Book lovers can look forward to a deep dive into whale tales at 2024’s True Story Festival, with a conversation about animal science and Aboriginal sea kin set to be a highlight.

Thanks to regular festival guest Dr Jodi Edwards, True Story will be welcoming its first international star, Tom Mustill, a British nature documentary maker who has worked with David Attenborough.

Tom will be talking to Jodi about his bestselling book, How to Speak Whale, an extraordinary investigation into animal communication.

Tom’s book was inspired by an accident in 2015, Jodi explains. “He and his friend were out on Monterey Bay in a sea kayak doing a whale tour. A humpback breached – it landed on the front of their canoe and flipped it. The two people had a very different experience.”

This sparked Tom to go on an amazing adventure, exploring his curiosity about whales, and how a relationship with a whale might unravel. Research took Tom in many directions; he learned of whales’ vast Arctic travels – and that each family has its own route based on its ancestral line.

Jodi and Tom plan to take us on a wave of learning that spans Cultural connection, through story, song and uncertainty, as we join them on a migration pathway, gliding along the currents in a playground of happiness, while incorporating the science of feeding, resting and birthing.

Jodi is excited to yarn with Tom and explore knowledges. Over the next two years, Jodi and marine scientist Dr Chelsea Marshall are travelling along the Australian coast to reconnect Aboriginal knowledges as part of their groundbreaking ‘Unbroken Whispers: The ripples connecting sea kin’ project. Jodi has recently written two more Dharawal storybooks, and is working on her autobiography, as well as poetry.

“With all my poetry, in some way or form, it’s related back to either star stories, songlines, whales, and the passing on of knowledge,” she says.

Jodi is also working with Nicole Smede from Red Room Poetry on ‘Whale Song’ and looks forward to extending this program to share knowledges with young people about Sea Country and Sea Kin, including whales. They have successfully completed three local Whale Song projects, including Elders and Custodians sharing stories about whales with students, inspiring them to write new poems, songs, and dances. Passing on knowledge is key to connecting kids to culture and to considering marine science as a career pathway.

“We know that it works and they take the knowledge of our cultural sharing home,” Jodi says. “And it’s with them for the rest of their lives.”

True Story Festival returns to Coledale Community Hall from November 15-17. Early bird tickets are now on sale! Book via South Coast Writers Centre