Let's Sea

Listen in as we discuss these cute sea ferrets, their secret pockets, and purple bones with our pal Katie Russell, and learn how her work is helping to bring otters back to their native range off the Oregon coast! BIG TAKEAWAY: Human interference can displace native species and destroy their natural habitats, even hundreds of years later. But, just like Captain Planet, with our powers combined we can turn the tide by helping repair their damaged ecosystems and return them to their endemic range! Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Sea Otter Savvy @seaottersavvy 🔎Deeper Dive Read: “Return of the Sea Otter: The Story of the Animal That Evaded Extinction on the Pacific Coast” by Todd McLeish 🌊Conservation in Action: The Elakha Alliance @elakhaalliance 🤙Episode Shoutouts: The Oregon Kelp Alliance (ORKA) @oregonkelp + Chanel Hason @pschanel 💰Sustainable Brand We Love: @beeswrap Kait is enamored with these sustainable cellophane/foil replacements! Otter sounds found on eopugetsound.org Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

Ever think about sea urchins? Probably not, but maybe you should! Listen in as we talk about how these funky animals survive, how they’re similar to both hedgehogs and zombies, and why they’re considered keystone species in both coral reefs and kelp forests! BIG TAKEAWAY: While urchins may look like spiky rocks at the beach that you avoid stepping on, they are pivotal to the health of many oceanic ecosystems. ‘Canaries in the coal mine’ of their environments, there are ways we can keep these critical creatures’ populations in check by considering what we wash into our waterways, and eating uni with local sustainability in mind. Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: The Florida Aquarium @floridaaquarium and University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences @ufifas_solutions 🔎Deeper Dive Read: “Sea Urchins of the World: Diversity, Symmetry & Design” by Ashley Miskelly @seaurchinscience 🌊Conservation in Action: Reef Check Foundation (there are chapters worldwide who need participatory scientists, like you!) @reefcheckfoundation 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust @mbfishtrust 💰Sustainable Brand We Love: OoNee Sea Urchin Ranch: dedicated to sustainably harvesting, ranching, and processing sea urchin in Oregon @oonee_searanch Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

Listen in on our chat with sustainable content creator Alyssa Barber of @newlifestyleABB! We chat about lots of good stuff, from the impacts of community and self-care to generational divides, and focus on sustainable habits and how to make changes in your life and in the world as a whole. BIG TAKEAWAY(s): Go vote! Be an active part of your community! Slow down! Consume ethically! Be intentional! And perhaps most importantly - take care of yourself so that you can take care of others. Alyssa’s Guide to Hosting a Clothing Swap: drive.google.com/file/d/1LFQh7JS4iHOEtw6HAerzb2VoWcesWXxf/view Episode Shout Outs: Urban Forest Therapy urbanforesttherapy.com Grove Collaborative grove.co Earth Hero earthhero.com Coco Kind cocokind.com Lark Skin Co larkskinco.com Provenance Soapworks provenancesoaps.com Wild Grace Apothecary wildgraceapothecary.com Want more suggestions? Check out Alyssa’s Beneble: benable.com/newlifestyleabb/sustainability-101-your-climate-resource-guide Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

Which came first: slugs or snails? Listen in as we discuss this age-old question, and chat about the differences and similarities between these slimy friends. This episode will have you saying ‘please send nud(ibranchs)’! BIG TAKEAWAY: 🐚Shells are (maybe shockingly) vital to the survival of both snails and slugs, and calcium is a key component in creating and maintaining these structures. Eroding shells are a major source of this calcium, which needs to be available for the growth of new shells. Shells aren’t knick-knacks, they’re part of an ecosystem; leave the beach better than you find it and collect trash instead of animal’s homes! Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Dr. Yara Tibirica @yaratibirica 🔎Deeper Dive Read: “Spirals in Time: The Secret Life and Curious Afterlife of Seashells” by Helen Scales @DrHelenScales 🌊Conservation in Action: University of Barcelona @slug_lab 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Shell history shared by The National Museum of African American History and Culture @NMAAHC 💰Sustainable Brand We Love: think @thinksun for safe sunscreen for humans and the planet! Ash loves the thinkSport sunscreen. **Have a request? Share it with us! BIG thanks to JENNI for this question!** Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock and Low Tide @lowtide.hc

