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Act (MMPA) is one of the elephant seals’ best protections from human interference, but it's in danger of being repealed.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