Oceanography – Details, episodes & analysis

Episode Description: Whales whisper, volcanoes rumble, and fish sing at sunset. In this episode of Oceanography, host Clark Marchese explores the science of underwater sound with marine biologist and bioacoustics researcher Dr. Jesús Alcázar-Treviño. You'll learn how toothed whales use echolocation to hunt in the deep sea, how volcanic eruptions reshape marine soundscapes, and why some whales may be mistaking plastic for prey. We also dive into the impacts of human-made noise—like shipping and seismic testing—on marine ecosystems. With fascinating stories from the Canary Islands and deep-sea research insights, this episode is your gateway into the hidden world of ocean acoustics and marine conservation.

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Episode Guest: Dr. Jesús Alcázar Treviño

Learn more about Dr. Jesús Alcázar Treviño here

Follow  Dr. Jesús Alcázar Treviño on Blue Sky

Find more of  Dr. Jesús Alcázar Treviño’s work on Research Gate

Explore more from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography 

Episode Transcript  and more information on the Pine Forest Media website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese 

Cover art by Jomiro Eming

Theme music by Nela Ruiz

Listen to South Pole on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

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New tech is making waves in marine science. In this debut episode of Oceanography, we dive into the world of innovative fishing gear designed to protect endangered species—especially the North Atlantic right whale. Guest Megan Amico, a fisheries biologist with NOAA, shares how scientists and fishermen are working together to reduce harmful bycatch through smart design, including on-demand lobster traps and turtle excluder devices. It’s a story of unlikely partnerships, inventive problem-solving, and measurable success. If you care about marine life, sustainable fisheries, or just love a good science story, this is one you won’t want to miss. Learn how collaboration is helping coastal communities thrive while giving ocean wildlife a fighting chance.

Episode Guest: Megan Amico

Learn more about Megan Amico here

NOAA Protected Species Gear Research: Visit Here

NOAA’s Endangered Species List and Action Plans: Browse List

Support the science communication and Pine Forest Media on Patreon

Episode Transcript  and more information on the Pine Forest Media website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese 

Cover art by Jomiro Eming

Theme music by Nela Ruiz

Listen to South Pole on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oceanography is a marine science podcast about the research happening beneath the surface—literally. It’s where your favorite science 101 class meets environmental journalism, with weekly conversations featuring marine biologists, oceanographers, and climate scientists from around the world. One week we might explore whale communication or how sound travels underwater; the next, we’re looking at fishing gear designed to protect endangered species. You'll also hear about ocean conservation, deep sea ecosystems, microplastic pollution, and the surprising ways marine life is connected to life on land. If you're curious about the ocean and want to hear from the people uncovering its secrets, you’re in the right place.

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Fish full of pharmaceuticals. Submarine groundwater discharge is quietly delivering human contaminants—like heavy metals, fertilizers, and even antidepressants—into our oceans. In this episode of Oceanography, marine geochemist Dr. Tristan McKenzie explains how these hidden pathways are impacting coastal ecosystems around the world. Drawing from fieldwork in Hawaii and Sweden, he breaks down the science behind groundwater pollution, shares the results of a global contamination risk map, and discusses the surprising ways contaminants disrupt both marine life and biogeochemical cycles. You’ll also learn why some of the world’s most biodiverse coasts are at highest risk—and how you can help. This is a deep dive into ocean contamination, climate interactions, and the data behind it all. 

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Episode Guest: Dr. Tristan McKenzie

Learn more about Dr. Tristan McKenzie on his website here and the University of Gothenberg

Follow Dr. Tristan McKenzie on Blue Sky

Find more of Dr. Tristan McKenzie’s work on Google Scholar

How Gutting the EPA's Research Team Could Impact Clean Air and Water Rules by the Scientific American

EPA likely to move to further limit federal protections for wetlands by AP News

Fish off the coast of Florida test positive for pharmaceutical drugs, says study by CNN

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese 

Cover art by Jomiro Eming

Theme music by Nela Ruiz

Listen to South Pole on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How deep sea worms eat without a mouth is just one of the astonishing discoveries in this episode with microbial symbiosis expert Dr. Shana Goffredi. We dive into the strange and beautiful world of methane seeps and hydrothermal vents, where animals form life-saving partnerships with chemo synthesizing bacteria. From feather duster worms powered by natural gas to mixotrophic anemones thriving in volcanic vents, learn how cooperation fuels entire deep sea ecosystems — and helps prevent methane from reaching our atmosphere. These microscopic alliances are transforming how we understand evolution, resilience, and oceanic carbon cycling.

