Mark Leiren-Young – Sharks Forever and Jaws Forever?

About this episode

Mark Leiren-Young discusses the portrayal of sharks in media, particularly in relation to his book, Sharks Forever.

Mark Leiren-Young reads the chapter about Jaws vs. shark from his award-winning book, Sharks Forever. Years after the movie based on his book was one of the biggest hits in the world, Peter Benchley said that in a new version of Jaws, the shark wouldn’t be the monster. “The shark in an updated Jaws could not be the villain; it would have to be written as the victim, for, worldwide, sharks are much more the oppressed than the oppressors.” Excerpt From Sharks Forever Mark Leiren-Young This material may be protected by copyright. Made in Canada, eh 🍁 Sharks Forever audiobook on Apple and Spotify Skaana on social media: Linktree Facebook Bluesky Instagram Mark on social media: Linktree Facebook Bluesky Instagram Threads Shownotes: 3:31 The start of the chapter on Jaws from Mark's book Sharks Forever. Chapter 9 – Great White Lies. 4:45 A bounty for anyone who could prove they had been bitten by a shark. 5:29 Jersey Shore sharks. Or sea turtles? The original killer great white. 6:04 Shark myths created by Jaws . “The way that the shark behaves in the movie is not the way sharks behave.” 6:30 The terrible and inaccurate “rogue shark” theory. 6:51 The myths of Shark Week. 9:32…

People in this episode

Host: Mark Leiren-Young

Topics covered

• sharks
• Jaws
• conservation
• victimization
• media representation

Keywords

• Sharks Forever
• Peter Benchley
• audiobook
• environmentalism

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Sharks Forever audiobook

Books & works: Sharks Forever and, Jaws Forever, Jaws vs. shark, Jaws, Sharks Forever, The Orca Bites Podcast, Octopus Ocean, Killer Whale Who Changed the World, The Killer Whale Who Changed the World, Orcas Everywhere

Places: Canada, Jersey Shore

More episodes of Skaana with Mark Leiren-Young

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• Polar Bear Jail, Chilling in Churchill & Hanging Out With the Apex Predator on Ice · December 11, 2025 · 44 min
• Flipper Trainer Ric O’Barry on his journey from SeaWorld to Sanctuaries · October 13, 2025 · 57 min
• Misty MacDuffee on the Southern Resident Orcas and the Threat of Bright Extinction · September 29, 2025 · 58 min
• The Killer Whale That Changed the World · July 16, 2025 · 59 min
• David Shiffman – On 50 Years of Jaws vs. Sharks · June 18, 2025 · 44 min