Impact Storytelling Podcast (Ocean and Water Conservation Stories)

Sabine M. Probst Saavedra
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Nature
  • Updated Monthly

Impact Storytelling is a podcast hosted by documentary filmmaker and NGO director Sabine M. Probst. Each episode features engaging conversations with experts across diverse fields, including nature conservation filmmaking, photography, arts, science, and environmental organizations. Sharing diverse ways to communicate for nature conservation.

  1. Aug 9

    From Surfer to Ocean Conservation Filmmaker

    This episode's guest is environmental documentary filmmaker Luisa Thiel. She discovered her passion for ocean conservation through surfing. Spending countless hours in the water inspired her to volunteer with an environmental NGO, where she helped communicate stories about the ocean before deciding to tell one of her own. That journey led her to create her first documentary, exploring ocean pollution in Norway and the people working to tackle it—from scientists and local communities to policymakers and activists. Much of the film was shot by Luisa herself as a one-woman crew, while she also navigated the challenges of funding, filmmaking, and building a career in a competitive industry. Today, we'll talk about the power of environmental storytelling, the realities of independent documentary filmmaking, and how one person's passion for the ocean became a catalyst for change.

  2. Jul 26

    The Human Side of Ocean Science

    This episodes guest is Dr. Brianna Le Busque — a marine social scientist and environmental psychologist whose research explores the human side of marine science. As Bri likes to joke, while many marine scientists study sharks or whales, she studies the most complicated species of all: people.Her work focuses on how humans think and feel about the ocean, particularly fear of sharks, ocean anxiety, conservation behaviour, and the psychological relationship people have with marine environments. Her research has explored how surfers perceive shark risk, the role media plays in shaping fear of sharks, how children develop fears of sharks, and whether shark diving experiences can change public attitudes.Alongside this, Bri works extensively in the Ocean Literacy space — helping improve understanding of both humanity’s impact on the ocean and the ocean’s impact on us. Her current projects include research into eco-anxiety linked to harmful algal blooms, the use of whales as flagship conservation species, oyster tourism, and broader fears associated with the ocean.Dr. Le Busque is also a Senior Lecturer and Program Director in Environmental Science at Adelaide University.This month’s interviews with Australian marine scientists are being conducted to celebrate National Science Week. National Science Week is one of the world’s oldest and largest science festivals, with around 3 million people participating in more than 2,500 events across Australia each year. This year it runs from 15–23 August. If you live in Australia, check out scienceweek.net.au to find an event near you. There are also a range of online events that can be accessed internationally, including this podcast.

  3. Jul 12

    National Science Week Special: Dr. Olly Dove on Seabirds, Science & Storytelling

    This episodes is guest is Dr. Olly Dove — zoologist, science communicator, podcast host, festival organiser, and someone who has spent weeks at a time living alongside seabirds on remote coastlines. Her PhD in marine ecology explored the diving behaviour of short-tailed shearwaters and little penguins, combining behavioural research with rugged fieldwork in Australia’s wild coastal environments.Beyond research, Olly has built a career making science accessible and engaging through radio, podcasts, public events, workshops, and storytelling. She hosts and produces the science radio show and podcast That’s What I Call Science, manages the Roving Scientist program for Beaker Street Festival, and is currently developing a new podcast launching in October.Her experiences span everything from studying shorebirds in Madagascar to tagging seabirds in Australia — and she brings a mix of scientific insight, humour, and honest fieldwork reality to every conversation.This month’s interviews with Australian marine scientists are being conducted to celebrate National Science Week. National Science Week is one of the world’s oldest and largest science festivals, with around 3 million people participating in more than 2,500 events across Australia each year. This year it runs from 15–23 August. If you live in Australia, check out scienceweek.net.au to find an event near you. There are also a range of online events that can be accessed internationally, including this podcast. https://www.scienceweek.net.au

