The Killer Whale That Changed the World

The Killer Whale That Changed the World

From Skaana with Mark Leiren-Young by Mark Leiren-Young

July 16, 2025 · 59 min · Season 4 · Episode 90

About this episode

This episode tells the story of Moby Doll and its impact on the relationship between humans and orcas.

The Killer Whale That Changed the World – the story of Moby Doll and the accidental orca capture that changed everything between humans and orcas – was created for CBC Radio's Ideas by Skaana host, Mark Leiren-Young and produced by Yvonne Gall. It originally aired on CBC in 2013, won the Jack Webster Award for Best Radio Documentary and sparked the award-winning book, The Killer Whale Who Changed the World, which is currently being adapted as a feature documentary. This episode is being shared with the permission of CBC Radio. One of the goals of this audio documentary was to capture the stories of the men who remembered Moby Doll while they were still able to share them. Four of the people interviewed here – Dr. Murray Newman, Dr. Patrick McGeer, Christopher “Gus” Angus and Kenneth “Gilbey” Hewlett are no longer with us. We are sharing this in their memory. Other featured interviews: Dr. John Ford joined Fisheries and Oceans Canada in 2001 as the head of the Cetacean Research Program at the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo, BC. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Zoology and the Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia. Dr. Ford…

People in this episode

Host: Mark Leiren-Young

Guests: Christopher “Gus” Angus, Kenneth “Gilbey” Hewlett

Topics covered

  • killer whale
  • Moby Doll
  • orca capture
  • human-orca relationship
  • cetacean research

Keywords

  • CBC Radio
  • Ideas
  • Jack Webster Award
  • documentary
  • conservation

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Audible, Moby

Books & works: The Killer Whale That Changed the World, Ideas, the Jack Webster Award, The Killer Whale Who Changed the World, Moby Doll, The Power of Words in International Relations: Birth of An Anti-Whaling Discourse

Places: Nanaimo, BC, Canada, Saturna Island, Africa, Serengeti, British Columbia

More episodes of Skaana with Mark Leiren-Young

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Skaana with Mark Leiren-Young podcast page.