Let's Sea

We chat all things polar bear with the wonderful Kiersten King, a researcher with Polar Bears International! These sea-based bears will blow your mind; from their spiritual history, to how they use their big ol’ paws, you’ll bear-ly believe it. BIG TAKEAWAY: The Arctic is vital in regulating our global climate - from the Sahara, to Antarctica, to the Amazon, it all starts in the land of the polar bear. Protecting these bears from the effects of climate change is also an act to protect ALL people and species. Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Dr. Thea Bechshoft 🔎Deeper Dive Read: “Polar Bears: The Natural History of a Threatened Species” by Dr. Stirling 🌊Conservation in Action: Polar Bears International 🤙Episode Shoutouts: NNOCCI *This one is dedicated to a lovely creature who crossed the rainbow bridge today, a sweet tiny pup named Cupcake who acted like she was as big as a polar bear. CC will be sorely missed by Ash and her fam.* Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

Listen in as we octopi our hearts with the ink-credible Chanel Hason The Zooquarium Podcast! We dive into these brilliant, donut-brained creatures (no, really), and answer the question - is it octopi, octopuses, or neither? BIG TAKEAWAY: Octopus continue to surprise and enthrall us with their intelligence. Honestly, best eco-forward message we can share this episode? Go talk about the cool stuff you learn; the world needs more wonder. Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Behavioral Neuroscientist, Dominic Sivitilli 🔎Deeper Dive Reads: 1) Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt 2) The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery 3) Weird is Beautiful: the Wisdom of Octopuses by Liz Marvin 🌊Conservation in Action: Education is conservation - check out OctoNation! 🤙Episode Shoutouts: The Portland Aquarium & The Zooquarium Podcast; The Elakha Alliance Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

Listen in as we chat with Kaitlyn Kowaleski of University of Washington’s Sea Grant to find out how many eyes scallops have, and how oddly similar to Pac Man they are. Stick around to hear Ash’s Art History degree finally come in handy. BIG TAKEAWAY: Because scientists worked WITH scallop fishers to identify the right course of action, instead of without them, the US scallop fisheries are an incredible conservation success story. If you eat seafood, support your community fisheries and the environment at once by choosing local! Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Our Special Guest @katiethemolluscenthusiast 🔎Deeper Dive Read: ‘Scallops: A New England Coastal Cookbook’ by Elaine & Karin Tammi 🌊Conservation in Action: Marine Stewardship Council @mscbluefishtick 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Podcast about marine worms: seagrant.umaine.edu/category/coastal-conversations/ 💰Sustainable Brand We Love: Maine Lobster Now @mainelobsternow for sustainable seafood & their community support Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

Listen in as we discuss the amazing lives of bluefin tuna with our new pal from @millerswildlife, Jason Miller! From how powerful they are, to the crazy way their circulatory system works, these huge fish are way beyond shelf staples or sushi stars. We also devolve into chats about The Office, skunks, Gloucester fishermen, sharks, and red bellied cooters. 🎣BIG TAKEAWAY: Successful conservation happens when there is collaboration with the stakeholders in adjacent industries. If we cannot work with fisheries to foster understanding and shared interests about tuna, we will lack the support needed to implement effective conservation measures. 🍣Not a fisherperson, but still want to support sustainable fisheries? You can still help! - Before you buy seafood, check to see if it is a sustainably caught species. Don’t see the species or location listed? Ask! - Don’t know which fish are sustainable? Check out Monterey Bay Aquarium’s @seafoodwatch - ‘Dolphin Safe’ markers are a good start, but it doesn’t mean its sustainable Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: UMass Boston Large Pelagics Research Lab @tunalab 🔎Deeper Dive Read: ‘Kings of Their Own Ocean’ by Karen Pinchin 🌊Conservation in Action: Monterey Bay Aquarium’s @seafoodwatch app 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Brian Barczyk @snakebytestv 💰Sustainable Brand We Love: American Tuna @americantuna Want to get involved with this type of work and live in the New England area? Anglers can sign up to volunteer with the @tunalab program, ‘Tag a Tiny’, which helps track juvenile bluefin tuna - tunalab.org Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

