There are two ways to meet a whale in the Côte-Nord. You can chase them down in a high-speed red boat, or you can sit on a rock in absolute silence and wait for them to come to you. Today, we're doing both. Episode Summary: In Episode 14, we travel to the breathtaking Côte-Nord region of Quebec, exploring Tadoussac and Les Bergeronnes to see why this is the best place in the world for whale watching. Joined by researcher Christine Stadelmann at the Marine Mammals Interpretation Center (CIMM) and Parks Canada guide Eloïse Lavoie at Cap-de-Bon-Désir, we unpack the fascinating biology of these ocean giants and the thrill of seeing them up close. Discover the 10,000-year-old beluga found in a backyard, the heartbreaking reality of ocean pollution, the high-speed rush of an Innu-run Zodiac tour, and the meditative "zombie" silence of watching whales right from the rocky shores. 3 Scroll-Stopping Moments & Quotes from the Episode: The Prehistoric Backyard Beluga: How a local woman digging in her garden accidentally uncovered a perfectly preserved 10,700-year-old whale skeleton. "A woman called Nick found him, like in her... backyard. When she tried to... get a bigger space... And then so he was like perfectly, um, conserved because he was... between two layers of clay. And it's a beluga whale and it's 10,700 years old." — Christine Stadelmann The Tragedy of Ocean Pollution: The devastating reality of what researchers found inside the stomach of a massive sperm whale. "What we did find in his stomach was actually some rubbish... plastic wire. Find plastic, then you have a bag and also like cords. And so we don't know if that made that he was not able to feed probably..." — Christine Stadelmann The Silent Shore Contemplation: The hypnotic, quiet energy of watching whales from the rocks using the "clock" system. "When you're on the shore and looking at the whales... you're more in a contemplation place... everyone is like silent and... the interpretive guide will show where the whales are with the clock system. So people are looking around at the landscape and they are silent because they wanna hear." — Eloïse Lavoie Timestamps: [00:00] The Hook: Two Ways to Meet a Whale [01:30] Bumper & Introduction: Tadoussac and the Côte-Nord [03:45] Inside the CIMM: Hidden Hands and the Prehistoric Beluga [06:00] The Grim Reality: Finding 15kg of Rubbish Inside a Sperm Whale [08:20] Grandmothers of the Sea: Beluga Whale Societies [10:15] Boarding the Zodiac: High-Speed Thrills with Croisières Essipit [13:30] Cap-de-Bon-Désir: The Silent Shore and the Lighthouse [15:45] The Laurentian Channel: Why Whales Come Close to the Rocks [18:20] Conclusion & Outro Meet Our Guests: Christine Stadelmann is a dedicated guide and researcher at the Marine Mammals Interpretation Center (CIMM), working to educate the public on the biology, history, and conservation of whales in the St. Lawrence River. Eloïse Lavoie is a passionate guide with Parks Canada at the Cap-de-Bon-Désir Interpretation and Observation Centre, helping visitors connect with the marine environment through shore-based contemplation. Host & Show Info: Christopher Rudder is an award-winning travel content creator, travel expert, and the owner of Rudderless Media. Rudderless Travel Podcast is an award-winning audio and video podcast about purposeful travel, sharing inspirational stories, and unlocking a destination's secrets. Links & Resources: 👉🏾 8 Days in Quebec Maritime: Top Attractions, Scenic Drives, and Hidden Gems Visit the Marine Mammals Interpretation Center (CIMM): https://gremm.org/en/cimm-hours-and-admission/ Explore Cap-de-Bon-Désir with Parks Canada: https://parks.canada.ca/amnc-nmca/qc/saguenay/visit/cap-de-bon-desir Previous Episode: LAC SAINT-JEAN: From Confessions to Confections (ft. Vincent Lavoie) | 13 Community & Calls to Action: If you enjoyed this deep dive, please Follow & Review us on Apple Podcasts! Follow Christopher on Instagram: @rudderless_trvl Get full access to Rudderless Travel: Unpacked at rudderlesstravel.substack.com/subscribe