django Reinhardt; ‘Sirtaki à Helsinki’ by René Aubry.

Pot of Gold - a Camel Trek across Australia

There are people on the Internet who fetishise beards. Melbourne photographer Jackson Eaton happened to have exactly the kind of beard that they wanted. 
Produced for FBI's All The Best program.
Produced by Fiona Pepper.
Sound design by Belinda Lopez.
Music credits: ‘Ecstasy of Dancing Fleas’ by Penguin Cafe Orchestra; ‘Warwick Pro Series Star Bass 5‘ by Bass People Sydney; ’I've Still Got My Beard’ by The Beards.

Beards, and The Men Who Love Them

What would you want for your 60th birthday? Grandchildren? Retirement? This story is about a man who chose an entirely different path when he turned 60. Much to the surprise of his friends and family he decided to join a Buddhist Monastery and become a monk, despite never having practiced Buddhism before.
What consequences does that sort of decision have on your family life? Is it a noble act or is simply shirking responsibilities? Fifteen years on Ekagatta is still a practicing Buddhist, and we hear from him and his daughter, Lorien about this drastic life change.
Produced by Fiona Pepper
Photography by Nicola Bailey
Music from http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/ -Pshaw and John Moran Saori Excerpt II

Gifts on a Buddhist's Birthday

The full interview with Amnesty Internationals Indigenous Rights Manager, Tammy Solonec on the closure of the Oombulgurri community in remote Western Australia. 

The Closure of the Oombulgurri Community

There are hundreds of Aboriginal people describing themselves as refugees in Western Australia. They're being told by WA Premier Colin Barnet their communities are not viable. Now they've set up a Tent Embassy and Refugee Camp on Heirisson Island in the heart of the Swan River in Perth.

Produced by Fiona Pepper for The Wire
[Image: Flickr - Yaruman5]

WA Indigenous Communities Closed Down

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JsCCMKRtLZtH5GufvOtFvZ3Z2xXt5O_a/view
In the late '90s when the charismatic, young American, Nicholas Johnson took up a position in waste management at McMurdo Station in Antarctica he imagined incredible adventures within a pristine landscape.
Instead he discovered boredom and bureaucracy, all within the confines of a station resembling a dirty old mining town.
Soon after arriving Johnson started documenting life at McMurdo Station in an anonymously written satirical newsletter, Big Dead Place which he would secretly leave around the station.
Described as the M*A*S*H or Wikileaks of Antarctica, Big Dead Place contradicted most literature written about life on the ice.
So what is it really like to work at America's largest Antarctic base?

Big Dead Place - Earshot

Mosul Eye program transcript 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MsnZOBPo5q2hSKrPNllD8FuF0Y48adtY/view?usp=sharing
Mosul Eye program synopsis 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13CAV_PbedRM5EjP32s8nzEGJmhe4-F99/view?usp=sharing

Mosul Eye - documenting life inside the Caliphate

Vanuatu's stolen generation synopsis
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12S8-Bx2gU1mNss5s20e9TwLZShOrpuzs/view?usp=sharing
Vanuatu's stolen generation transcript
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16JVqsmDOmclEGwdTx97RRVKsdM3oTSoZ/view?usp=sharing

FionaPepper