Planet People Podcast

Listen to this episode on your favorite podcast platform or watch the video version on our YouTube channel to see the birds we identify during our walk! Episode Overview This episode continues our conversation with park ranger Alex Wild, featuring a guided nature walk around San Elijo Lagoon. Alex identifies various birds and plants while discussing his role as a park ranger and sharing stories about inspiring environmental elders. This episode follows our previous discussion with Alex about recent attacks on National Parks and federal worker cuts that affected him personally. We had a special guest join us, Franklin the desert tortoise, Alex's former pet now serving as an animal ambassador at San Elijo. Keep reading to learn more about the birds we saw in this episode!  Key Topics Discussed Major talking points included bird identification and birding tips, including creating a "life list" for birding. We also defined "Spark Birds" - the species that ignite someone's passion for birding and how ornithology lends itself to Alex's responsibilities as a park ranger. Spiritual connection to the land and the importance of role models as environmental elders who inspire. Most importantly, we discuss what it means to use our voice to protect natural spaces we love.   Poetry Feature:  "The Peace of Wild Things" By Wendell Berry When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.   Featured Segments Endangered Bird Segment: Endangered bird species are under threat! This recently published report from the 2025 US State of the Birds Report by the American Bird Conservancy outlines the threats that birds face across America and defines proactive solutions to protect bird populations for future generations.  Key findings from the new report show that more than one-third of U.S. bird species are of high or moderate conservation concern, including 112 Tipping Point species that have lost more than 50 percent of their populations in the last 50 years. Betty Reid Soskin Park Ranger segment: Betty Reid Soskin (born Betty Charbonnet; 1921), now retired, was a park ranger with the National Park Service, assigned to the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California. In 2015, Betty was selected to participate in the national tree-lighting ceremony in President’s Park at the White House, introducing President Barack Obama during the PBS telecast. At 100 years of age in 2022, Betty retired as the oldest park ranger in the National Park Service. Thank you for your hard-earned work, Betty! Related Content Protecting National Parks and Keeping Nature Wild w/ Alex Wild. Check out our earlier conversation with Alex about the challenges facing National Parks and federal workers.  Hosts: Natalie Jane Cibel (@nat_uralistjane) and Coral Carson   Birds Mentioned: Gnatcatcher (photo: Audubon & US Forest Service)  Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (photo: Barbara-Houston) Gadwall Snowy Plover Coots  Snowy Egret (Photo: Peter Prokosch & Mark Schocken)  Grey Egret (Video: Lukas Pich) Double-crested Cormorant Least Tern  Malachite Kingfisher (Videos: Anton Herrington, Matthew Williams-Ellis) African Spoonbill (Video: Day’s Edge Productions) Marabou Stork (Video: Day’s Edge Productions) Yellow-billed Stork (Video: Wind Collective) Saddle-billed Stork  Wall Creeper  Wall Creeper Reddit  American Dipper (Photo NPS/Jared Hughey) American Dipper (Photo: Donald M. Jones and Lee Rentz) Black-backed Woodpecker  Sapsucker (Photo: Grace Oliver) White-tailed Kite (Photo:Chris Conard) Mallard (Videos: Monster Filmmakers & Day’s Edge Productions) Ridgeway’s Rail (Photo: Ed Henry)  Golden Eagle (Video:Wesley Aston) Elegant Tern (Photo: Willian Tyrer)  Caspian Tern (Photo: Teal Baremore)  Royal Tern (Photo: Owen Deutsch)  Mullet Fish (Photo: Luvsd)  Wrentit Bird (Photo: Scott Strei)  Killdeer (Photo: Kira Henderson/Audubon Photography Awards) Robin (Yosemite) (Photo: Dennis Church)  Anna’s Hummingbird (Coastside Land Trust)  Towhee (San Diego Bird Spot)  Sparrows - San Diego Region (San Diego Bird Spot)  Pied-billed Grebe (Photo: Jared Keyes)   Eared Grebe (Photo: Matt Davis)    Plants Mentioned: Sagebrush (My Home Park)  Ponderosa Pine (Video: Amy Bornstein) Nasturtium (Botanical Interests)  Arroyo Willow (Photo: Joan Avice)  Wild Radish (Photo: Will Elder, NPS) Ragweed (Ambrosia) (Photo: Joanna Gilkeson/USFWS)   Places Mentioned: Ramona Grasslands Preserve  Sawtooth Canyon Yosemite Devil’s Postpile   People Mentioned: Alexander von Humboldt (Painting: Friedrich Georg Weitsch) Shelton Johnson (Photo: Cayce Clifford) Betty Reid Soskin (Photo: Luther Bailey)    Apps Mentioned: E-bird Inaturalist Happy Whale Merlin Bird

