It’s been nearly 50 years since Jaws hit the big screen, and its impact still lingers.

More than just a Hollywood blockbuster, Jaws helped cement a cultural image of sharks as mindless, vengeful predators—an image that continues to shape headlines, influence policy, and drive fear around encounters with sharks, especially white sharks.

John Long, a Strategic Professor in Paleontology at Flinders University and author of The Secret History of Sharks, joins The Daily to unpack how the legacy endures, why media still relies on outdated narratives, and what science tells us about the true nature of these apex predators.

From the myth of the ‘rogue shark’ to the ecological importance of sharks in our oceans, we dive deep into the gap between perception and reality.

You can check out John’s book here.

If you would like to find out more information you can also check out John’s article on The Conversation.