Forget everything you think you know about viruses. In the ocean, there are viral giants so large they were mistaken for bacteria for decades – and they're rewriting the rules of marine ecology. Join us as we explore the fascinating world of giant viruses with Benjamin Minch, a PhD student at the University of Miami who has discovered over 230 previously unknown viral genomes using a revolutionary computational tool called BEREN. These microscopic monsters can hijack photosynthesis, manipulate t...
Jul 01, 2025•22 min•Ep. 102
Andrew Kornblatt sits down with deep-sea ecologist and science communicator Andrew Thaler and dedicated ocean advocate and Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, Angelo Villagomez for a panel discussion on the recent actions of the Trump Administration around NOAA, Ocean Monuments, and Conservation. Come for the Ocean Politics, stay for the Pauly Shore references.
May 15, 2025•43 min•Ep. 101
Join us as we explore the cutting-edge world of underwater technology with Liz Taylor, President of DOER Marine Operations. Discover how this innovative company has been transforming ocean exploration since 1992, from developing human-occupied submersibles to creating mobile science labs from shipping containers. In this fascinating conversation, Liz shares the story behind the Honu project - a groundbreaking initiative creating dual-purpose submersibles for scientific research and tourism in Mi...
Apr 29, 2025•26 min•Ep. 100
It is February, so it is time for another OCEAN-LOVING episode. In this episode, we will discuss some of the coolest and weirdest reproduction strategies in the Ocean. In this episode, we cover the mysterious gentle giants, the WHALE SHARK, and a recent accidental behavior observation in the wild with PhD candidate with the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the Harry Butler Institute at Murdoch University, Christine Barry. As always, Ocean Lovin covers adult topics and should be listene...
Feb 27, 2025•28 min•Ep. 99
In this episode, we are highlighting the work of one marine biologist in particular whose research gives us a better understanding of how fish evolved through their bone structure. Specifically Dr. Kory Evans of Rice University, a Doctor who has spent a LOT of time looking at fish bones and went viral a few years ago after sharing a scan of a surprising interaction between two species.
Jan 30, 2025•22 min•Ep. 98
For the last episode of 2024, we at Ocean Science Radio wanted to end things on a high note, something that could act as an inspiration for the going into the next year and beyond. Today's episode is on the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, the first-ever Indigenous-nominated and Indigenous-co-managed marine sanctuary in the United States. Join us as we speak with Violet Sage Walker, the chairwoman for the Northern Chumash Tribal Council - the nominators for the now-designated National...
Dec 31, 2024•36 min•Ep. 97
The team sits down with Brian Connon, VP of Ocean Mapping for the ocean science technology firm Saildrone to talk about what the company does, why their tech is so interesting and versatile, and some of the cool projects the company has worked on.
Nov 29, 2024•23 min•Ep. 96
Project 2025, otherwise known as the 2025 Presidential Transition Project. The Project aims to promote conservative and right-wing policies to reshape the United States federal government and consolidate executive power, under the premise that Donald Trump wins the 2024 presidential election. If you haven’t read it, we don’t blame you, it is literally 900 pages written in the most mind-numbing legalease and political speak that you can possibly imagine, but the contents have HUGE ramifications i...
Oct 29, 2024•20 min•Ep. 95
The Ocean Science Radio team chats with "Deep Sea" Dawn Wright, a geographer and oceanographer and Chief Scientist at ESRI (The Environmental Systems Research Institute) - one of the world's leading suppliers of GIS software, web GIS and geodatabase management applications. We cover why mapping the bottom of the ocean is important, some cool ocean mapping history, and her recently released book "Mapping the Deep: Innovation, Exploration & the Dive of a Lifetime" about her 2022 dive to the de...
Sep 27, 2024•42 min•Ep. 94
Complex compositions made up of groans, moans, sighs, roars, and high-pitched squeals that can last for hours - The songs of whales are both beautiful and haunting. Humans have had a particular fascination with the sounds of cetaceans and the possible meanings behind it since Roger Payne, a marine biologist, first noticed the complex sonic arrangement of humpback whale sounds during a research expedition to Bermuda in 1967 But what if we could translate what they were saying? Really understand w...
