Explore every episode of the podcast Skaana with Mark Leiren-Young
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camille Labchuk on Animal Rights and Wrongs | 15 May 2026 | 00:40:26 | |
Sometimes animals who hang out with humans need a vet. Sometimes they need a lawyer. The belugas at Marineland in Niagara Falls need both. Whales around the world need sanctuary. And sharks everywhere were saved by a Canadian law. Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, returns to Skaana to talk with host Mark Leiren-Young about fighting for animals who live in the water and on the land. "Some things did change and they're going in the right direction." Made in Canada, eh 🍁
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| When Orcas “Attack” – Alexandra Johnston on the world’s most infamous whales | 10 Jan 2026 | 00:54:28 | |
Iberian orca guardian, Alexandra Johnston, talks with Skaana host Mark Leiren-Young about hanging out with the world's most infamous orcas. On orcas as click-bait – the orcas who are “attacking” boats and how social media is creating orca hysteria. “Blue fin tuna is their main prey source. They are fish eaters, not boat eaters.” Alexandra Johnston. “I really feel these orcas have been used as click-bait for the last five years.” On the infamous White Gladys: “She's a part of this family that's fighting to survive. She's very authoritative, she's very dominant, she's very curious, but she's not this bloodthirsty tyrant leading this orca rebellion!” Made in Canada, eh 🍁 Skaana on social media: Mark on social media: Shownotes:2:22 Meet Alexandra Johnston – an “orca attack” survivor. 3:35 “These guys blew my mind… I was just fascinated from my first encounter.” – Alexandra Johnson 4:35 The first time she met an Iberian orcas and the magic of encountering their superpod. 6:34 Meeting the “infamous” White Gladys and her newborn baby, Atlas. 8:14 On the first time she saw a wild orca. 10:45 “It's something very spiritual with the southern residents, isn't it?” 14:35 “There is a big difference between their culture and their behaviour. When I talk about the Iberians -they're spicy, that's how I like to describe them. They are very curious.” 17:05 “Blue fin tuna is their main prey source. They are fish eaters, not boat eaters.” 17:50 On Iberian orca dialect. “They're screechy.” 22:23 On the Iberian orcas LONG history or interacting with boars and social media creating orca hysteria. 24:35 On the Jaws effect and “I really feel these orcas have been used as click-bait for the last five years.” 28:00 On the experience of being on a boat when an orca starts “interacting” with it. “I very seldom see these news articles mention that this population is critically endangered… People are taking weapons out into the water.” 32:10 On working with Ric O'Barry and the importance of focusing on the animals. 34:30 The legends and myths of the infamous White Gladys – the Luigi Mangione of orcas. Why Gladys? It comes from gladiator! “She's a part of this family that's fighting to survive. She's very authoritative, she's very dominant, she's very curious, but she's not this bloodthirsty tyrant leading this orca rebellion!” 37:28 The scoop on The Dolphin Project – if you're interested, please check out our recent interview with Dolphin Project founder, Ric O'Barry. 46:11 “I hope people are able to fall in love with them like everybody along the Peninsula here has to.” 47:10 Killer Whales – the song! Written and performed by Skaana host, Mark Leiren-Young.
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| Lummi Elder Squil-le-he-le on Her Relatives Beneath the Waves | 08 May 2025 | 00:54:17 | |
Squil-le-he-le – Lummi Elder and matriarch – on her relationship, and her nation's relationship, with the orca known as Lolita, Tokitae and Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut, the attempt to bring her home and sharing that story in the powerful new documentary Resident Orca. Resident Orca is now available on Crave in Canada and is still in festivals in the USA and around the world. “You can't separate Canada and the US… “Clean up our beaches. Stop using plastic. Talk to your electeds. And say it's enough. Breach the dams. It's enough, stop the pollution. It's enough, talk to Canada and let's join forces in saving that body of water that we all treasure and hold sacred. ” Made in Canada, eh 🍁 4:43 Meet Skay-la-hay-la – Lummi (Lhaq'temish) elder and martiarch. 5:24 On the naming and renaming of Lolita/Tokitae to Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut 7:00 On being related to the orcas. “Our relatives that live under the waves… We're related through cosmology.” 9:10 On the “round-up” that almost ended the southern resident orcas. 11:40 “They separated these babies from their mothers and there were several that were killed in the process and the captors didn't want to count them in their take. So they slit their bellies, filled them with gravel and sunk them.” 14:24 The orcas' memories of Penn Cove and the orca matriarch, Ocean Sun steering clear. “She never led her people back there to hunt. Ever… Ocean Sun led her people into the cove… and the one day they did ceremony.” 14:30 “They have traditions that mirror the Lhaq'temish people. * 16:32 Orca potlatches. “We mirror each others culture and traditions… they sing, they polatch, they surround in times of sorrow and loss to support the family.” 17:16 The Lhaq'temish take on salmon hats. “What we believe they are doing is they had feasted. That's their way to share. I've had enough. Have some.” 19:20 On getting involved with the documentary: “If you don't tell the story of her and her sacrifices. How will people know what they've done to her and her family.” 22:53 Squil-le-he-le on her journey to bring Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut home and becoming involved with the documentary, Resident Orca. 24:09 On the Lummi Nation stepping in to bring Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut home. “It was all led by culture, spirit and tradition.” 26:26 “The first time I saw qwe ‘lhol mechen ” 26:58 “The first time I saw her (Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut) was heart-breaking. She had no spirit left.” 29:20 On drumming to Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut. “She felt the healing. She accepted and welcomed the healing.” 31:31 On singing with Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut. “Trainers were crying… “Every week I would call. How's my relative? How's she doing?” 33:07 On her connection to Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut. “We were one.” 34:20 On moments that aren't in the documentary – like talking with Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut's long-time companion – a whitesided dolphin. 38:03 On the Lummi talking with orcas/qw'e lh'ol mechen. 43:15 On how to help the orca in the Salish Sea. Breach the dams! 46:50 Why people need to see Resident Orca. 50:35 “You can't separate Canada and the US… “Clean up our beaches. Stop using plastic. Talk to your electeds. And say it's enough. Breach the dramas. It's enough, stop the pollution. It's enough, talk to Canada and let's join forces in saving that body of water that we all treasure and hold sacred. ”
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| Mark Leiren-Young on Canadians Voting for the Ocean and Against Trump | 25 Apr 2025 | 00:34:14 | |
Skaana host Mark Leiren-Young breaks out his political pundit persona and talks about the Canadian election, how Trump upended the Canadian election and Canada and why that new baby orca needs a name NOW! A special audience Q&A episode with producer, Bug Lewis, asking the audience questions! “Don't vote for the guy who doesn't believe there's a problem with the climate.” Made in Canada, eh 🍁 1:30 Mark's background as a satirist and a political journalist and columnist. 3:00 Meet Skaana producer and audio engineer, Bug Lewis! 3:45 The scoop on the new J-pod baby – the Southern Resident orca – and why Suttles' new baby needs a name NOW! So for now, Mark names the baby “Bug!” 10:30 Who should a Canadian environmental voters vote for in this election? “Don't vote for the guy who doesn't believe there's a problem with the climate.” 12:00 Pierre Pollution boasts about being endorsed by Carbon Tax Campbell. The origin of Canadian carbon taxes. 16:00 Thoughts on our new – and hopefully future – Prime Minister, Mark Carney. 17:45 On not being a fan of the Green Party of Canada. “Here's where I'm going to break a few hearts… I do not think the Green party does what it does very effectively… I do not see a there there.” 20:35 The history of Skaana and our documentary about the past, present and future of the Southern Resident Orcas. 23:40 Trump's impact on Canada's election, Canadian politics and how Canada has changed since Trump started talking about taking over our country. 26:10 “The flag is back, baby.” 34:25 Forgive Us, We're Canadian – performed by Mark Leiren-Young and Mike McCormick from The Arrogant Worms.
