So You Want to Be a Marine Biologist

Taylor Cunningham is a trained marine biologist and shark diver. Growing up ten minutes from Sea World shaped what she wanted to do in life– and that was to train Shamu. In this episode, we dive into the controversy around aquariums and animals in captivity, the importance of keeping an open mind, how to actually make money as an underwater photographer, what it’s like to go on a shark dive, and so much more.Taylor also shares tips on what to look for if you are thinking about going on a shark diving tour, so stay tuned for that.Connect with Taylor: website | instagramSupport the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Shane Gero is a marine biologist who studies whales. Growing up in Canada, Nature captivated him at an early age, and a childhood love for orcas grew into a career studying their cousins, the sperm whale.In this episode, Shane shares his path to working with the whales in Dominica, how scientists are using groundbreaking AI techniques to decode whale speech, and why this research is so vitally important. We chat about how listeners can become involved in whale research– no career change required. Shane also has one of the most magical answers I’ve ever heard to the field story at the end of the episode, so be sure to stay tuned for that.Connect with Shane: website| Project CETIBecome a citizen scientist: Flukebook.org Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Our world is in a state of change, and my guest today is asking the questions: What comes next? How do we adapt? And who is finding the solutions?Alan Weisman is an award-winning journalist whose reports have appeared in national outlets including The Atlantic Monthly and NPR, among others. His new book, "Hope Dies Last", seeks to answer the above questions.Alan has reported from more than 60 countries, all seven continents, has written seven books, several of which have won awards. On the show today we chat about the original garden of eden, stories from around the world from people that are working hard for our blue planet, the importance of following the breadcrumbs of your own passion, and the reality of not just the book, but also the vital concept that "Hope Dies Last".Connect with Alan: Homelands websiteGet your copy of Hope Dies LastSupport the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Ever felt like you're juggling flaming glassware while riding a unicycle on a trampoline? Same.In this deeply honest episode, we dive into what balance really looks like—and spoiler alert: it’s not a neat, tidy equation. From overworked weeks and triangle theory to biology’s take on homeostasis, we explore the messy, dynamic dance of work, life, health, and everything in between.Learn how to assess your priorities, adjust your inputs, and find your version of balance—whether it’s a tiny tweak or a full life reboot. Because in a constantly moving world, staying steady isn’t about perfection—it’s about tuning in and choosing again.Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Joe Meisel is a scientist committed to protecting wild places and educating curious people. As a biologist, he has worked for 25 years with the Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation, where he gets to study plants such as orchids, the ocean, and share the fascination through study abroad programs.Growing up in the American Midwest, Joe was a long way from the sea. Through following his own fascinations, Joe found himself working in the tropical Americas, co-creating a foundation, and ultimately teaching and writing a book on marine science.Joe also speaks on what it means to hold space for both the threats our world faces and simultaneously enjoy and revel in the beauty around us, so stay tuned for that.Connect with Joe: website | bookSupport the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