What was the ‘seapup’, what does it have to do with the Titanic, General Mills, and a revolution in scientific discovery? Listen in as we explore Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's history, focusing on deep sea exploration and the discovery of hydrothermal vent communities! BIG TAKEAWAY: Don’t let yourself become indifferent! Take a pause before you make a purchase and think about it. Use your technology until it doesn’t work anymore, buy used, and look into Right to Repair laws in your area. Vote for officials who are against deep sea mining and support environmental efforts. Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution @whoi.ocean 🔎Deeper Dive Read: “Octopus's Garden: Hydrothermal Vents And Other Mysteries Of The Deep Sea” by Dr. Cindy Lee Van Dover (1st female Alvin pilot!) 🌊Conservation in Action: Deep Sea Conservation Coalition @deep_sea_conserve 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Story of Stuff; ‘rethinking stuff’ @storyofstuff 💰Sustainable Brand We Love: Beach Cleaned, jewellery made from materials gathered during beach cleanups! beachcleaned.com Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

Listen in as we chat about the seaside trees that walk: mangroves! We’re joined by Stephanie Cadaval , Alyssa Vinson , and Jose Cajiga Lopez who will blow your minds about these funky flora. BIG TAKEAWAY: Mangroves are living shorelines, and vital for the health and safety of our seashore communities. Let’s channel our inner Lorax and speak for the trees - before trimming mangroves, consult local policies & work with a certified arborist! Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, & Geomatics Sciences 🔎Deeper Dive Read: “Florida Mangroves: A Visual Guide to ID & Conservation” by UF/IFAS 🌊Conservation in Action: Mangrove Action Project 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Florida Wildlife Commission - myfwc.com 💰Sustainable Brand We Love: Mang Apparel - Education, Restoration, Apparel Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

Listen in as we chat with marine conservation ecologist and plankton expert, Professor Abigail McQuatters-Gollop, about her work shaping our world’s understanding of plankton’s important role in our environment. We chat about all things jellyfish (aka jellies), how changing water temperature affects them (not how you may think), fun on ferries, international policies, and a smack-ton more! BIG TAKEAWAY: While jellies and their fellow plankton may seem disparate from politics, they’re key indicators of larger ecosystem changes and therefore a vital part of our environmental decision making processes. The best thing you can do to support these complex ecosystems is to vote for civic leaders who will make positive large-scale change. Don’t know your candidate’s platforms? Ask! Also, Jellies are the quintessential F-around and find out. We shouldn’t need to tell you, but… Don’t touch wild creatures! Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Abigail’s TEDx Talk: youtu.be/Xkqei3ZxS5I?si=6unUih3SCDw_yrd9 🔎Deeper Dive Read: Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a Backbone by Juli Berwald 🌊Conservation in Action: @archipelagosimc works with Mediterranean Science Commission on JellyWatch, which uses citizen scientists to track jelly blooms! 🤙Episode Shoutouts: The Continuous Plankton Recorder cprsurvey.org 💰Sustainable Brand We Love: @chnge for fantastic clothes (we know it’s a duplicate, but Ash talks about them in the episode)

In this first episode of SEAson 3, we’re going bananas for leopard seals with Banana Boy #2 himself, Scotty Landes from The Bananas Podcast! In our first flipped-script episode, we dig into the secret lives of these Antarctic predators (literally, we don’t know much about them). Are they science fiction, the stuff of explorer legend, or oddly motherly creatures trying to teach humans to hunt penguins? Sea for yourself! BIG TAKEAWAY: Did you know sound travels faster in water than in air? Even in the Antarctic, the sounds of large cargo ships zigzagging the ocean cause issues to animals like the leopard seal. The noise of these ships has significantly increased in the last few years with the rise of online shopping. These unregulated sounds can lead to decreased mating, hunting, and communication for an animal we still don’t know much about. Think hard about if you actually need that next-day delivery! Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Sarah Stachura Kienle @sarahstachurakienle 🔎Deeper Dive Reads: For the littles: ‘Leopard Seals (Life at the Poles)’ by Dr. Rita Santos; For adults: ‘Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage’ by Alfred Lansing 🌊Conservation in Action: Kienle Lab; Leopard Seal Biology @leopardsealbiology 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Leopard Seal noises from @oceanconservationresearch 💰Sustainable Brand We Love: Wild: refillable skin care in cute containers with great scents @wildrefill_us Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