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| Arno Kopecky on Canada’s Election Climate | 19 Apr 2025 | 00:44:07 | |
Arno Kopecky (author The Environmentalist's Dilemma) on covering Tory leader Pierre Pollution Poilievre's vs. the environment, Canadian eco-politics and the Greens vs. Greens. When Pierre's not Trumpy. And when he is. And what he'll ask Pierre Poilievre – if he ever gets to ask him a question. “He turned the carbon tax into kryptonite.” Made in Canada 🍁 Shownotes:4:25 On being the only journalist embedded with Canada's Conservative Campaign. 5:04 “It feels like a prolonged sort of Grateful Dead Festival festival tour meets the Freedom Convoy tour.” 7:05 Pierre's greatest hits… 10:52 On making sense of conspiracy theories. 12:18 Why Pierre and the Tories won't talk to reporters. “For the most part the Conservative entire machine is all about message control… it is very Trumpy.” 11:56 What Pierre Poiliviere doesn't want to talk about. 15:06 Where Pierre's not Trumpy. And where he is… 18:02 Why Pierre's declared the carbon tax public enemy #1. “He turned the carbon tax into kryptonite.” 19:48 On Pierre not talking about climate policy, except to mock it. 22:53 “The NDP has always been in a bit of a tricky place around environmental policies.” 23:40 The carbon tax is a very conservative solution… 26:16 On Mark Carney: “He's really quite literate on that file and he's built his career trying to convince the world's financial industries and bankers that climate change presents a massive existential threat to capitalism.” 28:30 On Carney: “I don't think he's the hero that we need but… it was his choice to go to rooms full of bankers in the halls of power in Europe and beyond. And tell them, you know, 10 years ago. “Listen, climate change is coming for us and we need to address it.” So I appreciate that.” 33:30 “The Green Party of Canada has become invisible.” 34:50 “It speaks volumes to me that a guy like Steven Guilbeault, who was arrested in 2001 [00:35:00] as Pierre Poliviere never tires of reminding us – for scaling the CN Tower and hanging a banner that said Bush and Canada are climate killers he was a Greenpeace activist, you know, literally as, as hardcore as it gets. Twenty years later when he runs for office, he doesn't join the Green Party. He joins the Liberal party and two years after that, he becomes the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.” 36:25 “The Greens have slid into irrelevance… I think it's going to be a grim election for the Greens.” 41:15 On voting this election. 41:50 What he'll ask Pierre Poiliviere – if he ever gets to ask him a question. Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Octopus Ocean – Shaking Hands With A Giant Pacific Octopus | 02 Apr 2025 | 00:12:10 | |
Shaking hands with a Giant Pacific Octopus… Skaana host Mark Leiren-Young shares an excerpt from his new book Octopus Ocean: Geniuses of the Deep. “Mark Leiren-Young’s Octopus Ocean gives young readers a wonderful sense of many aspects of the world of octopuses in a very clear, concise and interesting way. It makes the reader think, and it educates without preaching. This book is a door to the magnificent world of the octopus—a door that, if opened and explored, will bring much joy and connection.” – Craig Foster, star and producer of My Octopus Teacher, co-founder of the Sea Change Project. Made in Canada 🍁 Shownotes:3:33 The introduction to Octopus Ocean: Geniuses of the Deep. 4:52 How Storm arrived at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea. And got her name. 5:42 Meeting a Giant Pacific Octopus. 6:57 Feeding time. Her speed shocks me. 7:20 “Watching an octopus is like watching a dream.” 8:42 “Storm's deciding whether I'm friend, for or food.” 9:08 The first octopus I ever saw… at the Vancouver Aquarium! Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Lynda Mapes on Tahlequah’s Second Tour of Grief | 19 Mar 2025 | 00:37:02 | |
In 2018 Tahlequah captured the world's attention when she carried her dead daughter's body for seventeen days in what became known as the “tour of grief.” The human who shared that story with the world was Seattle Times reporter, Lynda Mapes. Tahlequah just lost another newborn daughter. She just completed a second tour of grief. And this time… the world wasn't watching. Lynda Mapes and Skaana host Mark Leiren-Young talk about why the media and the world wasn't tuned in this time, trolls who blame Tahlequah for her tragedies, the future and fate of Tahlequah and her family and the challenges facing everyone who cares about whales and the planet in 2025. “The way to think about these animals is as an ancient society.” – Lynda Mapes. Made in Canada 🍁 Shownotes:4:10 Meet Lynda Mapes. “It's a pretty catastrophic time.” 5:11 The difference between Tahlequah's first and second tour of grief. “It's not like the last time with six million people reading my stories.” 6:20 “She's still the ultimate media star.” 8:27 Remembering the first tour of grief and the attempts to save Scarlet (J-50). 10:04 “These animals define the region.” 10:25 “Look at the world right now… it's a pretty dire time in the US.” 11:15 “Some people blame her.” We interrupt this show note (Mark here) to say this makes me want to scream… 14:18 “This is a co-extinction.” 18:17 “What we have left we cannot lose.” 18:55 Is the biggest threat to the Southern Residents the Biggs transients? 20:00 “I'm afraid people are going to forget about the southern residents… they have a right to be here… the way to think about these animals is as an ancient society.” 23:44 Tour 2… “It isn't what it was…” 25:06 People trolling Tahlequah… 27:15 “We've taken away her food, we've taken away her territory…” 28:05 The future and fate of NOAA. “It's dire… it couldn't be a more serious situation for the environment and people who care about it. It's a scary time.” 30:02 “We're going to have to make profound changes in order to bring back salmon in greater numbers…” Cleaning up and trashing dams. 34:11 “The power of nature, the resilience of nature is thrilling and real.” Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Paul Watson – Free and Fighting! | 20 Feb 2025 | 00:41:50 | |
“In my lifetime I want to eradicate whaling.” – Paul Watson. Paul Watson is out of jail, back in France and still fighting for whales, dolphins, turtles, manatees and more. Paul Watson talks to Skaana host, Mark Leiren-Young, about his arrest and how it helped raise awareness about sketchy international arrest warrants, Japan's unjust justice system, illegal whaling, aggressive non-violence and his response to being called a “terrorist.” “I find it absolutely amazing that my case is being discussed at the highest levels of Japan… it really shows you how defensive they are about their illegal whaling operations.” Shownotes:3:10 Paul Watson on being released from prison in Greenland. 4:00 The politics behind his prison time. 6:48 “I find it absolutely amazing that my case is being discussed at the highest levels of Japan… it really shows you how defensive they are about their illegal whaling operations.” 8:00 “In the description, in the Red Notice, I'm described as an armed and extremely dangerous terrorist.” 8:57 Challenging Interpol. 10:20 His iconic status in France. 11:25 “I've been doing this for fifty years. I've never been convicted of a felony crime and I've never caused an injury to anybody… When anybody says, ‘people say you're a terrorist, what's your response.' I've never worked for Monsanto or Exxon.” 12:15 Explaining “aggressive nonviolence.” 13:43 On getting arrested. 14:58 His cell – with a view of whales. And other prisoners asking for autographs. 19:35 Receiving more than 5000 letters. 20:48 “I've been given political asylum in France.” 21:11 “If I go to Canada, I'll be immediately arrested.” 23:43 Why the French are so supportive. 28:38 Iceland vs. whales. 29:21 Paul Watson Foundation vs. Icelandic whalers and more – including protecting dolphins, turtles and manatees. 36:17 Paul Watson on how to support his work and what he's up to now and next. “In my lifetime I want to eradicate whaling.” 37:45 Why Paul Watson is willing to put his life on the line for whales. Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Eric Pelkey on BC’s Fishy Herring “Fishery” – “SHUT IT DOWN!” | 01 Jan 2025 | 00:27:16 | |