It’s funny how we can start off in life thinking that we’re going to do one thing, and end up pivoting to something totally different. Today’s guest is Eve Samples, Executive Director of Friends of the Everglades. In this episode we dive into a myriad of topics from career shifts to what one spark of activism can mean for a community.Eve shares the legacy of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, the woman who helped the world see the Everglades as more than just a swamp. She shares how her career pivoted from newsroom deadlines to leading grassroots efforts in the fight for clean water. Plus, we break down the Rescue the River of Grass campaign and what it means for the future of South Florida’s waterways. This episode in particular is near and dear to my heart because we explore the history of the waters where I live and how greatly– and very intentionally–  they’ve been impacted. Sign the River of Grass petitionConnect with Eve: website| InstagramSupport the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Captain Mermaid Professor Holly is how Holly Buresh’s niece very aptly describes what her aunt does. A graduate of Eckerd College, Wilderness 1st Responder, 200T Captains license holder, and marine science teacher, Holly certainly has charted her own path in life. Her journey takes us from the American midwest down to Florida over to the Bahamas, and out on the high seas where the closest other person was in the international space station. In today’s episode, Holly shares her winding path, how bonefish in the Bahamas affect people in Nebraska, and the importance of saying “I don’t know.” She also has a great ask at the end, so be sure to stay tuned for that.Connect with Holly: instagramSupport the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Join Kara as she shares some similarities between our lives and the live of the magnificent sea turtle.Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Stephen Kavanaugh joins us on the show today. After graduating college, he followed his dream of becoming a field biologist, trekking through the wild Alaskan frontier. When it was time to return home to Ireland, Stephen looked around and saw the lack of a job market for a marine biologist, and decided to create his own– with oysters.The oyster has thousands of years of history, lore, and industrial uses as well as a myriad of health benefits. In fact, the oyster has been credited with saving humanity. I learned so much during this episode, and really enjoyed this chat about the magnificent oyster.Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Farmer, fisherman, and founder of Smoke in Chimneys, Ty Walker joins us on the show today. After living in LA and following his calling as a DJ, Ty returned to his farming roots in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. It’s there that he charted a new path for himself and his young family– in aquaculture.On the show today, Ty shares how he navigated these big life changes, even when his family wasn’t on board. He also shares how he purchased a hundred year old hatchery– and learned how to run it from scratch, creating a truly sustainable product sought after by chefs and consumers alike. Connect with Ty: website| instagramSupport the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Dr. Steve Moreau, is a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner with Caribbean roots. Like so many of us, Steve wanted to be a marine biologist in childhood, but personal health challenges in high school led him to pursue a career in wellness.On the show today, Steve shares his story from eating the Standard American Diet to vegetarianism to veganism and finally eating according to biology. Steve’s winding journey takes us through what true health and vitality looks and feels like, how to be connected to where your nourishment comes from, and the very winding, sometimes daunting path, of following your heart and true passion. Thanks to Raleigh Acupuncture for the jokes! Connect with Steve: websiteWeston A. Price Foundation Chapter Leaders ​​Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Hunter, trapper, and fisherman Cody McLaughlin joins us on the show today. Cody is a season podcast producer and outdoor writer featured in several national publications including National Wild Turkey Federation’s Turkey Call Magazine and the Sportfishing Magazine. He also is a political strategist and serves on the board of the Alaska Outdoor Council, the Last Frontier State’s NRA affiliate, and is a former board member and spokesperson for the NJ outdoor alliance.On the show today, Cody shares the tale of the Salmon Wars happening in America’s PNW, and his podcast with the same name that highlights the plight of the salmon fishery. We also chat about what it’s like to actually live in the Last Frontier of Alaska, and how to use politics to preserve our natural resources.Connect with Cody:WebsiteInstagramSalmon WarsSupport the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

WELCOME BACK! Host Kara Muzia is on the show today verifying the nearly two year hiatus from recordings, and sharing what’s next for the SYWTBAMB podcast. Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

So, so much has been covered in 100 episodes. Here we recap some of the most important topics covered.Full transcript: marinebio.life/100Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Melissa Cristina Márquez is a marine science education expert, TEDx speaker, author, and podcast host currently finishing her doctoral degree. She has been featured in NPR, Allure, InStyle, GQ, Seeker, Popular Science, and appeared on Disney+, BBC, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Acciona, and Good Morning America. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Mexico, Melissa has worked at the forefront of marine science education and communication for over a decade, her work taking her all over the world to the US, New Zealand, and now Australia. In this episode, we chat about how Melissa balances science and outreach, the importance of role models, and her work demystifying misunderstood predators.Show Notes: marinebio.life/99🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Emily Velasquez is a student who currently lives in Mozambique. Though a newcomer to the country, she’s followed her curiosity to help answer some of the most pressing questions that this region- and the world- faces. From mangrove reforestation to using red algae in cattle feed to reduce methane emissions, Emily’s projects and goals are wide ranging with positive, long-lasting implications.Show Notes: marinebio.life/98🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Andrea Richey is the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Shark Foundation. After decades as a corporate lawyer, Andrea realized that she wanted to give back more in life, and found her passion in saving sharks in the very epicenter of the shark fin trade. Through her work, Andrea has educated thousands of students, created lasting change in her community, and, through her TED talk, reached thousands more. One of the biggest takeaways from Andrea’s story is that you don’t have to have a degree or be “qualified” to save our oceans– you just have to care- and take actionShow Notes: marinebio.life/97🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

