102. Cody McLaughlin: Salmon Wars, Living in the Last Frontier, and Making Political Waves #102

Send us Fan Mail Taylor Cunningham is a trained marine biologist and shark diver. Growing up ten minutes from Sea World shaped what she wanted to do in life– and that was to train Shamu. In this episode, we dive into the controversy around aquariums and animals in captivity, the importance of keeping an open mind, how to actually make money as an underwater photographer, what it’s like to go on a shark dive, and so much more. Taylor also shares tips on what to look for if you are thinking ab...

Send us Fan Mail Shane Gero is a marine biologist who studies whales. Growing up in Canada, Nature captivated him at an early age, and a childhood love for orcas grew into a career studying their cousins, the sperm whale. In this episode, Shane shares his path to working with the whales in Dominica, how scientists are using groundbreaking AI techniques to decode whale speech, and why this research is so vitally important. We chat about how listeners can become involved in whale research– no ...

Send us Fan Mail Our world is in a state of change, and my guest today is asking the questions: What comes next? How do we adapt? And who is finding the solutions? Alan Weisman is an award-winning journalist whose reports have appeared in national outlets including The Atlantic Monthly and NPR, among others. His new book, "Hope Dies Last", seeks to answer the above questions. Alan has reported from more than 60 countries, all seven continents, has written seven books, several of which ...

Send us Fan Mail Ever felt like you're juggling flaming glassware while riding a unicycle on a trampoline? Same. In this deeply honest episode, we dive into what balance really looks like—and spoiler alert: it’s not a neat, tidy equation. From overworked weeks and triangle theory to biology’s take on homeostasis, we explore the messy, dynamic dance of work, life, health, and everything in between. Learn how to assess your priorities, adjust your inputs, and find your version of balance—whethe...

Send us Fan Mail Joe Meisel is a scientist committed to protecting wild places and educating curious people. As a biologist, he has worked for 25 years with the Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation, where he gets to study plants such as orchids, the ocean, and share the fascination through study abroad programs. Growing up in the American Midwest, Joe was a long way from the sea. Through following his own fascinations, Joe found himself working in the tropical Americas, co-creating a f...