Expanse
ABC listen
In 1999 a young American dumped his bicycle and walked out into the Great Sandy Desert in remote northern Australia. He was an Alaskan firefighter, seemingly with everything to live for. So why did he risk it all to go into the wilderness alone? And how do you search for someone who doesn't want to be found?
In 2022, host Erin Parke became obsessed with the saga of Robert Bogucki, which became a media circus and prompted everyone involved to think about life, death and who we are when everything easy is stripped away. It's a story that spans three decades, two continents and a bizarre cast of characters. From booty-wearing bloodhounds, to a larger-than-life, cigar-chomping American named Gunslinger, the search for the missing man became a spectacle in itself.
In season 5, Expanse: Nowhere Man, Erin sets out to discover why some people are pushed to lose themselves in the wilderness on a search for meaning. At a time when so many of us feel lost, just how far would you go to feel found?
New episodes released each Wednesday.
Expanse is an internationally award-winning podcast that explores big stories from across Australia — a vast continent where anything can happen.
In Series 4: Uncropped, host Danielle O'Neal goes from a mosquito-laden lagoon in far north Queensland to the Australian government's classified UFO files, to the US Congress as she seeks to understand what happened, its legacy and why believable people say seemingly unbelievable things.
Spies in the Outback (Series 3) won the Excellence in Radio Broadcasting award at the Northern Territory Media Awards in 2024 for the story of Pine Gap, a secret US/Australian defence base hidden in the outback.
From the Dead (Series 2) won silver in the Documentary: History category at the New York Radio Festival awards. It delves into a wild tale of survival at sea off Tasmania's rugged southwest coast.
Pink Diamond Heist (Series 1) was shortlisted in the New York Radio Awards, Documentary: History category. This season takes you on a rollicking ride through Western Australia on the trail of a diamond heist.
In 2022, host Erin Parke became obsessed with the saga of Robert Bogucki, which became a media circus and prompted everyone involved to think about life, death and who we are when everything easy is stripped away. It's a story that spans three decades, two continents and a bizarre cast of characters. From booty-wearing bloodhounds, to a larger-than-life, cigar-chomping American named Gunslinger, the search for the missing man became a spectacle in itself.
In season 5, Expanse: Nowhere Man, Erin sets out to discover why some people are pushed to lose themselves in the wilderness on a search for meaning. At a time when so many of us feel lost, just how far would you go to feel found?
New episodes released each Wednesday.
Expanse is an internationally award-winning podcast that explores big stories from across Australia — a vast continent where anything can happen.
In Series 4: Uncropped, host Danielle O'Neal goes from a mosquito-laden lagoon in far north Queensland to the Australian government's classified UFO files, to the US Congress as she seeks to understand what happened, its legacy and why believable people say seemingly unbelievable things.
Spies in the Outback (Series 3) won the Excellence in Radio Broadcasting award at the Northern Territory Media Awards in 2024 for the story of Pine Gap, a secret US/Australian defence base hidden in the outback.
From the Dead (Series 2) won silver in the Documentary: History category at the New York Radio Festival awards. It delves into a wild tale of survival at sea off Tasmania's rugged southwest coast.
Pink Diamond Heist (Series 1) was shortlisted in the New York Radio Awards, Documentary: History category. This season takes you on a rollicking ride through Western Australia on the trail of a diamond heist.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 19, 2025 • 23min
BONUS Expanse: Nowhere Man | Gunslinger
The search for Robert Bogucki brought together a cast of colourful characters, including a cigar-toting, moustachioed American named Garrison ‘Gunslinger’ St Clair.
Aug 5, 2025 • 33min
06 Expanse: Nowhere Man | Lost and found
Join Robert Bogucki on a road trip back to the Great Sandy Desert, 26 years after a life-altering survival experience. With Aboriginal tracker Meridu Walbody, they navigate emotional tensions and reflections on loss, cultural heritage, and spiritual connections. Discover the poignant significance of a cleansing ritual that honors the land while highlighting the need for respect towards Indigenous traditions. As they face personal struggles amid desert solitude, the podcast addresses the societal neglect of missing Indigenous individuals and the quest for genuine connection.
Jul 29, 2025 • 30min
05 Expanse: Nowhere Man | Miracle in the desert
After almost six weeks in the desert, Robert Bogucki is found alive in what quickly becomes known as ‘The miracle in the desert’. But now he has to survive the tabloid television treatment and a fierce public backlash.
Jul 22, 2025 • 33min
04 Expanse: Nowhere Man | Alaska
Robert Bogucki, a desert survivor known for his spiritual journey through the Great Sandy Desert, shares his powerful motivations for seeking solitude. He contrasts his personal quest for clarity with the tragic story of Christopher McCandless, exploring the allure and dangers of isolation in nature. Listeners will be captivated by his reflections on vulnerability and personal growth amid desolation, as he recounts profound realizations about identity and relationships forged in the wilderness. His insights into life's existential struggles offer both depth and inspiration.
Jul 15, 2025 • 31min
03 Expanse: Nowhere Man | The green berets
Robert Bogucki has been given up for dead, but the drama’s only just beginning.
Jul 8, 2025 • 29min
02 Expanse: Nowhere Man | Trackers
In this gripping discussion, Ben Martin, a rookie reporter, shares his firsthand experiences covering the desperate search for missing hiker Robert Bogucki in the Great Sandy Desert. He highlights the vital role Aboriginal trackers play in modern policing, showcasing their unique abilities and deep spiritual connections to the land. Listeners will feel the emotional weight of Robert's girlfriend's journey, as she bids farewell amidst uncertainty and hope, underscoring the profound impact of ambiguous loss on families in the community.
Jul 1, 2025 • 29min
01 Expanse: Nowhere Man | Ghost in the desert
Ben Martin, a former newspaper cadet from Perth, shares his gripping experience covering the search for missing cyclist Robert Bogucki in the unforgiving Great Sandy Desert. He recounts the eerie moment when an abandoned bicycle triggers a massive search operation, exploring themes of isolation and survival. Martin delves into the psychological aspects of adventure and risk, alongside captivating tales of local lore. The conversation reveals the complexities of Bogucki's motivations and raises thought-provoking questions about identity in the face of nature's vastness.
Jun 24, 2025 • 3min
INTRODUCING — Expanse: Nowhere Man
It’s 1999, and a young American man is missing in the Australian outback. Police soon realise there’s something very strange about this case – the man appears to have plunged into the desert on purpose, and seemingly doesn’t want to be found.
Nov 25, 2024 • 39min
05 Uncropped | The legacy
A bombshell is dropped in US Congress that makes a lot of people start thinking about UFOs, now called UAP, differently. Danielle O’Neal tries to understand the implications of everything she’s heard and grapples with the unanswered questions.
Nov 25, 2024 • 32min
04 Uncropped | UAP in the USA
Despite an alarming coincidence being uncovered in the government’s UFO files, a young intelligence officer recommends the files are closed and investigations shut down. Decades on, while the U.S. is taking a serious look at unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP) the legacy of that decision has kept UFOs in the sneered-at periphery in Australia.
