Deep Sea Exploration: Jonatha Giddens on Connecting People to the Ocean Through Science and Storytelling
Beyond Jaws: Exploring Shark Science and Conservation
Release Date: 08/06/2025
She Spent Years Tracking Sharks in Crocodile-Infested Rivers
Beyond Jaws: Exploring Shark Science and Conservation
Dr. Julia Constance is back on Beyond Jaws, and this time she's joining hosts Andrew Lewin and Dr. David Ebert as Dr. Constance. Julia returns fresh off completing her PhD on the natural mortality and movement ecology of two of the world's least understood sharks: the speartooth shark and the northern river shark, both found almost nowhere outside northern Australia and southern Papua New Guinea. Using a long-running acoustic telemetry dataset built by her supervisor since 2013, Julia tracked around 200 tagged sharks across Northern Territory river systems, some for up to a decade, to...
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What Does a Camera Have to Do With Saving Sharks?
Beyond Jaws: Exploring Shark Science and Conservation
For decades, stunning shark photographs have shaped the way millions of people think about these misunderstood predators. But behind every unforgettable image is a story that rarely gets told. In this episode of Beyond Jaws, we sit down with Manique Fallows to explore the passion, patience, and purpose behind a life dedicated to sharks. Monique shares how photography became more than a way to capture wildlife. It became a powerful tool for conservation, storytelling, and helping people connect with animals they often fear. We also talk about her work as an author, her experiences in the field,...
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What a 5-Week Shark Trip Revealed About the Future of Shark Science and Conservation
Beyond Jaws: Exploring Shark Science and Conservation
Dave Ebert returns from a five-week journey across South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, sharing stories from shark research, Sharks International, mentoring young scientists, and the search for lost sharks. This episode explores why taxonomy still matters, how new shark and ray species are still being discovered, and why the future of shark science depends on training the next generation. Shark science, shark conservation, Beyond Jaws, Dave Ebert, lost sharks, new shark species, guitarfish, South Africa sharks, Sri Lanka sharks, Sharks International, marine biology, ocean science, shark...
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How Do You Build an Ocean Career When You Live Inland?
Beyond Jaws: Exploring Shark Science and Conservation
Ocean careers rarely follow a straight line. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Dave Ebert takes over the host chair to interview Andrew Lewin about his career journey, from marine biology and consulting to podcasting, science communication, and his new role as Ocean Communications Manager with Pisces Ocean. Andrew shares how choosing family, living away from the coast, and building a podcast over many years helped shape a different kind of ocean career. The episode explores why storytelling matters in marine conservation, how podcasting can build real professional networks, and why...
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Are Orcas Really to Blame for the Missing Great Whites?
Beyond Jaws: Exploring Shark Science and Conservation
Great white sharks have disappeared from some of South Africa’s most famous shark hotspots, but the reason may not be as simple as the popular story suggests. In this episode, Chris Fallows returns to talk about orcas, white sharks, shark nets, longline fisheries, and the uncomfortable possibility that humans played a much larger role than many people want to admit. This conversation looks beyond the headline of orcas hunting great whites and asks a harder question: what happens when we focus on the predator we cannot control while ignoring the human systems we can? From False Bay to...
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The Big Question at Sharks International 2026: Are We Saving Sharks the Right Way?
Beyond Jaws: Exploring Shark Science and Conservation
Ocean Conservation feels like it’s everywhere, but are we actually making a difference, or just telling ourselves we are? In this episode, we break down what really works in ocean protection and why so many well-intentioned efforts fall short. If you care about the ocean but feel overwhelmed by conflicting messages, this conversation will help you cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters. Marine Science meets real-world impact as Daniel Fernando shares lessons from the field, including the challenges of balancing conservation with human needs. From working with communities to...
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She Built Shark Science Where Almost Nobody Was Looking
Beyond Jaws: Exploring Shark Science and Conservation
Shark Conservation What happens when an entire coastline is full of species we barely understand, and almost no one is studying them? In this episode of Beyond Jaws, we speak with Ghofrane Labyedh, a rising shark scientist originally from Tunisia who is helping build shark and ray research in Cameroon. You’ll hear how she entered marine science, why West Africa remains one of the least understood regions for sharks and rays, and what it takes to create science where little existed before. Marine Biology Careers Ghofrane shares the realities of doing fieldwork, building trust with local...
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She Didn’t Plan to Study Sharks, Then Everything Changed in the Bay of Bengal
Beyond Jaws: Exploring Shark Science and Conservation
Shark Conservation What happens when one unexpected opportunity completely changes your career path, and why does that matter for the future of sharks? In this episode of the Beyond Jaws podcast, Zoya Tyabji shares how her journey began in island conservation work and led her into the world of shark and ray research in India. You’ll hear how curiosity, timing, and taking risks opened doors she never expected. Shark Research India Zoya explains the hidden realities of shark fisheries, trade, and conservation challenges in one of the world’s most important marine regions. Her work combines...
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He Couldn’t Become a Doctor… So He Built a Shark Conservation Movement
Beyond Jaws: Exploring Shark Science and Conservation
Shark conservation often feels like something only experts or elite scientists can do, but what if one unexpected decision could completely change your life and impact an entire ecosystem? In this episode, we unpack how a student who never planned to study the ocean ended up leading a major conservation effort focused on thresher sharks in Indonesia, and why his journey matters for anyone trying to build a meaningful career. Marine biology careers are rarely linear, and this story proves it. From struggling to find direction to discovering purpose through internships and hands-on experience,...
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Scientists Thought Sawfish Were Gone… They Were Wrong
Beyond Jaws: Exploring Shark Science and Conservation
Sawfish conservation might be one of the most overlooked stories in the ocean, but what scientists are discovering right now could completely change how we think about their future. For years, sawfish were believed to be disappearing beyond recovery, but new findings suggest something very different is happening beneath the surface. Endangered sawfish populations have been pushed to the brink by fishing pressure, habitat loss, and near total public neglect. But in certain regions, researchers like Rachel Graham are starting to uncover something unexpected, sawfish are still there, and in some...
info_outlineDeep sea exploration is more than science—it’s an invitation to connect with the largest, least understood part of our planet. In this episode, Jonatha Giddens, a PhD researcher from the University of Hawai‘i, shares how her global work on deep-ocean ecosystems blends scientific discovery, creative communication, and human connection. From working aboard research vessels to translating complex ocean data into emotional stories, Jonatha explores how we can better understand and protect the deep sea.
Ocean storytelling is central to her approach. Jonatha discusses how she uses writing, visual media, and community engagement to spark public curiosity and care for deep-ocean environments. This episode highlights the power of science when paired with creativity, and how researchers like Jonatha are helping to shift the way we relate to the sea—turning data into wonder and insight into action.
Connect with Jonatha:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonatha.giddens
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathagiddens/
Connect with us:
Website: https://bit.ly/37TMqeK
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3eorwXZ
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondjawspodcast7591
Dave:
Website: https://www.lostsharkguy.com/
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3q1J9Q5
Andrew:
Website: https://www.speakupforblue.com/
Instagram: https://bit.ly/37g5WkG