So You Want to Be a Marine Biologist

Send us Fan Mail Marine ecologist Aurora Ricart joins us on the show today. Aurora is a seagrass biologist studying the effects of this often overlooked part of our oceanic ecosystem. Starting off with corals, Aurora made a full-hearted leap into seagrasses during grad school, and hasn’t looked back. Today we chat about her amazing coral research in Mexico, how seagrasses combat climate change, an...

Send us Fan Mail With a professional engineering license backing up a degree in ocean engineering, it may come as a surprise that Nick Muzia originally wanted to be a marine biologist. It wasn’t until he realized his aptitude in math, and a fateful discovery channel episode featuring submarines, that Nick decided to make the switch. In today’s episode, we chat about how my Midwestern husband disco...

Send us Fan Mail My guest today is Illegal Fishing and Transparency Analyst for Oceana, Emma Gee. I’ve been wanting to have someone on the show to chat about IUU fishing, and I’m so excited to share this episode with you! In today’s episode, we chat about how Emma’s non-marine biology degrees are helping to save the oceans, how we can look at historical ecology- what used to be in the ocean- and a...

Send us Fan Mail Her Deepness, Dr. Sylvia Earle joins us on the show today. Sylvia is a marine biologist who has been deemed a Hero for the Planet and designated by the Library of Congress as a Living Legend. She has been a Nat Geo explorer since 1998, author of over a dozen books. Her TED talk has over 3m views. Sylvia led the first team of women living underwater, has thousands of research divin...

Send us Fan Mail Andy Bramburger is a researcher with Environment and Climate Change Canada. In addition to the numerous scientific papers and publications, Andy’s work has also been featured in National Geographic. In this episode we chat about how something so tiny it can only be seen with a microscope influences the entire planet, and how we, in turn, influence it. Andy also breaks down the sim...

Send us Fan Mail Jake Kheel is a sustainability innovator, sargassum-wrangler, and coral reef saver.  In addition to these illustrious titles, Jake also holds the titles of Vice President of the Grupo Puntacana Foundation and Vice President of Sustainability for Grupo Puntacana. He is also a TEDx speaker, and author of  “Waking the Sleeping Giant: Unlocking the Hidden Power of Business to Save Our...

Send us Fan Mail Colin Howe is a tropical marine ecologist studying corals in the Caribbean. He is also the creator behind the Instagram and YouTube channels @MarineSci4life. In today’s episode, Colin breaks down the difference between a marine ecologist and marine biologist, what research at different career levels can look like, and the importance of experience. Colin also shares his coral resea...

Send us Fan Mail Samantha Andrews is a marine ecologist, naturalist, professional science communicator, and founder of Ocean Oculus, a one-woman endeavour, supporting scientists, researchers, companies, NGOS, stakeholders, and everything in-between discover more about - and take better care of - this pale blue dot we call home. In today’s episode Samantha shares how she shifted her career from fin...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Christine Figgener is the director of science and education at the Footprint Foundation and Costa Rican Alliance for Sea Turtle Conservation & Science (COASTS), founder of Nāmaka Conservation Science, and the researcher that filmed the sea turtle straw video. In today’s episode we chat about what brought Chris from Germany to study sea turtles in Costa Rica, why she prefer...

Send us Fan Mail Nic Mink is a professor of environmental science and the co-founder and CEO of Sitka Salmon Shares, a direct to consumer, sea-to-table company. Join us as we chat about fish and fisheries, what a community supported fishery is, why small, generational fisheries can be a good thing, and what you can do to help the fish that swim in the sea. Show Notes: marinebio.life/54 Support the...

Send us Fan Mail Laura Smith is a marine biology PhD student currently hailing from Australia. In this episode, Laura  shares her stories behind the scenes aboard humpback whale boats, doing sea turtle research on the Great Barrier Reef, and how she found herself studying one of the most iconic fish in the sea.  Support the show 🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEG...

Send us Fan Mail The first woman to command a federal vessel and the first woman Admiral in the NOAA Corps joins us on the podcast today. Rear Admiral Evelyn Fields (ret.) shares what the NOAA Corps is, why their work is vital to NOAA’s mission, and what it’s like to be the first. Support the show 🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE 🧭 Dive into your own, uniqu...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for this wide-ranging episode. Today’s topics include: giant clams, red sea, great barrier reef, corals, imposter syndrome, and creative science. Melissa shares her frontline experience studying climate change on reefs, shares the beauty and wonder that are giant clams, and discusses the importance of her endeavor to bring the emerging creatives of science into the world....

