Conservation Connection

Having spent more than 7000 hours underwater, Dr. Sylvia Earle has some incredible stories to tell about life under the sea! In the final episode of season 9 we sit down at EarthX2024 with one of the biggest names in ocean conservation EVER, Dr. Sylvia Earle! Listen in to hear how she fell in love with the ocean, what it's like to follow the same eel everyday for weeks, and what you can do to protect life on our planet. If you want to check out Mission Blue, click HERE

From 250 pound sea turtles to half-pound terrapins, the staff of Jekyll Island Authority work all year long to protect their native wildlife! This week we chat with David Zailo and Will Hicks, staff at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, about the important work they're doing to protect some of North America's most incredible turtles!

When he learned that 95% of California's kelp forests had disappeared in the past 10 years, Adam Hussain devised a plan to put his underwater film skills to use saving the ecosystem that he loved! This week we sit down at EarthX with the director of the upcoming documentary Seaforestation to learn about the critical role that kelp forests play in the oceans and how researchers and citizens across the globe are solving the threats that kelp forests face! Check out the trailer to Seaforestation HERE

Although 85% of wild oyster reefs have disappeared over the past 120 years, Georgia's oyster populations are thriving! Listen in as we chat with Justin Manley, the hatchery manager at UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Shellfish Research Laboratory on Skidaway Island! We get deep into the science of oyster aquaculture and learn all about the work being done to protect this critical ecosystem! Want to access resources about oyster farming? Check out the links below! UGA Marine Extension Oyster South East Coast Shellfish Growers Association

We interrupt your regularly scheduled episode of Conservation Connection to bring you this special crossover episode with Crystal DiMiceli of the Forces For Nature Podcast and The Healthy Seas Podcast! Listen in for a sneak peak of Season 10 and to discover another incredible podcast!

In a changing ocean, whales and their protectors must react fast to stay ahead of the curve! This week we sit down with Cathy Sakas, a life long adventurer, biologist, and ocean advocate. She found the first North Atlantic right whale calf in Georgia over forty years ago, and has spent her career working to ensure that they'll survive in the face of a changing ocean!

Over 300 species rely on the Gopher Tortoise - and its burrows - to survive! This week we chat with disturbance ecologist Barbara Blonder at Flagler College to learn about the struggles and survival tactics of coastal gopher tortoises! She uses her research and her position as City Commissioner to help St. Augustine make the best possible management decisions.

Happy rattlesnakes mean a happy island! This week we sit down with Joseph Colbert, a wildlife biologist with the Jekyll Island Authority. He studies eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, and uses this knowledge to inform management decisions which keep the entirety of Jekyll Island in harmony with nature!

EXGREEN20 We're wrapping up this season with some big changes, some quick announcements, and a conversation on the value of collaboration! Check back on April 2nd for the start of our next season when we'll be investigating coastal conservation in the American southeast, and come see us at EarthX in Dallas from April 22 to April 26th! Visit EarthX.org to buy passes, and don't forget to use discount code EXGREEN20 to get 20% off! Reach out to us on our instagram @ConservationConnection

This week we dive deeper into the spider shoal lily and its role in the Chattahoochee River ecosystem by sitting down with Natalie Downey from the Chattahoochee River Conservancy. Listen in to learn about the importance of this flower and the ways that volunteers are working to restore its population! Click here to get involved: ChattRiver.org

On Georgia's southern border lies the Okefenokee Swamp, our nation's largest intact blackwater wetland. For thousands of years it's been a place of refuge and recreation, but modern industry is threatening to change it forever. Listen in this week to Deborah Reed (Reed's Grocery Store) and Rena Peck (Georgia River Network) as we discuss the value of the Okefenokee and the dangers that are threatening its future! www.ProtectOkefenokee.org www.GARivers.org

Hydroelectric dams produce renewable and carbon-neutral electricity, but at what cost? This final episode from our live-podcasting event explores the story of the shoal lily, an endangered-but-not-legally-protected flower that's found only in the Southeast US. If you'd like to get involved, check out these opportunities: Shoal Lily Planting: https://www.chattahoocheeriverconservancy.org/volunteer.html Shoal Lily Viewing on the Flint River: https://flintriverkeeper.org/events-calendar/ Thank you to ⁠Nia Impact Capital⁠ for sponsoring this live recording!