Happy Earth Day! 🌎💚 In this special bonus episode, we sit down with Alex Wild, a park ranger and naturalist who recently made headlines after being caught in the crossfire of controversial executive orders affecting National Parks. We filmed this episode live from the San Elijo Lagoon with Alex’s pet tortoise and now education ambassador, Franklin. Alex shares his journey as a steward of public lands, about the recent DOGE job cuts, his opinion on the recent executive orders, and his natural, spiritual connection to the landscape. Learn about how Alex embodies what it means to be a Planet Person in this exciting discussion about current events and the conservation of public lands!  Topics Covered: Personal Stories and Environmental Passion: Alex shares the childhood experiences that sparked his passion for environmental stewardship. We recorded live in one of his many spirit homes, the San Elijo Lagoon, in Cardiff, CA. He shares the spiritual meaning behind being a Planet Person and how that reflects in his everyday life as a naturalist and a ranger. We recount wild and memorable experiences from Alex's time as a park ranger, like his experience hiking in the Yosemite wilderness to measure glaciers that John Muir once observed. Recent Policy Changes and Their Impact: Alex recounts his experience of being laid off due to the DOGE program and then shares how he was reinstated following a San Francisco judge's ruling. We discussed how these changes affect thousands of park workers.  Recent Adventures: Alex has a full and exciting life, recounting his many travel adventures around California working for county, state, and federal parks. He shared his meaningful encounter with Jane Goodall and how she has shaped his approach to advocacy and actionable ways listeners can support conservation efforts. He also briefly touched on his recent trip to Tanzania and his experience living with the Maasai tribe around Arusha.  Looking Ahead to Season 2: Preview of our upcoming season focusing on desert conservation. Discussion of the potential impacts of current policies on desert ecosystems. Concerns about the Mojave Desert conservation corridor. Resources & People Mentioned: National Parks Conservation Association, @npcapics Sierra Club, @sierraclub  American Bird Conservancy Bird Study  Brene Brown, What It Means To Be a Leader Wendell Berry Edward Abbey  John Muir Mary Hunter Austin, The Land of Little Rain Connect with Alex Wild: Follow Alex on Instagram: @ranger_wild “Don’t Sell Public Lands” - outdooralliance.com   

In this bonus episode of Planet People, Natalie and Coral discuss the devastation around the LA Wildfires for both people, wildlife and the planet. As a scientist Natalie offers insight into the climate crisis while Coral sheds light on the LA community and the people that have been displaced and affected by this tragedy. They discuss how extreme weather patterns like intense rainfall, followed by a significant drought year, and hurricane like winds, created ripe conditions for wildfire to spread. With California experiencing two wet years in 2023-2024, it also allowed for invasive tree and grass species to grow unchecked and create a mat and corridor for fires to spread rapidly in 2025. The Santa Ana Winds also brought extremely dry conditions and with the lack of moisture in the air, the fires started with no warning.  Habitats impacted by these state parks including, coastal sage scrub, wetlands, chaparral, and oak woodlands. State parks were also destroyed by the fire, including Will Rogers State Park and Topanga Canyon State Park. Resources and organizations to donate to and support through volunteer efforts are listed below. Our hearts go out to LA during this unprecedented disaster.    Wildlife Impact Alert! Mountain Lions: P-22's family & local populations are necessary top predators for ecosystem services to thrive Mule Deer: Critical prey species for mountain lion & seed dispersal Rattlesnakes: Essential pest control Grey Foxes: Under threat from habitat loss Red-tailed Hawks: Nesting sites at risk Coyotes: Den sites at risk  Habitat Impact Alert  Oak Woodlands: Ancient trees threatened that are endemic to southern California, occur in Mandeville Canyon and Malibu State Park Coastal Sage Scrub: One of the rarest and most endangered habitats that songbirds, like endangered California gnatcatcher, dominate in Topanga State Park Native Grasslands: Fire recovery needed to prevent invasive species from outcompeting native flora Chaparral: Habitat that dominated Will Rogers State Park and Topanga canyon, shelter for bobcats, quail, snakes and more. Learn more about the LA WildFires. Follow @planet.people.pod for updates and resources to get involved.    RUNNING GOFUNDME LIST   WILDLIFE VOLUNTEER & DONATION OPPORTUNITIES: *Please check each of these before showing up to know exactly what they need and what time they are in need of volunteers. Keep your volunteer and donation work sustainable because we have a long way to go.