Send us Fan Mail For this milestone episode, Laurie Bachelor is back on the podcast and we’re chatting about two of the biggest challenges our oceans face (overfishing and pollution) and how tending to your proverbial garden can save our planet. Support the show 🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE 🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint  💕...

Send us Fan Mail Elisama Menesez specializes in marine shipping for WWF Canada. In today’s episode, Eli shares how, growing up in Brazil, the ocean played an integral part of her life, and how she created a program that helps more people to connect with the sea. We also chat about the importance of the social and managerial aspect of marine science, and how shipping plays a role in our changing cl...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Deborah Brosnan is the founder of Deborah Brosnan and Associates, a firm dedicated to finding smart solutions for environmental risks. Growing up in coastal Ireland, Dr. Brosnan knew she wanted to be a marine biologist from a young age. In today’s episode she shares what coastal sustainability looks like and why living shorelines are some of the best defenses we have against c...

Send us Fan Mail Becoming a dolphin trainer is a dream job for many, including Nina Leipold. It wasn’t until after a pivotal internship actually training these amazing creatures that Nina realized she didn’t actually want to train them. She wanted them in the wild. Join us today as she shares the story behind this revelation, and how she created, and became, the Mermaid of Hilton Head Island. Supp...

Send us Fan Mail Bren Smith is a commercial fisherman turned ocean farmer, author of the book “Eat Like a Fish,” and the founder of GreenWave, a network of regenerative ocean farms found worldwide. Join us in today’s episode as we discuss how Bren decided to make the leap from commercial fishing in some of the world’s most hostile fisheries to aquaculture and, ultimately, regenerative ocean farmin...

Send us Fan Mail Want to become a marine biologist but not sure where to start? Whether you're a student or a professional looking for a shift in careers, this episode has nuggets of where to look and how to get started. Support the show 🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE 🧭 Dive into your own, unique path with The Ocean Blueprint  💕 Found value in the s...

Send us Fan Mail Angelique Brathwaite is a coral biologist and co-founder of Blue Finance, an organization shaping the seascape around protected areas in the ocean.  In today’s episode, we chat about what it’s like to be a coral reef scientist in the Caribbean, and what it takes to protect the ocean. Angelique also shares some of the instrumental local outreach she’s done, including putting on an...

Send us Fan Mail Chris Debicki lives in the great white north of Canada and is the Vice President of Oceans North. Chris and Oceans North have played a pivotal role in creating the largest marine protected area in Canada. Chris wasn’t always in this role, however. He was a criminal lawyer before he made the career shift into marine science. In today’s episode, Chris shares how and why he made this...

Send us Fan Mail Sarah Winter Whelan is an ocean lawyer with the American Littoral Society. In this episode, she shares how she discovered her passion for ocean policy, created a career out of it, and how policy shapes our ocean landscapes (and how you can get involved!) Support the show 🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW TO BE A MARINE BIOLOGIST WITHOUT THE DEGREE 🧭 Dive into your own, unique path wit...

Send us Fan Mail Marine biologist, tech guru, and all around ocean lover, Josh Pederson joins us on the show today. Josh shares stories of how he landed the dream job monitoring California’s kelp forests and creating some of the first marine science databases. Josh also shares insights into what a career shift may look like, and how he stays connected to the ocean through his activities and podcas...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered why your resume isn’t getting noticed, or why you’re not landing the interview? Or maybe you’re just starting out, and are unsure of how to even put together a resume and cover letter. This episode is designed to give you concrete, actionable steps to implement during your job application process- regardless of industry. Support the show 🌊 Get the *FREE* guide: HOW...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Chelsea Bennice, aka Octogirl, is a true field biologist and octopus researcher. Join us as Chelsea dives into the world of these tentacled creatures, their mating behaviors, and how she spent over 400 hours underwater studying them. Chelsea also shares some excellent tips for aspiring grad students, and how anyone can become involved in octopus research anywhere in the world...