  4. Jun 29

    The Secret Life of Shipwrecks: How Sunken Ships Become Marine Ecosystems

    This episode's guest is Anjleen Hannak — marine biologist, scientific diver, researcher, and science communicator whose work explores tropical reef systems, coral conservation, and the ecological role of shipwrecks as artificial reefs.Originally from India and raised across Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka, Anjleen has spent years studying marine ecosystems both above and below the surface. Her research has focused on how shipwrecks function as habitats for marine life, particularly along the coast of Sri Lanka, where hundreds of wrecks lie scattered around the island. Her recent work compared fish communities living on shipwrecks with those found on nearby natural reefs, helping reveal how these “accidental artificial reefs” can support biodiversity, fisheries, tourism, and marine conservation.Anjleen completed her undergraduate degree in Marine Biology at Bangor University and later completed her Masters at University of Bremen. She is currently working with the coral program at Cape Eleuthera Institute, focusing on coral restoration and marine education.Alongside her research, Anjleen is passionate about science communication and previously worked as a freelance comic illustrator, using art and animation to make marine science more accessible and engaging.

  5. Jun 15

    First Steps in Marine Biology

    This episode's guest is first-year Marine Biology and Oceanography student Anna Fischer, who studies at the University of Liverpool. Her journey into marine science has already included field research, marine mammal rescue training, deep-sea ecology projects, and work with scientists at the National Oceanography Centre. Originally from near Geneva, she moved to the UK during COVID, adapted to learning in English, overcame academic setbacks, and is now thriving in her studies. Alongside her research interests in marine ecosystems, conservation, and deep-sea biology, she’s also a former national-level diver for Switzerland and passionate about environmental action and life in the water. IG:@impact.storytelling.podcast

  6. Jun 1

    Powerful Antioxidant Compounds that Help Algae Respond to Environmental Stressors

    In this episode, I’m joined by Sara Roosvall, a marine science researcher and hobby artist currently studying in the Marine Ecology Programme at Nord University.Sara holds two Bachelor of Science degrees in Marine Science and Biology from University of Gothenburg. Her research focuses on brown algae and the role of phlorotannins — powerful antioxidant compounds that help algae respond to environmental stressors such as light, UV radiation, temperature, and salinity.In her work, Sara has studied three species of brown algae and compounds that are not only important for the survival of algae in changing marine environments, but are also attracting interest from the cultivation and pharmaceutical industries because of their potential health-related properties in humans.Alongside her thesis research, Sara also explored how algae change their antioxidant and pigment levels with age. Her curiosity led her even further into marine pigments when she began experimenting with sea urchin shells, discovering delicate purple-pink tones hidden inside after milling them.

  7. May 18

    Genetic Data to understand Biodiversity

    In this episode, I’m joined by Cornelia Pia Erk, a marine biologist and conservation geneticist working at the intersection of molecular ecology, field research, and ocean conservation. Originally from southern Germany, Cornelia’s journey into marine science began through diving—an experience that shaped her understanding of marine ecosystems long before she entered the lab. She went on to study biology at the University of Regensburg and later specialized in marine biology during her Master’s at the University of Algarve. Her work focuses on using genetic data to understand biodiversity, population connectivity, and species boundaries—key information for protecting marine life in a rapidly changing ocean. She has a particular interest in cartilaginous fishes, including sharks, rays, and chimaeras—an evolutionarily ancient group that remains surprisingly understudied.

  8. May 4

    Deep-Sea Meiofauna Research

    In this episode, I am joined by Hiroka Winter, an undergraduate biology student at the University of Nevada, Reno, and an emerging researcher in marine ecology. She was part of the Pack Research Experience Program for two semesters. Hiroka worked in the lab of Elisa Baldrighi under the leadership of Jeffrey Baguley. Her research focuses on meiofauna—microscopic organisms living in deep-sea sediments—and their role as indicators of environmental health.Most recently, Hiroka took part in a restoration expedition in the Gulf of Mexico, collaborating with scientists from organizations like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of the Interior. This work contributes to ongoing efforts to understand and restore deep-sea ecosystems impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill—one of the largest environmental disasters in U.S. history.From overcoming self-doubt in her first semester to collecting deep-sea sediment aboard a research vessel, Hiroka’s story is one of curiosity, courage, and discovery at the smallest—and deepest—scales of life.More about this topic: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/habitat-conservation/mesophotic-and-deep-benthic-communities-restoration

See All (50)

About

Impact Storytelling is a podcast hosted by documentary filmmaker and NGO director Sabine M. Probst. Each episode features engaging conversations with experts across diverse fields, including nature conservation filmmaking, photography, arts, science, and environmental organizations. Sharing diverse ways to communicate for nature conservation.

Information