* Volunteer for restoration efforts on MLK day with Santa Monica Mountains @santamonicamountainsnps  Community clean up with @echo_park_trash_club. Register here Stay up to date on replant efforts in Los Angeles with @weexploreearth. Sign up here  Join volunteer restoration teams with @treepeople or wildlife support teams @laanimalservices Support wildlife corridor projects, like the Annenberg-Wallis Crossing in Augora Hills w/ @calwildlife Share resources with neighbors about wildlife-coexistence, like @cougarconservancy on best practices to living with wild animals  TreePeople: Local restoration projects - @treepeople Donate and help support Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy - @santamonicamountainsnps  LA Animal Services -@laanimalservices Cal State Parks - @calparks  CA Wildlife - @cawildlife Pasadena Humane Society @pasadenahumane   HUMANITARIAN VOLUNTEER & DONATION OPPORTUNITIES: *Please check each of these before showing up to know exactly what they need and what time they are in need of volunteers. Keep your volunteer and donation work sustainable because we have a long way to go.* Donate supplies to @9thirtyla 930 Mateo St. - in need of Spanish-speaking volunteers Donate women’s material to @altadenagirls Majority of LA’s YMCA’s are doing donation drop off and need drivers to drop off supplies to those who can’t leave their home   INFLUENCER RESOURCES: Ben Goldfarb, Author of Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of the Planet. Read previews here Lauren Bash, Influencer of environmental sustainability. Learn more about her through IG and TikTok as @relauren  Nina Raj, Master Gardner and California naturalist of @altadenaseedlibrary can help you reseed your urban landscape and garden for those affected by the Altadena fire.  Tiptoe the tortoise, Influencer pet with @caitlinandtiptoe who survived the wildfires  

Welcome to the first bonus episode on Planet People! I’m your host, Natalie Jane, a conservation biologist and eco-communicator. I am joined by my creative director and now co-host, Coral Carson. We have a really fun episode as we recap Season 1 of Planet People for the Coastal Conservation series and share all the amazing stories and happenings that made this year so special.    We record this episode in an urban, green space setting in Los Angeles, so please welcome in bird songs and other ambient nature sounds you may hear throughout the show. We want to give a massive shoutout to all of you Planet People for listening in, and we hope you had as much fun listening as we did recording this season.    EPISODE 1 Protecting Paradise in La Jolla Cove California w/ Host Natalie Cibel Join us in this episode as we learn about the holistic approach of community-based conservation in La Jolla Cove to protecting natural resources. We address the social ecology that makes this such a complicated human-wildlife coexistence issue. Marine mammals, seabirds, and the living shoreline are all impacted by human disturbance, and we want to learn how to address it and create a harmonious solution rooted in community-based conservation!   EPISODE 2 Flight of Hope w/ Cristina Santa Maria  Native plants have tight relationships with wildlife, which were formed over many thousands of years, providing natural sources of food, cover, and places to raise young. Without healthy native plant communities, wildlife cannot survive. Shorebirds also depend on native plants to thrive, including birds like the California least tern and Western snowy plover. Cristina shares experience working with these species and how to protect them from extinction.    EPISODE 3 Safeguarding the Seas: Hooked on Shark Stewardship w/ Randy Thomas   In this episode, Randy provides a look into his life as a marine ecologist and shark researcher. He shares his journey and how he faced challenges head-on in pursuing his dream of working with sharks, like the hammerhead and mako shark. Randy is a passionate planet person who puts his conservation skills to the test and tells you what you can do to do the same.    EPISODE 4 Ray Rescuers the Crux of Queer Ecology w/ Nicole and Angel Morris   Nicole and Angel are both avid ocean enthusiasts. Nicole works with underprivileged youth to build educational and environmental outdoor nature programs, while Angel is a conservation filmmaker. Their love of the ocean and passion for stingrays led them to produce their movie, “Diving for Rays.” You can watch it on Waterbear Network.   EPISODE 5 Seal Society Stewards: The Sierra Club Seal Society & Protecting Seals and Sea Lions in San Diego: Robyn Davidoff and Carol Toyle  In this episode, we follow up on episode one to recap the human-wildlife conflict in La Jolla Cove by interviewing the Sierra Club Seal Society leaders, Robyn and Carol, about what it takes to reduce this conflict. We discuss the importance of addressing the complex social ecologies that make conservation of these animals difficult. In addition, we talk about the importance of sharing safe viewing guidelines to mitigate conflict in La Jolla Cove. Solutions to this dramatic issue are still ongoing, and we’ll report back when we learn about more solutions.   