Valeria Vergara is a senior research scientist at Raincoast Conservation Foundation where she co-directs the Cetacean Conservation Research Program. Her main focus? Beluga Whales. Originally hailing from Argentia, Valeria studied canids- specifically coyotes and foxes- during her undergrad and masters degree. It wasn’t until her PhD that she switched to the marine world.  Valeria is so passionate about her work, and shares insight into what beluga whale research looks like, including spending...

Kristy Bredin is an herbalist, educator and owner of Mermaid botanicals. She lives in the San Juan Island in Washington State. In this episode, you’ll learn what herbalism is, how seaweed is the ancestor to all land plants, some of the magical powers of marine algae, and what a day in the life of an ocean herbalist looks like- tide pools are involved. Show notes: marinebio.life/75 Support the show (http://patreon.com/marinebiolife)

Winnie Courtene-Jones is a researcher at the University of Plymouth in their International Marine Litter Research Unit. We had such a fun conversation today starting with Winnie’s volunteer position studying dolphins off the coast of Wales. Winnie shares her graduate research of, essentially, watching hermit crabs duke it out, and how she definitely wasn’t going to get PhD. Until she did. She also explains what being self employed in the marine science means. Winnie’s research has taken her...

Steve Burton has what most people would consider to be the dream job. As the Director of the Marine Mammal and Stranding Assessment program at Harbor Branch, Steve’s job is to work with dolphins and whales. In addition to responding to animals in distress, he also gets to conduct population assessments, the scientific way of describing going out on the boat to look for dolphins and whales. He’s also lived in, arguably, the three best beach states in the US- California, Hawaii, and now...

Harri is an aquatic animal biologist and ecologist which is a broad way to describe his work monitoring fish patterns and their implications with our changing climate, and spending time at camp tagging whales. We have a fun conversation today covering topics ranging from tropical sharks to arctic fish and even narwhals. Harri has some great insights into what sustainable fishing really looks like and has an incredible field story and answer to the blank check question, so be sure to stay...

Jim Sullivan has had a fascinating career starting with the smallest, and quite possibly the mightiest, organism in the sea, phytoplankton. From doing ground-breaking scientific research, including anti-submarine warfare research, to inventing new oceanographic equipment to leading an oceanographic institute, Jim has had quite the diverse career. In this episode, Jim shares some amazing insights into marine science and the world in general, and he shares how he affected legislative changes...

Sindia is a paleoclimatologist, which means she studies how the earth used to look, millions of years ago, in order to better understand what may be going on with our current climate. Sindia is a past Sir Keith Murdoch fellow, Fulbright Distinguished Scholar, and currently teaches and conducts research at Cardiff University in the UK. In today’s episode, we chat about how surfing influenced Sindia’s worldwide travel and studies taking her from the States to Australia, and then the UK, what...

Bill Francois is a physicist, marine scientist, fisherman, and author. In his premiere book, Eloquence of the Sardine, Bill dives into the world of mythology, legends, and basic science, bringing to life fascinating stories from the underwater realm. In today’s show, Bill shares how he won a National French show competition and the prize of a book deal. Bill also shares the correct catch and release methods, how whales prevent themselves from cooking on a daily basis, how larval fish swim...

Kate Morrison is the strategic partnership director for the Ocean Foundation. Her job? Match-making. Kate is the magician that connects science and conservation efforts to the sources of funding with similar intentions and goals. In today’s episode, we chat about Kate’s winding path, starting as a marine bio major and the shift from science to ultimately graduating with a masters in marine affairs. Kate has been on the ground floor of several ocean policy initiatives on the eastern seaboard...

As a senior program associate with The Ocean Foundation, Kaitlyn Lowder  supports the International Ocean Acidification Initiative. Despite growing up in a landlocked desert, Kaitlyn always knew she wanted to become a marine biologist. She pursued her dream of becoming a marine scientist, despite growing up in a landlocked desert, and was the recipient of the NOAA Hollings Scholarship as well as the Knauss Fellowship Kaitlyn also presented at two COP events, and succeeded in her efforts in...

Finnish sailor, marine scientist, and science communicator, Annukka Pekkarinen joins us on the show today. Growing up sailing the archipelagos of Finland, the ocean has influenced her life in a big way. In this episode, we chat about Annukka’s PhD research studying pygmy blue whales (don’t worry, they’re still huge), how her research evolved and how she evolved out of her research and into an oceanic entrepreneurial endeavor. Show Notes: marinebio.life/66 Support the show...

From shucking in oyster bars to his own private events and even for the President of the United States, Gardener Douglas truly is the Oyster Ninja. With his own mobile rawbar business and podcast, Gardner has garnered some amazing experiences around oysters. Gardner is super passionate about oysters and his work, and it really shows during our conversation today that encompasses everything from what oyster shucking is to farms and restaurants to oyster recycling and entrepreneurship. Show...

