In today's episode, I speak with award-winning author, film producer, and underwater photographer Pier Nirandara. Pier's connection to the ocean started as a young girl growing up in Bangkok, Thailand, with weekend family trips to a nearby beach house. Her time there sparked an interest in storytelling, which led her to writing a trilogy of novels about mermaids when she was just 15 years old.  And, remarkably, all three novels went on to be number one national bestsellers in Thailand. From there, her path took her to college in the US and a successful career as a film producer at studio ..read more

In today's episode I speak with Jamal Galves, program director at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute and National Geographic Explorer and Edge Fellow. Jamal's work focuses particularly on the Antillean manatee of his native Belize. Jamal's passion for marine wildlife runs deep and, in particular, his connection to manatees reaches back to when he was a kid, growing up in the rough, impoverished neighborhoods of coastal Belize.  We spoke from his home in Belmopan, the capital of Belize, and Jamal spoke about how a chance encounter with a research vessel started his interest in ..read more

Imagine growing up by the waters of Belize, where your connection to the ocean is as intrinsic to your being as your heritage. That was the reality for conservation biologist Jamal Galvez, and he joins us in today's captivating episode. Jamal's fascinating journey begins with an unexpected encounter with a research vessel that ignited his passion for marine conservation, leading to a lifelong dedication to manatee protection. Discover the profound ways in which manatees have shaped Jamal's life, both personally and scientifically, and how these creatures even saved his life. Now, picture the ..read more

In today's episode, I speak with Cash Daniels, an ocean and river conservationist, Time Magazine honorary finalist as "Kid of the Year," and co-founder of the ocean activism and conservation nonprofit called The Cleanup Kids. Cash had been a big fan of the show for a while, but, as someone being so engaged in ocean conservation at such a young age, I felt Cash's story was impressive and thought he might make an excellent guest. And, as it turns out, I was right, as he was thoughtful, well-spoken, and deeply driven to help other kids realize they can make a difference.  But beyond that ..read more

In today's episode, I speak with Dr. Alex Hearn, a marine ecologist at the Universidad de San Francisco in Quito, Ecuador. Alex's work is focused on marine conservation in and around the Galapagos Islands, off the coast of South America, which is part of Ecuador. Alex is one of the scientists working to establish the Galapagos Marine Reserve, one of the world's largest underwater areas dedicated to protecting migratory pathways through the deep ocean. This oceanic highway for marine life, as it's sometimes called, creates a corridor where endangered migratory species such as sharks, whales ..read more

In today's episode, I speak with explorer, ocean activist, and television journalist, Kinga Philipps. Kinga was one of the founding journalists and hosts of Al Gore's Current TV and since has gone on to host several shows on National Geographic and Travel Channel, most recently becoming the first female host on Discovery Channel's Shark Week. However, I was interested in talking to Kinga because of her deeper passion for ocean advocacy. This has led to her becoming a fellow at the prestigious Explorers Club, and becoming a Board Member of the non-profit Shark Allies, which works for the prot ..read more

In today's episode, I speak with explorer, ocean activist, and television journalist, Kinga Phillips. Kinga was one of the founding journalists and hosts of Al Gore's Current TV and since has gone on to host several shows on National Geographic and Travel Channel, most recently becoming the first female host on Discovery Channel's Shark Week. However, I was interested in talking to Kinga because of her deeper passion for ocean advocacy. This has led to her becoming a fellow at the prestigious Explorers Club, and becoming a Board Member of the non-profit Shark Allies, which works for the prot ..read more

In today's episode, I speak with Dr. Madeline McAllister, senior Curator of Maritime Archaeology at the Queensland Museum and James Cook University in Townsville, Australia. Dr McAllister, or Maddy as she's called, focuses her work on historic shipwrecks and underwater archaeology in Australasia, with a special interest in shipwrecks on the Great Barrier Reef. And this comes as no surprise as her offices look out over the water in eastern Australia, where the Great Barrier Reef lies just offshore. I find maritime archaeology fascinating as it lies at the nexus of history and the ocean, two o ..read more

In today's episode, I speak with Brazilian big wave surfer Maya Gabeira, one of the most famous female surfers in the world. Maya is a seven-time world champion in the World Surf League and a two-time world record holder for the largest wave surfed, including in 2020, where she surfed the biggest wave of the year for both men and women combined. Beyond that, and perhaps as no surprise, she is also deeply committed to ocean conservation and is a board member of Oceana and a UNESCO champion for the ocean. Maya was also featured in the HBO series 100-Foot Wave, which chronicled a group of surfe ..read more

In today's episode, I speak with South African edible ocean and landscape forager Roushanna Gray. When I first heard of Roushanna's unique take on eating from the wild landscape, I was intrigued, particularly as it related to her deep dive into the seaweed off her local coast in Cape Town. I was interested in her foraging with the over 900 edible seaweeds found in South Africa's intertidal rock pools. But, maybe unsurprisingly, what came out of our interview that interested me was less about what she did and more about why she did it, and I found her way of talking and relating to the ocean ..read more