William Trubridge is the world’s deepest man, with an unassisted freediving record to 102m or 334 feet. He holds eighteen freediving records and six world champion titles, and is able to hold his breath for over seven minutes. He has spent an extraordinary amount time in and around the ocean in his lifetime, completing nearly unfathomable underwater challenges. William offers a fascinating way of translating his freediving techniques into the everyday world and he shares them here.Show Notes: marinebio.life/96🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Divya Karnad is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at Ashoka University in India. The focus of her work is marine conservation and fisheries management. She won the global Future for Nature Award in recognition for her work with InSeason Fish, a sustainable seafood initiative that she founded.  Divya is published in scientific journals like Ambio, Biological Conservation, Conservation Biology, Marine Policy and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science and offers a unique perspective on fishing and fishing communities.🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Brooke Lynn Elzweig is an engineer and a marine biologist. Growing up, marine science took center stage with school projects focused on the ocean and marine science sleep away camps. When it came time for higher education, Brooke chose to pursue engineering in a land-locked state. The siren song of the sea is a powerful one, and after graduation, Brooke found herself once more back in the marine science realm. This time, she’s traveling overseas to Saudi Arabia as a Project Coordinator for the Shushah Island Coral Reefscape Project with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and NEOM. In today’s episode, Brooke shares her journey from rescuing sea turtles in drains to working on the largest coral restoration project on the planet. Show Notes: marinebio.life/94🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Erich Hoyt has spent much of his life on or beside the ocean, working with whales and dolphins. He is a noted conservationist, scientist, and an award-winning author, he actually wrote the first ever book on Orcas, or Killer Whales. A former Vannevar Bush Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Erich is currently a research fellow at Whale and Dolphin Conservation, co-chair of the IUCN Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, and author of the new book "PLANKTONIA: The nightly migration of the ocean’s smallest creatures” from Firefly Books. In this episode we chat about making a living from passion projects, Erich’s work with Orcas, and all about the greatest migration on earth that happens twice a night, every night in the deep blue sea.show notes: marinebio.life/93🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Maddy McAllister is the Senior Curator for Maritime Archaeology at James Cook University and the Museum of Tropical Queensland. In her words, Maddy is a maritime archeologist and shipwreck detective.  In today’s episode we chat about the ghost story that inspired Maddy’s career, how technology has helped shape the archeology field, how to identify a shipwreck, and why telling these stories is so important.Show Notes: marinebio.life/92🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Stephan Abel is the the President and CEO of Ferry Cove Shellfish, an oyster hatchery located along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Starting off his career, Stephan didn’t even consider going into natural sciences or natural resources at all. In fact, he was military. In today’s episode, Stephan shares his story, transitioning from flying helicopters for the US Navy to working for big name start ups like Sallie-Mae and Career Builder before taking the leap into the world of natural resource management. Stephan has some key insights into what it takes to change industries, and he shares them here today.Show Notes: marinebio.life/91🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Chris Maingot is an ocean engineer and physical oceanographer. Growing up in South Florida, Chris always felt at home in the water and- after a slight deviation down the path of pre-med- decided to pursue a career in the ocean. Today we chat about what an ocean engineer is, what a physical oceanographer does, and about some crazy ocean phenomenon including waves underneath the waves- nature is wild.Scuba for BeginnersShow Notes🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