EPISODE 6 Save One Life Part 1: Protecting Wildlife in Coastal California and Costa Rica w/ Amber Becerra, CEO of Marine Mammal Care Center and Founder of SOL Eco Lodge. What a fun episode this was! Planet People went to Costa Rica to record an episode with conservation hero Amber Becerra to learn more about her story of saving the Marine Mammal Care Center in Long Beach from securing enough funding to help the center stay open. This is a local southern California conservation success story, as the Marine Mammal Care Center works tirelessly to save marine mammals like the California sea lion from entanglement or vessel strikes.    EPISODE 7 Save One Life Part 2: Protecting Wildlife in Coastal California and Costa Rica w/ Amber Becerra, CEO of Marine Mammal Care Center and Founder of SOL Eco Lodge. Do you want to learn more about what it means to have a sustainable lifestyle? You're in the right place to listen more about Amber's inspirational story to help local wildlife and people in Playa Grande, Costa Rica. We interviewed Amber about her work in building the SOL Eco Lodge, which she has created using sustainable best practices by upcycling materials to sustain the lodge. In addition, Amber applies her skills from rebuilding the Marine Mammal Care Center in Long Beach CA, to building her own animal hospital to help rehabilitate hurt wildlife. We talk about animals like the howler monkey and how they are under threat from clear-cutting forests due to rapid housing development near a national park.    EPISODE 8 Orca Odyssey: Secrets of the Sea from SoCal To Alaska w/ Nicole Schriber   Nicole shares personal stories about encounters with the Eastern Tropical Pacific pod of killer whales. In this riveting episode, we interview naturalist and orcinologist, Nicole Schriber, about all things Orcas in San Diego County and Alaska. Nicole shares fun facts about Orcas, one of our favorites being the coloration of orcas. Did you know that their actual coloration is actually shades of purple when they are adults and a light orange when they are born?    EPISODE 9 A Wonderful Whale Tale: A Drones Eye View of Blue, Gray and Humpback Whales w/ Daina Buchner  Daina is a drone pilot, conservation photographer, videographer, and whale enthusiast. She has traveled all over the world to see and interact with species, like the humpback and gray whale. We learn about them through her positive ocean stories and how both species have made a tremendous comeback with the help of national law protections. This great success story is attributed to policies like the Marine Mammal Protection Act which has proven to restore populations of marine mammals.    EPISODE 10 Great White Sharks: Understanding Their Behavior: w/ Dr. Chris Lowe   Dr. Chris Lowe is a marine biologist and professor of Marine Biology at California State Long Beach, where he uses science and technology to understand great white shark behavior better. Through his science and academic journey, he prepares his students to do field work where they tag and monitor great white sharks along the Southern California coast. He shares with us how his research benefits public safety, along with some cool fun facts! For example, we learned that juvenile great white sharks swim close to shore for protection from predators and to access warmer temperatures that help them grow.  The CSU Shark Lab needs your help! Due to a smaller state budget this year, the Shark Lab has lost this funding. If you can or know of anyone who would be willing to support the CSU Shark Lab during this time, please donate at this link. Contact your local legislator: Email them to advocate for the CSU Shark Lab to receive more funding in the 2024-2025 budget. Find your legislator here.  EPISODE 11 Wildcoast Wonderland: Naturing Our Way Out of the Climate Crisis: w/ Serge Dedina and WILDCOAST Serge Dedina is a Southern California ocean conservation hero! During our interview, he told us stories of what California was like in the 60s and 70s and how far the coastline has come with improved protections by removing oil rigs and improving air quality. We share his timeline of events and his activism for a better beach environment at Imperial Beach by advocating for the protection of the Tijuana Estuary. This eventually led him to start the WildCoast NGO in 2000 and later become the mayor of Imperial Beach in 2016.    We want to thank each one of you for listening to this coastal conservation season and for tuning into our bonus episode! As we look forward to season 2 we are excited to bring to you stories from the California desert and take you on a journey you’ll never forget! We’ll be taking a short break but we’re excited to come back stronger and more consistent with more episodes for you twice a month! Stay tuned for listener feedback surveys and we’ll catch ya later on season 2 of Planet People!    Listen to the Global Health Pursuit Podcast with Hetal Baman: https://www.globalhealthpursuit.com/   Whether you're taking the first steps in the field of global health or simply seeking inspiration from the stories of remarkable leaders, this podcast is for you. Discover how inspiring leaders are combating global poverty, bringing clean water to remote villages, expanding healthcare access, and much more.