You know the term ‘big baby’, but what about a 75-pound newborn that sounds like a velociraptor? Listen in as we chat with The Marine Mammal Center’s own Adam Ratner about one of the biggest shnozs in the sea, the elephant seal! BIG TAKEAWAY: Given ease of access, animals who habitually raise their young on the beach are inherently targets for human predation; even one of the biggest, boldest creatures in the sea was nearly hunted to extinction. The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) is one of the elephant seals’ best protections from human interference, but it's in danger of being repealed. 🚨If you live in the US, go to https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/help-save-the-marine-mammal-protection-act for ways to act to protect the MMPA!! 🚨 Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Hearst San Simeon State Park @hearstsansimeonstatepark & Año Nuevo State Park @anonuevosp 🔎Deeper Dive Read: “I Am a Seal: The Life of an Elephant Seal” by Darlene R. Stille 🌊Conservation in Action: The Marine Mammal Center @TheMarineMammalCenter - Live in the SF Bay area? Consider volunteering! 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Free 24-hour livestream of @pointreyesnps (rookery site) linked in bio! 💰Sustainable Brand We Love: @seventhgeneration - for anything you need to clean your home. Ash is obsessed with the lemon dishwasher packs 🍋 Baby seal sounds from Tristan Biological: youtube.com/watch?v=-TITeuzRIeI Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

What is the Everglades, and how is its wellness intertwined with the ocean? Listen in as we discuss Kait’s hometown ecosystem(s) and why they are critical to the surrounding marine & terrestrial communities. BIG TAKEAWAY: You may have heard of Alligator Alcatraz, an ICE ‘detention center’, but have you heard of the vital wetlands that it’s being built on? Speaking up against the construction of this human rights disaster protects countless people, animals, and these unique water-based ecosystems! This episode is dedicated to Dr. Dan Diresta, Kait’s first marine science mentor. Academia can feel cold, especially for women, but this wise, accomplished man was nothing but kind and encouraging. He wanted you to learn, not be judged. From the little girl that felt seen - Thank you, for everything 💙 Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Audubon Everglades @auduboneverglades 🔎Deeper Dive Read: “The Everglades: River of Grass” by Marjory Stoneman Douglas 🌊Conservation in Action: Friends of the Everglades @friendsoftheeverglades 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Clyde Butcher; Center for Biodiversity, Earth Justice @clydebutcher @centerforbiodiv @earthjustice 💰Sustainable Brand We Love: @chnge makes ethical + pro-environment clothing while donating portions of profits to amazing causes like The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (@chirla_org) Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

Listen in as we discuss these cute sea ferrets, their secret pockets, and purple bones with our pal Katie Russell, and learn how her work is helping to bring otters back to their native range off the Oregon coast! BIG TAKEAWAY: Human interference can displace native species and destroy their natural habitats, even hundreds of years later. But, just like Captain Planet, with our powers combined we can turn the tide by helping repair their damaged ecosystems and return them to their endemic range! Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Sea Otter Savvy @seaottersavvy 🔎Deeper Dive Read: “Return of the Sea Otter: The Story of the Animal That Evaded Extinction on the Pacific Coast” by Todd McLeish 🌊Conservation in Action: The Elakha Alliance @elakhaalliance 🤙Episode Shoutouts: The Oregon Kelp Alliance (ORKA) @oregonkelp + Chanel Hason @pschanel 💰Sustainable Brand We Love: @beeswrap Kait is enamored with these sustainable cellophane/foil replacements! Otter sounds found on eopugetsound.org Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

