Science, Solutions, Santa Cruz

Imagine sitting by Mission Street for an hour and only seeing 5 cars pass through, or being in one of the first graduating classes from the “new” school of UC Santa Cruz. That’s the perspective Senator John Laird brings to this episode as shares his extensive experience across California’s local and state governments. As he reflects on the past 50 years of environmental policy, he highlights the l...

After chasing illegal fishing boats and skydiving to disrupt illegal wildlife hunts, Myra Finkelstein’s unique journey from the skies to the high seas led her to become a professor of environmental toxicology at UC Santa Cruz. Her research on lead poisoning has identified major threats to scavenging species, including the iconic California Condor, and helped inform a ban on lead ammunition in the...

Julie Packard shares her journey from a UCSC student to a global leader in ocean conservation, highlighting the importance of science, policy, and community action in protecting our oceans. Resources: Seafood Watch Program - https://www.seafoodwatch.org/ Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust - https://montereybayfisheries.org/ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:54 Journey into Science and Conse...

When Otter 841 started hijacking surfboards at Steamer Lane, she exposed a much deeper conflict brewing just beyond the breakers. In this special episode, guest host Cassidy Beach hits the cliffs of Lighthouse Point with Gena Bentall, director and senior scientist of Sea Otter Savvy. Together, they look past the viral headlines to track the energetic costs of sharing an intensely crowded coast wit...

Andrew Fisher, a distinguished professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at UC Santa Cruz, shares insights on hydrogeology, water management, and flood risk mitigation along the Pájaro River. Discover how long-term monitoring, community engagement, and innovative engineering are shaping sustainable solutions for flood control, habitat restoration, and groundwater recharge. 00:00 The Pájaro River F...

Mountain lions are slipping through our neighborhoods under the cover of darkness, radically altering their behavior just to avoid us. In this episode, Chris Wilmers, UC Santa Cruz professor of wildlife ecology, pulls back the curtain on the cryptic world of our region's apex predators. From a toothless "old man" puma targeting local livestock to the hidden ways backyard rat poison disrupts local...

How does science actually become law? In this episode current Santa Cruz Mayor, Fred Keeley, reflects on his legendary career rewriting California’s ocean protection rules. From body surfing through literal oil slicks as a nine-year-old to passing the historic Marine Life Management Act at the final midnight hour of a governor's term, Keeley shares what it really takes to build a "Blue Wall" for t...

The California coast is witnessing a silent crash in peregrine falcons that threatens to outpace the devastating legacy of DDT. In this guest-hosted episode, Zeka Glucs, Director of the UC Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group leads us into the field to track the invisible killer: bird flu. From the studio to the windswept bluffs of Devil's Slide, we witness the frontlines of an ecological batt...

The morning of April 2nd gave Santa Cruz a sharp reminder that the ground beneath our feet is never truly still. In this episode, we use that recent shake to uncover the seismic secrets lurking under our feet with Emily Brodsky, an earthquake scientist and UC Santa Cruz professor. From the legacy of the 1906 disaster to modern earthquakes triggered by geothermal energy and fracking, we explore the...

Santa Cruz is squeezed between the mountains and the sea, there is simply no more land to expand roads for more cars. Matt Miller, Director of Mobility Transformation at Ecology Action, is navigating this bottleneck through the Complete Streets Initiative: a plan to prioritize people over pavement. From the total makeover of Bay Street to new designs in Capitola, this conversation examines a futur...

Santa Cruz city planners are moving fast, but the Pacific Ocean is moving faster. This week, Tiffany Wise-West, the Sustainability and Resiliency Officer for the City of Santa Cruz, dives deep into the ambitious 30-year roadmap to preserve our iconic coastline. She explains how different combinations of coastal adaptations from nature-inspired tech like “living” sand dunes, harder armoring and may...

Ever wonder who’s behind the new trails you hike or the wildlife crossings you drive over? Eric Lombardo, the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County's Director of External Affairs, joins us to pull back the curtain on how conservation actually works in our backyard. From public farms to wildfire-resilient forests, we discuss how protecting the 831 isn’t just about 'keeping people out,' it’s about invitin...

Marine ecologist and UC Santa Cruz professor Kristy Kroeker unravels the dramatic chain reactions triggered when the sea gets too hot. From the collapse of California’s iconic kelp forests to the surprising takeover by zombie sea urchins, she reveals how the loss of key predators like the sunflower star can flip entire ecosystems on their head. But this isn’t just a story of loss; it’s also one of...

Jess Morten, Director of Marine Resource Protection with the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, dives into how California's Blue Whales Blue Skies program is hoping to transform voluntary vessel speed reductions into a global movement. She shares how recognition drives change, achieving 70% cooperation on the California coast. Learn about how collective action reshapes ocean conservation lead...

In this extra geeky DEEP DIVE episode, Guest Host Eric Palkovacs, Director of Institute of Marine Sciences at UC Santa Cruz, sits down with Malin Pinsky, UC Santa Cruz Professor, to explore how human activities drive real-time evolutionary changes in fish populations. Malin reveals genetic evidence showing rapid alterations in species like Atlantic cod due to fishing. Discover how ancient DNA help...

Marine scientist Caroline Casey explains how underwater noise from ships and industry disrupts communication among seals, whales, and dolphins. Sound travels vast distances in the ocean, but human noise shrinks this range, impacting survival. Using data and initiatives like Blue Whales Blue Skies, researchers work to reduce noise and protect marine ecosystems. The episode highlights ocean noise an...

Most people don’t realize how fragile and interconnected our local fisheries are and how conservation and industry are often seen as competing interests. Melissa Mahoney, Executive Director of the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust, reveals the surprising truth that protecting fish populations and supporting fishing communities can truly go hand in hand. She shares stories that challenge conventional th...

In this conversation, Gary Griggs shares his extensive experience and insights on the relationship between the ocean, climate change, and community resilience in Santa Cruz. He reflects on his personal connection to the coast, transformative moments in environmental awareness, and the challenges of balancing development with ecological preservation. Griggs emphasizes the importance of education, c...

An avian flu outbreak among elephant seals at Año Nuevo reveals how vulnerable wildlife populations can be. Reserve director Patrick Robinson explains how avian influenza likely moved from seabirds to marine mammals and why long-term research is critical for detecting and understanding such events. Decades of data help scientists track early warning signs and assess potential impacts on seal popul...

Hosted by Jonathan Hicken, Executive Director of the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, this podcast spotlights groundbreaking research in Santa Cruz, California, and shares actionable, positive environmental news from the region. Featuring in-depth conversations with scientists from UC Santa Cruz and beyond, along with local leaders and environmental experts, the show makes complex science accessib...

In this episode, Eric Palkovacs from UC Santa Cruz discusses the impacts of the 2020 fires on salmon in Santa Cruz, the resilience of ecosystems, and innovative conservation strategies. Explore how fire, climate change, and genetic adaptation influence salmon populations and what communities can do to support conservation efforts.

The Fight Against Offshore Drilling in Santa Cruz and California’s Coastal Resistance This episode features Katie Thompson, Executive Director of Save Our Shores, who shares critical insights into the ongoing battle to prevent offshore drilling along the California coast. We explore the scientific, environmental, and community strategies shaping coastal conservation efforts, emphasizing how local...