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What’s Really Stopping You From Starting an Ocean Career

How To Protect The Ocean

Release Date: 03/31/2026

What’s Really Stopping You From Starting an Ocean Career show art What’s Really Stopping You From Starting an Ocean Career

How To Protect The Ocean

A lot of people think the path into ocean conservation is simple: get the degree, get the experience, then get the opportunity. But that is not how it works for many people anymore. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, I talk about why waiting for permission, waiting to feel ready, or waiting for someone to teach you everything first can quietly kill momentum before your career even begins. I break down the myth that credentials alone will open doors, the real skills employers and collaborators notice, and why building proof of your abilities matters more than saying you are...

info_outline Most Ocean Jobs Aren’t Posted, So How Do People Get Them? show art Most Ocean Jobs Aren’t Posted, So How Do People Get Them?

How To Protect The Ocean

If you’ve been applying for ocean conservation jobs and hearing nothing back, this episode is for you. Too many people think opportunities come from polished resumes and endless job applications. In reality, many careers in ocean science and conservation are built through trust, familiarity, and real relationships. In this episode, Andrew breaks down the hidden job market in ocean conservation, why cold applications often fail, what networking actually means, where to build connections in this field, and how to reach out without sounding awkward. This is not about asking for a job. It is...

info_outline How Business and Storytelling Are Changing Ocean Conservation show art How Business and Storytelling Are Changing Ocean Conservation

How To Protect The Ocean

Ocean conservation is changing, and science alone is no longer enough. In this episode, Andrew Lewin speaks with Peter Simek, CEO of EarthX, about how business, investment, and storytelling are shaping the future of environmental solutions. They discuss why collaboration across industries is critical, how market-driven innovation is accelerating impact, and what it takes to turn ideas into scalable solutions. If you want to understand how ocean protection actually happens in the real world, this episode breaks it down. Sign up for Earthx20206: Support Independent Podcasts: Help fund a...

info_outline Why Facts Fail and Stories Save the Ocean, The Science of Changing Human Behavior show art Why Facts Fail and Stories Save the Ocean, The Science of Changing Human Behavior

How To Protect The Ocean

Ocean storytelling is not just communication, it is a conservation tool. Why do people ignore climate data, overfishing statistics, and coral reef loss, even when the science is clear? In this episode, we break down the psychology behind why facts alone fail to drive action, and how storytelling can bridge the gap between knowledge and behavior. You will learn how emotional connection, relatability, and narrative framing influence real-world ocean conservation outcomes. Science communication is evolving, and the ocean depends on it. We explore real examples like the UN’s “Don’t Choose...

info_outline Why Ocean Solutions Fail Without Collaboration (And How to Fix It) show art Why Ocean Solutions Fail Without Collaboration (And How to Fix It)

How To Protect The Ocean

Ocean conservation solutions often fail, not because the science is wrong, but because the right people aren’t working together. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, we break down why collaboration between scientists, businesses, and policymakers is essential to solving today’s biggest ocean challenges. Ocean collaboration is already transforming conservation, and the results are powerful. Using real-world examples like Global Fishing Watch, you’ll learn how satellite data, artificial intelligence, and policy advocacy came together to expose illegal fishing on a global scale. We...

info_outline Ocean Startups Are Changing Conservation Faster Than Science Alone show art Ocean Startups Are Changing Conservation Faster Than Science Alone

How To Protect The Ocean

Ocean conservation is no longer driven by science alone, startups are stepping in to turn ideas into real-world solutions at scale. In this episode, we explore how companies like Coral Vita and Running Tide are accelerating reef restoration and experimenting with ocean-based carbon removal, bringing speed, funding, and innovation into a space that has traditionally moved slowly. Ocean startups are reshaping how solutions are built, tested, and scaled. You will learn how these companies combine science, business models, and emerging technologies to tackle coral bleaching, climate change, and...

info_outline Why Ocean Solutions Fail, And How Business Can Actually Save the Ocean show art Why Ocean Solutions Fail, And How Business Can Actually Save the Ocean

How To Protect The Ocean

Ocean conservation is failing to scale, and it’s not because of a lack of science. In this episode, we break down why decades of ocean research have not stopped overfishing, pollution, and habitat loss, and what is really holding solutions back. Ocean solutions need more than discovery, they need adoption. You’ll learn how business models, financial incentives, and scalable systems are the missing link between scientific breakthroughs and real-world impact. We explore why many conservation efforts stall, and what separates small successes from global change. Ocean innovation is already...

info_outline Why You Should Think Twice Before Eating Squid (The Seafood Labeling Problem No One Talks About) show art Why You Should Think Twice Before Eating Squid (The Seafood Labeling Problem No One Talks About)

How To Protect The Ocean

Squid fisheries are booming worldwide, but most consumers have no idea what they are actually eating. In this episode, marine biologist and Oceana policy advisor Marine Cusa breaks down how seafood labeling gaps are hiding critical information about squid species, origins, and fishing practices. Using DNA testing, her team uncovered that many squid products come from distant, high-risk fisheries, often without any transparency for consumers. We explore how traceability failures, unregulated fishing, and complex global supply chains make squid one of the hardest seafood products to track. You...

info_outline The Squid You Eat Is a Mystery, Seafood Mislabeling Explained show art The Squid You Eat Is a Mystery, Seafood Mislabeling Explained

How To Protect The Ocean

Seafood mislabeling is more common than most people realize, and squid might be one of the biggest examples. When you order calamari, you are rarely told which species you are actually eating. With more than 300 squid species in the ocean, and most products labeled simply as “squid,” consumers are left with almost no information about the origin, sustainability, or even the species on their plate. Squid fisheries are growing rapidly across the globe, but they are also some of the hardest to track. Squid is often caught on the high seas, processed in multiple countries, and sold in forms...

info_outline Why Seafood Traceability Is Broken (And What’s Really on Your Plate) show art Why Seafood Traceability Is Broken (And What’s Really on Your Plate)

How To Protect The Ocean

Seafood is one of the most globalized food systems in the world, but that complexity comes at a cost: traceability. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, we break down why it is so difficult to track seafood from the moment it is caught to the moment it reaches your plate. With supply chains spanning multiple countries, processing steps that remove identifying features, and practices like transshipment happening far from oversight, even well-intentioned systems struggle to keep up. We explore how seafood moves through a complex network of fishing vessels, cargo ships, processing plants,...

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More Episodes

A lot of people think the path into ocean conservation is simple: get the degree, get the experience, then get the opportunity. But that is not how it works for many people anymore.

In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, I talk about why waiting for permission, waiting to feel ready, or waiting for someone to teach you everything first can quietly kill momentum before your career even begins. I break down the myth that credentials alone will open doors, the real skills employers and collaborators notice, and why building proof of your abilities matters more than saying you are passionate.

If you want to work in ocean conservation, marine science communication, policy, data, or research support, this episode will help you think differently about how careers actually get built. Because the people getting noticed are often the ones who start before they feel ready.

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