What's the point of studying our environment if we never take time to enjoy it? This week we sit with local student and river enthusiast Caroline Ellmer to hear her perspective of growing up on the Chattahoochee River and why it's so important to love where you live! Thank you to ⁠⁠Nia Impact Capital⁠⁠ for sponsoring this live recording!

Not all species of bees are the same, and some are MUCH better at pollinating our food than others! Listen in this week to hear Masters student Sarah Tash tell the story of our favorite pollinator and their vital role in our lives. Thank you to ⁠Nia Impact Capital⁠ for sponsoring this live recording!

As it turns out, not all crayfish are created equal; some species dig holes, some species displace others, and some species can only be positively identified by their genitals during breeding season! This week we welcome back Dr. Troy Keller of CSU to peek behind the curtain at the massive biodiversity of crayfish in the Southeastern US and how invasive species are changing the ecosystem. Thank you to Nia Impact Capital for sponsoring this live recording!

Alrighty Guys! We're taking a short break until December 17th 2023 because BIG THINGS are happening! If you want free stickers, take this survey to help improve our show then shoot us a message on Instagram: https://forms.gle/wSb3vabehyLJRECW6 If you're in the Columbus Georgia area, come check out our first live podcast event! We're setting up at Scofflaw Brewing in Columbus on November 9th from 6pm until 9pm. Thanks for listening! -Chance and Sarah Kathryn

What lies at the intersection of social justice, environmental issues, and sustainability? Listen in as Dr. Michael Dorsey, the director and chair of the Rob and Melanie Walton Sustainability Solutions Service at Arizona State University, joins the podcast to discuss pressing issues surrounding environmental justice, sustainability, and the urgent need for a transition to green energy. We dive into the pervasive challenges of environmental racism and the disproportionate impact of pollution on marginalized communities, not only in the United States but around the world. With a wealth of knowledge and experience, Dr. Dorsey's insights shed light on the path towards a healthier planet, demonstrating that the "good stuff" can indeed be profitable and sustainable! Click here to learn about ASU's Sustainability Solutions Service: https://sustainability-innovation.asu.edu/sustainabilitysolutions/ Click here to learn more about our nonprofit: ConservationConnection.co

How can you use your passion to protect our planet? The Redford Center uses the art of storytelling and film to inform, engage, and mobilize people to take action for the betterment of the planet. In this episode we sit down with Jill Tidman, the executive director of the Redford Center, to discuss her personal journey to find her passion for environmental advocacy. We cover her diverse career path, including ventures into green architecture and business, highlighting the importance of self-awareness and adaptability in finding one's true calling. Listen in to learn about the crucial role of art and culture in solving global environmental challenges. Click here to learn more about the Redford Center: www.RedfordCenter.org Click here to learn more about our nonprofit: www.ConservationConnection.co

How can the average homeowner or renter best take charge of their own climate contributions? Meet Lauren Fraser, co-founder of Canopy! Her organization is committed to helping everyday people decarbonize their lifestyles, from individual households to entire communities! Listen in to learn how Canopy is providing resources, local contractor recommendations, and concierge support to bridge the gap between intention and action in the quest for greener living. If you'd like to learn more about Canopy, click here: https://canopyclimate.com/ If you'd like to learn more about our nonprofit, click here: ConservationConnection.co

What is at the intersection of video games and conservation? This week we dive into the world of video game development and its unexpected role in environmental conservation! Join us as we sit down with Chance Glasco, the co-founder and creative director of Good Dog Studios and a senior fellow with the Adrian Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center. Chance shares his remarkable journey from the gaming industry's early days, creating iconic franchises like Call of Duty, to his current mission of infusing climate resilience into video games. Discover how Chance is using the immersive power of gaming to reach the public, bridging the gap between entertainment and environmental awareness. Click here to learn more about the Climate Sig Discord: https://www.igdaclimatesig.org/take-action Click here to learn more about our nonprofit: ConservationConnection.co