The Conch podcast

Seafood is critical in terms of feeding the world, providing valuable jobs, and addressing the climate crisis, but many don't know what to buy or how to prepare it. How do we build seafood literacy so that people are empowered with the knowledge and confidence they need to face the seafood counter?

In this episode of The Conch podcast, we chat with Trish Whetstone, a Canadian-based food literacy educator, writer, and fishmonger on a mission to simplify the seafood experience. Trish translates the complexities of the seafood industry into real talk for fish curious folk through engaging hands-on workshops, events, and experiences.

Episode Transcript

Episode Guide

• :00 Intro
• 01:25 Trish's obsession with seafood led her down a winding career path to fish through the arts, music, folklore, and storytelling.
• 10:48 Living in a coastal community that feels disconnected from its local food sources, including seafood, sparked a new career.
• 12:17 First podcast shout out to the Fisher Poets Gathering, where people share art, poetry, and music to share their deep and intrinsic connection to fishing.
• 14:45 Filleting a fish is an empowering skill, and even YOU can do it!
• 19:11 Eliminating the mystery behind fish and seafood: what is seafood literacy and why is it important?
• 24:22 Ever heard of Newfoundland Screech? Trish shares one of her FAVORITE fish facts.
• 26:53 Why is tinned seafood a "rabbit hole?" Let's dive in!
• 31:14 The importance and value of collaborations and partnerships.
• 37:18 Trish uplifts Bretton Hills, an oyster and kelp farmer!
• 38:44 What's next for Trish and how to find her online.

Resources:

1. Head over to trishtalksfish.com to find more exciting fish knowledge and check out her upcoming events, workshops, and experiences.
2. Explore the fascinating history of women's contributions to the fisheries of Newfoundland in this article.
3. https://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/economy/women-fishery.php
4. Recommend this episode to one person who wants to become seafood literate!

The Conch podcast is a program of Seafood and Gender Equality (SAGE).

Audio production, engineering, editing, mixing, and sound design by Crystal Sanders-Alvarado and team at Seaworthy. Theme music: "Dilation" by Satan's Pilgrims

The cost of protein has increased by over 30% in the past five years, further exacerbating the unseen challenge of hunger—and seafood is often missing from the plates of underserved communities. By building relationships across the fishing industry, an organization called SeaShare works hard to get nutrient dense seafood to food-insecure people, families, and communities. Over the past 20 years, they have provided more than 200 million seafood servings to food banks across the country.

In this episode of The Conch podcast, we chat with Fiona Robinson, the Development Director of SeaShare. From her early start as a journalist covering the seafood beat to owning a retail fish store in Maine, Fiona has devoted a lifetime to the seafood industry and helping those in need.

Did you know fish skin can be transformed into incredibly strong, eco-friendly leather boots?

On episode 3 of The Conch podcast, Julie is joined by Tasha Nathanson, founder of Seven Leagues, a circular economy fish leather tannery and fish boot social enterprise based in the Pacific Northwest. They explore the process of tanning fish skin for leather, the challenges of launching a socially conscious startup, whole fish utilization, and operating at the intersection of three industries dominated by men: fishery, forestry, and leather.

When you're not what people expect you to be, how do you pave your own path in seafood? The advice of chef, TV show host, cookbook author, and sustainable seafood advocate Stephanie Harris-Uyidi, a.k.a., @ThePoshPescatarian is to, "Do it yourself, and do it scared."

On episode 2 of The Conch podcast, Julie and Stephanie dive into her unique and innovative journey to produce her own globally successful tv show, her roots in harvesting her own seafood, nose-to-tail eating, and more!

Episode Transcript

Episode Guide

• :00 Intro
• 01:14 When the universe is calling, sometimes you have to follow your passion and "do it scared."
• 3:32 Appetite for Adventure: Stephanie, aka The Posh Pescatarian, brings her passion for seafood and travel to the small screen.
• 4:57 Introducing Going Coastal: A pandemic-era labor of love, THE cookbook featuring recipes representing every coastal city on the planet!
• 8:47 Nose-to-tail cooking seafood-style (an important way to minimize food waste and so much more!)
• 12:55 The dreadful thought of eating the last red snapper from the ocean sends Stephanie down the path of seafood sustainability.
• 14:30 Fish fraud: a cautionary tale.
• 16:24 Stephanie doesn't conform to the expectations of a black woman in the seafood, culinary, and entertainment industries.
• 19:37 Diving deeper into the ethos of "doing it scared."
• 22:27 Key tips to launching a career in seafood.

