Beyond Jaws: Exploring Shark Science and Conservation

For decades, stunning shark photographs have shaped the way millions of people think about these misunderstood predators. But behind every unforgettable image is a story that rarely gets told. In this episode of Beyond Jaws , we sit down with Manique Fallows to explore the passion, patience, and purpose behind a life dedicated to sharks. Monique shares how photography became more than a way to cap...

Dave Ebert returns from a five-week journey across South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, sharing stories from shark research, Sharks International, mentoring young scientists, and the search for lost sharks. This episode explores why taxonomy still matters, how new shark and ray species are still being discovered, and why the future of shark science depends on training the next generation. Sh...

Ocean careers rarely follow a straight line. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean , Dave Ebert takes over the host chair to interview Andrew Lewin about his career journey, from marine biology and consulting to podcasting, science communication, and his new role as Ocean Communications Manager with Pisces Ocean. Andrew shares how choosing family, living away from the coast, and building a p...

Great white sharks have disappeared from some of South Africa's most famous shark hotspots, but the reason may not be as simple as the popular story suggests. In this episode, Chris Fallows returns to talk about orcas, white sharks, shark nets, longline fisheries, and the uncomfortable possibility that humans played a much larger role than many people want to admit. This conversation looks beyond...

Ocean Conservation feels like it's everywhere, but are we actually making a difference, or just telling ourselves we are? In this episode, we break down what really works in ocean protection and why so many well-intentioned efforts fall short. If you care about the ocean but feel overwhelmed by conflicting messages, this conversation will help you cut through the noise and focus on what truly matt...

Shark Conservation What happens when an entire coastline is full of species we barely understand, and almost no one is studying them? In this episode of Beyond Jaws, we speak with Ghofrane Labyedh, a rising shark scientist originally from Tunisia who is helping build shark and ray research in Cameroon. You'll hear how she entered marine science, why West Africa remains one of the least understood...

Shark Conservation What happens when one unexpected opportunity completely changes your career path, and why does that matter for the future of sharks? In this episode of the Beyond Jaws podcast, Zoya Tyabji shares how her journey began in island conservation work and led her into the world of shark and ray research in India. You'll hear how curiosity, timing, and taking risks opened doors she nev...

Shark conservation often feels like something only experts or elite scientists can do, but what if one unexpected decision could completely change your life and impact an entire ecosystem? In this episode, we unpack how a student who never planned to study the ocean ended up leading a major conservation effort focused on thresher sharks in Indonesia, and why his journey matters for anyone trying t...

Sawfish conservation might be one of the most overlooked stories in the ocean, but what scientists are discovering right now could completely change how we think about their future. For years, sawfish were believed to be disappearing beyond recovery, but new findings suggest something very different is happening beneath the surface. Endangered sawfish populations have been pushed to the brink by f...

Devil rays are some of the most mysterious animals in the ocean, yet most people have never heard of them. In this episode, we sit down with marine scientist Marta Palacios to uncover what makes these animals so unique and why they need protection. From their behavior to the threats they face, this conversation reveals why devil rays deserve far more attention in ocean conservation. Marine biology...

Tiger sharks are some of the most recognizable predators in the ocean, but scientists are still uncovering how these animals move through their environment. In this episode of  Beyond Jaws , marine scientist Dr. Rachel Graham shares insights from tiger shark tracking research that is helping scientists understand how these sharks migrate, where they spend their time, and why these movements matter...

Whale Sharks are the largest fish in the ocean, yet scientists still know surprisingly little about how they live, migrate, and survive. In this episode of the Beyond Jaws podcast, we explore why one of the most iconic animals in the ocean remains scientifically mysterious. Marine researcher Stella Diamant joins the show to explain how studying whale sharks in Madagascar is revealing new insights...

Shark Science Career is brutally competitive, and many graduates struggle to find paid work after university. So what happens when passion meets rejection? In this episode of Beyond Jaws, shark scientist Kristian Parton shares how he went from struggling to land a job in the field to building one of the fastest growing shark science channels on YouTube, Shark Bytes, now with over 180,000 subscribe...

