Pod of Orcas

Latest Episodes:

11. Is it safe to eat seaweed and kelp? w/ Jennifer Hahn Jan 26, 2023

Show notes

This episode is about kelp and seaweed in the Salish Sea, and more specifically whether it is safe for human consumption. Our guest is Jennifer Hahn, who has a unique and adventurous childhood story, and in adulthood kayaked solo through Alaska’s Inside Passage. She’s the author of Pacific Feast: A Cook’s Guide to West Coast Foraging and Cuisine, in which kelp is featured heavily.

When Jenny started teaching classes about kelp throughout the region, she’d often get asked if it was safe to eat. Eventually that brought her into contact with SeaDoc Society Science Director Joe Gaydos. That sets in motion the scientific study you’ll hear about in this episode! In addition to Jenny’s wildlife adventures, we’ll unpack the findings of the study and her close collaboration with Tribes and First Nations from start to finish on the project.

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READ THE STUDY: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b071ddea2772cebc1662831/t/6331e0c85242a25e111622b8/1674754603298/hahn-kelp.pdf
PACIFIC FEAST: http://www.pacificfeast.net/

9. Climate fatalism vs. climate hope, w/ Elin Kelsey (PART TWO) Aug 02, 2022

Show notes

Welcome to Part 2 of our episode about Hope with Elin Kelsey. In this episode we talk about Southern Resident Killer Whales, why we shouldn't put our climate responsibility on young children, environmental fatalism, and individuals vs. corporations as it relates to a healthy planet and Salish Sea.

Elin Kelsey is the author of Hope Matters: Why Changing the Way We Think is Critical to Solving the Environmental Crisis. The whole SeaDoc staff has read the book, and to say it has inspired us would be a huge understatement. Kelsey, PhD, is a leading spokesperson, scholar and educator in the area of evidence-based hope.

Support our work: seadocsociety.org/donate

Rate, review and share the podcast to spread the word. Get our free monthly newsletter at seadocsociety.org/newsletter.

8. Hope Matters in our doom-and-gloom climate, with Elin Kelsey (PART ONE) Jun 29, 2022

Show notes

We're back for Season 2, and we’re kicking things off with a conversation about Hope! The doom-and-gloom of the endless news cycle can convince you that our planet is as good as dead. This conversation with Elin Kelsey, author of Hope Matters: Why Changing the Way We Think is Critical to Solving the Environmental Crisis, will make you rethink that. The whole SeaDoc staff has read the book, and to say it has inspired us would be a huge understatement. Kelsey, PhD, is a leading spokesperson, scholar and educator in the area of evidence-based hope.

Support our work: seadocsociety.org/donate

Rate, review and share the podcast to spread the word. Get our free monthly newsletter at seadocsociety.org/newsletter.

Trailer: Pod of Orcas Season Two May 19, 2022

Show notes

Welcome to Pod of Orcas! Last season, we dove deep with an endangered population of killer whales, and we met some brilliant scientists and storytellers along the way. This season, we’re zooming out. We’re gonna look at the place they call home, which is also the place we call home. And by that I do mean the Salish Sea and its 8 million people and two large cities with bustling ports and shipping routes, but I also mean the Pacific Ocean, the planet, all of it.

We’ll look at everything from dire stories of near extinction to inspirational stories of recovery to stories that are just cool or downright weird.

How do we maintain hope amid so much grim climate news? Could Chinook salmon go extinct in our lifetime? What makes poop so crucial to marine mammal research? And why do human feet keep washing up on Salish Sea shores?

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7. Our Shared Home, with Lynda Mapes & Joe Gaydos (Season One Finale) May 13, 2021

Show notes

In our finale episode, we look at Southern Resident Killer Whales through the eyes of the Seattle Times environment reporter, Lynda Mapes. Lynda has been locked into their story since Tahlequah carried her dead calf for 17 days and more than a thousand miles in the summer of 2018. That story captured the world and Mapes’ articles for the Times are some of the most popular in the paper’s online history. Tahlequah’s story is also how she introduces her beautiful new book, Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home, which comes out June 1, but you can preorder now: mountaineers.org/books/books/orca-shared-waters-shared-home

Rate, review and share the podcast to spread the word. You can email me at justin@seadocsociety.org. Get our free monthly newsletter at seadocsociety.org/newsletter.

Thanks to our sponsors:

Shearwater Kayak Tours
Rainshadow Solar
Two Beers Brewing Company
Deer Harbor Charters and The Averna Family
Betsy Wareham and West Sound Marina
The San Juan County Marine Resources Committee
Apple State Vinegar
Logo: FLOAT.org
Music: Podington Bear
Whale sound: The Whale Museum

6. Toxic blubber, with Peter Ross May 06, 2021

Show notes

In Ep. 6, we look at how human-made contaminants in the ocean are compromising killer whales and compounding the other problems they face. Fat soluble toxins move up the foot chain and accumulate in killer whales, who metabolize it in their blubber. Mothers also pass those contaminants down to their babies when nursing. Our guest is the excellent Peter Ross, who takes this complex subject and artfully breaks it down. Next week is the finale and it's a good one. See you then!

Rate, review and share the podcast to spread the word. You can email me at justin@seadocsociety.org.