Resources:

1. Read all about the The Posh Pescatarian and order Going Coastal, the most extensive cookbook on seafood, at poshpescatarian.com
2. Stream season three of Stephanie's tv show, Appetite for Adventure, which will debut soon here, so make sure to keep your eyes open for its release.
3. Recommend this episode to one person who is curious about nose-to-tail eating and minimizing food waste!

The Conch Podcast series is a program of Seafood and Gender Equality (SAGE) and made possible by generous funding from The David and Lucile Packard Foundation and Builders Initiative. Audio production, engineering, editing, mixing, and sound design by Crystal Sanders-Alvarado for Seaworthy. Original music provided by Satan's Pilgrims.

Leading with compelling storytelling, clever brand marketing, innovative partnerships, and delicious seafood, Fishwife is one of the most exciting seafood brands on the market today. To kick off season 3 of The Conch podcast, we learn how one woman is leading the tinned fish category out of the dark ages and taking the sector by storm with tasty, sustainable seafood and a mantra that recognizes that "hot girls eat tinned fish."

Julie welcomes to The Conch podcast Becca Millstein, the co-founder and CEO of Fishwife, a woman founded and led food company aiming to make ethically sourced, premium, and delicious tinned seafood a staple in every cupboard.

Episode Transcript

Episode Guide

• :00 Intro
• 01:18 Time in quarantine, a hike in nature, and delicious memories of a college study abroad led Becca to a lightning bolt moment.
• 4:38 The genesis of Fishwife: Taking an idea from trail to shelf.
• 10:10 Just what is a "fishwife"?
• 11:54 Becca's favorite part of the tinned fish business.
• 14:09 Why women are leading the tinned fish category.
• 17:42 The value of brand partnerships. (Have you tasted the Fly By Jing x Fishwife collaboration?)
• 21:12 Navigating the complex nuances of sourcing sustainable seafood.
• 26:30 Sustainable and delicious: every seafood product in a Fishwife tin has to hit four key marks.
• 28:04 Hot girls eat tinned fish—-what does being a "hot girl" mean to Fishwife?
• 33:18 Tips from an industry newcomer: how the seafood industry can address inequality.
• 40:45 What the seafood industry really needs to do to support women leaders.
• 43:00 Becca uplifts Sachi Singh, founder and CEO of Rootless.
• 43:53 A teaser of an exciting new Fishwife release and how to find them online.

Resources:

1. Find Fishwife's selection of tinned seafood at eatfishwife.com
2. Use promo code "tryfishwife15" to get 15% off Fishwife products
3. Link to article by Ebony Perro, "Thee Megan Movement: Defining and Exploring Hot Girl Rhetoric."
4. Recommend this episode to one person who is curious about conservas

Did you know that partners of commercial fishermen are an unseen, yet critical part of the seafood industry? They play invaluable roles in supporting their fishermen partners, and thereby the industry itself, yet are generally unrecognized and unpaid for this labor. In this episode of The Conch podcast, we learn how one woman created a community of support for Partners of Commercial Fishermen to share experiences, valuable advice, and overall information about seafood, all while uniting life partners of those engaged in one of the planet's most dangerous professions - fishing.

Julie welcomes to The Conch podcast Megan Waldrep - writer, columnist, and partner of a commercial fisherman.

Episode Transcript

Episode Guide

• :00 Intro
• 02:19 When Megan started dating a commercial fisherman, she felt alone and isolated. To make sense of the fishing way of life and find others in her situation, she threw a Hail Mary.
• 5:30 That Hail Mary? A blog post about dating a commercial fisherman, which led her to create and foster a supportive community: Partners of Commercial Fishermen (POCF)
• 8:15 How to maximize your serendipity potential: Easing into the return of your fisherman partner from an extended absence
• 13:57 Whether you're a fish farmer or a fisherman, Megan is here to support fishing families and their communities
• 17:31 A recap of challenges facing commercial fishermen
• 20:28 Megan's coincidental link to a former guest on The Conch, Monique Coombs
• 22:43 POCF are the invisible backbone of the seafood sector, providing generally unpaid labor to support the industry
• 27:26 Megan shares three critical life tips for a POCF
• 30:36 Uplifting and amplifying the efforts of some of The Conch podcast's former guests, Emily De Sousa and Monique Coombs!
• 33:02 Partners of commercial fishermen have needs, specifically sexual needs
• 34:52 Another way to empower yourself: get to know your own body
• 37:05 How to find Megan and the POCF community online