Listen in as we chat with Dr. Missy Partyka about how freaking awesome and wildly important the Gulf of Mexico is! Do you know what a brine pool is (aka, ‘jacuzzis of death’)? We didn’t either, but they’re entirely natural and generally badass. We also dig into the negative (and shockingly positive) effects of the 2010 BP Oil disaster. BIG TAKEAWAY: Sometimes a disaster can result in the silver lining of research funding, but we should not have to wait for calamity to strike - investing in scientific advancement is key to protecting, and understanding, our blue planet. Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Dr. Missy Partyka @partykamelissa 🔎Deeper Dive Read: Black Tide: “The Devastating Impact of the Gulf Oil Spill” by Antonia Juhasz 🌊Conservation in Action: Gulf Reach Institute @gulf_reach 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Auburn School of Fisheries, Aquaculture & Aquatic Sciences @auburnfisheries Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

Ever think about sea urchins? Probably not, but maybe you should! Listen in as we talk about how these funky animals survive, how they’re similar to both hedgehogs and zombies, and why they’re considered keystone species in both coral reefs and kelp forests! BIG TAKEAWAY: While urchins may look like spiky rocks at the beach that you avoid stepping on, they are pivotal to the health of many oceanic ecosystems. ‘Canaries in the coal mine’ of their environments, there are ways we can keep these critical creatures’ populations in check by considering what we wash into our waterways, and eating uni with local sustainability in mind. Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: The Florida Aquarium @floridaaquarium and University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences @ufifas_solutions 🔎Deeper Dive Read: “Sea Urchins of the World: Diversity, Symmetry & Design” by Ashley Miskelly @seaurchinscience 🌊Conservation in Action: Reef Check Foundation (there are chapters worldwide who need participatory scientists, like you!) @reefcheckfoundation 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust @mbfishtrust 💰Sustainable Brand We Love: OoNee Sea Urchin Ranch: dedicated to sustainably harvesting, ranching, and processing sea urchin in Oregon @oonee_searanch Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

Listen in as we discuss a creepy misunderstood creature of the deep, the Abyssus Theory, Teuthologists, and what pineappling is (not like living in one under the sea). BIG TAKEAWAY: Even deep sea creatures are affected by pollution such as microplastics and runoff. Even if there is so much about the deep sea that we don’t know, we know it’s being threatened by the decisions being made today about our environment, and science itself. In times like these, we must speak up for the people, creatures, and places that are often overlooked - channel your inner Lorax; use these cool critters to start a conversation with others, highlight their neat adaptations to live in the habitat they do, and what’s at stake for new discoveries like our 10-limbed friend when we limit scientific exploration. Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Bruce Robison @ Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) (@mbari_news) 🔎Deeper Dive Read: “Vampyroteuthis Infernalis: A Treatise” by Louis Bec and Vilém Flusser 🌊Conservation in Action: Monterey Bay Aquarium (@montereybayaquarium) 🤙Episode Shoutouts: American Museum of Natural History (@amnh) 💰Plastic-free Brand We Love: check out Me Mother Earth for plastic-free kitchen, bathroom, and travel sets! @me.motherearth Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

Listen in on our chat with sustainable content creator Alyssa Barber of @newlifestyleABB! We chat about lots of good stuff, from the impacts of community and self-care to generational divides, and focus on sustainable habits and how to make changes in your life and in the world as a whole. BIG TAKEAWAY(s): Go vote! Be an active part of your community! Slow down! Consume ethically! Be intentional! And perhaps most importantly - take care of yourself so that you can take care of others. Alyssa’s Guide to Hosting a Clothing Swap: drive.google.com/file/d/1LFQh7JS4iHOEtw6HAerzb2VoWcesWXxf/view Episode Shout Outs: Urban Forest Therapy urbanforesttherapy.com Grove Collaborative grove.co Earth Hero earthhero.com Coco Kind cocokind.com Lark Skin Co larkskinco.com Provenance Soapworks provenancesoaps.com Wild Grace Apothecary wildgraceapothecary.com Want more suggestions? Check out Alyssa’s Beneble: benable.com/newlifestyleabb/sustainability-101-your-climate-resource-guide Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

