Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast

On the latest episode of Rising Tide, hosts David Helvarg and Vicki Nichols-Goldstein sit down with Angelo Villagomez, Senior Ocean Fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington D.C. — a man who has spent his career turning conviction into policy at the edges of the map.A longtime activist and advocate for community and indigenous governance, Villagomez was a central force behind the establishment of the Mariana Trench National Marine Monument, doing the hard, unglamorous work of coalition-building from the ground up while based in Saipan, deep in the western Pacific.The conversation turns, as it must, to the present dangers. The Trump administration has set its sights on the nation's marine monuments, thrown open the door to deep-sea mining with reckless enthusiasm, and pursued what can only be described as a vendetta against offshore wind — apparently terrified of a wind-spill — while greasing every available skid for oil and gas expansion. Meanwhile, the institutional backbone of American ocean science, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is being quietly hollowed out from within.But Villagomez and his hosts don't stop at the diagnosis. The episode maps a course forward — from protecting local waters to hitting the streets (signs reading "No Kings but king salmon" are apparently optional but encouraged), registering to vote, and casting ballots with the ocean in mind come November.If information is a weapon for positive change, this conversation is live ammunition.Additional ResourcesBlue Frontier / Substack — Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.Inland Ocean Coalition — Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protectionFluid Studios — Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

Breaking Barriers & Pioneering PursuitsOn the latest episode of Rising Tide, bodysurfer David Helvarg and board surfer Natasha Benjamin sit down with photographer, filmmaker, and journalist Sachi Cunningham — a woman who has spent more than two decades pointing her lens at the pioneers rewriting what's possible in big wave surfing.Cunningham helped build the LA Times video team from the ground up, producing the award-winning Chasing the Swell series and documenting the historic first women's heats at Mavericks, the legendary big wave break that rises from the deep-water canyon just south of San Francisco. Now living within earshot of Ocean Beach, she's putting the finishing touches on her first major documentary, Big Wave Women — a film tracking the hard-won fight for pay equity among the elite athletes drawn, or perhaps driven, to ride some of the most dangerous walls of water on the planet.The conversation ranges wide: the cameras she trusts in the impact zone, the technical and physical demands of shooting from inside the surf, and a recent piece she wrote examining the geology and marine ecosystems that make Mavericks not just a spectacle, but a living seascape. It's a session that goes well below the surface. Additional Resources Seasachi.com — Photographer and ocean swimmer Sachi Cunningham has spent two decades hurling herself into the savage, churning waters of Ocean Beach and Mavericks, camera strapped to her wrist, chasing the beauty buried inside the chaos — and emerging with images she hopes will make the rest of us remember that the sea doesn't just surround us, it lives inside us.Blue Frontier / Substack — Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.Inland Ocean Coalition — Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protectionFluid Studios — Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

On the latest episode of *Rising Tide*, hosts David Helvarg and Vicki Nichols Goldstein sit down with Mark Benjamin and Katie Carpenter, co-directors of the powerful feature documentary Fatal Watch.Fatal Watch exposes the darkest underbelly of the global fishing industry—the murder and suspicious deaths of dozens of onboard fisheries observers assigned by the tuna industry and others to document illegal activities aboard commercial fishing vessels. Through an examination of multiple cases, including video evidence of observers supposedly “lost at sea,” the film reveals the profound difficulty of holding anyone accountable.Spanning the world’s waterfronts and open seas, Benjamin and Carpenter follow criminal investigators, industry critics, and the families left behind—people fighting through grief in pursuit of truth and justice.Fatal Watch is now available for streaming on Apple TV, YouTube, and other platforms. After listening to this wide-ranging and revealing conversation, audiences will undoubtedly want to experience the film for themselves. ** Additional Resources **Fatal Watch weaves the stories of four marine observers and investigators exposing the true cost of overfishing. Combining exclusive footage with access to key investigations, the documentary shows how tuna has become a prized commodity, lives are sacrificed and marine observers are dying to tell the truth.Brick City TV — Creating award-winning content for TV, film, and digital platforms. We partner with thought-leaders, organizations, and brands ready to stand up and say what they stand for.Blue Frontier / Substack — Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.Inland Ocean Coalition — Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protectionFluid Studios — Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

