Ocean Conservation Career Is Not A Straight Path...and that's okay
Release Date: 04/02/2025
Ocean Conservation Meets Innovation: Inside The Undertow’s Global Mission
How To Protect The Ocean
Ocean conservation is evolving—and The Undertow is leading the way by merging storytelling, technology, and community. In this episode, host Andrew Lewin is joined by Amanda Horn and Serena Nguyen to unveil The Undertow, a new platform designed to supercharge ocean action by connecting people from all backgrounds to meaningful environmental impact. Innovation lies at the heart of The Undertow’s mission: to create 10 million new ocean connections and unlock $5 million in tangible ocean action by World Ocean Day 2030. Whether you’re a marine biologist, marketer, artist, or someone curious...
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Prevent Overfishing: How Transparency Can Save the Ocean
How To Protect The Ocean
Prevent overfishing by making the invisible visible. In this episode, Courtney Farthing from Global Fishing Watch explains how vessel tracking and open data systems are key to protecting marine life and holding industrial fisheries accountable. With over 75% of industrial fishing vessels missing from public monitoring systems, it’s time to shine a light on what’s happening at sea. Global Fishing Watch is leading the charge to prevent overfishing through transparency—making vessel locations, identities, and activities publicly accessible. Courtney shares how this data empowers...
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Ocean with David Attenborough: Why There’s Still Hope for the Sea
How To Protect The Ocean
Ocean recovery is not just possible, it’s already happening in places where we’ve taken action. In this episode, I dive into Ocean with David Attenborough, a documentary that reminds us of the ocean’s incredible resilience. From thriving coral reefs to fish populations bouncing back, the film offers powerful proof that when we give marine ecosystems space and protection, they can heal faster than we think. It’s a rare example of ocean storytelling that balances urgency with genuine optimism. Bottom trawling, however, threatens that progress. The documentary pulls back the curtain...
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How Tide Gauges Help Track Flooding and Sea Level Rise in Coastal Towns
How To Protect The Ocean
Tide gauges are a critical yet often overlooked tool in our fight to understand and respond to climate change. In this episode, Dr. Andrew Thaler returns to the podcast to share a powerful story about installing a tide gauge in his hometown of St. Michaels, Maryland. He breaks down how this simple device provides crucial data for flood risk, sea level rise, and community resilience, bringing science closer to home. Community science is at the heart of Dr. Thaler’s work. We explore how grassroots efforts, low-cost technology, and open-source tools empower residents to monitor and respond to...
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How Harmful Algal Blooms Are Poisoning California’s Marine Wildlife
How To Protect The Ocean
Harmful algal blooms are wreaking havoc along the California coast, releasing toxic domoic acid that is poisoning marine life. In this episode, we explore how this naturally occurring toxin is causing mass die-offs in sea lions, dolphins, and seabirds, and why climate change and nutrient pollution may be making these blooms worse. You’ll hear about the science behind domoic acid, its neurological effects on animals, and how it mimics epilepsy symptoms in marine mammals. Domoic acid poisoning is becoming a more frequent and devastating threat to ocean ecosystems, pushing wildlife rescue...
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From Oceanographer to Eco-Baker: Maddie Hamann on Building a Sustainable Bread Brand to Help Protect the Ocean
How To Protect The Ocean
Ocean conservation isn’t always about what’s happening in the water—it’s also about the choices we make on land. In this episode, we speak with Maddie Hamann, a former oceanographer turned sustainable food entrepreneur. Maddie shares how her background in ocean science led her to co-found PACHA, a company that creates sourdough buckwheat bread using organic, regenerative practices. From nutrient cycles to sustainable packaging, Maddie explains how oceanography continues to inform her mission—even in the kitchen. Sustainable food systems play a major role in protecting marine...
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How Zazou Saeed Helped Ban Single-Use Plastics in the Maldives
How To Protect The Ocean
Plastic pollution in the Maldives has become a serious environmental crisis, despite the nation’s image as a pristine paradise. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, host Andrew Lewin shares the inspiring story of Zazou Saeed—a young Maldivian surfer and ocean advocate—who rose to become a local conservation hero by campaigning against single-use plastics. From leading beach cleanups to working with NGOs like Save the Beach and Parley for the Oceans, Zazou sparked a grassroots movement that helped influence national policy. Ocean conservation through local action is a powerful...
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Orca Conservation, Shark Ethics, and David Attenborough’s Ocean Film
How To Protect The Ocean
Orca conservation takes center stage as we highlight an inspiring community-led effort to protect these iconic marine mammals. Andrew explores how nearshore ocean heroes are driving real change, and why their stories matter more than ever. Learn how protecting your local waters can lead to healthier oceans worldwide—and why it’s time we recognize those leading the charge. Shark encounters on social media spark a deeper discussion on wildlife ethics, as Andrew reacts to a TikTok video that demonstrates exactly what not to do. Wrapping up the episode is a look at David Attenborough’s new...
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Why Nearshore Ocean Conservation Is Critical for Climate, Biodiversity, and Communities
How To Protect The Ocean
Nearshore conservation is often overlooked in favor of flashy offshore marine protected areas. But a growing movement of community-led initiatives is showing that protecting coastal waters might be one of the smartest, most effective ways to safeguard ocean biodiversity and build climate resilience. This episode explores new insights from the Nearshore Ocean Progress report by the Center for American Progress, which highlights successful local conservation efforts across the U.S. Community-driven ocean protection has the power to achieve more than top-down mandates. By focusing on the waters...
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Why Gray Whales Are Dying: Climate, Starvation, and Human Threats
How To Protect The Ocean
Gray whales are dying along the Pacific coast—and the reasons are alarming. In this episode, we dive into why hundreds of gray whales have stranded or died between 2019 and 2023. From food shortages in their Arctic feeding grounds to the rising risks of ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear, we break down what NOAA has called an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) and how climate change is accelerating the crisis. We also explore recent signs of population recovery and what it means for the future of marine mammal conservation. If you want to understand how ocean ecosystems are...
info_outlineOcean conservation careers often don’t follow a predictable path—and that’s completely normal. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, host Andrew Lewin shares why expecting a traditional, linear route in marine biology or conservation can lead to frustration. Instead, he reflects on the non-linear journeys many professionals, including himself, have taken to find meaningful work in the field.
Marine biology career advice is often focused on degrees and academic milestones, but Andrew explains how flexibility, adaptability, and following your passion can lead to unexpected and fulfilling roles in science, communication, education, and policy. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re “on the right path,” this episode is the encouragement you need to keep going.
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