American Shoreline Podcast Network

In this final episode of Wave Makers Tamara Kahn announces her transition to fulltime with Seaworthy Collective where she directs the Startup Studio and Incubator program, applications now open! She also celebrates another innovator working at the intersection of technology, regeneration, and ocean conservation. Tune in to hear how Dr. Ido Sella and a fellow Marine biologist, Dr. Shimrit Perkol-Finkel (1975-2021), asked the right questions and founded ECOncrete. Ido shares about the happy accident that led them to start this company and the relationships they’ve built to enable scaling of their solution. Plus, listeners can get informed on real-world applications and success stories of the ECOncrete team shaping and conserving areas where our human built environment meets the sea.

In our final episode of the American Blue Economy Podcast, our host Rear Admiral, Tim Gallaudet, PhD, US Navy (ret) meets with his former NOAA colleagues in the Great Lakes to explore under-ice technology and how ecological and oil spill monitoring are important tools for the Blue Economy in the region. Joining him are Steve Ruberg, a research physical scientist focusing on winter AUV technology at NOAA’s GreatLakes Environmental Research Lab (GLERL), Dr. Ashley Elgin, a research benthic ecologist also at GLERL, David Ruck, a documentary filmmaker formerly with NOAA and founder of Great Lakes Outreach Media. Together, they discuss how winter time monitoring is an important but difficult component of GLERL's long-time monitoring of the Great Lakes supporting recreation, fisheries, water quality, and more. Many thanks to our loyal listeners, and we wish you happy holidays, fair winds, and following seas in the years to come!

The Real History Behind Reversing the Chicago River with Mr. Dick Lanyan, who spent 48 years with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, where he became the executive director and ran the day-to-day operations - which addresses the industrial waste load equivalent for 9 million people. Very early in our American history, the potential for Chicago to be the center of an expansive water system, connecting the East and the West with its location on Lake Michigan and along the Chicago River, prompted the federal government to establish Fort Dearborn in 1803 where Chicago now sits. There is no shortage of written and digital stories about the Chicago River and how it was reversed almost 124 years ago on January 1, 1900. It is referred to as an engineering marvel – and certainly – it took engineering know-how and back breaking work to create this “Big Ditch.” But, the story of Chicago’s challenges as a booming metropolis started way before the re-direction of the Chicago River and has everything to do with its location on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan and the great Chicago population boom. Further, Chicago's days of flooding are far from over related to climate change and its continued large population.

Tune into this special episode of the Sea Change Podcast to celebrate the winter solstice with Jenna, Portland Poets Society, and a sea of poetry! A special thanks to the contributors from the Portland Poets Society community and beyond for sharing their wisdom and art with us.

Dive into the remarkable tale of the Rouse Simmons, known as Chicago's original "Christmas Tree Ship," and explore how this early 1900s tradition continues to captivate hearts today. Join Dr. Theodore Karamanski and CAPT Scott Smith (USCG, ret) as they unravel the history of a trade where, as Dr. Karamanski puts it, "Sailing the lakes in November and December was literally participating in a lottery of death. But the profits could be considerable...” Uncover the legacy of a daring maritime tradition that brought holiday cheer and its enduring spirit in modern times, in this special holiday episode of North Coast Chronicles.

In these three episodes of World Ocean Radio we are exploring a recent publication entitled “A Forgotten Element in the Blue Economy: Marine Biomimetics and Inspiration from the Deep Sea,” authored by Robert Blasiak from the Stockholm Resilience Center in Sweden. The article identifies seven broad categories of biomimetic design: adhesion, anti-fouling, armor, buoyancy, movement, sensory, and stealth. In this 3-part series we'll discuss each with examples of application, technological invention, and as effective solution models for response to negative human intervention and climate change, and for ocean protection and conservation.

Enjoy the Shorewords! podcast with Dr. Edith (Eddie) WIdder, author of Below the Edge of Darkness, marine biologist, and co-founder of Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA, www.teamorca.org). Eddie has spent years studying bioluminescence, which is light produced by living organism, and since most bioluminescent organisms are in the ocean, she has spent hundreds of hours in submersibles hoping to see flashes of light. Her podcast covers stories of her time under water and provides clear explanations of the current science on the hows and whys so many mid- and deep-ocean creatures blink and glow.

