Ocean Protect Podcast

Dr Amelia Harry is an experienced Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, Accredited Nutritionist, and plastics, diet & human health researcher. In this chat, we discuss the latest publication (in Nature Medicine) that Dr Amelia co-authored on the results of the Plastic Exposure Reduction Transforms Health (PERTH) Trial - which assessed phthalates and bisphenols in humans and what impact a c...

Harry Maher is a Water Engineer at Optimal Stormwater, with several years experience in the stormwater industry in Australia as both a consultant and with Council. In this chat, we discuss Harry's recent study compiling and assessing "real world" life cycle cost data for bioretention systems in Australia, and how stormwater professionals and asset managers can reduce the costs of bioretention...

Marcus Michelangeli is a lecturer at Griffith University, leading the Wildlife Behaviour & Ecotoxicology research group, focusing on how wildlife adapt to rapid environmental change, particularly in response to emerging threats from synthetic and psychoactive chemical contaminants. In this chat, we discuss recent research by Marcus and collaborators on the impact of cocaine on salmon beha...

Justine Barrett Research Technician & iPhD Student with CSIRO's Marine Debris Team - currently researching how best to reduce the flow of litter into our oceans and waterways. In this chat, we discuss Justine's recent research compiling over 1300 audits of gross pollutant traps (GPTs) across Australia, the key barriers to cleaning out GPTs, and how to resolve these barriers - and ultimately be...

Kal Glanznig is one of Australia’s leading youth ocean and climate champions, dedicated to helping build a generation of hopeful, action-driven environmental leaders. In this chat, we talk about his journey as a film-maker, ocean-advocate and getting elected to his local Council in the name of healthier oceans and waterways. Expect inspiration, a call to action, and a reminder that real change oft...

Sea Shepherd's Remote Debris Campaigner, Grahame Lloyd, joins us for his fourth appearance on the Ocean Protect Podcast - off the back of another remote beach clean in Australia Bay. In this chat, Grahame shares insights from his remote beach cleans he's done this year, looming funding crisis for beach cleans, and his thoughts on how to turn the tide on plastic pollution.   Useful links: Grah...

Dan Rhodes is a Senior Water Engineer at Ocean Protect - and returns for his second appearance on the podcast, but his first since joining Ocean Protect. In this chat, Dan provides a few more insights from his previous career as a professional muso, before going deep on bioretention systems - one of the most widely used stormwater treatment assets within Australia and beyond. Dan gives his perspec...

Dirk Holman is a Marine Scientist and Threatened Species Campaigner with Sea Shepherd Australia. Dirk is playing a key role in Sea Shepherd Australia's activities in the Great Australian Bight - defending, conserving, and protecting Australian sea lions - ensuring the recovery of this endangered species and the preservation of a healthy marine ecosystem. In this chat, we discuss the threats to the...

Ian Thomson is the Founder of Ocean Crusaders - who take direct action by cleaning up waterways. Ian launched the foundation after a record breaking circumnavigation around Australia and being confronted with the reality of seeing turtles killed by ocean waste. In this chat, Ian describes the incredible work of Ocean Crusaders, what they actually remove from waterways, how they do it, and what rea...

Andrea Morello is President of Sea Shepherd Italy, which he founded and has coordinated since 2010. In this chat, Andrea shares insights into Sea Shepherd's incredible work combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Mediterranean Sea. Useful links: Andrea on LinkedIn ( here ) Sea Shepherd's Operation Siso - The fight against illegal fishing in the Mediterranean Sea ( here )...

Karunya Sateesh, Ocean Protect's Marketing and Communications Coordinator, takes us behind the scenes of her journey from humble beginnings in Bangalore, India, to her current career path in Melbourne, Australia. In this chat, she reflects on how witnessing the decline in Bangalore's green and blue spaces sparked her curiosity about the broader impacts of climate change, and how this explorat...

National Maintenance Manager at Ocean Protect, coordinating Ocean Protect's maintenance of tens of thousands of stormwater treatment asset across Australia. In this chat, we discuss what these assets are stopping, why they often aren't getting maintained, and what's needed to achieve better stormwater management (and ocean and waterway health). Useful links: Fotos on LinkedIn ( here ) WSUD Complia...

