Carolin Bapp is a scientist and recently completed her Masters Research from the University of Vienna. Carolin co-authored the study published this month in the Chemosphere Journal, which showed that microplastics can persist through cell division and may contribute to cancer spread. In this chat, we talk about the study methodology, results and implications. We also chat about Carolin's recent experience on a remote beach clean up with Sea Shepherd Australia at Mapoon in north-west...

Dr Andrew Thomas is Executive Officer at Cooks River Alliance and President of Stormwater New South Wales. The Cooks River is a 23-kilometre long (14 mile) urban waterway located in south-eastern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia - and, since at least 1997, councils and community groups along the river and across the catchment have worked together to improve the health of the river. In this chat, we discuss the key challenges associated with its protection, the wins achieved so far, and why...

Hannah Tait is the CEO and founder of Action for Dolpins, a charity that advocates for the protection of dolphins and challenge practices that cause them harm, working to change laws, educate the public, and promote institutional changes that lead to safer, healthier lives for dolphins. In this chat, Hannah talks about how the organisation started and key campaigns. Useful links: Hannah on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-tait-74527697/https://www.afd.org.au/ To find about more...

Season 6 of the Ocean Protect Podcast kicks off with a fascinating chat with Dr @Matt Landos, Director at Future Fisheries Veterinary Service. In this chat, Matt discusses the chemical cocktail in our waterways and water resources and where it’s coming from - and what we need to do to save our oceans, waterways and ourselves.    Useful links: Matt on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-landos-533a1723/The Guardian article, “The river has been destroyed’: expert says agriculture has...

Ocean Protect's very own Harout Tcherkezian joins Brad for the Season 5 finale. Harout has been with Ocean Protect for over twelve years, and overseas our operations in New South Wales, Australia. We chat about Harout's journey to date with Ocean Protect, the challenges of the job, and his ambition for his kids to think he's a legend. Harout on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harout-tcherkezian-44636a1a/   For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out...

Jeff Hansen is the Managing Director of Sea Shepherd Australia and a Global Director of Sea Shepherd. We talk about the key campaigns of Sea Shepherd - illegal fishing, ocean plastic and climate change - current direct actions, future plans, successes, and the challenges associated with protecting the most spectacular show on earth - nature. Useful links: https://www.seashepherd.org.au/Jeff on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-hansen-521b42a  For further information about Ocean...

Sean Quilty is a Chartered Civil Engineer with 18 years’ experience in residential and industrial subdivisions, health precincts, educational precincts, waste management facilities, municipality works, major infrastructure upgrades, roadworks, road remediation, and master planning feasibility. He is Associate Principal at ADG Engineers and Associate Lecturer at Tafe Queensland, and has a passion for inspiring the next generation of engineers. In this chat, we talk about Sean's own education...

Peter Hammarstedt is Global Director of Sea Shepherd campaigns and Chairman of the Australian Board. Peter has captained Sea Shepherd's MY Bob Barker for 11 years and is now Captaining their new vessel, the Allan Kay. In this amazing chat, Peter shares some of his insights from over 20 years of navigating the globe, confronting illegal whaling, sealing and destructive fishing. Useful links: Sea Shepherd's leadership team: https://www.seashepherdglobal.org/global/leadership/Sea Shepherd's...

Ben Penhallurick is a passionate environmental scientist, returning for his third experience on the podcast. This is a no holds barred chat about calling out the BS on the greenwashing rampant in the environmental industry, the dubious nature of environmental offsets (like biodiversity, water quality and carbon offsets) and how humans have been programmed to compete to survive whilst we what we really need is collaboration - and how to help achieve this. Useful links: Ocean Protect Podcast...

Mark Pages is a specialist in the field of micro-algae and other plant based ingredients, and founder of Phytality - a company specialising in the manufacture and supply of unique marine micro-algae and vegan omega-3 product solutions. In this chat, we discuss the sea 'food' and aquaculture industry, the importance and potential sources of Omega 3, and the benefits of the microscopic plant-like organisms called phytoplankton. Useful links: https://phytality.com.au/Mark on...

Jonas Larsen is an Environmental Scientist and Water Sensitive Urban Design Technical Officer at Logan City Council. In this chat, we talk about Jonas's incredible journey from a vision impaired child to a passion for protecting the environment he came to eventually see - working in a various roles in environmental, soil, and contaminated land and water industries, and applying his learnings to the water sensitive urban design space and bringing the biology into bioretention systems - one of...

Dr Paul Harvey is an environmental chemist and scientist, science communicator, speaker and author of The Plasticology Project book, which is a broad, comprehensive analysis of global plastic pollution – how it spreads, the damage it causes, and the risk it poses to our health and wellbeing. In this chat, we talk about all those things and more, and what we can (and ultimately must ) do to 'turn the tide' on plastic pollution. https://docpjharvey.com/ Paul on...