Listen in as we discuss the similarities between dolphins and Mario Mario (yes, that is his full name)! Think there aren’t similarities? Well, then prepare to level up your knowledge. This one gets pretty silly 🍷 BIG TAKEAWAY: While they’re adorable, inquisitive, and admirable, dolphins must be appreciated from afar, not touched or fed! They are wild creatures, so not only is it dangerous for both of you, but it’s also illegal in much of the world. Respect marine mammals by giving them space! And, don’t feed them batteries… Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Dolphins Plus (most of Kait’s first dolphin research experience was here) @dolphinsplus 🔎Deeper Dive Read: ‘Whales and Dolphins in Question’ by The Smithsonian Press 🌊Conservation in Action: Clearwater Marine Aquarium (pioneers in dolphin fluke prosthetics) @cmaquarium 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Vaquita SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) @Vaquitasafe 💰List of Dolphin-Safe Companies: savedolphins.eii.org/dolphin-safe/listings/country/us 🔗Links in Instagram Bio: report a stranding; boating guidelines Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

Which came first: slugs or snails? Listen in as we discuss this age-old question, and chat about the differences and similarities between these slimy friends. This episode will have you saying ‘please send nud(ibranchs)’! BIG TAKEAWAY: 🐚Shells are (maybe shockingly) vital to the survival of both snails and slugs, and calcium is a key component in creating and maintaining these structures. Eroding shells are a major source of this calcium, which needs to be available for the growth of new shells. Shells aren’t knick-knacks, they’re part of an ecosystem; leave the beach better than you find it and collect trash instead of animal’s homes! Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Dr. Yara Tibirica @yaratibirica 🔎Deeper Dive Read: “Spirals in Time: The Secret Life and Curious Afterlife of Seashells” by Helen Scales @DrHelenScales 🌊Conservation in Action: University of Barcelona @slug_lab 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Shell history shared by The National Museum of African American History and Culture @NMAAHC 💰Sustainable Brand We Love: think @thinksun for safe sunscreen for humans and the planet! Ash loves the thinkSport sunscreen. **Have a request? Share it with us! BIG thanks to JENNI for this question!** Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

Listen in as we discuss these cute little decapods and how they find their homes, why they’re actually not crabs at all, and what we can do to help them out. Are hermit crabs never nudes? Do they exhibit impeccable social skills? Find out in this episode! BIG TAKEAWAY: If you wouldn’t try to steal someone’s home, then please don’t take a hermit crab’s shell. Not only does removing shells destabilize the beach itself, but it leaves fewer home options for hermit crabs, takes vital elements from ocean ecosystems, and can force crabs to creatively use trash to survive. As they say: take only pictures, leave only footprints - the hermies will appreciate it 🐚 💡Researcher Spotlight: Hermit Crab Restoration Project @maketheswitch4nature_ 🔎Deeper Dive Read: For lil listeners, “A House for Hermit Crab” @officialericcarle 🌊Conservation in Action: Zuzu the Hermit Crab Campaign @conservationorg & @plasticbank 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Sustainability & Conservationist, Alyssa Barber @newlifestyleabb 💰Sustainable Brand We Love: Who Gives A Crap: for toilet paper, paper towels, & trash bags @whogivesacraptp Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

Listen in as we discuss the enormous issue of garbage patches forming in the ocean and the types of debris found within them. We also chat about what plastic is, why we’re so addicted to it as a society, and what we all can do to prevent plastic pollution. BIG TAKEAWAY: Plastic does not degrade, and much of it is not recyclable. The best way to prevent plastic pollution is to limit its use by replacing plastic items with sustainable materials, electing officials who will put anti-plastic legislation into action (GO VOTE!!), and by supporting companies who make sustainable alternatives. Resources: 💡 Researcher Spotlight: Captain Charles Moore @captaincharliemoore 🔎Deeper Dive Read: marinedebris.noaa.gov/discover-marine-debris/garbage-patches 🌊Conservation in Action: The Ocean Cleanup @theoceancleanup 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Algalita Marine Research Foundation @algalita Adventure Ecology @plastiki Plastic Pollution Coalition @plasticpollutes Maura Heeley @maura_heeley 5 Gyres Institute @5gyres 4Ocean @4ocean Breakfreefromplastic.org (BFFP) @breakfreefromplastic Debris Free Oceans @debrisfreeoceans 🛍️Ash's plastic alternative brand suggestions: Quip @quip Bite @bite Pela @pelacase Swway @swway Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock

