Impact Storytelling Podcast (Ocean and Water Conservation Stories)

Sabine M. Probst Saavedra
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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. Oct 4

    Ocean Literacy & Environmental Communication with 7 Seas Collective

    This episode's guest is Jessy Shelton, environmental scientist, SCUBA instructor, science communicator, and founder of 7 Seas Collective — a community-driven initiative working to connect people with the ocean through citizen science, education, and conservation.Growing up near the coast, Jessy spent years watching beaches change with the seasons, but also witnessing something else: many people who loved the ocean had no idea about the challenges it was facing. Through conversations with divers, fishers, boat captains, students, and beachgoers, she realised that one of the biggest barriers to conservation wasn’t a lack of science — it was a lack of connection.That idea eventually became 7 Seas Collective, an organisation that invites everyday people to become part of marine science through beach surveys, ocean monitoring projects, community events, and hands-on conservation. Their goal is simple but powerful: make science accessible, help people understand their local coastlines, and show that anyone can contribute to protecting our oceans.https://www.7seascollective.org/

  2. Sep 5

    Cracking the Mystery of Why Some Turtle Eggs Never Hatch

    This episode's guest is someone whose story begins on islands surrounded by the ocean and has led her all the way to the laboratory benches of the UK. Alessia Lavigne was born and raised in the Seychelles, where sea turtles and giant tortoises aren’t just wildlife—they’re part of the landscape, culture, and identity of the islands.Now a PhD student at the University of Sheffield, Alessia is tackling a deceptively simple question: Why do so many turtle and tortoise eggs never hatch?For endangered species, every hatchling matters. But when nests fail, conservationists often don’t know whether the eggs were never fertilized in the first place, or whether tiny embryos began developing and died before hatching. That distinction turns out to be incredibly important—and surprisingly difficult to measure.Alessia’s research is helping change that. By adapting microscopic techniques originally developed for bird eggs, she’s uncovering what’s really happening inside unhatched turtle and tortoise eggs. Her work spans species from hawksbill and green sea turtles in the Seychelles to giant tortoises, and could help conservationists make better decisions about protecting threatened populations in a warming world.Her first major paper and film on this work has already received recognition. At its heart, though, this research is about understanding why the next generation sometimes never gets the chance to begin—and what we can do about it. More about Alessias research:Watch Torti: https://youtu.be/VDWANVt6plw?si=l6GAT5KyL_wp13cPThe Study: https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acv.12986Newest Publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.73862Article: https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/reptiles/aldabra-giant-tortoise-hatching-success

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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

  6. 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.

  7. 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

  8. 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.

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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.

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