What starts as a childhood dream turns into a summer of filming dolphins from above as they dance through the water. Until one stormy day pops more than just a research blimp. This is the story of how a dolphin-loving scientist made a pivot, proving that sometimes life’s porpoise takes you somewhere entirely new.

This story was told live at Bivouac Ciderworks on October 29th, 2025 as part of the "Little Lab of Horrors" SASSY event. Scott Rifkin is a professor of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution at UCSD.