Angola Project began as a graduate idea, but the real question is this: what happens when you turn a passion into your entire life? In this conversation, Ana Lucia Soares shares why she chose to leave stability in Portugal and commit full time to building shark conservation in Angola, and why that decision matters for ocean protection in underrepresented regions. Shark conservation in West Africa...

Stereo BRUVs are transforming how scientists study sharks, yet most people have no idea how much we have been missing, and why that matters for conservation. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Kaylee Smitt about how underwater camera systems are uncovering sharks in places humans rarely go, changing what we think we know about abundance, behavior, and ecosystem health. Shark research  has long depe...

South Africa Sharks sit at the heart of Louw Claassens' career, shaping how she understands conservation, risk, and public trust in science. South Africa Sharks frame this episode through one central question: how do you build a career protecting sharks in a country where fear, media pressure, and politics often overpower science? Louw shares how her path into shark conservation began, the challen...

Shark conservation faces an unexpected challenge: fear. The biggest threat to sharks is not their biology, it is the stories we tell about them. This episode asks a simple but powerful question, how did one movie shape decades of fear, policy decisions, and public misunderstanding about sharks, and why does that still matter for conservation today? Shark science myths are unpacked as marine scient...

Shark research raises a big question, how does one scientist turn 12000 hours of underwater video into discoveries that protect sharks and rays across Mexico. Marine biologist Dr. Oscar Sosa returns to the show after receiving one of the most prestigious lifetime achievement awards in the biological sciences. His work has transformed how Mexico monitors sharks, rays, and marine protected areas, an...

Shark conservation : What does it take to go from growing up on Lake Erie to tagging great white sharks around the world? This episode reveals the surprising twists and setbacks that shaped Dr. Taylor Chapple's career including the moment he thought he lost his future in research and how that failure became the most important turning point of his life. He shares the non-linear path that led him to...

Guitarfish genetics take center stage in this inspiring episode as Bryan Huerta shares how his fascination with sharks at the massive La Nueva Viga fish market in Mexico City sparked his entire scientific path. His early curiosity grew into formal research that now examines the guitarfish sold as Pez Diablo in Mexican markets, where he used molecular tools to identify species and highlight conserv...

Shark Identification Training In this episode of Beyond Jaws , Andrew Lewin and Dr. David Ebert welcome back Dr. Ivy Baremore from MarAlliance to talk about an incredible deep-sea shark identification workshop held in Honduras. The workshop brought together scientists, students, and even local diving enthusiasts to learn how to identify some of the most mysterious sharks in the Caribbean. Ivy shar...

Madagascar Environment takes center stage in this episode of Beyond Jaws , where co-host Dr. David Ebert shares stories from his latest fieldwork on one of the planet's most unique islands. From long days on the water to surprising new shark encounters, David reveals what makes Madagascar such an incredible place for marine research and conservation. This episode dives into the realities of workin...

Ghost Sharks are some of the most mysterious creatures in the ocean, and in this episode, we explore their story with Dr. Dominique Didier. She joins us to talk about her groundbreaking new book Ghost Sharks of the World , which she co-authored with Dr. Dave Ebert and others. From taxonomy and biology to personal stories of research, Dominique reveals why ghost sharks deserve as much attention as...

Sharks and hurricanes : that's not a Sharknado sequel, it's real research. In this episode of Beyond Jaws , Dr. Aaron Carlisle shares how a childhood moment of terror watching Jaws turned into a career in shark science. Aaron is now an Assistant Professor of Fisheries Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he explores how the physical and biological environment influences shark behavior, dis...

Shark Conservation has been shaped by the tireless work of scientists like Leonard Compagno. In this episode, Andrew speaks with the legendary ichthyologist whose contributions to shark taxonomy and conservation have influenced generations of researchers and advocates. Compagno shares how he became fascinated by sharks, his groundbreaking work cataloging shark species, and his role in shaping the...