On the latest episode of Rising Tide, hosts David Helvarg and Vicki Nichols Goldstein sit down with Erin Hudson, Director of the Seafood Watch program at the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium.With more than 15 years dedicated to advancing sustainable seafood, Hudson brings deep insight into how consumer choices ripple through ocean ecosystems and fishing communities. The conversation traces the origins of Seafood Watch’s iconic red, yellow, and green pocket guides—a simple, powerful tool that helps people understand which seafood choices are environmentally responsible, risky, or best avoided. To date, more than 65 million of these guides have been distributed worldwide.The episode also explores Hudson’s collaborative work with the fishing industry and retailers, and why meaningful change can sometimes start with asking one clear, straightforward question.It’s a smart, accessible, and surprisingly delicious listen—proof that informed choices can be good for both people and the planet. ** Additional Resources **Monterey Bay Aquarium — An aquarium unlike any other. From sea otters to seaweeds, our unique oceanfront location and timeless galleries bring the wonders of the ocean to life for our visitors. But beyond our exhibits, we are transforming what it means to be an aquarium. The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the ocean.Blue Frontier / Substack — Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.Inland Ocean Coalition — Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protectionFluid Studios — Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

In the latest episode of Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast, David Helvarg and Vicki Nichols Goldstein speak with former guests and good friends of the Ocean Philippe and Ashlan Cousteau. Philippe is the third generation of the legendary family of Jacques Cousteau and a founder of the youth group Earth Echo International. Ashlan is a former entertainment journalist who now reports on the doings of sea stars and influencers of climate. Together they’ve produced ocean documentaries for CNN, the Discovery Channel and others, written books including ‘Oceans for Dummies’ and now are engaged in an effort to protect Antarctica’s Southern Ocean. They are supporting the establishment of protected areas and opposing massive commercial krill fishing that threatens the sea life, including penguins and whales, that depend on these tiny crustaceans. They have also launched an Omega 3 algae-based supplement – SeaVoir - to provide a healthier alternative to krill (or fish) oil that they also discuss. So, a fascinating encounter with a dynamic ocean duo. Please do listen in.  ** Additional Resources **SeaVoir — Building on the spirit of the Cousteau legacy of ocean exploration and conservation. With a passion for scaling solutions to the biggest problems facing our ocean, Ashlan and Philippe Cousteau are leading the way to a healthier future.Blue Frontier / Substack — Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.Inland Ocean Coalition — Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protectionFluid Studios — Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

In the latest episode of Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast, David Helvarg and Vicki Nichols Goldstein speak with longtime ocean activist and former guest Richard Charter about the Trump administration’s punitive effort to open the entire California coastline to offshore oil drilling. It has been several years since their last conversation with Charter, who has spent decades leading efforts to protect America’s coastal seas.The discussion centers on the Department of the Interior’s latest offshore lease plan, which would open Arctic waters, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and California’s 1,100-mile coastline to drilling—despite polls showing that more than 70% of Californians oppose the move.Charter outlines the laws this plan would violate, the growing opposition mobilizing to stop it, and the hypocrisy he sees in the administration’s declared “Energy Emergency.” He also explains why this moment may represent the “last gasp” of Big Oil, and what people in California and across the country are doing—and can do—to challenge this dangerous and likely illegal proposal.** Additional Resources **Save My Coast — Prepare your public comment on 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program. Blue Frontier / Substack — Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.Inland Ocean Coalition — Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protectionFluid Studios — Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

In this year-end episode Holden Hardcastle and Nick Paz do an on-the-ground (actually on the beach) interview with Vince Yuen, founder of 'Refuse, Refuse San Francisco.' During a beach clean-up on the city's oceanfront he discusses the significance of community-led trash cleanups in protecting the environment. Vince shares how his organization started as a personal project during the COVID pandemic and evolved into a city-wide movement aimed at reducing urban litter and its impact on all waterways. The discussion also touches on legislative efforts to reduce cigarette butts and single-use plastics, illustrating how collective citizen action and policy changes are crucial for lasting environmental impact.** Additional Resources **Refuse Refuse - Keeping San Francisco beautiful. Organizing events and cleanup opportunities, as well as partnering with local organizations with the ultimate goal of keeping San Francisco free of refuse.Blue Frontier / Substack — Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.Inland Ocean Coalition — Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protectionFluid Studios — Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