Let the Herring Live! Eric Pelkey is done pretending BC fishers should still be capturing herring. The Community Engagement Coordinator for the W̱SÁNEĆ leadership council talks about a proposed boycott, over-fishing, under-enforcement and the disappearance of a keystone species with significance to the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation and the entire eco-system of the Salish Sea. “Without the herring the salmon can't live. The sea lions can't live. The seals can't live. And if there's no salmon, the killer whales and the larger sea mammals can't live either. No salmon, no killer whales… The herring is a keystone species for the survival of life within the Salish Sea.” Shownotes:3:11 “The importance of herring to our people is immeasurable.” A trade item. A food source. And more. 6:31 “Herring and other fish provided a really substantial part of our diet… Not having that seafood and herring has really had a detrimental effect to the health of our people. Especially the First Nations women.” 10:20 How real is the herring “fishery” as an industry? 11:30 The history of herring fishing and when the herring were everywhere. 14:09 The Canadian government allowing over-fishing. “They went in there and took whole communities at once. And wiped them right out.” 15:10 “Without the herring the salmon can't live. The sea lions can't live. The seals can't live. And if there's no salmon, the killer whales and the larger sea mammals can't live either. No salmon, no killer whales… The herring is a keystone species for the survival of life within the Salish Sea.” 16:28 “The DFO is supposed to be the protector of the fish, of the sea… but the DFO speaks only to the commercial industry and listens only to them. And doesn't listen to us.” 17:45 “They're gonna do the same thing that they did on the east coast with the cod… it's like you're putting another arrow into the backs of the First Nations people.” 18:30 “They're willing to wipe out the herring for a few dollars more… for a few dollars.” 19:40 “Let the herring live!” 23:33 “Talk to your MLA or MP about the importance of herring.” 24:19 How long the moratorium should last – 20-25 years. Real science vs. pseudoscience. 25:32 His herring necklace. Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| #FreePaulWatson – It’s Up to You! | 13 Dec 2024 | 00:36:22 | |
A letter from Captain Paul Watson from prison in Greenland, an interview with Paul in prison and a plea for you – yes you – to help save his life. On December 18th, 2024, the government of Denmark will decide whether to send Captain Paul Watson to die in a Japanese prison. Please email the Danish Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard and ask for the immediate release of Captain Watson. Phone: +45 7226 8400 Mail: jm@jm.dk Sign The Free Paul Watson Petition at www.paulwatsonfoundation.org and contact any government official you can to demand his release. Use the hashtag #FREEPAULWATSON on all social media posts. For more about what you can do, visit the Captain Paul Watson Foundation. Shownotes:6:27 A letter from jail in Greenland from Captain Paul Watson to Skaana host, Mark Leiren-Young. 14:08 An interview with Paul Watson from prison in Nuuk, Greenland – courtesy of the Captain Paul Watson Foundation podcast. Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Andrew Lewin on Making Media Matter | 28 Nov 2024 | 00:39:52 | |
Andrew Lewin – host of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast – on Jaws vs. sharks, orcas vs. sharks, Asian carp and working with and against Canada's department of Fisheries and Oceans and how young people can and do change the world. “There's nothing scarier to a government than young people who care.” – Andrew Lewin Shownotes:4:35 Andrew Lewin on how Jaws still defines and defames sharks. Growing up on Jaws. “I was petrified to go in a pool… the original movie is still scary.” 9:44 Orca – A killer whale monster movie. “If anyone is gonna have revenge, orcas would do it.” 13:10 Explaining the Department of Fisheries and Oceans – “an interesting contradiction” and the Cohen Report vs. The DFO. 20:18 Were Canadian scientists really unmuzzled by the Canadian government? 20:48 Working for the DFO and sharing the stories of endangered carp. 23:08 “We protect what we love.” Andrew Lewin 25:40 “It takes a lot to get scientists crying.” Andrew Lewin 26:10 How documentaries duck solutions.”Tell them how to fix it… We don't talk enough about conservation projects. We don't talk enough about policy… There is nothing scarier than a motivated child who wants to protect the environment.” Andrew Lewin 27:50 “There's nothing scarier to a government than young people who care.” Andrew Lewin 28:40 On decolonizing conservation. Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Dr. Andrew Rosenberg on Trump vs. Science, Facts & The Planet | 05 Oct 2024 | 00:54:42 | |
Talking Trump vs. science, facts and the planet with Dr. Andrew Rosenberg. The former director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists and former director of NOAA on Project 2025, popping social media bubbles and why it is so friggin' important that Americans vote… And not for Trump. “Whatever your issue is, should you be concerned? Yes! …This is not a time to sit it out.” On Project 2025: “It’s worse than you think it is. No matter how bad you think it is, it’s worse.” Shownotes:4:11 Andrew Rosenberg explains what the Union of Concerned Scientists is concerned about and how the focus shifted from weapons to using science to spin for politicians. 7:00 “Everyone will ask what are you concerned about… until Mr. Trump was elected and then nobody needed to ask that question anymore because it was pretty obvious what we were concerned about.” 8:00 Trump’s wasn’t the first administration to distort facts. “Everything that was talked about the facts became whatever Mr. Trump said they were at any given moment and that was not the same thing from one moment to the next. And in our current presidential campaign that’d gotten even worse.” 8:52 The futility of fact-checking when “everybody’s in their little bubbles in the social media age.” 11:06 Why the Trump administration kept losing their challenges in court and how Project 2025 will stop the courts from ignoring laws. 11:51 “We also leaned into the ideas that scientists can and should be much more active in the political process.” And the resistance to that… 16:45 How to challenge lies. What works, what doesn’t and why. “We’re not going to turn everybody into scientists.” 22:07 The impact of COVID and isolation on fact based reality. 23:10 “Anybody can say anything on social media.” 28:45 On Project 2025: “It’s worse than you think it is. No matter how bad you think it is, it’s worse.” 33:41 “President Trump was frustrated that people didn’t just do what he wanted.” ‘cause laws and consciences… 35:20 “It’s 900 pages long and covers every agency.” The end of NOAA… the end of science and research… and privatizing the weather service and…. yeah it’s worse… 37:00 Everybody becomes a political appointee… You’re fired! “You would choose people based on their loyalty, not their expertise.” 39:15 Sharpiegate! How Trump moved a hurricane – so he could send money to a state he liked. 43:25 You can imagine what it will be like if he’s back in office. It will be worse… things will get a lot worse.” 44:00 “There’s no tethering to facts at all… it’s just whatever he happens to think about it at a given time. 48:04 BC water moving to California? 49:00 “I don’t believe he understands the sovereignty of other nations. Or cares.” 55:00 What you can do… 51:25 “Whatever your issue is, should you be concerned? Yes!” 51:52 “This is not a time to sit it out.” Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Chilling With Polar Bears with Cate Collins | 11 Dec 2025 | 00:44:26 | |
Have you ever met a polar bear? They're the fiercest animal on earth, one of the most iconic and one of the most chill – in every possible way. Cate Collins – the lead scientist/science translator – for polar bear tours to Churchill, Manitoba, talks with Skaana host Mark Leiren-Young about hanging out with polar bears, polar bear mating and the impact of the climate crisis on their habits and habitat. “They are the top of the food chain… and they don't have too much to be scared of.” – Cate Collins Made in Canada, eh 🍁 Skaana on social media: Mark on social media: Shownotes:2:20 Meet Cate Collins – polar bear expert. 3:42 The first time she saw a polar bear. 6:15 The bears… they've grown accustomed to our face(s). “They are the top of the food chain… and they don't have too much to be scared of.” 8:38 Buggy love… 9:22 Polar bear jail and how to deal with the prisoners. 15:37 The ins and outs of Polar bear mating. 18:27 On why polar bears are marine mammals and the bears who never leave the ice. 23:00 On the impact of the vanishing ice and the challenges for bears and their babies. 27:15 Polar bear diets – LIPOVORES! Yep, they are fat-eaters. 31:18 “Their paws are like the size of dinner plates… seeing how massive they are is just incredible.” 33:51 Dancer and polar bear celebrities. 44:26 The discovery of a new polar bear population in Greenland – bears adapting to the changing climate.
