Conservation Realist

For episode 6, we hear from Yin Yin Htay, of the Myanmar Coastal Conservation Lab at Point B Design + Training in Myanmar. She shares her perspectives as youth in conservation who grew to support other youths developing their capacity for conservation, including the importance of opportunities for building connections and confidence.

In this episode, I dive a bit into ideas of power and empowerment in conservation based on my experiences in Myanmar. Every 4th episode will be a chance for me to dig a little deeper into ideas that have come up in the interviews or to insights from my own experiences in the field.

Since February 2021, a brutal military junta has taken over Myanmar - on top of the raging COVID19 pandemic. Thanda Ko Gyi from the Myanmar Ocean Project shares the realities of conducting conservation work as a small organization in this difficult context. She has shown remarkable tenacity and conviction in her work on ghost gears and community engagement, all the more remarkable because she came into the field with no professional training. This is the first of 3 consecutive episodes focusing on Myanmar.

Episode 3! This was a fantastic conversation with Brooke Tully about conservation marketing and how to approach it in a respectful, responsible, and effective way, as well as how the conservation field compares to her experiences in the private sector. Brooke is a marketing expert who brings insights from time in advertising in the corporate realm to the conservation world, first with Rare and now independently. Check out her website for workshops, courses, and a treasure trove of informative blog posts!

Welcome to Episode 2! I spoke with Dr. Jo Marie Acebes, known as Jom, on her experiences with parachute or colonial science. She is the Founder and Principal Investigator of BALYENA.ORG, a non-profit organization with a mission to support the conservation of whales, dolphins, and their natural habitats in the Philippines.

Links:

BALYENA.ORG Facebook and Instagram

Podcast music by Soe Moe Thwin

The first episode of Conservation Realist! Introducing a bit about myself, your host Dr. Tara Sayuri Whitty, as well as the premise of this podcast-newsletter.