149. Interview with marine biologist and science comedian Forrest Shaw

We're kicking off Season 20 with a guest whose career path we found completely fascinating. Forrest Shaw is a stand-up comedian and writer whose comedy career began after a decade working as a marine and environmental biologist in his hometown of Miami, Florida - a career that saw him study everything from manatees and sea turtles to seagrass meadows, coral reefs and water quality. So it's safe to say he knows his way around the ocean. Then he made the kind of career pivot a lot of scientists quietly daydream about: he moved into stand-up, and has absolutely thrived, performing at some of the biggest comedy festivals in the world: Netflix Is A Joke Fest, Just For Laughs in Montreal, Moontower, Clusterfest and Bridgetown among them, and releasing his debut special, Poor Decisions, on Amazon. Most recently he brought his science-based comedy show The Ocean Hates You! (all about pollution, overfishing, climate change, sharks, and why talking about the ocean doesn't have to feel like going to a funeral), to the Adelaide Fringe.Join us for a joyful conversation about ten years in marine science, the leap into stand-up, and why making people laugh might be one of the most powerful ways to make them care.You can learn more about Forrest’s work here:Forrest's website: forrestshaw.netInstagram: @forrestshaw and @theoceanhatesyouFacebook: @forrestshawcomedian and @theoceanhatesyou