Resources:

1. Learn more about Megan and the community of Partners of Commercial Fishermen on Instagram her website https://meganwaldrep.com/
2. Use promo code "POCF" to get 20% off the @CloneAWillyKit at https://cloneawilly.com/collections/clone-a-willy
3. Make sure to recommend this episode to anyone you think might care about the future of our ocean and women working in the sector.

Precompetitive collaborations—when companies unite to address a shared problem or pain point that doesn't impact direct business competition—are becoming more and more popular in the seafood sector as companies begin to realize the power of the collective. In the newest episode of the Conch Podcast, we hear how one man is leading a group of seafood companies, united to amplify their impact and together transform the sector.

Julie is joined by Sam Grimley, Executive Director of Sea Pact, a group of leading North American seafood companies dedicated to driving stewardship and continuous improvement of social, economic, and environmental responsibility throughout the global seafood supply chain.

Episode Transcript

Episode Guide

• :00 Intro
• 02:45 For every problem, there's a solution. For Sam, this belief led to a career working with, not against, the seafood industry.
• 6:51 A brief history of Sea Pact, its goals, and its vision.
• 11:40 How do you measure collective impact?
• 14:29 Why are precompetitive collaborations so popular in the seafood sector and is a meta-collaboration on the horizon?
• 20:20 Thinking about partnering with a seafood company? Here are Sam's five tips for success.
• 23:59 Eating with the Ecosystem: celebrating New England's underutilized fish.
• 30:43 Examples of transformational change that the seafood sector must advance.
• 32:46 Other sectors hold solutions to the seafood industry's biggest challenges.
• 36:15 It's been said before, but mentorship and relationships are key to navigating this fast-paced industry.
• 39:37 Shout out! Sam continues to be inspired by some incredible women in the seafood sector.
• 41:12 Looking for funding? Here's how you can apply for a grant from Sea Pact!

• Resources:

1. Learn more about Sam's work at Sea Pact and their collective efforts to drive change throughout the global seafood supply chain at http://www.seapact.org/
2. Check out some of the other organizations that Sea Pact has funded, like FishWise and the Global Tuna Alliance.
3. Be sure to recommend this episode to anyone you think might care about the future of our ocean and women working in the sector.

Although considered one of the deadliest occupations, it's also been said that fishing saves lives*. In the newest episode of The Conch, we learn how one woman's grief led her to find solace on the ocean as a deep sea angler and galley cook. She shares the myriad of challenges for women in the sportfishing industry as she pursues her ultimate goal of someday becoming captain of her own boat.

Julie is joined by Roni Hanke, school teacher, galley cook, sports angler, and aspiring boat captain.

*Content Warning: This episode features mentions of suicide and self-harm between minutes 7:17 - 9:42 and again from 12:05 - 13:08.

Episode Transcript

Episode Guide

• :00 Content Warning: This episode features mentions of suicide and self-harm
• 00:25 Intro
• 1:50 Known as the @TikiFishGal on Instagram, Roni explains her affinity for the popular, yet controversial, Tiki subculture
• 5:08 Deep sea saltwater fishing is the ultimate escapism
• 7:17 - 9:42 Content Warning: This passage contains mentions of self-harm and suicide. Consumed by the death of her father and the isolation of the pandemic, Roni ultimately finds solace and a new passion on the water

• 9:42 Deep sea sportfishing: a primer
• 12:05 - 13:08 Content Warning: This passage contains mentions of self-harm and suicide.
• 13:08 A pirate's life: insight into the dark evolution of people working on sports fishing boats
• 18:34 What will it take for Roni to attain her goal of becoming a boat captain?
• 24:35 Navigating unspoken boat rules and maintaining personal safety as a woman leads to conflict
• 30:06 What it's like being a woman, often the only one, on a boat (There are A LOT of stereotypes and assumptions about women on boats…)
• 35:43 With no previous experience, Roni took the only job she could get on a boat as a woman—galley cook
• 37:26 Why do we idolize big fish, but not big women?
• 41:31 Roni uplifts fellow angler Megan Long, @LargeMouth_Sass on Instagram
• 42:57 The final word on what to call a woman who fishes: fisher or fisherman?