In this wrap-up episode, the Going Coastal team – Jon, Marissa, and Deb – take a look back at 2023, reminiscing about the year's most impactful coastal topics and their favorite moments. They explore the potential of living shorelines as the future of coastal defense, focusing on natural and nature-based features and stressing the importance of accessible, shared scientific data for enhancing coastline resilience. As they give a sneak peek into what 2024 holds, including exciting topics and special guests, listeners are invited to join in for both a reflective journey and a glimpse into an exhilarating future for coastal science and engineering.

In this wrap-up episode, the Going Coastal team – Jon, Marissa, and Deb – take a look back at 2023, reminiscing about the year's most impactful coastal topics and their favorite moments. They explore the potential of living shorelines as the future of coastal defense, focusing on natural and nature-based features and stressing the importance of accessible, shared scientific data for enhancing coastline resilience. As they give a sneak peek into what 2024 holds, including exciting topics and special guests, listeners are invited to join in for both a reflective journey and a glimpse into an exhilarating future for coastal science and engineering.

In this episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, hosts Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham engage with NOAA scientists Doug George and Sara Hutto in a discussion about their groundbreaking research on carbon hotspots along Northern California's coast. The conversation delves into the significant discovery of carbon reserves on the seafloor, highlighting the role of marine sanctuaries in climate change mitigation and the importance of preserving these natural carbon sinks. The experts shed light on the relationship between ocean sediments and carbon sequestration, offering a novel perspective on the ocean's potential in addressing global warming. Tune in to explore how this discovery could reshape our approach to environmental conservation and climate policy.

Over the next few editions of World Ocean Radio we will be discussing a recent publication entitled “A Forgotten Element in the Blue Economy: Marine Biomimetics and Inspiration from the Deep Sea,” authored by Robert Blasiak from the Stockholm Resilience Center in Sweden. The article identifies seven broad categories of biomimetic design: adhesion, anti-fouling, armor, buoyancy, movement, sensory, and stealth. In this 3-part series we'll discuss each with examples of application, technological invention, and as effective solution models for response to negative human intervention and climate change, and for ocean protection and conservation.

This episode features a prime example of the power of relationship-building and community-building in the world of ocean advocacy. Jenna and her guest, Casey Darling Kniffin, originally crossed paths during one of Healthy Ocean Coalition(HOC)'s Healthy Ocean Advocacy Academies. Following the Academy, Casey became an active and valued member of the HOC community, stepped into an ocean advocacy leadership role as Florida Oceanographic Society's Advocacy Coordinator, and now, as announced on the show, Conservation Policy Director for Florida Wildlife Federation. Casey is a driven changemaker whose leadership is very much needed in the conservation space. She's a true partner and visionary in this work, and Jenna is honored to call her a friend - and feature her story on this month's episode.

On The Capitol Beach, host Derek Brockbank, speaks with NOAA Deputy Assistant Administrator for the National Ocean Service (NOS), Paul Scholz, about the recently released NOS strategic plan. Paul has worked within multiple parts of NOAA, implementing programs and advancing NOAA’s operations, for nearly 30 years. He shares his excitement for where NOAA is heading and the current opportunities to improve NOAA’s service delivery to be more equitable, even as some of the coastal and ocean challenges get more dire with sea level rise and other climate impacts. Paul outlines what’s included in the NOS strategic plan and talks about how it provides guidelines for NOS to work with partners, increase coastal resilience in the U.S.; accelerate growth of the ocean enterprise and the blue economy; conserve, restore, and connect healthy coastal and marine ecosystems; all while making equity central to the NOS mission.

In this episode of the American Shoreline Podcast, hosts Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham embark on a journey exploring the intersection of marine education and environmental stewardship. Tyler shares his experiences with the Blue Robotics Education Initiative, highlighting his recent expedition aboard the NOAA research vessel Shearwater to the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. This trip, part of the LiMPETS program, offered Tyler a unique perspective on how ROVs can revolutionize high school education beyond traditional robotics and engineering classes. The episode then shifts to a broader discussion on climate change adaptation with Peter sharing his latest thoughts on this critical issue. As the episode winds down, both hosts reflect on the year 2023, sharing their personal and professional growths and looking forward to another year of coastal and ocean dialogues in 2024.

