Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast

We talk to long-distance adventure swimmer, author and activist Matt Moseley about his first-ever swims in the ocean, rivers and across Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans, now hit with yet another catastrophic hurricane.  He explains about feeling like a fish out of water and what running out of water could mean for 40 million people across the West.   Plus he offers some hope and solutions one can...

From Iowa to an Oscar, Louie Psihoyos continues to engage people with his famed National Geographic photography, award-winning films including ‘The Cove’ and ‘Racing Extinction’ and projected images. His larger than life endangered species vying for our attention on the Empire State building and the Vatican and his evolving views on food and social movements are just a few of the things we discuss...

Dianna and Julia Cohen are two of the co-founders of the Plastic Pollution Coalition. Mixing lifetimes of art and activism they talk about the challenges of plastic pollution, including countering industry propaganda about recycling.  Along with ocean and human health impacts and actions we can all take,  they offer insights, opportunities and solutions to take us Beyond petroleum-based Plastic Po...

This week we speak with marine mammal veterinarian and disease pioneer Dr. Frances Gulland.  One of three members of the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, we speak to her about her decades of unique work from treating sick sea lions to studying dead whales (while avoiding hungry white sharks) to Flipper’s future in a changing world. Rising Tide, the Ocean Podcast is co-hosted by Blue Frontier's David...

We talk with the renown marine life artist Wyland about his art, his life, his life-sized whaling walls, where he gets his inspiration (hint, he’s a dedicated diver), some of his adventures and the new edgier direction he’s taking his artwork balancing wonder and warning for our blue world. Rising Tide, the Ocean Podcast is co-hosted by Blue Frontier's David Helvarg and the Inland Ocean Coalition'...

Jeremy Jackson, one of the world’s leading ocean ecologists, paleobiologists and conservationists talks to us about his hopes and concerns about the state of the ocean, the land and human civilization.  He also tells us about his work over time, rapid climate change, coral reef migration and the kind of science needed to turn the tide. Rising Tide, the Ocean Podcast is co-hosted by Blue Frontier's...

Join us in conversation with Ana Blanco, Executive Director of the International Ocean Film Festival.  We talk about the ocean in our living rooms and theaters, how documentaries and other media from Cousteau TV specials to this year’s Academy Award winning ‘My Octopus Teacher,’ help connect people to the ocean in both its wonder and its warnings.  Join us to learn more about this unique film fest...

Join us with Dr. Kristin Aquilino, head of the White Abalone breeding program at UC Davis marine lab in northern California.  Find out how a deep-water marine snail almost got pan-fried to extinction and what she and others are doing to reintroduce it into the ocean. After listening read David’s story on the scientist and the mollusk in Sierra Club magazine https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/abalon...

Another Rising Tide, another amazing, salty woman.  This time we’re talking with Mehgan Heaney-Grier, an early record-holding free diver who helped introduce the sport to the U.S.  Her latest project is the web-series the ‘Imperfect  Conservationist.’  In her long ocean career she’s also been a stunt diver for ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and part of the Discovery Channel explorers team for ‘Treasur...

Join us in conversation with the amazing Roz Savage.  Roz is the first (and so far only) woman to row solo across the world’s “Big Three” oceans: the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the Indian. A Guinness World Record holder, appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire by the Queen, she talks about her motivations, challenges and what she learned about how we can all make a difference for our...

If you missed our Writers for the Sea Authors Panel with Brian Skerry, Sylvia Earle, and Carl Safina, we're offering the full panel discussion on this week's podcast. Dive in with two famed scientist-authors and a renowned in-depth photographer talk about their latest books or those about to surface. Rising Tide Podcast aims to give you information, inspiration, and motivation to tackle the challe...

From using genetics to aid coral survival to processing whale DNA to track illegal slaughter, from toxic dolphins to the wonders of Monterey Bay, ocean scientist Dr. Steve Palumbi has been a leader in applying science to ocean solutions.  Join us in conversation with this widely admired Stanford scientist and popular author.  As a bonus you’ll hear about an extremely interesting deep-sea octopus a...

The search for a dolphin Sanctuary, cold turtle rescues (also seal pups), a coral nursery, a floating wetland in Baltimore harbor visited by eels, crabs and a muskrat, climate change education for millions, the COVID pandemic and environmental justice as key to our future.  Our conversation with the National Aquarium’s President and CEO John Racanelli is proof that what you’ll find there today – w...