In the latest episode of Rising Tide, David Helvarg speaks with Peter Gros and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, co-hosts of “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom: Protecting the Wild,” a show whose origins go back to 1963, when most televisions were still black and white, but wildlife was both more abundant and less understood. Today, you can see their Emmy-nominated television show on Saturday mornings on NBC or watch it on Peacock, Amazon Prime, YouTube - so many outlets, you have no excuse not to watch it, once you’ve heard what they have to say on this podcast.    Peter Gros is, among other things, a wildlife expert, a licensed animal educator, and a 40-year veteran of the show many of us grew up on.Dr. Wynn-Grant is a wildlife ecologist specializing in carnivore-human interactions who also focuses on expanding science communications and sustainability. A National Geographic research fellow and author, she joined the show in 2023. ‘Wild Kingdom’ is also getting saltier over time with more ocean shows on gray whales, white sharks, coral reefs, and one of our favorites, kelp forests, including their most famous residents, the voracious marine weasels also known as sea otters. So, dive in for a fun and informative interview with these two land and sea stars.** Additional Resources **WILD KINGDOM PROTECTING THE WILD — Get inspired by wildlife success stories on Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild! Since 2023, Co-Hosts Peter Gros and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant have taken viewers around the world in search of the most captivating wildlife conservation wins. Watch Season 3 on NBC and stream past episodes on nbc.com. Go behind the scenes of the show with in-depth stories from animal experts on Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom The Podcast.Rae Wynn-Grant, PhD — Wildlife Ecologist, TV Presenter, Author, Speaker & Co-host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the WildBlue Frontier / Substack — Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.Inland Ocean Coalition — Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protectionFluid Studios — Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

Our latest episode of Rising Tide the Ocean Podcast ranges from Palau in the central Pacific to Washington D.C. After a short Blue News update with Congressman Jared Huffman in his DC office we go to the shark enhanced – not infested - waters of Palau where Blue Frontier's David Helvarg interviews Tiani Dun an underwater photographer who also organizes dive charters, part of the multi-billion-dollar global scuba diving industry. Co-Owner of Dive and More, a company that focuses its dive trips around underwater photography and more recently, marine conservation, Tiani’s also a marine biologist, surfer and drone pilot from Byron Bay Australia. So, lots to cover this episode from political resistance to Trump administration attacks on our public seas to diving with big critters in one of the world’s last best coral reef habitats and Marine Protected Areas. So, let’s dive in! ** Links & Resources ** Tiani Dun: https://www.tianidun.com/ Shiver: https://www.tianidun.com/shop/p/harvest-moon-cup-5fc72-ww9xn Eagle Ray: https://www.tianidun.com/shop/p/earth-sky-planter-4awkk-lm479-pwat8-n5rrk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tianioceani/ Dive and Moore: https://www.diveandmore.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dive_and_more/ James Cook University (JCU): https://www.jcu.edu.au/ Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority: https://www2.gbrmpa.gov.au/ Magnetic Island, Australia: https://www.townsvillenorthqueensland.com.au/destinations/magnetic-island/ Palau's Marine Protected Areas: https://marine-conservation.org/blue-sparks/projects/palau-nms Manta Trust: https://www.mantatrust.org/ Shark Trust: https://www.sharktrust.org/ Blue Frontier: bluefront.org Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild. Blue Frontier on Substack: https://davidhelvarg.substack.com/ Inland Ocean Coalition: inlandoceancoalition.org Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protection Fluid Studios: fluidstudios.org Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