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| Podcaster Andrew Lewin On Protecting the Oceans | 11 Sep 2024 | 00:27:42 | |
Andrew Lewin – host of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast – on teaching the world about oceans, myth-busting fake facts and falling for the oceans from his home in Ontario. “This is what people should be talking about.” Shownotes:3:25 How Andrew Lewin fell for the oceans and marine biology. 5:18 The first time Andrew saw a whale. 6:47 Finding Flipper and falling for dolphins. “You have this sense of awe when you look at dolphins.” Can dolphins be, um, jerks? 8:45 Talking orcas – including the orcas who eat great white sharks. 11:20 The origin of How to Protect the Oceans podcast and the mission to educate. 17:20 “My why is just change somebody's life.” 18:52 The challenge of fighting fake facts and junk science. “The goal is to inform.” Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| 16-year-old Rylee Brooke on Young People Saving the Planet | 21 Aug 2024 | 00:30:50 | |
Sixteen-year-old Hawaiian environmental activist Rylee Brooke hasn't just been fighting for the environment – and the rights of keiki (young people) – since the age of eight, she's teaching other young people and adults how to make change and make laws. Adventures in changing things locally and globally, making the case for Vote 16 and proving that young people can do pretty much anything – including inspiring law-makers to do better. Shownotes:3:30 Meet Rylee Brooke. “I kind of grew up doing community service.” 7:12 Starting “The Plastics Project” and sparking youth-run beach clean-ups at age eight. 8:20 How 15 kids clean up 500 pounds of plastic. In one day! 10:20 The power of social media. And the local grapevine. 12:45 Learning to create law – and teaching young people how to create laws. “I got into writing my own bills…” 15:40 “I was asked to be part of the first youth-led conservation case… I was one of the thirteen plaintiffs on that.” 20:00 Vote 16 and the fight to lower the voting age in Hawaii and throughout the US. 22:08 Shark diving with Ocean Ramsey. 23:23 “I think just a kid coming in to speak is really powerful.” On getting comfortable talking to politicians and crowds. 28:24 Advice for other young people and, really, everyone. “It's really figuring out what you're passionate about.” Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| The King & Queen of OctoNation | 10 Jul 2024 | 00:27:58 | |
Sy Montgomery (author: Soul of an Octopus) and Warren Carlyle (founder of OctoNation) on friendly octopuses, the Mayor of Octopus City, and their top octopus secrets from their new book Secrets of the Octopus that accompanies the National Geographic TV series. Second of a two-part interview about the wild world of octopuses! “We're in the age of octopus,” Sy Montgomery. Shownotes:2:28 How the books Secrets of the Octopus and Soul of the Octopus informed the TV series and vice versa. 4:10 How OctoNation raised the profile of octopus photographers and vice versa. 7:02 Favourite octopus secrets – more social than anyone imagines. “They certainly are not all solitary”. 8:30 Octopolis & Octlantis and the Mayor of Octopus City. 9:02 Octopus hunting with other species. 11:15 “I’m taking my vitamins because I want to be on this planet to learn more secrets of the octopus.” Sy Montgomery. 11:25 The tiny hairy octopus aka the Chewboctopus! 12:49 Hanging out with a hippo. “I always felt that animals were my people… I’ve always felt more at home with animals than with people.” Sy Montgomery. 14:54 Meeting an octopus at age 7 – Warren. 16:00 “We're just a blip on the radar of life compared to the octopus.” Warren Carlyle. 17:54 The first time Sy saw an octopus. 18:25 “This is someone. It's not someTHING. It's someONE. And they are as curious about you as you are about them.” Sy Montgomery. 21:15 Sy Montgomery on meeting Athena the octopus. Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| The Beyonce of Octopuses and The OctoKing on Why Octopuses Needed a Publicist | 19 Jun 2024 | 00:33:55 | |
Sy Montgomery (Soul of an Octopus) and Warren Carlyle (founder of OctoNation) on octopuses taking over the media, the origins of OctoNation, why octopuses needed a publicist and some of the secrets of octopus from their new book Secrets of the Octopus that accompanies the National Geographic TV series. First of a two-part interview about all things octopus! Shownotes:0:01 Meet author Sy Montgomery. 0:13 Meet Warren Carlyle “the PR agent for the octopus.” 3:50 How Sy met Warren. 4:25 Warren’s journey from high fashion to the deep ocean. 5:32 The origins of OctoNation: “When the Beyonce of octopus people tells you to do something, you just do it.” – Warren Carlyle 6:41 Octopus used to be monsters! 10:06 “It's the golden age for octopus appreciation. For octopus research. And I think this is a great opportunity for the ocean in general. What better ambassador can you imagine than somebody who's got the equivalent of nine brains and eight arms.” – Sy Montgomery. 13:00 Octopuses can give themselves manicures… we kind of laid the red carpet for “My Octopus Teacher.” 14:57 The impact of OctoNation. “Appreciation for the octopus has just exploded.” 16:00 Sy: “They are not some slimy gross monster. They are super smart. They are superheroes with superpowers. And yet they are enough like us that you can be friends with an octopus.” 18:45 Sy: “We're in the age of octopus.” 18:50 Warren: “The way that I view Sy… Sy has this insatiable desire to hang out with animals all the time… All OctoNation is is really a reflection of Sy's light.” 23:47 The blanket octopus! 28:08 Connecting with National Geographic. 32:10 Octopus have their own hunting fish the way humans have hunting dogs! Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Getting the Poop on Orca Genetics, Species, Names and Really Old Whales With NOAA Scientists Tom Jefferson & Kim Parsons | 05 Jun 2024 | 00:29:36 | |
NOAA scientists Kim Parsons & Tom Jefferson on orca species, orca survival, orca scat, really old whales, the return of harbour porpoises, the fight for vaquitas and so much more in the second part of a special two-part episode on the two soon-to-be official species of orcas who call the Salish Sea home. Shownotes:2:29 The challenge of naming new animals… scientific names, the names we use and the politics of naming. Yes, we're sticking with Residents & Bigg's. 5:15 How many orca species are there? The challenges of collecting data. 7:01 The genetic challenges facing the southern resident orcas. 10:09 Not enough J-pod baby-daddies. 12:32 “I think we need some optimism here…” a happy story about harbour porpoises. “There may be hope for this species after all. We know what the problems are… if we can make enough compromises in our own behaviour to reduce those threats, I think there's good reason for being optimistic that the future of southern resident killer whales can still look quite bright.” 14:50 Biological and chronological ages. 19:30 The latest on the vanishing vaquitas – the most endangered marine mammal in the world. Are there only 10 left? “As long as there's one male and one female left in the population there's a chance for them to survive.” 23:20 Talking poop about orcas. And orca poop. “I spent a lot of time working with killer whale poop… I've collected a lot of poop in my time.” 24:55 Is there another orca species in Alaska? Probably! How many species are there? “We may be looking at six or maybe eight species… maybe more.” 26:58 Improvements in understanding orca health and their environments. Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Killer Whales Versus Orcas & Big Bigg’s Whale News with NOAA Scientists Tom Jefferson & Kim Parsons | 22 May 2024 | 00:30:21 | |
NOAA scientists Kim Parsons & Tom Jefferson on killer whale science, killer whales versus orcas, orcas versus dolphins, how science becomes official, the challenges of translating science to civilians and so much more in the first of a special two-part episode on the two soon to be official species of orcas who call the Salish Sea home. Shownotes:3:45 Meet marine mammal biologist, Tom Jefferson. 4:21 Meet molecular geneticist, Kim Parsons. 5:10 Orcas or killer whales? And how to pronounce orcinus orca. 6:35 Orcas vs. whales/dolphins vs. Delphinidae and confusion over “common names.” 10:35 Talking taxonomy: splitting orca populations into two species. 12:55 Exploring orca genetics. 17:38 What's in a name? Taxonomists reviewing splitting up species. And making the species designation official. Ish. 20:10 How to tell the difference between types of orcas. 24:31 Early observations of killer whales and how and why they got their names. 26:16 Naming the two orcas – the scientific names and the names we'll all use… Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Eco-Pirate and Eco-Church Founder Paul Watson on Fighting for Whales and Phytoplankton, Launching Neptune’s Navy and Daring Iceland to Arrest Him | 08 May 2024 | 00:47:13 | |
Eco-pirate Paul Watson talks about taking on whalers in Iceland and Japan, splitting with the Sea Shepherd, launching an eco-church and what the hell just happened in his world with Skaana host Mark Leiren-Young (author of Sharks Forever & Orcas Everywhere). “We're ecologically ignorant. And unless we learn to educate ourselves, we're not going to survive.” Shownotes:4:45 Paul Watson on how he landed in Paris and why he's only working with Sea Shepherd France & Brazil. 5:40 “They said I was too controversial. Too confrontational.” 9:20 On being an international fugitive. And the disappearance of his Interpol Red Notice. 19:00 “We'll rebuild it.” On the split with Sea Shepherd Global, his new boat and the dangers of sponsors. 21:40 On radically retiring Sea Shepherd vessels. 22:18 “The three most valuable things – courage and imagination and passion.” 22:30 What's in a name? Neptune's Pirates, Neptune's Navy and The Captain Paul Watson Foundation 23:43 Taking action in Iceland and saving whales by taking on “modern Ahab” Kristján Loftsson. “I'm not really concerned about getting arrested.” Why he'd like to be arrested in Iceland. 28:14 Chasing super-trawlers and the importance of saving krill. 30:30 The return of Japanese whalers – with a new factory ship. And preparing to take on a faster ship. 33:45 Shifting baselines and rebranding fish like pollock becoming artificial crab. “Who wants to buy a toothfish… It all comes down to marketing.” 35:10 “We're overfishing the ocean.” The need for a 75 year moratorium on mechanized fishing. 35:40 The fight for phytoplankton. “If phytoplankton disappear from the ocean, we die… The ocean dies, we die.” 37:15 “We're ecologically ignorant. And unless we learn to educate ourselves, we're not going to survive.” 38:20 Founding the Church of Biocentrism and the dangers of anthropocentrism. 45:30 “We can't have a viewpoint that it was all created for us and we're the only species that matters.” Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Melody Horrill: On Saving Dolphins and Her Book About The Dolphin Who Saved Her | 26 Jan 2024 | 00:39:51 | |