In another first, this month’s episode of The Ocean Decade Show comes to you from on board the R/V Falkor as it’s undertaking an ultra fine-scale seafloor mapping expedition in the hydrothermal vent fields of the Eastern Galapágos Spreading Center. One of the members of this groundbreaking (or should we say, ground-mapping!) team is Dr. Cherisse Du Preez, a deep-sea explorer and marine biologist who works for Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Dr. Du Preez has been part of several endorsed UN Ocean Decade Actions and during this episode, we’ll dig into her penchant for exploration, the importance of working alongside Canadian First Nations tribal nations for her work, and the broader role Canada has been playing to ensure a successful Ocean Decade.

In the month's episode of the American Blue Economy Podcast, our host Rear Admiral, Tim Gallaudet, PhD, US Navy (ret) catches a wave while discussing the contributions to the American Blue Economy. He is joined by big wave and professional surfing legend Ian “Kanga” Cairns, instructor in the Environmental Sciences Graduate Program at Oregon State University, Dr. Neeraja Havaligi, and owner and lead forecaster for the nearshore wave & weather forecasting company CFOX.surf, Charlie Fox. This diverse group will explore surfing contests, the travel industry's support to surf destination tourism, surfers as conservationists, and how the science of wave and weather prediction supports professional and amateur surfers all across America. Be sure to drop in to this show if you want to experience an epic ride!

Joining host Helen Brohl is Tom Hultquist, the Science and Operations Officer for the National Weather Service in Minneapolis, Minnesota. On November 10, 1975 during a severe storm, the Great Lakes bulk cargo vessel SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank with the loss of all 29 crew members in eastern Lake Superior about 17 miles from the entrance to Whitefish Bay, Michigan. The vessel sank quickly without sending a distress signal and, as we all know, the tragedy inspired Gordon Lightfoot to write his famous song. Was it the "perfect storm" or a typical "Gale of November?" What did Tom and his colleagues learn when they used modern technology to analyze the more limited meteorological data from 1975?

On The Capitol Beach, Derek Brockbank hosts Camille Crain, the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) section chief within Hazard Mitigation Assistance Division at FEMA. Only authorized 5 years ago, BRIC has quickly become one of the (if not the singular) biggest federal funding programs for resilience to natural hazards, in large part due to its funding coming directly from post-disaster funding. Specifically, 6% of Stafford Act disaster funding is now set aside for BRIC to improve resilience in communities pre-disaster. Even though BRIC is too new to have a fully a constructed project to its credit, the program is evolving to better support underserved communities, implement nature-based solutions, and provide technical assistance to communities unable to fully develop their own resilience project applications. BRIC currently has a funding opportunity of $1 Billion (together with a $800 million opportunity from its “sister program”, Flood Mitigation Assistance), with state applications due to FEMA on Feb. 29, 2024. All community applicants need to be part of state submissions, so individual applications will be due to their states’ hazard mitigation or emergency management office earlier. The next BRIC opportunity is anticipated for fall of 2024.

This week on World Ocean Radio Peter Neill examines two forward-looking government-proposed initiatives that offer opportunities for progress in climate policy, investment, resiliency and sustainability. The first is Bridgetown 2.0, proposed by the Prime Minister of Barbados, to urge UN member states to consider an ambitious finance-driven program of climate-change response and implementation; the second is an ambitious climate commitment by the State of California to reach 100% carbon-free by 2045, as part of their proven commitment to environmental protection and action.

In this episode of the Going Coastal podcast, hosts Marissa Torres and Deborah Fernandes shine the spotlight on two exceptional ASBPA Student Award Winners: Cheyenne Twilley and Narayan Kumar. Cheyenne, awarded the Student Coastal Advocate Award, is recognized for her aspirations to deepen her understanding and influence in federal coastal policy and advocacy. This award enables her to intern with the ASBPA and become a key member of the Government Affairs Committee, where her passion for coastal issues can truly make an impact. Narayan, recipient of the Nicholas Kraus Coastal Scholar Award, is celebrated for his dedication to advancing coastal science. His award facilitates an internship with the ASBPA, offering him a pivotal role in the Science and Technology Committee. Join us as we delve into their journeys, explore their future plans, and discuss how these awards will shape their contributions to coastal science and advocacy.