David talks with Hawaii-based author and activist Stuart Coleman about his 30-year journey surfing and writing about ocean legends such as big wave surfer Eddie Aikau (“Eddie Would Go”).  Also his decade long work leading Surfrider Hawaii in their many battles won to keep the ocean clean and safe from plastic pollution, toxic sunscreen and more, plus, his latest passion to get the poop out of the...

Vicki and David talk with shark-protector, member of the Women’s Diving Hall of Fame and honored board member of Blue Frontier Wendy Benchley. Wendy shares some of her thoughts about ocean adventures she shared with her late husband, 'Jaws' author Peter Benchley (see pix) and the challenges and hopes for ocean conservation and ocean-climate action today. Also learn how it was almost Jaws – the com...

Join our wide-ranging discussion with John Hocevar, Greenpeace USA’s Oceans Campaign Director.  From piloting two-person submarines into deep canyons in the Bering Sea to Antarctic ocean floors covered in sea stars to fighting plastic pollution and recording the impacts of the BP oil spill  - hear about John’s wide ranging efforts and adventures.  Also get updated on Greenpeace’s hopes and plans f...

We talk with Professor and former Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles Geraldine Knatz. Along with being the first woman to run a major port, she is also the founder of the global greening ports movement, having reduced air pollution in the LA/Long Beach port complex 70 percent in 5 years. The author of a new book, ‘Port of Los Angeles’ she'll say what’s next for climate and clean-up in p...

We talk with acoustician Michael Stocker, Founder of Ocean Conservation Research, who explains what a misnomer, “The Silent World,” of Jacques Cousteau actually was. Michael shares sound samples of what a noisy world the ocean has become and the difference between human noise pollution and the lively chatter of a living sea. Here’s a chance to dive into the ocean with your ears and mind. Rising Ti...

If you didn’t see it live or on YouTube for our 20th Rising Tide we’re offering the full Writers for the Sea panel discussion David had with his fellow author adventurers Philippe and Ashlan Cousteau, National Geographic Explorer-in-Resident Enric Sala and 18-year-old activist Hannah Testa (Hannah4Change).  Among other things they discuss their latest books ‘The Endangereds’, ‘Oceans for Dummies’,...

We talk with Anna Cummins, Co-Founder of 5 Gyres, one of the leading ocean plastics groups about the science, advocacy and adventure involved in fighting to end plastic pollution of our seas and waterways.  It’s all about corporate accountability, finding non-fossil fuel based alternatives and fun fact you’ll hear… Anna once interned for our co-host Vicki. Rising Tide Podcast aims to give you info...

This time David and Vicki chat with Kelly Wright, chair of the Wyoming Chapter of the Inland Ocean Coalition that Vicki organized.  An outdoors woman and lifelong resident of “the Cowboy State” Kelly reveals the connection between cattle and sea turtles while she and Vicki expand on all the other things that connect the heartland and the sea. Rising Tide Podcast aims to give you information, inspi...

With the victory of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris, David and Vicki talk to the Aspen Institute’s Michael Conathan. Michael who has worked on ocean policy both at the democratic-oriented Center for American Progress and in congress under former Republican Senator Olympia Snowe, talks about what a Biden-Harris administration might do to turn the tide for a healthy...

With less than two weeks to a historic election that will define the fate of our blue planet, Vicki and I thought we’d chat with ‘Vote the Ocean’ founders Rob Moir and Vipe Desai.  Rob,  Executive Director of the Ocean River Institute and Vipe, Board Chair of the Ocean Institute are educating citizens on the importance of voting for healthy seas while also working with youth activists and ocean fr...

For over 30 years Richard Charter has been a leader of the national fight to stop offshore oil drilling in our public seas while also being a driver behind the establishment of California’s national marine sanctuaries.  Richard talks with David and Vicki about how he gets it done, the challenges of the Trump years and how offshore oil and climate are impacting the 2020 election. Rising Tide Podcas...

Philippe and Ashlan Cousteau are ocean explorers and multimedia producers who put the blue in the red carpet. Philippe is the third generation of the legendary Cousteau family and Ashlan an entertainment journalist who now reports on sea stars.  Among other topics they’ll talk about their latest book projects – The Endangereds (“animals take fate into their own paws”) and Oceans for Dummies. Risin...