For four decades, Dr. Megan Davis has been working with the iconic queen conch in Florida and all over the Caribbean. In today’s episode, Megan shares how at age 16, she knew she wanted to do conch aquaculture, and how she’s been at the forefront of conch science and aquaculture since. Megan shares how conch is being restored all over the Caribbean, some crazy facts about the iconic species, and what a conch pearl looks like. Her passion for these shelled creatures is contagious; you’re in for a treat.This episode is brought to you by Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. For over 50 years, FAU Harbor Branch has been in relentless pursuit of Ocean Science for a Better World®. Located in Fort Pierce, Florida, FAU Harbor Branch’s cutting-edge research focuses on marine ecosystem conservation, aquaculture, the connection between ocean and human health, and technological innovation and national defense. During my time as part of the undergraduate Semester By the Sea program, I learned so much about the ocean and what it takes to become a good scientist. The programs and opportunities offered at FAU Harbor Branch have continued to swell since! To learn more, and how you can get involved, please visit www.fau.edu/hboi.Show notes : marinebio.life/89Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Dr. Joshua Voss is the Executive Director of NOAA's Cooperative Institute for Ocean Exploration, Research, and Technology and an Associate Research Professor at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. His research interests? Coral. In today’s episode, we chat about coral reefs, both shallow and mesophotic (or slightly deeper water), their health, how they’re explored. Josh is a certified technical rebreather diver and scuba instructor who has completed over 1500 scientific dives and led more than 35 scientific expeditions. He shares how his field work is accomplished, how crime scene investigation methods translates to coral, and how you, as a stakeholder, can get involved.This episode is brought to you by Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. For over 50 years, FAU Harbor Branch has been in relentless pursuit of Ocean Science for a Better World®. Located in Fort Pierce, Florida, FAU Harbor Branch’s cutting-edge research focuses on marine ecosystem conservation, aquaculture, the connection between ocean and human health, and technological innovation and national defense. During my time as part of the undergraduate Semester By the Sea program, I learned so much about the ocean and what it takes to become a good scientist. The programs and opportunities offered at FAU Harbor Branch have continued to swell since! To learn more, and how you can get involved, please visit fau.edu/hboi.Click here for show notes.Click here for "Scuba for Beginners"Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Outdoor environmental educator Amy Osborne joins us on the show today. Starting her career as a rowing coach, Amy discovered her passion for teaching- and particularly teaching the outdoors- a little bit later in life. This led her to the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, Wyoming, and California. It also gave her the opportunity with PolarTrec to conduct research at McMurdo Research Station in Antarctica, something we chat about quite a bit today. Amy shares what life on the ice is like, how this opportunity came about, and the importance of connecting with your place.Show notes : marinebio.life/87Photo credits : Amy Osborne pulls up the plankton tow net from a hole in the ice inside the Jetty Hut. McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Photo by Denise Hardoy (PolarTREC 2019), Courtesy of ARCUS.🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Film-maker, broadcaster, photographer, and outdoor swimmer Calum Maclean joins us on the podcast today. Calum is a host on the BBC Social, and has his own wildly popular YouTube, Instagram, and now TikTok channels. His new book, “1001 Outdoor Swimming Tips” is written to get people out in and excited about being submerged in nature. Today’s episode is a fun one chatting about all things swimming outside- in both the ocean and freshwater bodies. Calum shares insights into what it’s like outdoor swimming, and why you should get started today. He also shares some of the best adventure stories, including his field story at the end, so stay tuned for that.Show notes : marinebio.life/86scuba guide, click here.🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Entrepreneur, marine biologist, educator, and dive instructor, Danél Wentzel joins us on the show. Danél shares her journey from landlocked farmland in rural South Africa to becoming an instructor with over 600 dives under her belt, four minute breath holds, and her own show and company. As a self proclaimed “freelance marine biologist” Danél has some incredible stories and experiences to share, including surviving a shark attack (you’ll have to listen to the end for that one!) show notes : marinebio.life/85scuba guide, click here.🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Past SYWTBAMB intern Aislinn Olthoff joins us on the show today! Inspired by nature around her and Jane Goodall, Aislinn took a gap year after high school in order to figure out where her interests lie. A pivotal volunteer opportunity working with elephants in Asia firmly pointed her to her degree in Wildlife Conservation. Not one to sit idylly by, Aislinn did quite a bit of traveling and work during her undergrad, including to Costa Rica, Africa, and Paris. Then she decided to turn her focus below the surface of the waves, and discovered the SYWTBAMB podcast. This led her to an amazing position as a naturalist working in close proximity to humpback whales in Hawai’i. Aislinn has such a great story, and some really great insights into the conservation world and connecting with nature.show notes: marinebio.life/83🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

