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48: The Truth Behind Shark Culling with Andre Borrell

Release Date: 11/17/2021

He Tested His Body for Plastic… The Results Were Disturbing | Kal Glanznig

Confessions of a Mermaid

Plastic is in our oceans, our food, our homes — and increasingly, our bodies. Australian environmental advocate and Plastic Country filmmaker Kal Glanznig set out to investigate Australia’s plastic crisis, from polluted coastlines and wildlife to fossil fuels and government policy. Then the investigation became personal: Kal tested his own body and discovered high levels of phthalates. In this episode of Confessions of a Mermaid, we unpack what plastic is actually made of, the thousands of chemicals used to make plastics, microplastics and human health, and why Kal says plastic has become...

Plastic, Hormones, Fertility, Health : What the Science Actually Says | Dr. Leo Trasande

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Plastic is in our blood, organs and tissues. But what is it actually doing to us? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Leonardo Trasande, pediatrician, environmental health researcher, professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and author of Sicker, Fatter, Poorer, to separate what we know from what we're still trying to understand about plastics and human health. We unpack the difference between microplastics themselves and the chemicals associated with plastic—including phthalates, bisphenols and PFAS—and what the research suggests about hormones, metabolism, fertility, pregnancy and...

Are Your Clothes Toxic? Plastic Fabrics, Chemical Dyes & What to Wear Instead | Deanna Mansell

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Inside the Fight Against Climate Disinformation with Senator Peter Whish-Wilson

Confessions of a Mermaid

What if the biggest threat to our oceans isn't just plastic, but the lies designed to keep us confused about it? In this eye-opening episode of the Beautiful World podcast, Kathryn Nelson sits down with Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, Australian Greens Senator for Tasmania since 2012 and lifelong ocean advocate known as "the Surfing Senator," for a candid conversation recorded in his final weeks in the Australian Senate. Senator Peter explores his fight to pass Australia's Extended Producer Responsibility bill, the disinformation campaigns funded by fossil fuel interests to delay climate...

Homesteading, Natural Building & the Anti-Trad Wife | Arielle Crawford of the Realness Preserve

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What if the future isn't about inventing something new—but remembering what already worked? In this episode of Beautiful World, I sit down with Arielle Crawford of the Realness Preserve and Texas Cob Company to explore natural building, healthier homes, regenerative living, and the practical skills that create resilient communities. We discuss cob homes, lime plaster, mould-free construction, homesteading, purpose, partnership, and why traditional knowledge is becoming increasingly relevant in the modern world. We also dive into the "tradwife" conversation, exploring how women can reclaim...

What's Really in our Food? | Glyphosate, Soil Health, & The Future of Food with Blair Beattie

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What if feeling better starts with looking a little closer at the food we eat every day? In this eye-opening episode of the Beautiful World podcast, Kathryn Nelson sits down with Blair Beattie, Executive Director of Farmers Footprint Australia, for an enlightening conversation about food, health, farming, and our connection to the natural world. Together, they explore the impact of glyphosate (the world's most widely used pesticide) on our food systems, why so many people are struggling with chronic health issues, and how reconnecting with real food, healthy soil, and local communities may be...

48: The Truth Behind Shark Culling with Andre Borrell

Confessions of a Mermaid

In the 1930s, Australia’s Government Shark Control Program planted baited drum lines and shark nets around its beaches to protect swimmers and surfers. But what if the true killer isn’t sharks but the very same program that claims to protect us? In this episode, I’m joined by Andre Borrell, director of Envoy: Shark Cull; a documentary that exposes the ugly truth behind Australia’s shark control program. Partnered with experts, it debunks the program’s effectiveness and highlights sharks’ undeserved reputation of being dangerous killers and their important...

47: Our Soil Situation with Ryland Engelhart, producer of Netflix’s Kiss the Ground

Confessions of a Mermaid

When we begin our move into a more sustainable life, we can be so quickly reeled into the idea that consuming animal products and byproducts are bad; that we should be into much more plant-based food, but what if that isn’t the big picture? In this episode, I have Ryland Engelhart, producer of Netflix’s Kiss the Ground, which is a documentary that focuses on our soil health situation. He shares with us what we need to do to keep our soils diverse, and how we can contribute as soil advocates. Being earth-conscious is more than just consuming plant-based choices, it’s contributing and...

46: Claiming Your Aboriginality and Paying Homage to Your Ancestry with Ella Noah Bancroft

Confessions of a Mermaid

As a mixed fair-skinned Bundjalung native born in Australia, Ella Noah Bancroft always felt like she was challenged about just how pure she was as an indigenous person. With growing up to words and notions like that, Ella knew she needed to pay homage to her lineage and respect to the stolen generation by continuing their culture and bringing it to the modern era. Ella is now the founder and pioneer of The Decolonisation Movement, and had dedicated her life to the rise of female energy as the way for us to reconnect and release ourselves from the bounds of personal, social, and ecological...

45: Fighting Plastic and Light Pollution for our Turtles with Ranger Lauren Engledow

Confessions of a Mermaid

Plastic pollution is a problem that affects so many animals, habitats, and people. Turtles have come into the spotlight in recent years though, thanks to the rise in social media awareness for their protection and preservation; with a big factor to that being the viral video of the straw stuck up in a poor turtle's nose. This video hit the world hard, but we cannot stop at feeling bad for what is happening when we can make conscious efforts now to save more than just the turtles. Today I’m joined by Lauren Engledow, a turtle ranger dedicated to protecting what is left of the species and...

More Episodes

In this episode, I’m joined by Andre Borrell, director of Envoy: Shark Cull; a documentary that exposes the ugly truth behind Australia’s shark control program. Partnered with experts, it debunks the program’s effectiveness and highlights sharks’ undeserved reputation of being dangerous killers and their important role in sustaining the marine ecosystem.

This documentary calls us to be the voice for sharks and all other marine life to defend them and their homes. Together, we can facilitate change from our government and help stop the cull.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

Shark culling in Australia
Society’s irrational fear of sharks
Shark fatality statistics
Why sharks are essential to the ecosystem
The political climate around shark culling
How we can put pressure on our politicians
Scientific findings behind shark control program
Alternatives to shark nets
Ways we can contribute to the cause
How Andre manages to stay inspired

Follow Andre Borrell here:

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