Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water, Steven Spielberg created an opus that absolutely rattled human beings everywhere: “Jaws.” This movie is a horror classic. It’s also a highly misunderstood film that led to serious death and destruction in our oceans, and not at the hands of white sharks. What is it about “Jaws” that scares us so badly, and how have our human phobias harmed our planet? 

Joining Tess to talk through this fascinating and highly consequential story are: Frank Lehman, associate professor of music at Tufts University; Dr. Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at Cal State Long Beach, and Dr. Gabriella Hancock, assistant professor of psychology at Cal State Long Beach. 

Watch the documentary “Blue Water White Death.” 

Learn more about the importance of shark conservation. 

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Pop Mystery Pod is written and produced by Tess Barker @tesstifybarker. Produced by Tyler Hill.

Theme song by Rick Wood @Rickw00d.

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