Author, broadcaster and activist Melody Horrill (The Dolphin Who Saved Me) talks about saving the Port River dolphins and how a dolphin named Jock saved her with Skaana host Mark Leiren-Young (author of Sharks Forever & Orcas Everywhere). “Dolphins do have a special place in our hearts… They help us connect to the water and the natural world.” Shownotes:5:10 Meet the Port River dolphins. And find out why they're in trouble. 10:20 “I made it my single-minded mission to let everyone know in South Australia that these dolphins existed. They're here.” 11:10 “They do have a special place in our hearts… They help us connect I think to the water and the natural world.” 11:50 On the Port River becoming a dolphin sanctuary and how her documentary helped change minds and laws. 15:23 Is the sanctuary really dolphin-friendly? 15:46 The first time she saw a dolphin. 16:51 Meeting Jock. 19:35 “Little did I know at that time that Jock would end up being my best friend. And lead me out of a place that I didn't think was possible. Immediately I just felt this connection to this solitary dolphin. He was by himself… he just seemed adrift and alone. So from my perspective it was this instant recognition of another being that I felt compassion for and a connection with.” 22:20 “He accepted me in a way that I'd never been accepted in my life before.” 24:20 “He taught me a lot about forgiveness.” 25:07 “He forced me to live in the moment… we're not feeding him, we're not enticing him. There's no other reason for him to hang out with me other than he just wants to. How mind-blowing is that?… It made me realize love was possible.” 26:00 Helping Jock meet and interact with other dolphins. “He taught me about courage.” 29:59 “We really tried to keep his friendliness quiet.” Jock following her boat. 32:34 Connecting with Jane Goodall and the Jane Goodall Institute. Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| David Shiffman: On Jaws, Sharknados, Megalodon-Mania and Shark Week Vs. Sharks | 12 Jan 2024 | 00:38:32 | |
Author and marine conservation biologist David Shiffman (Why Sharks Matter) talks about Sharkweek, Sharknados, megalodon myths, Jaws and junk science with Skaana host Mark Leiren-Young (author of Sharks Forever & Big Sharks, Small World). “More people are bitten by other people on the New York city subway system every year than are bitten by sharks in the whole world… but whenever any shark gives someone side eye anywhere in the world, it's headline news everywhere in the world.” Shownotes:4:10 “Jaws has had a really transformative impact. For sharks mostly bad.” How Jaws changed everything for sharks and meeting Richard Dreyfuss. “The movie is just so good.” 5:05 “It's really changed the world. Before Jaws came out most people really didn't think about sharks at all.” 5:56 “Spielberg has a lot to answer for here.” 6:23 The Jaws Effect. “It refers to how fictional portrayals of a real world issue can affect how people really think about that issue. In reality.” 7:36 Watching The Shark is Broken – the Jaws play – on Broadway! 10:14 On the impact of Sharknado! “I love those goofy, bad shark movies… there are two kinds of shark movies – there are bad shark movies and there's Jaws.” And how Sharknado funded his PhD work. 13:18 “It's just frigging weird how much this goofy Saturday night basic cable movie has escaped its cage and entered the cultural zeitgeist.” 13:44 “Here's a crazy story for you…” How Sharknado may have launched Donald Trump's political career. 16:04 On being Sharkweek's number one critic “I'm very critical of the dumpster fire of nonsense and lies that they show every year.” 17:33 “I could rant about how bad Sharkweek is… forever.” And how Sharkweek does nothing to help sharks. “Sharkweek and I are not besties.” 17:48 There are more dudes named Mike on Sharkweek than there are women… even though in real life 60% of shark experts are women. 19:37 Great white sharks are mentioned in 40% of newspaper stories about endangered sharks – even though they're not one of the most endangered species… All anyone wants to talk or write about… great white sharks. 21:00 Getting people to care about the bigger picture…”One thing that does change people's minds is “yes, and…”” 25:44 Talking 24 and sharks. “All of the species of sharks in the world combined have killed a lot fewer people than Jack Bauer has killed on-screen. Not even counting his off-screen exploits.” 26:34 “More people are bitten by other people on the New York city subway system every year than are bitten by sharks in the whole world… but whenever any shark gives someone side eye anywhere in the world, it's headline news everywhere in the world.” 27:46 “Seeing a shark swimming close to the beach is not news. That's where they're supposed to be.” 28:00 A toy story – myth busting a fake goblin shark. 31:18 The megalodon conspiracy! “They were very cool – but they've been extinct for millions of years.” 33:38 The importance of public science engagement. 34:54 A new treaty that may help save sharks – and other species. Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Gloria Pancrazi: On Endangered Orcas, Endangered Humans and Making Movies that Change the World | 24 Dec 2023 | 00:31:26 | |
Filmmaker Gloria Pancrazi (Coextinction) talks with Skaana host Mark Leiren-Young about red herrings, fishy fish farms, whale watching, whale saving and Coextinction. “Orcas are telling us something. They’re showing us something. You can learn a lot about the things we’ve got to do in the world right now by looking at these orcas.” Shownotes:3:35 Meet Gloria Pancrazi and how the story of love for orcas turned into a mission to save the southern resident orcas. 6:12 “A lot of politicians like to blame whale watchers because then they can accept a pipeline that’s going to increase tanker traffic by seven- fold… you can go on and on about the impact of the Trans Mountain pipeline and how it's going to impact southern resident orcas.” 8:38 “One of the biggest points of the movie is that everything is connected… it's hard to pick one big issue.” 11:50 “It always fascinated us how the orcas are telling us something. They’s showing us something. You can learn a lot about the things we’ve got to do in the world right now by looking at these orcas.” 13:18 “They are each other’s home and we’re destroying that home.” 13:38 The first time she saw a whale: 15:35 Working for Cetus's Straitwatch program in Canada and SoundWatch in the US and the challenges of keeping orcas safe from small boats. 22:04 Visiting OrcaLab. “It's magical up there.” 25:28 The impacts of colonization and colonial trauma. 27:50 Where and how to see Coextinction. Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Flipper Trainer Ric O’Barry on his journey from SeaWorld to Sanctuaries | 13 Oct 2025 | 00:56:57 | |
Legendary dolphin trainer turned anti-captivity icon Ric O'Barry on his journey from catching and training Flipper to going to jail to save dolphins. Skaana host Mark Leiren-Young dives into The Dolphin Project, the making of the Academy Award-winning documentary The Cove and his upcoming fundraiser in Victoria, BC. “I started sympathizing with the dolphins and I could see things from their point of view. And I still do, I still do that. Every decision I make regarding whatever I get into a situation, I don't know exactly what to do, I try and see it from their perspective and make decisions based on that. I've always done that. We still do that.” – Ric O'Barry Made in Canada, eh 🍁 Skaana on social media: Mark on social media: Shownotes:2:42 Meet Ric O'Barry. 3:12 “I'm always either underwater, in a boat or in an airplane.” Working on a dolphin sanctuary in Italy. 4:34 The first dolphin sanctuary and the evolution of sanctuaries… with the help of Stephen Stills (from Crosby, Stills & Nash) 7:00 On not loving Marineland (in Canada) “Protesting works… This is a multi-billion dollar industry. They have the money to clean up their own mess, but they never do that.” 12:55 “Sanctuaries are the beginning of the end of this multi-billion dollar industry and they know that. So they're fighting it.” 20:26 On the impact of The Cove and his new upcoming documentary – Freeing Flipper. “Awareness is the first step. And that's what these films do. They make people aware.” 24:19 Christmas Day, 1955 – the visit to the aquarium that changed his world. Moving from diving for the navy to diving with dolphins. And capturing dolphins. “When Flipped came along it was like getting on a rocket ship” Living with Flipper. And becoming the first person to train dolphins underwater. 30:00 On thinking like a dolphin: “I started sympathizing with the dolphins and I could see things from their point of view. And I still do, I still do that. Every decision I make regarding whatever I get into a situation, I don't know exactly what to do, I try and see it from their perspective and make decisions based on that. I've always done that. We still do that.” 31:00 On catching and selling dolphins. For $300! 34:20 When one of the Flipper's died in his arms… “that's when I went ballistic.” The origins of his activism and civil disobedience. Earth Day, 1970. And going to jail for dolphins. 41:40 On Joni Mitchell , David Crosby and other stars singing for dolphins. 49:40 “At 7:30 I would take the television set, it had about a 300 foot extension cord, and I would take it down to the end of the dock so Flipper could watch Flipper on TV… If they're really my friend, why am I keeping them in captivity?.” 50:10 The real names of dolphins – the ones they give each other. 52:01 “I've had a lifetime of once in a lifetime experiences.” 52:30 On his upcoming fundraising visit to Victoria.