We are excited to have Serge Dedina on the show to share his stories as a southern Californian ocean conservation hero and founder of the organization WILDCOAST / COASTASALVAJE. In this episode, we cover many exciting stories about coastal conservation and the journey that inspired Serge to co-found WILDCOAST. Along the way, we share ocean knowledge and the benefit of blue carbon in acting as the world's largest carbon sink in fighting climate change. We learn about the vital work being done by WILDCOAST to support these natural solutions by restoring marine ecosystems to reduce the impacts of climate change. The mission of WILDCOAST as a community-based organization is to conserve marine and coastal ecosystems while addressing climate change through natural solutions. Tune into this episode to understand how Serge addresses these complex social ecologies and uses community conservation to help restore ecosystems and blue carbon processes with WILDOCAST.    Throughout the interview, Serge describes what it was like growing up in Los Angeles in the 60s and 70s and how much of his childhood experiences were spent at the beach learning about the wild seas. His early passion for environmentalism is demonstrated by his activism to protect what is now the Tijuana Estuary in Imperial Beach, San Diego. Combining his love for the sea and environmentalism, Serge was determined to make a difference for southern California and beyond across the border into Mexico. Specifically, he is well known for protecting the San Igancio Lagoon, a now UNESCO World Heritage Site, from being developed by a Mitsubishi Salt Plant that had plans to destroy the sacred breeding grounds of the endemic gray whale in the early 90s. Thanks to Serge and his team, they prevented the creation of the salt plant and protected Baja’s gray whale breeding habitat. This is truly a magnificent story of heroic action and coastal conservation!   Inspired by his journey in Baja, Serge co-founded WILDOCAST in 2000 and created the Mexico team, COASTASALVAJE, in 2007. The co-founder of WILDCOAST is a huge Olive Ridleys sea turtle advocate who wants to bring justice and protection to this species. Often, these sea turtles are hunted by humans and animals alike, causing a high juvenile mortality rate. WILDCOAST is a leader in protecting these sea turtles in Oaxaca despite obstacles like the cartel threatening local team members on the ground.    Sixteen years later, in 2016, Serge became the mayor of Imperial Beach, where he used his voice and position to advocate for solutions to the border-pollution crisis until 2021. With 55 million tons of waste released weekly, Serge and WILDCOAST took action to advocate to political leaders that this pollution needs to end and that we must protect the ocean.    Currently, they are taking action to reduce the threat of pollution from Tijuana into San Diego waterways as this crisis has become a growing tension between the US and Mexico. One example of swift action being done to clean up plastic trash is with a device created that captures and traps trash before it reaches the ocean. By using community-based volunteer forces, we are beginning to see the benefit of ensuring no physical trash items are making their way into the ocean. To accomplish this mission of deploying the trash collector, COASTASALVAJE teams up with communities along the border by educating them about the importance of protecting our waterways. In return, WILDCOAST brings parks to the communities partaking in stewardship activities.    In addition to reducing plastic pollution into the ocean, WILDCOAST is also partnering with whale-watching companies to ensure that proper safety guidelines are followed during whale-watching tours. Serge and WILDCOAST advocate for a safe viewing distance and ensuring no speeding occurs while adjacent to these amazing creatures in Mexico and San Diego. Thanks to this outreach, we will hopefully begin to see more enforcement, like permit regulation, to monitor whale-watching activity in southern California.    