Listen into this extra long, extra silly episode as we dive deeper into sea turtles, focusing on leatherbacks, cold stunning, and a whole lot more amid a ton of laughter with @TheAmandaFiles herself, Amanda Sargent Mezzatesta!! BIG TAKEAWAY: Sea turtles have very few predators, but the most dangerous to them are us humans. We can help them in many ways: from reducing single use plastic, to volunteering to rescue cold stunned turtles from beaches, to making your travel eco-forward, we can all help protect these incredible creatures. Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Herpetologist, Amanda Sargent Mezzatesta 🔎Deeper Dive Read: “Protecting Sea Turtles on Cape Cod” Mass Audubon Society 🌊Conservation in Action: Anderson Cabot Center, Leatherback Project 🤙Episode Shoutouts: New England Aquarium, Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Association, New England Coastal Alliance Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock Don't forget: Fight, Flight, Fawn, Freeze, or FREAK!

We’ve got one shell of an episode for you! Listen in as we discuss the different species of sea turtles, how they reproduce, and the major threats to their survival. Stay tuned next week when we’re joined by our herpetologist friend to dive deeper! BIG TAKEAWAY: Sea turtles have survived for > 100,000 years due to their incredible adaptations, but our world is changing too fast for them to adapt to the numerous threats they now face. Protecting them requires a multi-pronged approach; from being mindful of our plastic use, to preventing light pollution, we all have a part to play. Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Sea Turtle Biologist, Jen Reilly @sea_through_my_hands 🔎Deeper Dive Read: ‘Voyage of the Turtle’ by Carl Safina @csafina 🌊Conservation in Action: Sea Turtle Conservancy @conserveturtles 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, FL @loggerheadmarinelifecenter Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock

Listen in as we take our first flight into our friends the seabirds! We discuss the equatorial grudge match of penguins vs. puffins; these birds may look similar, but their differences may surprise you. We welcome Evan Hennerberry to give more insight on these tuxedoed pals. BIG TAKEAWAY: Despite living on opposite sides of the world, these birds face many of the same threats. Areas of the world who use very little fossil fuels, like the poles, can be some of the most vulnerable to climate change effects. When we decrease our dependence on fossil fuels, we help keep these incredible animals around for future generations! **Stay tuned at the end for some corrections! Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Antarctic Scientist and PhD student Madison Farrant @Polar_Madi 🔎Deeper Dive Read: ‘Project Puffin: The Improbable Quest to Bring a Beloved Seabird Back to Egg Rock’ by Stephen W. Kress & Derrick Z. Jackson 🌊Conservation in Action: Twofer! For penguins, check out @GlobalPenguinSociety + For puffins, check out @seabirdinstitute 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Check out our friend Evan’s work at @SuburbanNaturalist Art by Fox and Fish Printing @FoxandFishPrinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @HighandDryRock

Listen to the second half of Kait & Ash’s discussion on coral with special guest Liz Trueblood! We discuss coral protections, climate change, and climate- & coral-friendly options! BIG TAKEAWAY: There are many actions we can all take to protect these crucial ocean ecosystems, from simply changing the types of sun protection we use, to modifying boating practices, to reducing our carbon emissions. Corals can only support life if they are supported. Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock

Listen in as Kait explains different types of reefs, what exactly coral is, and how it grows and survives. We discuss what these ecosystems mean to the ocean, where they can be found, and how large they can get. Special guest Liz Trueblood will be on Part 2, coming 9/11/24! BIG TAKEAWAY: There are multiple types of reefs, some even man-made. More than one quarter of all marine life lives in a coral reef at some point in their lives! Reefs are integral not only to the lives of sea creatures, but also to the coastal regions around them. Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Palau-based research foundation @coralreefresearchfoundation 🔎Deeper Dive Read: ‘Science Comics: Coral Reefs; Cities of the Ocean’ by Maris Wicks @MarisWicks 🌊Conservation in Action: @coralrestorationfoundation 🤙Episode Shoutouts: @FloridaKeysNMS @LizTrue Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock

