Ocean Protect Podcast

Dr Damian Lettoof is a Postdoctoral fellow at CSIRO and loves snakes. Returning for this second Ocean Protect Podcast appearance, we chat about Damian's new research that has found tiger snakes in Perth’s urban wetlands are accumulating high levels of chemical substances from ingesting PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), impacting the venomous reptiles’ overall health. The research, jointl...

Erin Remblance is a freelance columnist and co-founder of re(Biz) with a passion for (re)generative and post-growth thinking and strategies. After some 12 years in National Account Management in fast-moving consumer goods companies (e.g. Univilever, Nestle, L’Oreal), bringing 3 kids into the world, and then a few years in carbon reduction and energy efficiency initiatives, she pivoted to learn wha...

Shannon Mead is the Founder of and Chief Butt Officer of "No More Butts" - returning for his third appearance on the pod. In this chat, Shannon drops truth bombs about dropped cigarette butts, vaping, and how cigarette filters do more harm than good - along with insights from participating at the 'INC2' (Second Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution) in Paris -...

Dr Michelle Blewitt is the Program Director of the Australian Microplastic Assessment Project (AUSMAP) - a bridge between a massive problem and the solutions, designed to document and analyse microplastic pollution in Australian aquatic environments. Michelle joins us on AUSMAP's 5th birthday for a chat in Bondi to discuss rent AUSMAP research findings, what makes a 'spot' 'hot' and recent researc...

The legendary Grahame Lloyd, Sea Shepherd Australia's Remote Marine Debris Campaigner, is back for his third appearance on the Ocean Protect Podcast. In this chat, we discuss the life and times of doing marine debris clean-ups in some of the most remote parts of Australia, the impact of the debris on indigenous communities in these areas, and drop some truth bombs on how to help solve the plastic...

Dr Denise Hardesty, Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO Environment, returns for her second appearance on the podcast. This time, we catch up in Bondi the day after the Ocean Plastic Action Forum featured in previous episodes. In this chat, we discuss some of the latest research on plastic in our oceans, including new research by Denise and the CSIRO team about how two percent of all commercial fis...

This episode features the 4th (and final) part of recorded audio from inaugural Ocean Plastic Action Forum at Bondi Beach – held on 15th March 2023, as part of the Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival. This part includes the ‘where to from here’ session, where the speakers of the previous sessions (Dr Denise Hardesty, Prof. Veena Sahawjwalla, and Allegra Spender MP) provided a short synthesis of...

This episode is the third of a four-part series of recorded audio from the Ocean Plastic Action Forum at Bondi Beach – held on 15th March 2023, as part of the Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival. This part focusses on the “Path to Purging Plastic" session, where you will hear discussions and insights from current actions being undertaken to reduce ocean plastic pollution, including 'at source', recycling,...

This episode is the second of a four-part series of recorded audio from the Ocean Plastic Action Forum at Bondi Beach – held on 15th March 2023, as part of the Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival. This part focusses on the “Exploring Current Actions" session, where you will hear discussions and insights from current actions being undertaken to reduce ocean plastic pollution, including 'at source', recycli...

This episode is the first of a four-part series of recorded audio from the Ocean Plastic Action Forum at Bondi Beach – held on 15th March 2023, as part of the Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival. The forum included industry leaders, innovators, scientists, government and community leaders discussing how to 'turn the tide' on plastic in our ocean – including a few short presentations and interactive Q&...

Nicholas Carter is an ecologist and environmental science and policy analyst, and advocates for transformational food system changes. In this chat, we discuss the link between agriculture and land use, how to address the climate and biodiversity crisis while still feeding the world, and bust a few myths about 'regenerative agriculture'. Useful links: https://oceanprotect.com.au/wp-content/uploads/...

Philip Ehrhorn is Chief Technical Officer and Co-founder of The Great Bubble Barrier - the first technology to use a bubble curtain to capture plastic pollution in rivers. We discuss the technology, how the idea came about (simultaneously in two countries), its development, its effectiveness, application and future plans. Useful links: https://thegreatbubblebarrier.com/ Philip on LinkedIn ( here )...