What we love so much about this episode with Serge is how our interview highlighted the important work Serge does as well as his non-profit WILDCOASTS in protecting wildlife in the wild seas across borders, making a difference locally and globally. It is truly a spectacular season talking about southern California coastal species, like the humpback and gray whale, orcas, sea lions and seals, and so much more. We are grateful to be wrapping up our first season with an organization dedicated to coastal conservation with a local ocean hero, Serge Dedina.    If you care deeply about protecting the ocean but don’t know how, make sure you take notes as Serge describes the steps you can take to take action in your community. Something important to remember is that there are mentors all around you, you just have to recognize when you’re in the presence of one to increase your own skills. Even if you’re someone who doesn’t live by the wild seas, there are still political actions that we can take to put pressure on our governments to support community conservation. Resources WILDCOAST Website: https://wildcoast.org/about-us/mission-and-values/  WILDCOAST x GoPro collab YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-83vHFiy4Y WILDCOAST Whale Watching YouTube Video : Protect the Locals - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q90QHsMPKdo  Listen to the Global Health Pursuit Podcast with Hetal Baman: https://www.globalhealthpursuit.com/   Whether you're taking the first steps in the field of global health or simply seeking inspiration from the stories of remarkable leaders, this podcast is for you. Discover how inspiring leaders are combating global poverty, bringing clean water to remote villages, expanding healthcare access, and much more.  

In this episode, we interview Dr. Chris Lowe, a Professor of Marine Biology at California State University Long Beach. Dr. Lowe’s goal is to help expand our knowledge of marine organisms so that we can better manage and protect their ecosystems. He enjoys developing and using new technology and techniques to answer questions about shark and game fish behavior. He applies his knowledge to help train the next generation of biologists on how to use these tools to move the field forward.  The California State University Long Beach Shark Lab has a long and rich history in elasmobranch (a subclass of rays, sharks, skates, and sawfish) research. The Shark Lab was established in 1966 when Dr. Donald Nelson joined the faculty at CSULB as part of the Marine Biology program. Dr. Nelson’s commitment to the study of sensory biology and the behavior of sharks was instrumental in furthering our understanding of these animals. In 1998, Dr. Chris Lowe, a former Master's student under Dr. Nelson, was hired as his replacement after his passing. Dr. Lowe took over the CSULB Shark Lab and continues to maintain its legacy. Throughout this conversation, Dr. Lowe shares the types of tools that he and his students deploy to monitor white shark populations along our Southern California coastlines. The CSU lab uses different types of transmitters to tag great white sharks to monitor their movement patterns and physiological processes to better understand their behavior and migration in response to threats and warming ocean temperatures. We learn about current threats like climate change that impact prey availability and also about bycatch as a cause for concern in shark populations.  Additionally, we dive into learning about the Shark Lab's benefit in working collaboratively with local groups, like lifeguards and fishermen, to ensure that community-based conservation provides valuable solutions for people and the planet. Dr. Lowe informs us about the positive effects of social ecology when humans value the environment for their own benefit. This is important because when we balance stakeholder interests, like fisheries management and lifeguard duties, we can create a sustainable and safe beach environment for sharks and people.    Shark Facts: Females are larger than males.  Sharks use their gills to filter oxygen from the water. Sharks do not have bones but rather cartilaginous skeletons, which are much lighter than true bone. Their large livers are full of low-density oils, both of which help them to be buoyant.  Based on fossil scales found in Australia and the United States, scientists hypothesize sharks first appeared in the ocean around 455 million years ago. Sharks are older than trees.  Great Whites have self-healing properties.  