Aug 29, 2024•47 min•Ep. 93
A new paper just dropped on incorporating environmental factors when determining conservation baselines for sharks on coral reefs by our very own Frances! (That's right, it is a META episode!)
Jul 30, 2024•23 min•Ep. 92
In honor of the untimely passing of Ocean advocate, Turtle biologist, and author of the book "Blue Mind," Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, we are re-releasing our episode with him featuring the topic of "Blue Mind" and the benefits of being close to the ocean and other bodies of water.
Jun 28, 2024•15 min•Ep. 91
Today on the show we're diving into a story that might surprise you. It doesn't involve dazzling coral reefs or majestic whales, but something a little closer to home... canned salmon! In this episode, we’ll be discussing how Dr. Natalie Mastick - a postdoctoral associate at the Yale Peabody Museum and a marine ecologist - used this unusual technique of examining super super old canned fish to track changes in a salmon and their parasites.
Apr 25, 2024•27 min•Ep. 90
In this episode, we talk about ocean superstructures - a new scientific phrase that our guests hope start up some important conversations about how the bottom of the ocean was formed. Guests: Dr. Kevin Konrad -Assistant Professor of Geoscience and Director of the Nevada Isotope Geochronology Laboratory (NIGL) University of Nevada, Las Vegas Dr Val Finlayson - Postdoctoral Associate Department of Geology University of Maryland Dr. Andrea Balbas - Assistant professor at California State University...
Mar 28, 2024•21 min•Ep. 89
It is February and we once again have our seasonal episode of Ocean Lovin - covering cool and strange ways ocean creatures make little ocean creatures. We speak with Dr. Christine Dudgeon, a senior research fellow at the University of Queensland and the University of the Sunshine Coast about sharks and a peculiar story of immaculate shark-ception. As with every year, we want to remind our listeners that Ocean Lovin episodes cover adult themes not meant for children without supervision, please li...
Feb 29, 2024•34 min•Ep. 88
The ocean is a vast and powerful carbon sink, absorbing about a quarter of the carbon dioxide we emit into the atmosphere. That carbon is pulled into the water column and is also buried under the layers of dirt and soil on the ocean floor. But this vital role could be jeopardized by a common fishing practice: bottom trawling. Today we will be talking to Dr. Tricia Atwood, an associate professor of watershed sciences at Utah State University who is also a researcher with the National Geographic S...
Jan 31, 2024•14 min•Ep. 87
People with disabilities are often marginalized, face isolation, lack representation and even ablism, no matter the industry or space. We speak to an old friend of the show about how this shows up in STEM and academia, and a project to collect stories from those impacted by this phenomenon in the form of a book of essays. So come join us where we talk about the book Uncharted, and learn about scientists navigating their health journey. Guests include: - Dr. Skylar Bayer from the NOAA Alaska Fish...
Dec 28, 2023•30 min•Ep. 86
With the passing of Ocean Explorer and all around nice guy Don Walsh, we wanted to revisit our episode where we interviewed him about the anniversary of the Triseste dive.
Nov 30, 2023•28 min•Ep. 85
Dr. Farabaugh is out sick so this episode is solo Andrew. We speak with Mattie Rodrique - the Science program Director for OceanX- about their work in ocean exploration, discovery, and storytelling while ALSO training the next generation of ocean explorers.
Oct 26, 2023•23 min•Ep. 84
Have you ever wanted to explore the bottom of the ocean? Discover new crazy and beautiful species? Have you ever wanted to explore the remains of a sunken ship, lost to time? Well good news! Today, we're going to be talking with members of the Ocean Exploration Trust a group of explorers and expedition leaders about the work they do, their discoveries and the technology they use. We speak with ROV Operations Manager Josh Chernov, Director of Education and Outreach Megan Cook, and Renato Kane a n...
