Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast Blue Frontier

Join us for an inspiring episode of the Rising Tide podcast as David Helvarg & Natasha Benjamin sit down with Bob Shavelson, a seasoned conservationist with over 35 years of experience in the environmental field. Growing up along the shores of Atlantic City, NJ, Bob's journey has taken him from the east coast to the rugged beauty of Homer, Alaska, where he has led significant efforts in environmental protection and advocacy.In this 110th episode, Bob shares his rich history in conservation, from his early work with MassPIRG on toxic use reduction to his fight against the passage of NAFTA. We delve into his impactful tenure with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, where he tested and regulated landfills, and his extensive legal work bringing citizen suits under the Clean Water Act. Bob also recounts his experiences as a Knauss Sea Grant Fellow on Capitol Hill, where he influenced environmental policy.As the leader of the nonprofit organization Cook Inletkeeper since 1996 until his retirement 3 years ago, Bob has dedicated his career to protecting Alaska's vital waterways. He currently serves on the Board of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council, overseeing oil tanker and terminal operations in the wake of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill.Bob’s passion for conservation extends beyond his professional life. He actively volunteers for various community groups and now operates a water taxi on the stunning Kachemak Bay, where he lives with his wife and two young daughters.Tune in to hear Bob's incredible stories and insights on environmental protection, community engagement, and the ongoing efforts to safeguard our natural world. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in conservation and the power of grassroots advocacy.Links: Inletkeeper: https://inletkeeper.org (https://inletkeeper.org/)Cook Inletkeeper on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Inletkeeper (https://www.youtube.com/@Inletkeeper)Blue Frontier: www.bluefront.org (http://www.bluefront.org)Inland Ocean Coalition: www.inlandoceancoalition.org (http://www.inlandoceancoalition.org)Fluid Studios: www.fluidstudios.org (http://www.fluidstudios.org)

On this episode of the Rising Tide Ocean Podcast! Today, we sat down with Kiera Foti, the brand manager for Atlantic Sea Farms, the leading aquaculture kelp grower in the U.S. Based in Maine, this innovative company supplies edible kelp to stores like Whole Foods and numerous restaurants. They also produce branded products and sell kelp for cosmetics, fertilizers, and more. Discover how Atlantic Sea Farms collaborates with local lobstermen to cultivate kelp during their off-season and learn why Kiera refers to these carbon-absorbing algae as a "climate hero crop." Tune in to explore the fascinating world of sustainable kelp farming!

On this, our latest episode we talk with Kate Toniolo, U.S. Fish & Wildlife’s project leader for Delaware’s coastal refuges including the 10,000 acre Prime Hook, an area devastated by 2012’s Hurricane Sandy. Since then, she’s overseen restoration efforts that have seen the comeback of its sandy beaches, fresh and saltwater marshes and wildlife including threatened shorebirds, horseshoe crabs and their surrounding communities. We’ll talk about this and her past work in Hawaii, the remote Pacific Islands and elsewhere. So join us! 

To celebrate Earth Day (which is 71% ocean) we’re speaking with Margaret Spring, Chief conservation and science officer for the world -famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, in California. Before coming to the aquarium Margaret was an environmental attorney and a leader at NOAA. Today she oversees the aquarium’s science policy work including on plastic pollution and its extensive Seafood Watch sustainable seafood program. So, let’s take a deep dive into what Margaret is up to.   'Rising Tide, the Ocean Podcast', is a refreshing, irreverent dive into the lives, work, and explorations of some of today's leading and diverse ocean voices. Each half hour episode co-hosted by David Helvarg and Vicki Nichols-Goldstein sails through lively discussions with our guests about marine life, culture, and critical issues affecting our rapidly changing seas. Informative, enlightening, and often humorous, it is an invaluable resource for anyone passionate about understanding, enjoying, and protecting our salty blue world.

In the latest Rising Tide we talk with our old friend Ana Blanco of the International Ocean Film Festival - coming to San Francisco April 12-14 - and Sarah Norenberg, the director of ‘Orca – Black & White Gold,’ one of the exciting documentaries playing there about how Russian activists saved 100 whales slated to be sold to Chinese aquarium parks, and instead got them released back into the wild.  A true life ‘Free Willy’ film plus some good talk about ocean documentaries.  'Rising Tide, the Ocean Podcast', is a refreshing, irreverent dive into the lives, work, and explorations of some of today's leading and diverse ocean voices. Each half hour episode co-hosted by David Helvarg and Vicki Nichols-Goldstein sails through lively discussions with our guests about marine life, culture, and critical issues affecting our rapidly changing seas. Informative, enlightening, and often humorous, it is an invaluable resource for anyone passionate about understanding, enjoying, and protecting our salty blue world.

In the latest episode of Rising Tide, along with Blue News, David and Vicki talk with Dr. Nancy Rabalais from Louisiana State University.  Nancy’s been called ‘the mother of dead zones’ in that her decades of research has helped define the Gulf of Mexico’s seasonal oxygen-depleted waters generated by polluted agricultural runoff from the Mississippi. These dead zones can grow to the size of New Jersey.  She’s also studied the long-term impacts of the BP oil spill.  Plus, we’ll hear about her encounter with an offshore alligator.'Rising Tide, the Ocean Podcast', is a refreshing, irreverent dive into the lives, work, and explorations of some of today's leading and diverse ocean voices. Each half hour episode co-hosted by David Helvarg and Vicki Nichols-Goldstein sails through lively discussions with our guests about marine life, culture, and critical issues affecting our rapidly changing seas. Informative, enlightening, and often humorous, it is an invaluable resource for anyone passionate about understanding, enjoying, and protecting our salty blue world.