In the latest episode of Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast, David speaks with Superintendent Eric Jones of the Cal Poly Maritime Academy, the only one of 7 U.S. Maritime Academies located on the west coast. A retired Coast Guard Rear Admiral credentialed to captain anything afloat, Eric served 13 years of his distinguished career at sea where he commanded three Coast Guard cutters including the 3-masted Bark ‘Eagle’, known as ‘America’s Tall Ship.’ We’ll discuss his early life aboard fishing party boats off California, his career in the Coast Guard, including responding to hurricanes and ships in distress and his years commanding the Coast Guard Academy training-ship Eagle including during the anniversary of the War of 1812.  We’ll also discuss changes in the U.S. maritime industry, his overseeing the integration of Cal Maritime in Vallejo and Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo, one of the state’s top technical colleges and what today’s maritime students can expect of future careers in ports and at sea.So, check out this even saltier than usual Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast ** Additional Resources **Blue Frontier / Substack — Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.Inland Ocean Coalition — Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protectionFluid Studios — Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

In the latest episode, David Helvarg and Natasha Benjamin speak with Amy Bowers Cordalis of California’s Yurok Tribe about her life and her new book, The Water Remembers: My Indigenous Family’s Fight to Save a River and a Way of Life. Amy, the former general counsel for the Yurok Tribe, the largest tribe in California, living along the Klamath River, shares the story of her family’s leadership in the historic effort to remove four dams on the Klamath following the devastating 2002 fish kill. She reflects on how the Yurok and neighboring Klamath Basin tribes mobilized, organized, and persevered to restore the river’s health and its wild salmon.A co-founder of the Ridges to Riffles Conservation Group, Amy has been recognized globally as a UN Champion of the Earth Laureate and one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders. This episode explores what it means to be born of wild water, to uphold a culture of world renewal, and to take real-world action to protect and restore a river, its people, and our blue planet.** Additional Resources **The Water Remembers — A moving multigenerational memoir of Indigenous resistance, environmental justice, and a Yurok family’s fight to protect their legacy and the Klamath River. Ridges to Riffles Conservation Group — an Indigenous-led conservation organization whose mission is to help Indigenous Peoples protect and restore the natural and cultural resources they rely on to maintain their identity and sovereignty.Amy Bowers Cordalis — a devoted advocate for Indigenous rights and environmental restoration. A member of the Yurok Tribe and ceremony family from the village of Rek-Woi at the mouth of the Klamath River, she is a fisherwoman, attorney, and mother deeply rooted in the traditions of her people. Blue Frontier / Substack — Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.Inland Ocean Coalition — Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protectionFluid Studios — Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

In the latest episode, David Helvarg & Vicki Nichols Goldstein talk with the Reverend Robert Wilkins about how his faith led him to his work with the Seafarers Ministry, serving ship crews arriving at the Port of Oakland, California. Wilkins and his team make ship visits, help crew members connect with families in places like the Philippines and Bangladesh, and check in on conditions such as time spent at sea and food quality — often doing follow-up when issues arise.They also support mariners on shore leave with recreation, transportation, and other needs, and even coordinate doctor visits when necessary, frequently working with Customs and Border Protection to make it happen. Each holiday season, the ministry delivers gift bags to seafarers and continues to grow its volunteer program, expanding ship visits from 250 vessels to 370 this year — supporting the people responsible for moving more than 90% of the world’s goods.Wilkins also shares his perspective on shipping automation and decarbonization, exploring how these changes are already affecting seafarers and may reshape their livelihoods in the future.Tune in to this insightful conversation with Rev. Wilkins and gain his unique perspective.** Additional Resources **Blue Frontier / Substack — Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.Inland Ocean Coalition — Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protectionFluid Studios — Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

In the latest episode of Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast, hosts David Helvarg and Vicki Nichols Goldstein speak with Chef Andrew Zimmern — the award-winning host and producer of numerous acclaimed radio and television programs, including the Food Channel’s Bizarre Foods and the PBS documentary series Hope in the Water, which explores ocean farming and restoration.Zimmern, who began working in the food industry at age 14, has authored several books, including the forthcoming Blue Food Cookbook, co-written with Cod and Country author and longtime Blue Frontier friend Barton Seaver.A recipient of multiple James Beard Awards and a founding member of the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture, Zimmern brings deep expertise and passion to the conversation. This episode offers a rich and flavorful exploration of food, sustainability, and the future of our seas — an audio feast not to be missed.** Links & Resources **Pre-Order The Blue Food Cookbook — Is farmed or wild-caught salmon better? Is tuna being overfished? Do I have to worry about mercury poisoning? Is seafood high in protein? Is industrial aquaculture sustainable? How can I do anything to address the climate change and food security crises? Is it okay to eat raw fish? How do you shuck an oyster? Is frozen seafood good? How do you cook mackerel without it stinking up the kitchen?Blue Frontier / Substack — Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.Inland Ocean Coalition — Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protectionFluid Studios — Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