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| Danna Staaf: On Alien Octopuses, Squid Squads and Why Baby Animals Rule | 18 Oct 2023 | 00:48:31 | |
Cephalopod expert Danna Staaf (author of The Lady and the Octopus and Monarchs of the Sea) talks with Skaana host Mark Leiren-Young about the alien world of octopuses, the secret lives of squid and her two new books Nursery Earth: The Wondrous Lives of Baby Animals and the Extraordinary Ways They Shape Our World and The Lives of Octopuses and Their Relatives: A Natural History of Cephalopods. “They are definitely our fellow earthlings and some of the oddest ones we share the planet with.” Shownotes:3:20 Meet Danna Staaf. “They are extremely intelligent animals with extremely short life-spans.” 6:12 Meet Danna Staaf’s first pet octopus – Serendipity. 12:32 “There’s this tension between the alien and the familiar in them.” And octopus decor… 13:50 “They are definitely our fellow earthlings and some of the oddest ones we share the planet with.” 15:49 How and why cephalopods lost their shells. 22:15 The difference between octopus and squid. “Squid basically evolved for swimming and for speed.” 25:10 “Cephalopods are amazing.” 27:13 “These are real animals that inspired a lot of myths and legends.” 28:35 “Squid are like the protein bars of the oceans.” 31:30 Squid squads! 32:36 Baby animals doot doot doot doot – Danna Staff’s new baby book! 34:31 “At any given moment, most of the animals on earth are babies… I find all of them to be adorable in their own ways.” 41:20 Her favourite odd octopus facts… donut brains! 42:17 “I love asking what if questions about nature and about science.” 44:20 How humans are threatening octopuses and the health of the oceans. Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Jason Colby: On the Capture of Toki/Tokitae/Lolita/Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut and How Penn Cove Almost Ended the Southern Resident Orcas | 13 Sep 2023 | 00:26:05 | |
Jason Colby (author of Orca: How We Came to Know and Love the Ocean's Greatest Predator) talks with Skaana host Mark Leiren-Young about the capture of Toki/Tokitae/Lolita/Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut and how Penn Cove almost ended the southern resident orcas and was the beginning of the end of the capture era. “It's worth remembering that the argument at the time, if there could have been a debate at the time, it was really between whale catching and whale shooting, not whale catching and whale watching.” Shownotes:0:00 The voice of Toki. 4:08 Jason Colby on writing the book – or at least a very long chapter of his book – on Penn Cove. 6:05 “They eventually capture virtually all of these orcas behind nets. They estimate at the time around 90 individuals… The estimates vary but almost certainly the entire population of the Southern residents.” 7:43 “It's worth remembering that the argument at the time, if there could have been a debate at the time, it was really between whale catching and whale shooting, not whale catching and whale watching.” 8:50 “Once they rounded them up, 90 to 100 animals, if Ted Griffin and his company would have wanted to and would have had the market to sell all 90 of them they could have done that. If they had wanted to shoot them all in the nets, they could have done that. There may have been a firearms violation, but there would be no sort of conservation law violation.” 10:30 “This must have been horrifically traumatic for these pods to be torn apart.” 11:20 How activists trying to free the orcas accidentally kill four baby orcas. 12:20 Hiding the bodies… “Whether it was illegal or not, it looks like a murder scene.” 14:20 Is Toki really L Pod or did she learn how to speak L Pod from Hugo in Miami? 20:04 “It was a generational loss.” 21:20 “If Griffin had done what the fisherman who was helping him demanded – which is to sell all of them all – you could have seen the entire population of Southern residents extinguished before we had even identified them scientifically as a population.” 23:00 How to help orcas today and the problems humans are creating for orcas today. 26:04 Toki talks. Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Howard Garrett: On the Life and Death of the Orca Toki/Tokitae/Lolita/Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut | 31 Aug 2023 | 00:42:41 | |
Howard Garrett (Orca Network) remembering the southern resident orca Toki/Tokitae/Lolita/Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut and his nearly thirty year fight to bring Toki home to the Salish Sea. “Toki's legacy is building, building, building by the day… She wasn't just a circus animal. She was a member of the southern residents.” Shownotes:0:00 The voice of Toki. 7:50 “I really feel like she would have thrived and been thrilled and so relieved to be in her familiar waters.” 14:16 A superpod wake for Toki? 15:55 The Lummi Nation's fight for Toki. 20:05 The origins of Toki's names and becoming Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut. 21:44 “Her tank violated the very dismal standard of the animal welfare act…” 30:15 Getting the news that she was gone. 34:00 Toki's legacy. 43:00 Toki speaks. Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Rowena Rae on How We Can Save Salmon, the Fish Farm Jail-Break & Unlocking the Mysteries of a Keystone Species | 16 Aug 2023 | 00:35:27 | |
Author and biologist Rowena Rae on swimming with salmon, threats to this essential species and their incredible resilience with Skaana host Mark Leiren-Young. “Salmon can thrive if we just give them a chance… if people would just get out of the way, they can thrive”. Shownotes: 3:54 On becoming a biologist and leaving biology for writing. 9:20 Introducing Rachel Carson and the importance of Silent Spring. 12:20 Swimming with salmon. 14:07 Keystone species and why they matter. Humans Vs. Salmon; almost everything eats salmon — salmon as “eco-system engineers”. 23:44 How to save Chinook salmon. 26:09 The fish farm jail-break in Washington State. 28:50 On the resilience of nature and salmon, and why to have hope. “They’re tenacious, they hang on … salmon can thrive if we just give them a chance”. 31:30 How we can help salmon. Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Alessandro De Maddalena on Hunting for the Perfect Shark Photo and the Orcas Hunting Great White Sharks | 28 Jul 2023 | 00:51:01 | |
Shark expert Alessandro De Maddalena talks with Skaana host Mark Leiren-Young about hunting for the perfect shark photo, the two orcas who are hunting great white sharks in South African waters, what makes great whites great and so much more! “The reason I love sharks is that they are a perfect art form. I consider Mother Nature the greatest artist.” Shownotes: 4:22 How Alessandro De Maddalena fell for sharks as a kid and why sharks are cooler than dinosaurs.9:00 Why he thinks the great white is great: “the first time I was watching a great white underwater it was magic… The reason I love sharks is that they are a perfect art form. I consider Mother Nature the greatest artist.”13:10 Perfect predators and perfect book titles.17:01 How little sharks care about humans. “Sharks care very little about humans. In most cases they don't care at all.”21:40 “The fear was born with Jaws…”27:50 “People like to be afraid. People like monsters. People also like to create monsters.”28:44 Leading Great White Shark expeditions.33:40 His three best moments with sharks.37:15 The truth behind the orcas attacking sharks in South Africa. No they are not a major threat to the great white shark population!Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Sean Holman on Fighting for Facts and Holding Onto Hope as the World Burns | 12 Jul 2023 | 00:32:42 | |
Sean Holman @Seanholman founder and lead of the Climate Disaster Project @cdp_community talks with Skaana host Mark Leiren-Young @leirenyoung about the past and future of the media's climate coverage, fighting fires with facts and sharing stories to save the future. Shownotes: 5:00 Welcome Sean Holman. Why he challenged journalists to do better in their climate coverage.10:57 The challenge of news cycles moving faster than science15:10 “There is a lot that we can individually do about combat climate change creating collective action around that. as an example In the United States if everyone switched from eating beef to beans the United States would have actually met the greenhouse gas targets that were set by Obama.”16:34 ““Almost all of us are climate disaster survivors in one way shape or form but many of us are also perpetrators of climate change as well in our individual lives.”17:01 Climate impact on the oceans.21:53 Climate impact on the economy23:44 How the smoke from the 2017 BC Wildfire season changed the way he saw the world26:40 The origins of the Climate Disaster Project and the importance of creating community29:33 What gives Sean Holman hopeSkaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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Photo via the BC Wildfire Service. Subscribe to the Skaana newsletter at Substack: https://skaanapod.substack.com/Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/skaanaHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Decimating the Deep: The Dangers of Ocean Floor Mining With Jonathan Mesulam | 21 Jun 2023 | 00:34:34 | |
Jonathan Mesulam @MesulamJonathan Founder and Coordinator of the West Coast Development Foundation in New Guinea talks with Skaana host Mark Leiren-Young @leirenyoung about the crucial fight to stop Deep Sea Mining in his home – New Guinea – and around the world. Shownotes: 5:00 Welcome to Jonathan Mesulam10:00 The importance of the church in fighting sea bed mining in New Guinea12:20 Calling out Canada for allowing Canadian companies to mine in the waters off other countries14:49 “No one knows the risk.”16:23 On displacing communities. “If the sea is destroyed where are people going to get food?”21:40 On leaving teaching to fight for the oceans.25:12 “This fight is not really about us, it's about everyone.”27:00 All the places the sign we carried has traveled.28:32 What he'd like Canadians to do. “We're looking at the Pacific Ocean and it's connecting you and me.Any activity on the Pacific Ocean is going to affect your coastline as well. The sea has no boundary… Canadians really need to speak up… Canadians should say no to sea bed mining… This project is a Canadian initiation.”Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Sharks Don’t Want to Eat You! Mark Leiren-Young’s New Book Sharks Forever | 15 Mar 2023 | 00:14:42 | |