Get our free monthly newsletter at seadocsociety.org/newsletter

Facebook: facebook.com/seadocsociety
Instagram: instagram.com/seadocsociety
Twitter: twitter.com/seadocsociety

Thanks to our sponsors:

Shearwater Kayak Tours
Rainshadow Solar
Two Beers Brewing Company
Deer Harbor Charters and The Averna Family
Betsy Wareham and West Sound Marina
The San Juan County Marine Resources Committee
Apple State Vinegar
Logo: FLOAT.org
Music: Podington Bear
Whale sound: The Whale Museum

5. Looking to gorillas to save killer whales, with Kirsten Gilardi Apr 29, 2021

Show notes

In Ep. 5, we look at a conservation success story that could help map out the future for Southern Resident Killer Whales. The similarities between mountain gorillas and Southern Residents are plenty: Both can be individually identified and monitored by researchers. Both are massive tourist attractions--which on one hand comes with threats, but also brings enthusiasm, support, and the potential for funding to ensure protection. Both also regularly cross the imaginary borders humans have drawn to carve up our countries, meaning international collaboration is crucial. Our guest is Dr. Kirsten Gilardi, Director of Gorilla Doctors and Executive Director of the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

Rate, review and share the podcast to spread the word. You can email me at justin@seadocsociety.org.

Support our work through GiveBIG this week!

Get our free monthly newsletter at seadocsociety.org/newsletter

Thanks to our sponsors:

Shearwater Kayak Tours
Rainshadow Solar
Two Beers Brewing Company
Deer Harbor Charters and The Averna Family
Betsy Wareham and West Sound Marina
The San Juan County Marine Resources Committee
Apple State Vinegar
Logo: FLOAT.org
Music: Podington Bear

4. Orca sound & human noise, with Rob Williams Apr 22, 2021

Show notes

In Ep. 4, we enter the acoustic world of killer whales, and what that means for how they talk with their families, hunt for salmon, navigate the sounds of boats, and so much more. Our guest is Rob Williams, who is Chief Scientist and Co-Founder of Oceans Initiative with Erin Asche. Acoustic communication is fundamental to the survival of killer whales and their uniqe culture, so don’t miss this one. Rate, review and share the podcast to spread the word. You can email our host at justin@seadocsociety.org. Support our work through GiveBIG this week! Get our free monthly newsletter at seadocsociety.org/newsletter Facebook: facebook.com/seadocsociety Instagram: instagram.com/seadocsociety Twitter: twitter.com/seadocsociety Thanks to our sponsors: Shearwater Kayak Tours Rainshadow Solar Two Beers Brewing Company Deer Harbor Charters and The Averna Family Betsy Wareham and West Sound Marina The San Juan County Marine Resources Committee Apple State Vinegar Logo: FLOAT.org Music: Podington Bear Whale sound: The Whale Museum

3. How captivity changed everything, with Jason M. Colby Apr 15, 2021

Show notes

In Ep. 3, we look at how humans have viewed and treated killer whales throughout history, especially in the Salish Sea. It starts with slaughter by fishermen, followed by captivity for entertainment, all the way up to our present moment, in which wild Southern Resident Killer Whales are endangered, but beloved. We look at portrayal in media (Free Willy, Blackfish and more) and get into how captivity shifted scientific study and shaped perception of orcas in ways that would ultimately lead to a ban on their capture in the Salish Sea.

Our guest is Jason Colby, author of the book Orca: How We Came to Know and Love the Ocean’s Greatest Predator. This is a moving and at times sad conversation that explores hard truths. But it ultimately offers hope. Rate, review and share the podcast to help spread the word.

Get our free monthly newsletter at seadocsociety.org/newsletter

Facebook: facebook.com/seadocsociety
Instagram: Instagram.com/seadocsociety
Twitter: twitter.com/seadocsociety

Thanks to our sponsors:

Shearwater Kayak Tours
Rainshadow Solar
Two Beers Brewing Company
Deer Harbor Charters and The Averna Family
Betsy Wareham and West Sound Marina
The San Juan County Marine Resources Committee
Apple State Vinegar
Logo: FLOAT.org
Music: Podington Bear

2. Could we lose salmon in our lifetime?, with Cecilia Gobin Apr 08, 2021

Show notes

In Ep. 2, we talk about salmon—the sole food source for Southern Resident Killer Whales. Our guest is Cecilia Gobin—a Tulalip tribal member who is on staff at the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. She's incredibly thoughtful and and exactly the kind of voice you want speaking on this topic.

How did we create such a bleak situation for this amazing species of fish? Could we lose salmon in our lifetime? What happens if the status-quo continues? Listen to find out. Subscribe to follow along.

Get our free monthly newsletter at seadocsociety.org/newsletter

• Facebook: facebook.com/seadocsociety

• Instagram: Instagram.com/seadocsociety

• Twitter: twitter.com/seadocsociety

Thanks to our sponsors:

• Shearwater Kayak Tours

• Rainshadow Solar

• Two Beers Brewing Company

• Deer Harbor Charters and The Averna Family

• Betsy Wareham and West Sound Marina

• The San Juan County Marine Resources Committee

• Apple State Vinegar