If studying sound underwater sounds like a quiet activity to you, this episode is a must-listen. Dr. Denise Risch is a marine mammal ecologist currently with the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) studying marine acoustics (sounds in the ocean) and the impacts with marine mammals like whales and dolphins. We chat about how her career has taken her from Europe, to the States, and then to the UK- all studying exciting creatures like orcas and other dolphins and whales. We also chat...

Marine ecologist Aurora Ricart joins us on the show today. Aurora is a seagrass biologist studying the effects of this often overlooked part of our oceanic ecosystem. Starting off with corals, Aurora made a full-hearted leap into seagrasses during grad school, and hasn’t looked back. Today we chat about her amazing coral research in Mexico, how seagrasses combat climate change, and how you play a role in this underwater nursery.  Support the show (http://patreon.com/marinebiolife)

With a professional engineering license backing up a degree in ocean engineering, it may come as a surprise that Nick Muzia originally wanted to be a marine biologist. It wasn’t until he realized his aptitude in math, and a fateful discovery channel episode featuring submarines, that Nick decided to make the switch. In today’s episode, we chat about how my Midwestern husband discovered his love for the ocean and fascination with submarines. He also shares insight into what exactly an ocean...

My guest today is Illegal Fishing and Transparency Analyst for Oceana, Emma Gee. I’ve been wanting to have someone on the show to chat about IUU fishing, and I’m so excited to share this episode with you! In today’s episode, we chat about how Emma’s non-marine biology degrees are helping to save the oceans, how we can look at historical ecology- what used to be in the ocean- and all about pirate fishing. Show Notes: marinebio.life/61 Support the show (http://patreon.com/marinebiolife)

Her Deepness, Dr. Sylvia Earle joins us on the show today. Sylvia is a marine biologist who has been deemed a Hero for the Planet and designated by the Library of Congress as a Living Legend. She has been a Nat Geo explorer since 1998, author of over a dozen books. Her TED talk has over 3m views. Sylvia led the first team of women living underwater, has thousands of research diving hours, and explored all over the world. She is also a personal hero of mine, and today's show is a true honor to...

Andy Bramburger is a researcher with Environment and Climate Change Canada. In addition to the numerous scientific papers and publications, Andy’s work has also been featured in National Geographic. In this episode we chat about how something so tiny it can only be seen with a microscope influences the entire planet, and how we, in turn, influence it. Andy also breaks down the similarities and differences- surprisingly few- of oceanic work and working on the Great Lakes. Show Notes:...

Jake Kheel is a sustainability innovator, sargassum-wrangler, and coral reef saver.  In addition to these illustrious titles, Jake also holds the titles of Vice President of the Grupo Puntacana Foundation and Vice President of Sustainability for Grupo Puntacana. He is also a TEDx speaker, and author of  “Waking the Sleeping Giant: Unlocking the Hidden Power of Business to Save Our Planet.” In this episode you’ll learn what it really means to have a career in sustainability (it doesn’t have to...

Colin Howe is a tropical marine ecologist studying corals in the Caribbean. He is also the creator behind the Instagram and YouTube channels @MarineSci4life. In today’s episode, Colin breaks down the difference between a marine ecologist and marine biologist, what research at different career levels can look like, and the importance of experience. Colin also shares his coral research throughout the Caribbean, and why this dynamic ecosystem is his favorite to study, and how both corals and...

Samantha Andrews is a marine ecologist, naturalist, professional science communicator, and founder of Ocean Oculus, a one-woman endeavour, supporting scientists, researchers, companies, NGOS, stakeholders, and everything in-between discover more about - and take better care of - this pale blue dot we call home. In today’s episode Samantha shares how she shifted her career from finance to ocean science, why she decided to pursue her PhD- and why she’s not giving up, and what science...

Dr. Christine Figgener is the director of science and education at the Footprint Foundation and Costa Rican Alliance for Sea Turtle Conservation & Science (COASTS), founder of Nāmaka Conservation Science, and the researcher that filmed the sea turtle straw video. In today’s episode we chat about what brought Chris from Germany to study sea turtles in Costa Rica, why she prefers sea turtle research over whale research, and how one seemingly small action can create an entire...

Nic Mink is a professor of environmental science and the co-founder and CEO of Sitka Salmon Shares, a direct to consumer, sea-to-table company. Join us as we chat about fish and fisheries, what a community supported fishery is, and why small, generational fisheries can be a good thing, and what you can do to help the fish that swim in the sea. Show Notes: marinebio.life/54 Support the show (http://patreon.com/marinebiolife)

Laura Smith is a marine biology PhD student currently hailing from Australia. In this episode, Laura  shares her stories behind the scenes aboard humpback whale boats, doing sea turtle research on the Great Barrier Reef, and how she found herself studying one of the most iconic fish in the sea.  Support the show (http://patreon.com/marinebiolife)

The first woman to command a federal vessel and the first woman Admiral in the NOAA Corps joins us on the podcast today. Rear Admiral Evelyn Fields (ret.) shares what the NOAA Corps is, why their work is vital to NOAA’s mission, and what it’s like to be...