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Episode Guest: Dr. Shana Goffredi

Learn more about Dr. Goffredi at Occidental College

Visit the Symbioxys Lab’s website

Follow the lab on Instagram

Find more of Dr. Goffredi’s work on Google Scholar

Read the discussed article on Feather Dusters

Read the discussed article on Deep Sea Anenome

Here’s a third on ‘Marine Vampires

Find more of Dr. Goffredi’s science outreach on Science Friday

Episode Transcript  and more information on the Pine Forest Media website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese 

Cover art by Jomiro Eming

Theme music by Nela Ruiz

Listen to South Pole on Spotify or Apple Podcasts | Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

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Glowing sharks & blue beaches spark curiosity— journey with marine ecophysiologist Dr. Laurent Duchâtelet into the luminous world of ocean bioluminescence. Discover how lantern sharks, dragonfish, plankton and more deploy living light for hunting, hiding and flirting; why wavelengths shift from blue to green to rare red; and how decoding luciferin–luciferase chemistry is powering pollution sensors and cancer diagnostics. Guided by deep-sea ROV footage and decades of lab work, this conversation illuminates 90 independent evolutions of glow, the sport-utility of bio-light, and the urgent need to fund fundamental ocean science before these wonders wink out. If you’ve ever dreamed of swimming through spark-lit surf or marveled at fireflies, this episode reveals the science behind the magic—and what we still don’t know.

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Episode Guest: Dr. Laurent DuChatelet

Learn more about Dr. Laurent DuChatelet at UCLouvain

Read Dr. DuChatelet’s article on Marine Bioluminescence.

Find more of  Dr. DuChatelet’s publications on Research Gate.

Blue Glowing Beaches Around the World 

Episode Transcript  and more information on the Pine Forest Media website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese 

Cover art by Jomiro Eming

Theme music by Nela Ruiz

Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to South Pole on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why the UN declared an Ocean Decade - 

The United Nations Ocean Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) is more than a global framework—it’s a chance to rethink how science informs action. In this episode, Alison Clausen, Deputy Global Coordinator of the Ocean Decade at UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, explains what the Decade is aiming to achieve by 2030 and how its legacy will carry forward. We discuss the role of Indigenous and local knowledge, the meaning of “success” beyond the ten-year mark, and how upcoming international ocean conferences fit into the bigger picture. Whether you’re just hearing about the Ocean Decade for the first time or looking for context behind the headlines, this conversation offers a clear and timely introduction.

Episode Guest: Alison Clausen

Ocean Decade Website Here

10 Ocean Decade Challenges

Ocean Decade Actions

GenOcean to get involved in the Ocean Decade

Nice Ocean Conference Outcome Document here

Follow the UN Ocean Decade on Instagram @unoceandecade and LinkedIn here

Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese 

Cover art by Jomiro Eming

Theme music by Nela Ruiz

Listen to South Pole on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plastic straws and sea turtles collide in this episode featuring marine biologist Dr. Christine Figgener, whose viral 2015 video of a straw pulled from a turtle’s nose launched a global anti-plastic movement. We explore the long history of sea turtles, the modern threats they face from plastic pollution, and how science and activism can work together to drive change. From migration research to marine conservation, Dr. Figgener reflects on a decade of impact and the future of ocean health. Originally aired on Plastic Podcast, this episode is cross-posted on Oceanography due to the urgent overlap between ocean ecosystems and plastic waste.

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Episode Guest: Dr. Christine Figgener

Learn more about Dr. Christine Figgener on her website 

Follow Dr. Christine Figgener on Instagram @seaturtlebiologist

Order Dr. Christine Figgener’s book My Life with Sea Turtles 

Watch Dr. Christine Figgener’s video on YouTube

Find more of Dr. Christine Figgener’s work on Google Scholar

Learn more about sea turtle conservation at SEE Turtles

Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese 

Cover art by Jomiro Eming

Theme music by Nela Ruiz

Listen to South Pole on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover how Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) protect our oceans and why California is home to the largest connected network in the world. In this episode, we sit down with Jamie Blatter, climate specialist and tribal liaison at the California MPA Collaborative Network, to explore how MPAs are created, maintained, and measured for success. Learn about the science proving their impact, the importance of community and tribal partnerships, and the role of MPAs in addressing overfishing and climate change. From grassroots engagement to global conservation lessons, this conversation highlights how collaboration, equity, and identity shape the future of ocean stewardship—and why optimism comes from action.

Support our science communication by joining us on Patreon or sending us a gift on PayPal

Episode Guest: Jamie Blatter

Learn more about the California Marine Protected Area Collaborative Network

Find 500 Queer Scientists Here

Further Reading on Queer Ecology

Episode Transcript  and more information on the Pine Forest Media website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese 

Cover art by Jomiro Eming

Theme music by Nela Ruiz

Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to South Pole on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tiny ocean drifters are shaping Earth’s climate. Microzooplankton, some no larger than a grain of sand, are crucial players in the biological carbon pump — the system that moves carbon from the atmosphere into the deep sea for long-term storage. In this episode, PhD candidate Erin Jones explains how these single-celled organisms regulate climate, why their diversity matters, and what NASA’s EXORTS program is uncovering using satellites and DNA sequencing. From the invisible communities floating in seawater to the global carbon cycle, we explore how the ocean’s smallest creatures are connected to the planet’s biggest challenges. Discover why unlocking their secrets could reshape climate predictions — and why the future of carbon sequestration depends on them.

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Episode Guest: Erin Jones

Connect with Erin on LinkedIn

Learn more about the NASA EXPORTS Program

Episode Transcript  and more information on the Pine Forest Media website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese 

Cover art by Jomiro Eming

Theme music by Nela Ruiz

Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to South Pole on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.