Skaana (@Skaanapod) host Mark Leiren-Young (@LeirenYoung) shares the introduction and opening chapter of his new book Sharks Forever: The Mystery and History of the Planet’s Perfect Predator published by Orca Book Publishers (@orcabook). “If you swim in the ocean every day for 100 years, you are more likely to be struck by lightning than swallowed by a shark.” – Mark Leiren-Young from Chapter 1, Sharks Forever. Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Shark Myths and Mysteries with Mark Leiren-Young | 16 Nov 2022 | 00:38:43 | |
Skaana (@Skaanapod) host Mark Leiren-Young (@leirenyoung) talks sharks, Sharkwater (@teamsharkwater) and politics with Joseph Planta (@Planta) on a special shared episode with Planta On the Line @TheCommentary.ca Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Director Josh Zeman on a Lonely Whale, Lonely People and the Search for 52 Blue | 02 Nov 2022 | 00:32:59 | |
Director Josh Zeman (@joshzeman) on the quest for the loneliest whale in the world and shifting his focus from human mysteries to marine mysteries with his movie, The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52. “Just when you think you’ve had too much devil-worshipping and serial killers, you go and you spend a day working on whales and everything’s okay again.” Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Misty MacDuffee on the Southern Resident Orcas and the Threat of Bright Extinction | 29 Sep 2025 | 00:58:15 | |
Salmon expert Misty MacDuffee on shrinking salmon, damn dams and what needs to be done NOW to save the iconic southern resident orcas. Skaana host Mark Leiren-Young dives into the Raincoast Conservation Foundation's report on what needs to be done to save these whales with one of the report's authors. “The solutions that government has focused on have not helped the whales and in some cases have perpetuated the problem that’s facing the whales.” Made in Canada, eh 🍁 Skaana on social media: Mark on social media: Shownotes:2:34 Salmon expert Misty MacDuffee on the report from 31 experts on how to save the southern resident orcas from “bright extinction.” This population will be fully extinct within the next 100 years if we don’t turn this situation around. 6:50 The importance of saving BC’s iconic population so we can still be celebrating them a century from now. This population will be fully extinct within the next 100 years if we don’t turn this situation around. 8:04 What can be done to save the southern resident orcas? “These whales are not getting enough to eat.” Hatchery fish are NOT the answer. 11:00 “The solutions that government has focused on have not helped the whales and in some cases have perpetuated the problem that’s facing the whales.” 14:12 How much are governments really spending to save the orcas? 16:00 What we need to do so that the orcas have salmon. “It all comes back to salmon.” 19:24 The salmon are shrinking… and the disappearance of older fish. 21:48 Why Chinook are different from all other salmon. 28:00 “Chinook are a third of the size than they were 100 years ago.” Hatchery Chinook are bred for humans, not for orcas. 29:00 Why the orcas need Americans to breach the Snake River dam. 33:45 Fixing the Fraser River. 40:25 On Raincoast Conservation and the different things they do to protect life in the water and on the land. 44:40 Why salmon are NOT a keystone species. They are more than that! 55:00 On what gives her hope and the importance of hope. Three things she never thought would happen in the Salish Sea.
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| Filmmaker Nadine Pequeneza On The Right Ways To Save Right Whales | 07 Oct 2022 | 00:42:28 | |
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| Author Lynda V. Mapes on Saving Salmon and the Southern Resident Orcas | 19 Jun 2022 | 01:13:40 | |
Seattle Times (@seattletimes) environment reporter Lynda V Mapes (@LyndaVMapes) on dams versus salmon, saving the southern resident orcas and how Tahlequah changed the world. “All the things we do for our comfort, convenience and commerce are not good for the southern residents. And that’s just fact.”Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Ape Expert Frans de Waal Versus Anthropodenial | 26 May 2022 | 00:59:54 | |
Author and primatologist Frans de Waal talks about great apes, not-so-great humans, animal emotions and anthropodenial with Skaana (@Skaanapod) host Mark Leiren-Young (@leirenyoung). Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
For more on the life and work of Frans de Waal
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Show Notes 1:30 – Intro 3:35 – Defining anthropodenial. 6:05 – Anthropomorphism and primates. 7:02 – “That's the interesting part is we are so human-centric that we can deal with facial expressions, but not with the expressions of an elephant who do a lot of things was their trunk and ears, but their face is not very mobile.” 8:31 – Are humans a “successful” species? 11:05 – On human exceptionalism. “People always want to be special.” 12:40 – “If related species show similar behavior under similar circumstances, you have to use the same terminology because the psychology behind it is probably similar too.” 13:28 – How science’s relationship with anthropomorphism is changing. 14:40 – Laughing chimps. 16:15 -Why primatologists use names for apes not numbers. 17:58 – Animals and grief. “All animals that have attachments can also grieve.” 20:30 -“I'm not against humanizing animals or animalizing humans.” 22:49 – Survival of the kindest versus survival of the fittest. 26:00 – Talking about his book Mama’s Last Hug. 27:40 – Gender roles in bonobos. 30:05 – Bonobos solve problems with sex. 32:46 – Is there resistance to de Waal’s work and theories? 34:27 – His thoughts on animal personhood and the rights of animals. 36:30 – How he became interested in animals and animal behaviour. 42:34 – How he began working with chimpanzees. 46:32 – Becoming friends with apes. 47:25 – Animal communication and “dialect”. 51:12 – On being a cat person. “I consider cats extremely social.” 52:10 – Talking to the Dalai Lama about empathy. “I think empathy is found in all the mammals.” Subscribe to the Skaana newsletter at Substack: https://skaanapod.substack.com/Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/skaanaHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Sea Shepherd Captain, Paul Watson, on saving salmon, aggressive nonviolence and his journey from outlaw to law enforcement. Part two of our special two-part interview. | 03 Apr 2022 | 00:31:36 | |
Sea Shepherd Captain, Paul Watson (@CaptPaulWatson), talks with Mark Leiren-Young (@leirenyoung) about getting political, remembering Rob Stewart, saving salmon with Alexandra Morton and the Sea Shepherd Navy! Part two of our special two-part interview. Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
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| Sea Shepherd Captain, Paul Watson, on Seaspiracies and the Smartest Species on Earth | 17 Nov 2021 | 00:33:20 | |
Sea Shepherd Captain, Paul Watson (@CaptPaulWatson), talks with Mark Leiren-Young (@leirenyoung) about Seaspiracy, life as an outlaw and as a movie star, the impact of Covid on life in the oceans and whether whales are more intelligent than we are. Skaana podcasts connect you to news and experts and their discussions about environments, oceans, and orcas.
Berke Breathed's original drawing of Opus, the Penguin – used to illustrate Mark Leiren-Young’s poem Operation Dessert Storm in the Sea Shepherd newsletter. Excerpts from Orcapedia
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| Meet the Orcas Who Hunt on Land! Guests: Josh McInnes & Justine Buckmaster | 01 Oct 2021 | 00:30:00 | |
Killer whales hunting on land? Josh McInnis (scientist) and Justine Buckmaster (naturalist) on their wild discovery that some Salish Sea orcas are hunting seals on the shores of Protection Island and how orcas continue to surprise us. Skaana shares stories about oceans, eco-ethics and the environment.
Photo credits: Justine Buckmaster
Josh McInnes is a marine ecologist and masters candidate at the University of British Columbia's Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries Marine Mammal Research Unit. Josh grew up on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. For over a decade Josh has studied the ecology and behaviour of transient (Bigg's) killer whales along the Pacific Coast, but has also traveled to remote locations off British Columbia, Washington State, Alaska, California, Australia, and Antarctica to study marine mammal populations. Justine Buckmaster is a certified Marine Naturalist currently working at Puget Sound Express. She has been working in the Salish Sea region for over ten years as a guide and educator on whale watching ecotours. Justine works with local marine mammal researchers by providing digital photos and sightings data from her encounters to record proof of presence and unique behaviors of the marine mammal species and populations of the Salish Sea. Justine was raised in southern Washington State near the Columbia River and currently resides in the town of Mukilteo in northern Puget Sound. Books on Amazon and Classes**Amazon links are affiliate links and support our podcast, thanks for clicking!
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| Alexandra Morton on fighting for sea-life, fighting against sea lice and the beauty of dancing, spawning salmon | 15 Aug 2021 | 00:52:29 | |
Eco-warrior, Alexandra Morton, on her fight to save wild salmon, being gaslit by the Canadian government and her adventures in Green politics. She also dares people to sue her over her essential new book – Not On My Watch: How a renegade whale biologist took on governments and industry to save wild salmon. “The salmon farming industry is harming wild salmon, is harming whales, is causing algae blooms and really needs to be controlled.”Skaana shares stories about oceans, eco-ethics and the environment.Join the Pod…… https://www.patreon.com/skaana Spotify……………www.bit.ly/spotify-skaana Skaana home……. skaana.org Facebook…….…..facebook.com/skaanapod Books on Amazon and Classes **Amazon links are affiliate links and support our podcast, thanks for clicking!