Dr Damian Lettoof is a Postdoctoral fellow at CSIRO and loves snakes. Returning for this second Ocean Protect Podcast appearance, we chat about Damian's new research that has found tiger snakes in Perth’s urban wetlands are accumulating high levels of chemical substances from ingesting PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), impacting the venomous reptiles’ overall health. The research, jointly led by Curtin University, Australia’s National Science Agency CSIRO and the Department of Water...

Erin Remblance is a freelance columnist and co-founder of re(Biz) with a passion for (re)generative and post-growth thinking and strategies. After some 12 years in National Account Management in fast-moving consumer goods companies (e.g. Univilever, Nestle, L’Oreal), bringing 3 kids into the world, and then a few years in carbon reduction and energy efficiency initiatives, she pivoted to learn what we REALLY need to do to better protect our planet – and ultimately help us all to live happier,...

Shannon Mead is the Founder of and Chief Butt Officer of "No More Butts" - returning for his third appearance on the pod. In this chat, Shannon drops truth bombs about dropped cigarette butts, vaping, and how cigarette filters do more harm than good - along with insights from participating at the 'INC2' (Second Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution) in Paris - where delegates from 180 nations took the first concrete step toward a legally binding treaty...

Dr Michelle Blewitt is the Program Director of the Australian Microplastic Assessment Project (AUSMAP) - a bridge between a massive problem and the solutions, designed to document and analyse microplastic pollution in Australian aquatic environments. Michelle joins us on AUSMAP's 5th birthday for a chat in Bondi to discuss rent AUSMAP research findings, what makes a 'spot' 'hot' and recent research documenting the scourge of synthetic tyre rubber crumb from sports fields and...

The legendary Grahame Lloyd, Sea Shepherd Australia's Remote Marine Debris Campaigner, is back for his third appearance on the Ocean Protect Podcast. In this chat, we discuss the life and times of doing marine debris clean-ups in some of the most remote parts of Australia, the impact of the debris on indigenous communities in these areas, and drop some truth bombs on how to help solve the plastic pollution crisis. Useful links: Grahame Lloyd -...

Dr Denise Hardesty, Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO Environment, returns for her second appearance on the podcast. This time, we catch up in Bondi the day after the Ocean Plastic Action Forum featured in previous episodes. In this chat, we discuss some of the latest research on plastic in our oceans, including new research by Denise and the CSIRO team about how two percent of all commercial fishing gear is being littered in our oceans. Useful links: Dr Denise Hardesty -...

This episode features the 4th (and final) part of recorded audio from inaugural Ocean Plastic Action Forum at Bondi Beach – held on 15th March 2023, as part of the Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival. This part includes the ‘where to from here’ session, where the speakers of the previous sessions (Dr Denise Hardesty, Prof. Veena Sahawjwalla, and Allegra Spender MP) provided a short synthesis of the previous discussions and highlight key essential actions to 'turn the tide' on ocean plastic...

This episode is the third of a four-part series of recorded audio from the Ocean Plastic Action Forum at Bondi Beach – held on 15th March 2023, as part of the Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival. This part focusses on the “Path to Purging Plastic" session, where you will hear discussions and insights from current actions being undertaken to reduce ocean plastic pollution, including 'at source', recycling, treatment and 'clean up' initiatives. Allegra Spender MP (Parliament of Australia) provided a...

This episode is the second of a four-part series of recorded audio from the Ocean Plastic Action Forum at Bondi Beach – held on 15th March 2023, as part of the Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival. This part focusses on the “Exploring Current Actions" session, where you will hear discussions and insights from current actions being undertaken to reduce ocean plastic pollution, including 'at source', recycling, treatment and 'clean up' initiatives. Professor Veena Sahajwalla (UNSW) provided a short...

This episode is the first of a four-part series of recorded audio from the Ocean Plastic Action Forum at Bondi Beach – held on 15th March 2023, as part of the Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival. The forum included industry leaders, innovators, scientists, government and community leaders discussing how to 'turn the tide' on plastic in our ocean – including a few short presentations and interactive Q&A panel sessions. This first part focusses on the “Key Trends and Impacts” session, which...

Nicholas Carter is an ecologist and environmental science and policy analyst, and advocates for transformational food system changes. In this chat, we discuss the link between agriculture and land use, how to address the climate and biodiversity crisis while still feeding the world, and bust a few myths about 'regenerative agriculture'. Useful links: https://oceanprotect.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/OPPodcast_S5E5_resources.pdf - studies/ analyses referred to by Nicholas in episode (in...

Philip Ehrhorn is Chief Technical Officer and Co-founder of The Great Bubble Barrier - the first technology to use a bubble curtain to capture plastic pollution in rivers. We discuss the technology, how the idea came about (simultaneously in two countries), its development, its effectiveness, application and future plans. Useful links: https://thegreatbubblebarrier.com/Philip on LinkedIn (here)  For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au Hosted...