In this week's episode, Erica chats with Ally Rice researcher at Scripps Whale Acoustic Laboratory about her most recent publication Update on frequency decline of Northeast Pacific blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) calls. Ally discusses her study and drives into the unexplainable conundrum behind this phenomena and shares current theories for why this may be happening. Erica and Ally also touch on noise pollution and Ally shares advice on how to better care for our environment. 

WARNING: This episode features explicit content and language that may be offensive to some viewers and inappropriate for children. The following episode is intended for a mature audience. 

This week Erica interviewed marine naturalist and feral Alaskan Dale Frink about his personal life, feelings, and whales. Dale sheds much insight on what it means to be feral and have worms. Hope you enjoy this epsiode. 

Kendra, Liam, and Erica finished up Being Salmon Being Human by Martine Lee Mueller, they discuss our role in major climate issues, our geostory, and  accountability in regard to these issues.

Dove into the topic of Pilot Whales with Kirstie Basford from the Ocean Lovers Podcast

This week Erica chatted with PhD student and co-founder of Whale Scientists, Naomi Mathews about science communication, imposter syndrome, and the vulnerable Barataria Dolphins. 

Erica, Kendra, and Liam dive into chapters 11 & 12 of Being Salmon Being Human by Martin Lee Mueller. They discuss the role of capitalism in environmental issues as well as how scientific exploration can occasionally lead to unintended exploitation. Tune in in two weeks for the final porpisode of this series. 

This week Erica chatted with Senior Research Scientist, Jason Hodin from the University of Washington Friday Harbor Labs about his work studying the metamorphosis of Sunflower Sea Stars. They also dove into the ecological importance of Sunflower, the idea of ecosystem Jenga, and the mystery of Sea Star Wasting Syndrome. 

Resources: 

On Kelp Forest Declines

The Nature Conservancy of California (partner in the captive breeding program) page on "Transforming Ocean Conservation in California"

Stars for the Sea: our online funding campaign through UW!  If your listeners might be inclined to donate or to share this link with others, all money goes straight into our captive breeding program and is handled by the official UW donation process (is tax-deductible, etc)

Sea Star Wasting Syndrome | MARINe

We are excited to be expanding the podcast to cover topics and species found throughout the Southern Resident Killer Whale Habitat. We kicked off this new project chatting with Briana Abrahms, Researcher and Assistant Professor at the University of Washington to discuss her article “Human-wildlife conflict under climate change” as well as some of her Blue Whale research. We hope you enjoy our new episodes, if there are topics you are interested in learning about send us a DM and we will try to cover them!

Resources: 

Whale Sense 

Abrams Lab

Climate change to fuel increase in human-wildlife conflict, UW biologist says

Kendra and Erica dive into Chapters 10 & 11 of Being Salmon Being Human; Encountering the Wild in Us and Us in the Wild by Martin Lee Mueller. Much of their conversation focuses on colonialism. Disclaimer, we are two white women having this conversation. We highly urge people who want to learn more about the impacts of colonialism on the environment to seek information from or endorsed by indigenous people.