Significant Quotes: “The salmon farming industry is harming wild salmon, is harming whales, is causing algae blooms and really needs to be controlled. I mean, at first I thought they just had to get off the wild salmon migration routes, but now I realize they just have to get out of the ocean completely, and if they want to continue, build a tank and get in it and operate from there.”(8:18)
“There's nobody whose position in DFO is the health of wild salmon. There's no director of wild salmon.” (24:48)
Mark: That just gave me chills because I found myself asking the same question about the Southern residents. Alexandra: I bet you do. Yep.. Mark: I feel like there are people in the federal government, you are going “Damn, there's still 74 of them…. “ Alexandra: Yeah, and they're having babies. ” (36:07)
Launch of Operation Virus Hunter (2016) Photo credits: Mark Leiren-Young Timecodes
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| An Orca’s Past and Our Shared Future with Dr. Gavin Hanke at the Royal BC Museum | 03 Jun 2021 | 00:33:50 | |
Gavin Hanke Curator of Vertebrate Zoology at the Royal BC Museum (@RoyalBCMuseum) on the life, death and anatomy of Rhapsody – the skeletal star of the museum’s fantastic exhibit Orcas: Our Shared Future #RBCMOrcas – which is open until 2022 before touring the world (and was written by Skaana host, Mark Leiren-Young @leirenyoung). Rhapsody (J32). Credit: Josh McInnes Skaana connects you to stories about oceans, eco-ethics and the environment.
Photos by Rayne Ellycrys Benu Books on Amazon and Other Ways to Support Skaana **Amazon links are affiliate links and support our podcast, thanks for clicking! • The Killer Whale Who Changed the World… amzn.to/2pRNU1q
Please support our guests and our podcast. • https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/ Skaana visits Rhapsody @ the Royal BC Museum Photo Credits: Rayne Ellycrys Benu Timecodes
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| Julia Barnes on Bright Green Lies and Cars Vs. Fish | 18 Apr 2021 | 00:54:08 | |
Filmmaker, Julia Barnes, on the dirty secrets of clean energy, how electric cars are running over the oceans and her new documentary Bright Green Lies – debuting online April 22 (Earth Day), 2021 https://www.brightgreenlies.com/ Skaana connects you to stories about oceans, eco-ethics and the environment.
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| The New Corporation writer, Joel Bakan, on Personhood, Psychopaths and Why the World Won’t be Saved by “Nice Corporations.” | 25 Feb 2021 | 01:02:54 | |
Joel Bakan, co-director of The New Corporation, on his Unfortunately Necessary Sequel, why corporations aren’t our friends and the reason corporations are considered persons, but orcas aren’t.Skaana connects you to stories about oceans, eco-ethics and the environment.
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| The Killer Whale That Changed the World | 16 Jul 2025 | 00:59:16 | |
The Killer Whale That Changed the World – the story of Moby Doll and the accidental orca capture that changed everything between humans and orcas – was created for CBC Radio's Ideas by Skaana host, Mark Leiren-Young and produced by Yvonne Gall. It originally aired on CBC in 2013, won the Jack Webster Award for Best Radio Documentary and sparked the award-winning book, The Killer Whale Who Changed the World, which is currently being adapted as a feature documentary. This episode is being shared with the permission of CBC Radio. One of the goals of this audio documentary was to capture the stories of the men who remembered Moby Doll while they were still able to share them. Four of the people interviewed here – Dr. Murray Newman, Dr. Patrick McGeer, Christopher “Gus” Angus and Kenneth “Gilbey” Hewlett are no longer with us. We are sharing this in their memory. Other featured interviews: Dr. John Ford joined Fisheries and Oceans Canada in 2001 as the head of the Cetacean Research Program at the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo, BC. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Zoology and the Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia. Dr. Ford has been involved in field studies on cetaceans in western Canadian waters since 1977. In recent years, his research has focused on the conservation status of cetaceans listed under Canada's Species-at-Risk Act and has involved population abundance estimation and development of acoustic tools for determining seasonal abundance of cetaceans in remote offshore waters. Dr. Charlotte Epstein is Assistant Professor in the Department of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney. She is the author of The Power of Words in International Relations: Birth of An Anti-Whaling Discourse. Richard Blagborne was the convener of the 2013 Moby Doll Orca Symposium: Reflections for Change on Saturna Island. Blagborne initiated and led the restoration of the Fog Alarm Building which was scheduled for demolition as part of federal lighthouse de-staffing programs. The building has been completely renovated and now houses storyboards, a media centre, historical photos and written archives charting the island's history. The host is Paul Kennedy. The orca speaking off the top of this episode – and every episode of Skaana – is Moby Doll. “When you go to Africa, you wanna see the lions and the Serengeti, and when you come to British Columbia, you wanna see the killer whale.” – Murray Newman Made in Canada, eh 🍁 The Killer Whale Who Changed the World audiobook on Audible and Spotify Skaana on social media: Mark on social media: Shownotes:4:26 The Killer Whale That Changed the World 5:50 The hunting party. 6:35 A recreation of the actual CBC TV newscast the night Moby Doll was captured. “The pugnacious dangerous monster.” 8:30 Dr. Murray Newman on the accidental capture. 9:45 What people used to “know” about killer whales. “The fiercest most terrifying animal, lives in the sea, not on the land…” 14:18 Machine guns vs. orcas. 15:20 “The killer whale was considered too dangerous ever to be brought into captivity.” Dr. Murray Newman. 17:14 “Don't shoot it! We'll just wait and decide what to do.” Dr. Pat McGeer the “brains” of Operation Killer Whale 24:09 John Ford on learning to speak whale. 24:58 Dr. Charlotte Epstein on how Moby changed the way we see whales. 27:28 Creating a whale dictionary. 31:00 Orcas on a rescue mission to save Moby Doll? 32:09 The name – Moby Doll – changed everything. 34:00 Chris Angus on meeting Moby as a teenager and joining the team as an orca-sitter. 37:40 A CBC interview with sculptor and “whale-sitter” Sam Burich as he hangs out with Moby Doll. 40:28 Moby Doll is dead. 47:00 Richard Blagborne on the symposium on Saturna Island commemorating Moby Doll's capture. 48:52 ”When you go to Africa, you wanna see the lions and the Serengeti, and when you come to British Columbia, you wanna see the killer whale.” 51:26 How Moby Doll changed the world.
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| Carl Safina on Animal Culture, Sperm Whale Society and Cetacean Communication | 31 Jan 2021 | 01:08:58 | |
Carl Safina (@carlsafina) author of Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace talks about the culture of animals, the worlds of whale and sharing the planet -with @Skaanapod host Mark Leiren-Young (@leirenyoung). Skaana connects you to stories about oceans, eco-ethics and the environment.
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| New Years wishes for humans and fishes from Erich Hoyt, Joel Bakan, Marc Bekoff, Carl Safina, Julia Barnes, Robbie Bond & Team Skaana | 30 Dec 2020 | 00:17:35 | |
Skaana guests Erich Hoyt, Robbie Bond, Joel Bakan, Carl Safina, Julia Barnes, Marc Bekoff & the Skaana team share our wishes for a very new New Year in 2021. Skaana connects you to stories about oceans, eco-ethics and the environment.
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| Orca Love, Orca Mysteries & Orcas Everywhere with Mark Leiren-Young | 17 Dec 2020 | 00:20:08 | |
Skaana (Skaanapod) host Mark Leiren-Young shares stories from the audio version of his award-winning book for orca lovers of all ages – Orcas Everywhere: The Mystery and History of Killer Whales (orcaseverywhere.com). “This inviting book will be treasured by kids – a fun way to discover orcas and the sea.” Erich Hoyt, author of Orca: The Whale Called Killer. “An amazingly accessible and fun book that explores our relationship with whales over millennia.” Elizabeth May former leader of The Green Party of Canada. Skaana connects you to stories about oceans, eco-ethics and the environment.
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| Daniel Pauly on the Future of Fish and Fisheries vs. The Planet | 29 Nov 2020 | 01:06:17 | |
Global fisheries expert Daniel Pauly (@SeaAroundUs) on illegal fisheries, vanishing fish and the fight to save BC’s salmon with @Skaanapod host Mark Leiren-Young (@leirenyoung). Skaana connects you to stories about oceans, eco-ethics and the environment.
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