In the latest episode of ‘Rising Tide, the Ocean Podcast,’ David and Natasha speak with Dr. Ben Halpern. Along with being a past Peter Benchley Ocean Award winner, Ben serves as Director of the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, a research center at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he is also a professor of marine biology and conservation science. Among his numerous honors and research papers, he’s contributed to a new report published in Science magazine warning that the world’s ecosystems could be permanently altered – meaning degraded - by mid-century if the present trend in greenhouse gas pollution, industrial overfishing, and coastal development continues unabated. Ben also offers some ideas on how each of us can act in ways that can help reverse that trend. So, give a listen, learn a bit, and visit the ocean when you can.  ** Links & Resources **Cumulative impacts to global marine ecosystems projected to more than double by mid-century.Blue Frontier — Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.Blue Frontier on SubstackInland Ocean Coalition — Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protectionFluid Studios — Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

In the latest episode of ‘Rising Tide, the Ocean Podcast,’ David speaks with Erica Hammond, Legislative Director of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO.  They represent most of the roughly 1,000 workers who’ve been out of a job since the Trump administration issued a stop-work order in August on the ‘Revolution’ wind farm project.  That’s a 5 billion-dollar 80 percent completed offshore wind farm that was slated to bring clean power to New England next year while saving ratepayers money. Erica talks about how groups like ‘Climate Jobs Rhode Island’ helped bring unions, environmentalists and low-income communities together to promote an energy transition for ‘the Ocean State.’  She’ll also talk about how labor and its partners including the state government and Orsted, the Danish company building ‘Revolution,’ plan to fight back against the Trump administration’s pro-oil attacks on clean energy and particularly on offshore wind.  This is one you won’t want to miss.  ** Links & Resources **Blue Frontier: bluefront.org — Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.Blue Frontier on Substack: https://davidhelvarg.substack.com/Inland Ocean Coalition: inlandoceancoalition.org — Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protectionFluid Studios: fluidstudios.org — Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

In the latest episode of 'Rising Tide, the Ocean Podcast,' hosts David Helvarg and Vicki Nichols Goldstein of the Inland Ocean Coalition interview Dr. Drew Harvell, an esteemed professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Cornell University. The discussion delves into the recent breakthrough in identifying the bacteria responsible for sea star wasting disease, which has decimated starfish populations and kelp forests on the West Coast. Dr. Harvell reveals her journey into marine biology, highlights her research on marine ecosystem health, and discusses her influential books, including 'A Sea of Glass' and 'The Ocean's Menagerie.' Dr. Harvell emphasizes the impact of pathogen pollution on marine life, the interconnectedness of human and environmental health, and the therapeutic potential of marine organisms. The episode underscores the critical need for better ocean management and the role of art in translating scientific knowledge to foster public interest and understanding. ** Links & Resources **Catherine Drew Harvell of Cornell: https://ecologyandevolution.cornell.edu/catherine-drew-harvellCheck out her books, Sea of Glass (https://a.co/d/41kufFg), Ocean Outbreak (https://a.co/d/ihQpRi5), and her latest Ocean's Menagerie (https://a.co/d/0R5dK53)Blaschka Glass Collection: https://digital.library.cornell.edu/collections/blaschkaWorld Bank Project: https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/projects-homeBlue Frontier: bluefront.orgBuilding the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.Blue Frontier on Substack: https://davidhelvarg.substack.com/Inland Ocean Coalition: inlandoceancoalition.orgBuilding land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protectionFluid Studios: fluidstudios.orgThinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