With an undergraduate, two masters under her belt, Constance Schéré is currently working on her PhD studying MPAs. In this super wide ranging episode we chat about how Constance went from a history degree to studying marine science and then conservation, how growing up next to a marine protected area influences her work now, and how she’s brought it full circle. We leap all over the pond, from Constance's native France to the US to Northern Ireland, and we also chat about the difference between the French, English, and American university systems (Constance has experienced all three), and when a university will actually kick you out.  Constance recently co-authored a publication with the British Ecological Society about 30 x 30, and she shares just what that means and how we’re looking. Constance shares three pretty amazing field stories at the end of the episode, so be sure to stay tuned for that. show notes: marinebio.life/83🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Isobel Yeo is a marine volcanologist, which means she studies volcanoes underwater. Volcanoes are found everywhere, and we really don’t know that much about them. Today, Izzy and I chat about why it can actually be easier to study space than the ocean, and what field work really looks like including playing with ROVs and seeing fish with feet in thousands of feet of water. We chat about blue mining and what that means and how we, in our everyday lives, impact it. Izzy also explains the complexity of naming underwater seamounts, and I have a request for any listeners that like maps about halfway through, so stay tuned for that. Show Notes: marinebio.life/82🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

If you’ve listened to episode 2 of the podcast, you’ve already heard Jessica’s story and the genesis of her research. Today, we start right where we left off in that episode. Jessica shares a few of her many exciting projects including identifying and describing a third species of manta, tagging the mantas, and future projects with guitarfish. We chat about how the manta project has evolved from bowriding to droning, how it's grown from a side project to full time endeavor, and how Jessica’s work was featured in Nat Geo. Show Notes: marinebio.life/81🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

IT guru at PEW Charitable Trusts, Dawn Borg Costanzi joins us on the SYWTBAMB podcast. Her job? To help track international fisheries. Which wasn't what she thought she would do initially. Originally, Dawn was going to go into software design. In this episode, we chat about how the fishing world captivated Dawn’s interest and how she’s navigated working for private entities and a large NGO. We chat about how vessels are tracked, both on the water and in port, IUU fishing, and why her work is so impactful.show notes: marinebio.life/80🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Brandon Doheny is a marine scientist, diver, and sailor. Our conversation today ranges from crazy two hundred plus foot dives to eDNA sampling to teaching technology to identify sea creatures. Currently Brandon is on an extended sailing trip with his family, sailing from California to New Zealand, so of course we chat a bit about this adventure.Show Notes: marinebio.life/79🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

We’re diving into the wonderful world of seaweeds! My guest today is Allison Poklemba, environmental educator, botanist, and herbalist. Allison shares how plants have fascinated her from a young age, why her move across the country for university was the financially responsible choice, and how she incorporated both botany and herbalism into her career. Allison puts a few different species of kelp on highlight today including bullwhip kelp and wakame. She shares how kelp will actually devour cancer tumors, how a walk on the beach can also be a walk in a medicine cabinet, and some fun ways to cook with sea vegetables. We have a two part, fun ask for you at the end of today’s episode, so stay tuned for that.Show Notes:Marinebio.life/78🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

Dr. Andia Fonnegra Chavez studies sponges and their interactions on reefs at Florida Atlantic University.. In today’s fascinating conversation, Andia shares her story falling in love with the ocean growing up in Colombia, and how she ultimately ended up in the States. We chat about how sponges are important members of the reef building and maintenance crew, how most of the color you see on reefs are in fact sponges, the importance of following your own path, and so much more. Andia’s enthusiasm and passion for her work is absolutely contagious; you’re in for a treat.This episode is brought to you by Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. 2021 marks the 50th Anniversary of FAU Harbor Branch’s relentless pursuit of Ocean Science for a Better World®. Located in Fort Pierce, Florida, FAU Harbor Branch’s cutting-edge research focuses on five major areas: marine ecosystem conservation, aquaculture, the connection between ocean and human health, technological innovation and national defense. During my time at HB as part of the undergraduate Semester By the Sea program, I learned so much about the ocean and what it takes to become a good scientist. The programs and opportunities offered at FAU Harbor Branch have continued to swell since! To learn more, and how you can get involved, please visit www.fau.edu/hboi.Show Notes: marinebio.life/77🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

