Conservation Realist Podcast

I am very glad to bring you this episode, episode 18 - it is a special compilation from most of the interviews conducted over this first season. It features my guests’ responses to these three rapid fire questions: (1)  What is one thing that would improve how conservation functions or what is one thing that would make your day-to-day work in conservation easier? (2)  What is an unsung idea that y...

A conversation with a good friend, Mark de la Paz! One of the most (too) humble people working in dolphin conservation, he's run a long-term research and conservation project for Irrawaddy dolphins in the Philippines - only to face threats to their critical habitat (and his own safety) with plans for a major bridge across the Guimaras Strait. He shares how he's processing this difficult experience...

A truly energizing chat with Dr. Rishi Sugla, Frontline Community Climate Resilience Scientist at UW's Climate Impacts Group, where we dive into: * How universities can (need to) work in solidarity with communities on environmental justice * Working with frontline communities on climate adaptation through true co-creation * Bringing community organizing expertise to academia’s approach to working...

A very spooky, haunted hellooooo to you all - it's a special Halloween episode of Conservation Realist! I realize it will be past Halloween by the time most of you listen to this, but hey, let's keep the celebrations going, along with the heavily discounted candies. Though it would be super fun to feature stories of eerie happenings in the field, or otherworldly spiritual or mythical creatures fro...

It's alive! Back from the dead, in time for Halloween! This time, I chat with Dr. Lucy Keith-Diagne and Diana Seck of the African Aquatic Conservation Fund (AACF) on their work in Senegal and more broadly in West and Central Africa. Thank you, AACF - I learned a lot, including that they have accommodations at their office, so I am conjuring up some schemes to visit... Key topics: * Marine mammal c...

Learning from Gerald Youngblood, Chief Marketing Officer for Lenovo North America, about the development and implementation of their Work for Humankind Project, specifically their partnership with HBCU Elizabeth City State University to provide students with immersive field experiences. KEY POINTS: * Lenovo’s Work for Humankind efforts to bring technology and opportunities for diversity to the con...

A conversation with Elizabeth City State University students Angel Teagle and Aniya Martin, majoring in Emergency Management, who participated in Lenovo's Work for Humankind initiative. Lenovo specifically wanted to partner with HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) as part of their efforts to use their technology in a way that improves diversity in environmental fields and in acces...

A conversation with Chris Johns, Ph. D., cover guy for National Geographic's funding website, terrestrial (yes, I know some land folks) ecologist, talented photographer and videographer, currently working in communications and marketing for good causes at RTI International. KEY TOPICS: - The importance of formative field immersion opportunities for youths in conservation, e.g. Youth Conservation C...

Episode 10! Double digits! An excellent conversation with marine biologist and science communicator Jean Utzurrum from the Philippines, who you can follow at @jean8rum on Twitter (or whatever the "X" thing is now!). Covering colonial mindsets, complex conservation contexts, correcting misconceptions about coastal communities, and the complicated realm of social media advocacy. KEY TOPICS: * Coloni...

Episode 9! A monologue on the bycatch of charismatic marine megafauna (cool big large marine animals) in small-scale fisheries, and the complex system that it exists in. This is a major threat to marine megafauna around the world; on the other hand, small-scale fishing communities are often marginalized and vulnerable. There are no easy fixes and no getting away from the reality that conservation...

Episode 8 is a (spicy!) continuation of my conversation with Dr. Jo Marie Acebes (BALYENA.ORG) from Episode 2. We talk about the human collateral damage that can come with conservation interventions, including the case of mobula ray fisheries in Bohol, Philippines. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit conservation...

Episode 7! A bit late, but still great. This conversation with Dr. Ruth Brennan, an integration expert in environmental governance, is a fascinating and wide-ranging tour of ideas related to fisheries management and conservation in the context of Ireland's island communities. Key topics include: co-design in management and conservation efforts; humanity and social relationships in conservation and...

For episode 6, we hear from Yin Yin Htay, of the Myanmar Coastal Conservation Lab at Point B Design + Training in Myanmar. She shares her perspectives as youth in conservation who grew to support other youths developing their capacity for conservation, including the importance of opportunities for building connections and confidence. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with...

In this episode, I dive a bit into ideas of power and empowerment in conservation based on my experiences in Myanmar. Every 4th episode will be a chance for me to dig a little deeper into ideas that have come up in the interviews or to insights from my own experiences in the field. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, v...

Since February 2021, a brutal military junta has taken over Myanmar - on top of the raging COVID19 pandemic. Thanda Ko Gyi from the Myanmar Ocean Project shares the realities of conducting conservation work as a small organization in this difficult context. She has shown remarkable tenacity and conviction in her work on ghost gears and community engagement, all the more remarkable because she came...

Episode 3! This was a fantastic conversation with Brooke Tully about conservation marketing and how to approach it in a respectful, responsible, and effective way, as well as how the conservation field compares to her experiences in the private sector. Brooke is a marketing expert who brings insights from time in advertising in the corporate realm to the conservation world, first with Rare and now...

Welcome to Episode 2! I spoke with Dr. Jo Marie Acebes, known as Jom, on her experiences with parachute or colonial science. She is the Founder and Principal Investigator of BALYENA.ORG, a non-profit organization with a mission to support the conservation of whales, dolphins, and their natural habitats in the Philippines. Links: BALYENA.ORG Facebook and Instagram Podcast music by Soe Moe Thwin Thi...

The first episode of Conservation Realist! Introducing a bit about myself, your host Dr. Tara Sayuri Whitty, as well as the premise of this podcast-newsletter. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit conservationrealist.substack.com