Sep 28, 2023•32 min•Ep. 83
The Port of San Diego has been making incredible strides with its Maritime Clean Air Strategy which is rather comprehensive ranging from cool tech to green practices to amazing economic incentives. The Ocean Science Radio team chatted with Rafael Castellanos - Chairman of the Port of San Diego, Jason Giffen - Vice President for the Planning and Environment Division, and Paula Sylvia, Program Director of the Aquaculture and Blue Technology Department to talk about the advances and initiatives at ...
Aug 31, 2023•25 min•Ep. 82
Some new shark shows just dropped and you KNOW you want to check them out. From Discovery's Shark Week to Nat Geo's pieces there will be plenty of amazing shark content! From Sharkcano: Hawaii to Sharks vs Dolphins: Bahama Battle Grounds, these shows are set to thrill, chill and… hopefully educate about sharks. In this episode, we have Dr. Valeria Paz - dolphin scientist and star of Sharks vs Dolphins: Bahama Battle Grounds for a discussion about sharks, dolphins, and being on these types of doc...
Jul 28, 2023•35 min•Ep. 81
You may have heard about it in the news, you may have seen the memes on social media but no mater what, it appears that there is a group of orcas that have gone rogue. These cetaceans around the Iberian peninsula seem to be ORCA-strating attacks against yachts in the area. To find out more, we brought on Cetacean scientist Chris Parsons to give us the scoop So join us now where we learn more about orcas, the teaching techniques of these whale-killers, and how serious a threat the cetacean uprisi...
Jun 29, 2023•26 min•Ep. 80
We get to chat with Brooke Fitzwater, a PhD Student in the Earley Lab of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa who has made a big splash with her unique approach to science communication and learn about how she researches the mating habits of a cool species of sex-changing mangrove fish.
May 31, 2023•28 min•Ep. 79
We are diving into deep ocean heatwaves. These extreme warming events in the ocean's depths have been linked to changes in ocean currents, weather patterns, and marine life, and we are learning more and more about the what and possibly why of these phenomenon. In a paper published in Nature Communications, researchers used a combination of observations and computer models to generate the first broad assessment of bottom marine heat waves in the continental shelf waters around North America. Toda...
Apr 27, 2023•18 min•Ep. 78
Something strange is growing in the middle of the Atlantic, it covers an insane amount of the surface, it smells of rotten eggs and it might be COMING FOR OUR BEACHES. While the truth of the matter isn’t as scary as social media and the news makes it seem, scientists still have a lot of questions about the annual sargassum mass. We sit down with Brian Barnes a research assistant professor at the University of South Florida College of Marine Science to get some answers.
Mar 30, 2023•24 min•Ep. 77
It is February and it is time once again for our annual special on reproduction called Ocean Lovin. In this episode we talk about Snow Crab reproduction. You may have seen Snow Crabs popping up in the news recently.This is because back in October, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game cancelled the snow crab season because the population, which normally numbered in the billions, fell by an estimated 90%.The first time the fishery was shut down in recorded history. We speak with Chris Long, fish...
Feb 23, 2023•32 min•Ep. 76
Marine Protected Areas are areas of the ocean where a government has placed limits on human activity. These areas range from no-take, no-impact, no-access, and multiple use - basically determining how much human impact is supposed to take place in these areas. On today’s episode, we speak with representatives of the NGO WildAid and some of the partners they are working with to make sure that ocean parks are enforceable, realistic, and work for the local population. The team interviews: - Meaghan...
Jan 31, 2023•58 min•Ep. 75
In this episode, we speak with science writer Shannon Stirone and Berkeley writing professor Ryan Sloan about their experiences being sent to the poles to try and capture the wonder of these locations to share with others.
Dec 29, 2022•38 min•Ep. 74
With better and more affordable remote-operated vehicle and video technology, more data and footage is being collected every day. But that leads to another problem, how do you analyze petabytes worth of data? Join us on this episode of Ocean Science Radio, where we meet one of the minds behind FathomNet, and some of the teams that are using this fantastic big data tool for the ocean. We speak with: Dr. Kakani Katija - FathomNet co-founder and lead of the Bioinspiration Lab for MBARI Megan Cromwe...
Nov 29, 2022•37 min•Ep. 73