The latest episode of Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast features a conversation with Kirsten Donald, a marine mammal biologist, educator, and ocean advocate with the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach, California. This renowned rescue center responds to whales and dolphins in distress while rehabilitating and releasing hundreds of sick and injured seals and sea lions each year.Before joining the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Kirsten spent 18 years at the Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys, where she also co-founded and directed the College of Marine Mammal Professions.Learn about the current state of marine mammals, the impacts of climate change, and challenges facing gray whales. Kirsten shares memorable release stories—including a group of sea lion pups who checked in on each other before re-entering the ocean—and discusses why now is the time to strengthen, not weaken, marine mammal protection.** Links & Resources **Pacific Marine Mammal CenterIt’s Time To Save The Whales AgainBlue Frontier: Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.Blue Frontier on SubstackInland Ocean Coalition: Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protectionFluid Studios: Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

The latest episode of the Rising Tide Ocean Podcast features an excerpt from a recent conversation between David Helvarg and Chris Clarke of the desert podcast 90 Miles from Needles. Clarke discusses Helvarg’s first book, The War Against the Greens (1994), which was highly influential in exposing a violent environmental backlash funded by western industries such as hard-rock mining, beef, and timber. Helvarg draws parallels between that earlier backlash and today’s top-down right-wing attacks on environmental laws and agencies under President Trump. He explores how violent rhetoric and climate denial merged within a Republican Party that once championed both environmental protection and democracy. He also explains how the oil and gas industry applied lessons from the past to obstruct the growth of clean energy, and reflects on what he now believes is most effective in the fight to protect the planet’s blue world—and humanity itself. ** Links & Resources ** 90 Miles From Needles Podcast https://www.90milesfromneedles.com/ Blue Frontier: bluefront.org Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild. Blue Frontier on Substack: https://davidhelvarg.substack.com/ Inland Ocean Coalition: inlandoceancoalition.org Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protection Fluid Studios: fluidstudios.org Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

In the latest Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast David and Vicki talk with former Ocean Conservancy Chief Scientist and policy expert George Leonard about the Trump administration’s approach to our public seas. In taking a closer look at the BBB (‘Big Beautiful’ or ‘Big Brother’) mega-bill that Congress just passed, George breaks down many of the vital services from ocean observation and weather labs to protection of salmon, parks in the sea and public education, fishing regulation, beach pollution warning systems, deep-sea exploration and coastal management that will be gutted or terminated under this law. Listening to area experts like George you realize not only will this legislation blow a hole in the deficit and untax the rich, it will expand offshore oil drilling and put more mercury in tuna. It may even mark the end of right whales along with many of our own rights. So, tune in to hear what George has to say about Trump 2.0 policies and his major new law that treats the Ocean as little more than a gas station and a garbage dump. Also, hear what he thinks you can still do about it. ** Links & Resources ** Blue Frontier: bluefront.org — Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild. Blue Frontier on Substack: https://davidhelvarg.substack.com/ Inland Ocean Coalition: inlandoceancoalition.org — Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protection Fluid Studios: fluidstudios.org — Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

In the latest episode David & Vicki talk with Wildaid CEO Meaghan Brosnan who, when it comes to marine wildlife and protected areas, is all about the enforcement. Wildaid is a leading international non-profit dedicated to saving the world’s declining wildlife species, perhaps best known for its decade-long media campaign that helped turn China from a consumer to an opponent of shark finning. Since taking over in 2017, Meaghan has expanded Wildaid’s ocean programs 10-fold with an emphasis on putting the bad guys away. No surprise, given her 20 years of service in the US Coast Guard, much of it in the Marine Resources Enforcement program. David & Vicki talk to her about her blue background, how a non-profit can help locals enforce protection of their (more than 20 nations’) waters and much more. And of course, Blue News You Can Use.Dive in with us. ** Links & Resources ** Wild Aid: https://wildaid.org/ Blue Frontier: bluefront.org Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild. Blue Frontier on Substack: https://davidhelvarg.substack.com/ Inland Ocean Coalition: inlandoceancoalition.org Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protection Fluid Studios: fluidstudios.org Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.