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 weeks at camp with these creatures. She also shares why belugas are considered the canaries of the sea, why it’s important for us humans to be adaptable, and she shares some amazing stories from the field.🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

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🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

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 all over the world, and has found plastic in some surprising places- including over a mile beneath the ocean’s surface.Winnie is a font of knowledge when it comes to plastic and plastic pollution, and she breaks down where it's found, what the ‘great garbage patches' really look like, and if biodegradable plastics are actually a thing. Her conservation ask is a great one, so be sure to stay tuned for that.Show notes: marinebio.life/74🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

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 Florida- and it all started by saying “yes” to a flyer posted on a billboard. In this episode, we chat about the hilarious difference between training dolphins and seals, how to identify individual dolphins, and what his field work really looks like. There’s a couple of spots where he mentions great ways for you to get involved, so be sure to keep an ear out for those.This episode is brought to you by Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. 2021 marks the 50th Anniversary of FAU Harbor Branch’s relentless pursuit of Ocean Science for a Better World®. Located in Fort Pierce, Florida, FAU Harbor Branch’s cutting-edge research focuses on five major areas: marine ecosystem conservation, aquaculture, the connection between ocean and human health, technological innovation and national defense. During my time at HB as part of the undergraduate Semester By the Sea program, I learned so much about the ocean and what it takes to become a good scientist. The programs and opportunities offered at FAU Harbor Branch have continued to swell since! To learn more, and how you can get involved, please visit www.fau.edu/hboi.Show notes: marinebio.life/73Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

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 tuned for those. Please enjoy!🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

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 that had some pretty big trickle down effects. We also chat about what true science really means, and why sometimes it can be really challenging to do. Jim also has one of the craziest sea stories I’ve ever heard, so stay tuned for that.This episode is brought to you by Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. 2021 marks the 50th Anniversary of FAU Harbor Branch’s relentless pursuit of Ocean Science for a Better World®. Located in Fort Pierce, Florida, FAU Harbor Branch’s cutting-edge research focuses on five major areas: marine ecosystem conservation, aquaculture, the connection between ocean and human health, technological innovation and national defense. During my time at HB as part of the undergraduate Semester By the Sea program, I learned so much about the ocean and what it takes to become a good scientist. The programs and opportunities offered at FAU Harbor Branch have continued to swell since! To learn more, and how you can get involved, please visit www.fau.edu/hboi.Show Notes: marinebio.life/71Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

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 paleoclimateology is and how you can get involved.show notes: marinebio.life/70🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

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 through honey, and soo much more. Show Notes: marinebio.life/69🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

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 of the states, and she shares her experiences and lessons learned. She has a great outlook on adapting to and willfully creating change in your own life.🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

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 getting “ocean” in the Paris Agreement. show notes: marinebio.life/67🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

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🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

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 Notes: marinebio.life/65🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨

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 about her research on renewable energy technologies in the ocean- like wind and tidal energy- and their effects on the denizens of the sea, and how COVID has impacted the oceanic soundscape.Show Notes: marinebio.life/64🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint Support the show🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint 💕 Found value in the show? Leave a tip🤿 Purchase ✨ SCUBA FOR BEGINNERS ✨ DIRECT DOWNLOADREGISTER FOR  THE *FREE* COURSE: ✨ BACK TO NATURE ✨Daily drops of goodness to bring your closer to Ocean, Nature, and YourselfCheck out the website: https://karagracemuzia.com/DROPS OF GOODNESS, TO YOUR INBOX: ✨JOIN MY NEWSLETTER✨Land your dream job. Join the Waitlist. ✨ STEER YOUR COURSE ✨