Listen in as we discuss the dynamics between different Orca pods, their matriarchal structure, and hypothesize about why they are attacking boats. Ash realizes how much she identifies with the predators from “the kingdom of the dead” and Kait nerds out over peduncles. Also, we welcome our first pod guest, Katie Russell! BIG TAKEAWAY: Orcas are the most widely distributed predators in the world, second only to humans; they rule the water, we rule the land. However, being a predator doesn’t mean you can eat anything and everything. We are tipping the balance when we don’t responsibly manage the resources we share. Thinking salmon or tuna for dinner? Consider changing to a sustainable local protein, or better yet explore some vegetarian options! Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: @conservationcanines - check out one of their star pups helping orcas, @eba_the_whale_dog 🔎Deeper Dive Read: “Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home” by Lynda V. Mapes 🌊Conservation in Action: Hatfield Marine Science Center (@hmsc_academicprograms) 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition (@OregonShoresCC) Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High & Dry @highanddryrock

Ever thought about plankton? Likely not, but you should! From multi-thousand pound fish, to single-celled organisms, you’ll learn what plankton is and why they’re the unsung heroes of our ocean. Also featured: Kait geeking out. BIG TAKEAWAY: While most species are microscopic, plankton is essential to life on Earth. Pharmaceutical industries and climate change are threatening their way of life, and ours in turn. By being mindful of where our supplements and food come from, and shopping locally when possible, we can protect these keystone creatures. Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Scientist and Educator @elizabethbeston of ‘The Plankton Project’ 🔎Deeper Dive Read: “Tiny Titans: The Big Story of Plankton” by Mary Cerullo 🌊Conservation in Action: Submersible Pilot & Scientist, Shaylyn Potter @save.our.plankton 🤙Episode Shoutouts: The Billfish Foundation @thebillfishfoundation & sustainable krill oil company @nordicnaturals (not a sponsor) Find us on Instagram: @LetsSeaPod

Listen in as Kait and Ash discuss the flower children of the sea, the gardeners of the ocean, those big-boned beauties sunning in the tropics. Are manatees related to mermaids, cows, or something else entirely? BIG TAKEAWAY: Manatees are slow-moving gentle giants, which can make them susceptible to harassment. Even with pure intentions, touching, feeding, or otherwise interacting with these animals can cause them major harm. Appreciate them from a afar, call help for an animal in distress, and PLEASE: Boat slowly where they live! Resources: -Researcher Spotlight: Marine Conservationist Jamal Galves @therealmanateeman -Deeper Dive Read: A read for the early explorers in your family; ‘I’m a Manatee’ by John Lithgow -Conservation in Action: Rescue and rehabilitation center Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Florida -Episode Shoutouts: Miami Waterkeepers + Center for Biological Diversity Art by Fox and Fish Printing Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry

Listen in as we discuss why sharks are just misunderstood and far less scary than a lot of #sharkweek may have us believe. Comment with what shark facts you learned in the episode, and what else you’d like to learn about these sensitive sweeties! **Big Takeaway: The best thing we can do to help our cartilaginous friends is tell others about what you learn; these incredible and important fish need our help, not our fear. **Resources: *Researcher Spotlight: Minorities in Shark Science @miss_elasmo *Deeper Dive Read: “Why Sharks Matter: A Deep Dive with the World's Most Misunderstood Predator” by @WhySharksMatter *Conservation in Action: @ProjectHiu works to re-employ former shark fin fisherman as tour guides in Lombok, Indonesia *Episode Shoutouts: Ocearch Global Shark Tracker @Ocearch **Art by Fox and Fish Printing **Music by Garrett Gordon & Steve Colwell of High & Dry

Let’s Sea is an informative podcast which will provide you with a whimsically educational deep dive into the wonders of our ocean as well as actions we can all take to protect our blue planet from its formidable foes. In the giant school Science Fair of life, consider this episode of Let’s Sea as the ‘abstract’ of our podcast - we’re giving you a glimpse into what we’ll be talking about in the main episodes, but want to use this time to explain to you why you may want to spend your free time listening to us. Art by Fox & Fish Printing Music by Garrett Gordon & Steve Colwell of High & Dry