Dr Scott Bennett is Co-Founder of the Great Southern Reef Foundation and leads their science committee. In this chat, we discuss the devastating algal bloom off South Australia's coast that has already killed (and continues to kill) countless marine species. Fresh from a dive survey of some of the impacted areas, Scott shares his insights on what's it like, what's causing it, and what needs to be...

Josh Kirkman is CEO for Surfers for Climate - an Australian charity dedicated to turning the tide on climate change. In this chat, Josh gives an insight into the group's various campaigns - and how to better empower tradespeople, politicians and the public to help make a better world. Useful links: Josh on LinkedIn ( here ) Surfers for Climate ( here ) For further information about Ocean Protect,...

Dr Steph Brodie is a Research Scientist at CSIRO Environment in Brisbane. In this chat, we discuss a recent study that Steph was involved in which surveyed for debris in and around six Australian urban areas between 2022 and 2024. We discuss the study methodology and the results that showed that, over the past ten years, the amount of waste across Australian coastal cities has reduced by almost 40...

Alix de Jersey is a PhD candidate at the University of Tasmania, investigating the effects of microplastics on tropical shearwaters. In this chat, we discuss the world-first study of seabirds that Alix was involved with - which identified that seabird chicks heavily affected by plastic ingestion demonstrated a range of negative health consequences, including liver and brain damage. We discuss the...

Dan Rhodes is a Senior Water Engineer at Henry & Hymas Consulting Engineers and Optimal Stormwater - and has looked down into MANY gross pollutant traps (GPTs). In this chat, we discuss Dan's career progression from muso to engineer, insights from his many GPT audits, the Zero Litter to Bay initiative, and his thoughts around the key challenges and solutions to better stormwater management (an...

Dr Cassie Rauert is a Senior Research Fellow in Microplastics exposure at The University of Queensland, and was involved in a recent study of the distribution of tyre additives, tyre wear particles and microplastics within the waterways of the Moreton Bay region in south-east Queensland, Australia. In this chat, we talk about the study methodology and results, and subsequent implications. Useful l...

Jack Mullaly is an Environmental Engineer and has spent over a decade championing Water Sensitive Urban Design across Queensland and beyond. Five years ago, Jack, pivoted in to human movement coaching - but has now returned to the WSUD 'biz'. In this chat, we discuss all things WSUD and bioretention - along with the challenges and potential solutions to better achieve WSUD. Useful links: Jack on L...

Peter Whish-Wilson has been senator for Tasmania since 2012, representing the Australian Greens political party. In this chat, we discuss the fight to protect Australia’s oceans and coastlines from new offshore oil and gas projects, climate change, making plastic producers accountable, a billionaires tax and corruption in politics.     Useful links: Peter Whish-Wilson ( here )...

Paul Dubowski is an Environmental Scientist with over 20 years’ experience looking after our catchments and waterways. In this chat, we reflect on the inaugural Queensland Water Summit, held just two days earlier in Brisbane – including insights from the wide range of presenters, along with key recommended actions to help better manage water resources and better protect waterways and oceans a...

Shannon Mead is the Founder of and Chief Butt Officer of "No More Butts" - returning for his fourth appearance on the pod. We discuss vapes, what the latest is with the global Plastics Treaty, and how No More Butts is progressing towards their vision of a world without tobacco waste.   Useful links: No More Butts website ( here ) Shannon on LinkedIn ( here ) Ocean Protect Podcast, May 20...

In our Season 6 finale, the microphones are turned - with Daniel Rider (Ocean Protect's WSUD Specialist) interviewing the host, Brad Dalrymple (Ocean Protect Principal Environmental Engineer). We chat about, we get a bit of Brad's back-story, the 'why' and what of some of Ocean Protect's advocacy initiatives, and plans for 2025.   Useful links: Brad on LinkedIn ( here ) Daniel on Linkedin ( h...

Dr Tom Remenyi is a climate scientist, and an expert at translating complex climate science into useful, accessible products, tools and/ or advice. In this chat, we talk climate change scenarios past and future, and what are the likely impacts in relation to rainfall, temperatures, droughts, and ultimately ‘us’ – and what key actions we can (and should) all do.     Useful links...

Kelen Marczak Polli is a Stormwater Engineer at Arup, and is a very deserving recipient of this year's Australian Emerging Stormwater Professional of the Year Award by Stormwater Queensland AND the Queensland Emerging Professional Engineer of the Year Award by Engineers Australia. In this chat, Kelen share's her amazing story - coming from Brazil with an engineering degree but very little Eng...