Beloved broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough talks with Mike Walsh about the basics of human survival on Planet Earth. Over a career spanning eight decades, Attenborough has made a profound impact on nature broadcasting. Iconic series like Attenborough’s Life collection introduced audiences worldwide to endless wonders, from microscopic lifeforms to vast landscapes. Educational, urgent and full of astonishing footage, the shows were also a great deal of fun, carried by Attenborough’s dulcet tones and wit.

Here, Attenborough’s exchange with Mike Walsh captures the ethos that connects all his work. After touching on Walsh’s points about the logic of conservation for human survival, Attenborough dives deeper. This clip reminds us that, at our core, we’re all part of the cycle of life. Episode 4132 of The Mike Walsh Show was originally broadcast on 15 August 1984.