Dr Jodie Rummer is Professor of Marine Biology at James Cook University in Townsville, Australia - and is an expert on climate change and coral fish. In this chat, we discuss the athletic awesomeness of fish, the key threats to the Great Barrier Reef and how to best mitigate them, and what the future looks like for all reefs around the planet. Useful links: www.jodierummer.com Jodie on LinkedIn (...

Professor Veena Sahajwalla is an expert in recycling, the founding Director of the Director of the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research & Technology at University of New South Wales - and, last year, added NSW Australian of the year to her long list of honours and awards. In this chat, we talk about reimagining 'waste' as an opportunity - drawing on Veena's experiences growing up in Mumba...

We kick off Season 5 with a fantastic chat with Dr Charlene Trestrail - a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Technology Sydney. Charlene's particular speciality is understanding how microplastics threaten the animals we need to keep our ecosystems healthy. In this chat, we take a journey through the digestive system (like a microplastic!) and talk about how the different organs in the bo...

Kimberly is the co-founder and CEO of Carapac - a company that takes waste crustacean shells and makes sustainable plastic alternative packaging. Frozen food processing plants across the Asia-Pacific region cumulatively produce about 8.1 million tons of crustacean waste per year. Carapac takes this otherwise 'waste' and makes truly biodegradable alternatives to petrochemical-based plastics. This f...

Bridget is a Sustainability Educator at Keep Australia Beautiful NSW (and PhD candidate at University of Technology Sydney), helping deliver the "EnviroMentors" program to improve community awareness and engagement on local sustainability issues and initiatives. In this chat, we talk about the "Keeping Waterways Clean" module aimed at preventing stormwater pollution, and other effective educa...

Marina is an Artivist, who began picking up trash on local beaches, creeks & streets over 20 years ago. In 2009, she began to create pieces of art that questioned the use of single use items and the amount of waste we create - and her work is exhibited regularly at galleries, 'trashion' exhibitions, 'inconvenience stores' and the current 'Sculptures by the Sea'. We chat about Marina's story, h...

Justine is a Research Technician with CSIRO's Marine Debris Group, where she established a method for detecting microplastics in deep-sea sediment and was subsequently the lead author of a paper publishing the first global estimate of microplastics in deep-sea sediment. We talk about deep-sea microplastics and helping to stop it 'at source' with gross pollutant trap sensors and AI technology. Usef...

Craig Fairbaugh has gone from rock star to rock star stormwater engineer. After shredding the punk rock scene with bands like Transplants, +44, Juliette Lewis and the Licks, and Mercy Killers, Craig went on to even bigger and badder things - helping to protect the planet from stormwater pollution. As Regional Regulatory Manager at Contech Engineered Solutions in Oregon USA, Craig is a recognised e...

Daniel Rider is the Water Sensitive Urban Design Compliance Officer at Blacktown City Council and is currently developing and implementing Australia’s first Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) Compliance Program. In this chat, we talk about the role of stormwater management in protecting the health of our ocean and waterways, and Blacktown City Council's WSUD Compliance Program - which will n...

Dr Kathy Willis is a Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Washington and CSIRO Scientific Researcher on a mission to combat plastic pollution and reframe plastic as a valuable commodity rather than a throwaway item. In Kathy's second appearance on the pod, we discuss the recent good news about plastic pollution on Australian beaches, spatial and temporal trends in plastic washing up...

Shannon Mead is the Founder of "No More Butts", a charity who's mission is "A butt free environment" - where cigarette butts are recycled, with the products created having a further positive impact on the community. Shannon returns for his second appearance on the pod - dropping truth bombs about dropped cigarette butts, the emerging issue of vaping, and discussing possible solutions. Useful links...

Jonathon Clark is Queensland Coordinator of the Apex Harmony campaign - Sea Shepherd Australia's Shark Defence campaign to defend, conserve and protect sharks in order to maintain a healthy ocean. In this chat, we discuss the destructive nature of Queensland and NSW's state-sanctioned shark "control" programs and possible (and certainly more effective) methods to protect the safety and wellbeing o...

Dr Mitchell Call and Dr James Sippo are postdoctoral researchers at Southern Cross University at Lismore, in Northern NSW, Australia. The Wilsons River flows through the city of Lismore to the Richmond River estuary. In late February 2022, the biggest flood in modern Australian history inundated Lismore and the rest of Northern NSW. In this chat, Mitchell and James describe the flood, the incredib...