Listen in as we discuss the enormous issue of garbage patches forming in the ocean and the types of debris found within them. We also chat about what plastic is, why we’re so addicted to it as a society, and what we all can do to prevent plastic pollution. BIG TAKEAWAY: Plastic does not degrade, and much of it is not recyclable. The best way to prevent plastic pollution is to limit its use by replacing plastic items with sustainable materials, electing officials who will put anti-plastic legislation into action (GO VOTE!!), and by supporting companies who make sustainable alternatives. Resources: 💡 Researcher Spotlight: Captain Charles Moore @captaincharliemoore 🔎Deeper Dive Read: marinedebris.noaa.gov/discover-marine-debris/garbage-patches 🌊Conservation in Action: The Ocean Cleanup @theoceancleanup 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Algalita Marine Research Foundation @algalita Adventure Ecology @plastiki Plastic Pollution Coalition @plasticpollutes Maura Heeley @maura_heeley 5 Gyres Institute @5gyres 4Ocean @4ocean Breakfreefromplastic.org (BFFP) @breakfreefromplastic Debris Free Oceans @debrisfreeoceans 🛍️Ash's plastic alternative brand suggestions: Quip @quip Bite @bite Pela @pelacase Swway @swway Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock

We’ve got one shell of an episode for you! Listen in as we discuss the different species of sea turtles, how they reproduce, and the major threats to their survival. Stay tuned next week when we’re joined by our herpetologist friend to dive deeper! BIG TAKEAWAY: Sea turtles have survived for > 100,000 years due to their incredible adaptations, but our world is changing too fast for them to adapt to the numerous threats they now face. Protecting them requires a multi-pronged approach; from being mindful of our plastic use, to preventing light pollution, we all have a part to play. Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Sea Turtle Biologist, Jen Reilly @sea_through_my_hands 🔎Deeper Dive Read: ‘Voyage of the Turtle’ by Carl Safina @csafina 🌊Conservation in Action: Sea Turtle Conservancy @conserveturtles 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, FL @loggerheadmarinelifecenter Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock

Listen to the second half of Kait & Ash’s discussion on coral with special guest Liz Trueblood! We discuss coral protections, climate change, and climate- & coral-friendly options! BIG TAKEAWAY: There are many actions we can all take to protect these crucial ocean ecosystems, from simply changing the types of sun protection we use, to modifying boating practices, to reducing our carbon emissions. Corals can only support life if they are supported. Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High and Dry @highanddryrock

Listen in as we discuss the dynamics between different Orca pods, their matriarchal structure, and hypothesize about why they are attacking boats. Ash realizes how much she identifies with the predators from “the kingdom of the dead” and Kait nerds out over peduncles. Also, we welcome our first pod guest, Katie Russell! BIG TAKEAWAY: Orcas are the most widely distributed predators in the world, second only to humans; they rule the water, we rule the land. However, being a predator doesn’t mean you can eat anything and everything. We are tipping the balance when we don’t responsibly manage the resources we share. Thinking salmon or tuna for dinner? Consider changing to a sustainable local protein, or better yet explore some vegetarian options! Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: @conservationcanines - check out one of their star pups helping orcas, @eba_the_whale_dog 🔎Deeper Dive Read: “Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home” by Lynda V. Mapes 🌊Conservation in Action: Hatfield Marine Science Center (@hmsc_academicprograms) 🤙Episode Shoutouts: Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition (@OregonShoresCC) Art by Fox and Fish Printing @foxandfishprinting Music by Garrett Gordon and Steve Colwell of High & Dry @highanddryrock