Resources:

1. Follow Roni and her sports fishing life on Instagram @TikiFishGal
2. Make sure to recommend this episode to anyone you know who loves and cares about the future of our oceans.

Women in leadership roles in the seafood industry can be counted on one hand. In the newest episode of The Conch podcast, we hear how one woman has dedicated 40 years of her life to the industry, its people, and its communities. Lisa started fileting salmon on the "slime line" in college and is now supporting environmentally and socially responsible farmed and wild seafood through partnerships with industry and nonprofit initiatives.

Julie is joined by Lisa Goché, Vice President of Grobest Seafood Global and board member of both the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) and the Seafood Task Force.

*Note: In the episode, Julie says the Seafood Task Force is a nonprofit, however it is a for profit corporation registered in the state of Delaware.

Episode Guide

• :00 Intro
• 02:23 Controlled chaos: a timeline of Lisa's 40 year career in the seafood industry
• 10:11 The salmon processing sector in Anchorage, Alaska is surprisingly diverse
• 13:08 A day in the life of a seafood industry executive, plus some survival tips
• 17:07 A perfect storm: a picture of supply chain chaos caused by the global pandemic
• 26:35 Five reasons why the seafood industry partners with nonprofits
• 30:01 Nonprofits listen up! What you need to understand when working with the seafood industry
• 39:54 Lisa's hard-earned advice for women in the seafood industry
• 46:10 Gratitude for life in the seafood industry
• 48:30 Final tip: Advocate for yourself and be the squeaky wheel!

Resources:

1. Learn more about Lisa's work and Grobest's global group of companies at www.grobest.com, http://www.grobestseafood.com/en and http://www.grobestusa.com/
2. Be sure to recommend this episode to anyone you think might care about the future of our ocean and women working in the sector.

For fisheries, the path to sustainability isn't easy. In the latest episode of The Conch podcast, we learn how one woman is working to support fisheries in their journey to sustainability, helping them capture value and ensure sustainable seafood for generations to come.

Julie welcomes Erika Feller, Americas Regional Director at the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)—an international nonprofit on a mission to end overfishing and ensure that seafood is caught sustainably.

Episode Transcript Episode Guide

• :00 Intro

• 01:59 Having started her career on Capitol Hill, Erika has a few ideas why marine conservation organizations might be hesitant to engage with policymakers and government.

• 8:20 We can all agree that seafood is good for your health. *We walk through the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee's recommendation on how to develop a national seafood marketing campaign.

• 12:08 Want to better understand the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) ecolabel certification and its standards? Here you go!

• 16:05 Challenges that the MSC faces in supporting global fisheries and their pathways to environmental sustainability.

• 20:59 Climate change and fisheries: Policy and regulation are important, but engaging with people and communities is what keeps fisheries sustainable and leads to homegrown solutions to address the challenges arising due to climate change.

• 25:53 The MSC recognizes the critical importance of mitigating the risk of forced or child labor and social inequities in global fisheries.

• 35:32 Advice to women joining the seafood industry: "Maximize the serendipity potential" and take advantage of opportunities that arise.

• 39:34 Uplifting and amplifying Lisa Damrosch and Sandy Nguyen–two incredible women working in seafood on opposite coasts of the U.S.

*Erika is the former Chair of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MFAC), which developed the report recommending the development of a national seafood marketing campaign, which Linda Cornish and Seafood Nutrition Partnership are bringing to life. Hear more about this effort on Season 2, Episode 5 of The Conch podcast featuring a conversation with Linda Cornish.

Resources:

1. Learn more about the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) on their website and on their Instagram.

2. Learn more about the women Erika uplifts: Lisa Damrosch and Sandy Nguyen

3. Make sure to recommend this episode to anyone you think might care about the future of our ocean and women working in the sector.

The Conch Podcast is a program of Seafood and Gender Equality (SAGE). Audio production, engineering, editing, mixing, and sound design by Crystal Sanders-Alvarado & team at Seaworthy. Theme music: "Dilation" by Satan's Pilgrims. Funding generously provided by The David & Lucile Packard Foundation.