When you skip by seaweed on the beach or crunch into nori wrapped sushi rolls, you're interacting with something that also exists as billion-year-old fossils. In Australia, palawa people have crafted bull kelp water carriers for millennia, and from Ireland to Japan, seaweed’s been a culinary ingredient, a cough remedy and a way to pay taxes. Nowadays, this versatile alga gets shaped into sushi rolls, musical instruments, plastic alternatives, and could be a powerful tool in combating climate change.

This episode features co-founder of South Coast Seaweed, Sarah Thomas; food writer, photographer and award-winning author, Emiko Davies; composer, instrumentalist and composer, Yyan Ng; performer and marine scientist, Emily Sheppard; and marine ecologist and founder of Venus Shell Systems and PhycoHealth, Dr Pia Winberg. A special thanks to 100 Climate Conversations; the National Film and Sound Archive; the Tasmanian Archives; and Uluu. Listen to Dr Pia Winberg on 100 Climate Conversations here.

This episode was inspired by items from the Powerhouse Collection, such as a 19th century tin of Irish moss and 1879 bottled nori from Japan.

Culinary Archive Podcast is a Powerhouse series hosted by Lee Tran Lam. Listen to season 1 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.

Image: Alana Dimou

Australians have been raising our glasses for a long time. Our vintages have been winning international prizes since 1822 and there's currently a $2 billion worldwide thirst for our wine. Australian innovations like the goon bag and screw-cap wines have made drinking more user friendly, though, and wine has since become a creative showcase for art and culture.

This episode features co-founder of Unico Zelo, Brendan Carter; co-founder of Mt Yengo Wines, Gary Green (Gamilaraay Githabul); director, co-founder and co-owner of Munda Wines, Pauly Vandenbergh (Wirangu Kokatha); and sommelier, writer and host of Over a Glass, Shanteh Wale. A special thanks to the National Film and Sound Archive; the Tasmanian Archives; and Treasury Wine Estates.

This episode was inspired by items from the Powerhouse Collection, such as Angove boxed wine, a champagne-toasting hat, and a Chinese bronze wine vessel.

Culinary Archive Podcast is a Powerhouse series hosted by Lee Tran Lam. Listen to season 1 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.

Image: Alana Dimou

Onion stalk, parasol, bleeding fairy helmet, lawyer's wig, chicken of the woods, native bread and velvet shank are some of the mushrooms you'll find in Australia. Some taste a lot better than others and have been championed as a sustainable alternative to meat. Across the world, growing mushrooms has helped disenfranchised people gain economic independence.

This episode features food, travel and cheese judge, Mike Butler; co-founder and chief science officer of Fable, Jim Fuller; and farmer, educator and founder of The Future of Hope Foundation, Chido Govera. A special thanks to the Australian Mushroom Growers Association; the National Film and Sound Archive; and the Tasmanian Archives.

This episode was inspired by items from the Powerhouse Collection, including a glass plate negative of the Hawkesbury bridge; a model of stink horn fungus; and a mushroom shaped decanter topper.

Culinary Archive Podcast is a Powerhouse series hosted by Lee Tran Lam. Listen to season 1 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.

Image: Alana Dimou