Episode Resources:  The CSU Shark Lab needs your help! Due to a smaller state budget this year, the Shark Lab is under threat of losing this funding. State grants have supported all the research efforts we discussed in this episode, which include, tagging and monitoring white sharks, providing educational safety measures to beachgoers, and employing several employees and students. The lack of funding needed to maintain the research and studies would cut conservation efforts and staff employees in half. If you can or know of anyone that would be willing to help support the CSU Shark Lab during this time please help by donating at the link provided below. As the late September deadline is fast approaching, Dr. Lowe is optimistic that a donor will provide the $500,000 needed to keep the lab operating for another year. Smaller donations are also welcomed as they will help his students conduct research projects to better understand shark behavior. To donate, visit the CSULB Shark Lab website. To contact the shark lab for questions regarding charitable gifts or for further assistance, please contact Mary Ann Messing (p: (562) 985-8491 e: MaryAnn.Messing@csulb.edu). Learn more about the Shark Lab  CSU Shark Lab:  https://www.csulb.edu/shark-lab/about-the-shark-lab Contact your local legislator: Email them to advocate for the CSU Shark Lab to receive more funding in the 2024-2025 budget. Find your legislator here.  LA County Legislators:  State Assembly (District 69) Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal. Contact here.  State Senate (District 34) Senator Thomas J. Umberg. Contact here.   

Hey everyone, and welcome back! In this episode of Planet People, we dive into the world of whales with conservation photographer and videographer Daina Buchner. Join us on this exciting and ocean-filled episode as Daina shares her inspiring journey from childhood memories by the ocean, to becoming a leading figure in the field of marine conservation photography and videography. In our effort to bring nature to you in this episode, we encourage you to welcome in all the sounds of the natural recording studio we’re in by the beach in La Jolla, California!   Daina’s Story: In this episode, we also discover how Daina's ethos transformed, shifting away from travel photography to a more ocean-centric focus. Through the power of social media, she found a platform to educate people about the ocean and express her dedication to protecting whales and other marine species. Learn how this pivotal shift in perspective laid the foundation for becoming a conservation photographer. Daina has photographed all kinds of marine life, focusing primarily on gray whales, humpback whales, and sea turtles. She shared her personal, up-close encounters with these aquatic animals as she came face to face with all three species in different ways! She takes us down memory lane and on a tour of the Pacific as she dives deep with whales, photographing them in the sea and from land with her drone as a certified FAA pilot.  Learn how her high-quality photographs contribute valuable information to scientific studies and conservation efforts. Explore the intersection of art and science as Daina shares how her work contributes to a deeper understanding of marine ecosystems and supports conservation initiatives.   Gray Whales:  After years of intensive whaling, gray whales bounced back when strict controls were introduced to protect them. One such strict law was the enforcement of the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972, which ended whaling.   Gray whales are famous for their migration, which is one of the longest of any mammal. This well-studied migration is a 12,000-mile round trip from their feeding grounds in the cold Arctic waters to the warmer climes of Baja, California, where they breed and calve.  In the summer months, the whales spend their time in the icy, nutrient-rich waters of the Arctic, feeding on the small amphipods abundant in the ocean floor sediments. In September, they leave these feeding grounds and head south along the coastline to the breeding grounds in the far warmer waters of Baja, California, covering as much as 75 miles a day. In December, adult males and females arrive in California, and the females give birth in the sheltered warm waters.   Blue Whales:  The most significant historical threat to blue whales was the whaling industry, which reached unsustainable levels thanks to the industrialization of whaling fleets with gas-powered harpoons. They began to be hunted in significant numbers in 1868 in the North Atlantic, and their numbers were thought to have depleted to the low hundreds in 1966 when the International Whaling Commission banned their hunting. Ship strikes are one of the most significant mortality factors, with most deaths occurring in the waters off the US West Coast and Sri Lanka, where their preferred routes cross some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.  Blue whales are migratory, moving to feeding grounds at the Poles in the summer and then to their breeding grounds in the Tropics during the winter. Ten years of satellite tracking have revealed that blue whales exhibit long-term memory, with their movements following the spring phytoplankton blooms to feed off the krill that eat them.   Humpback Whales: The humpback whale is one of the most iconic whale species alive today. Famed for its mournful underwater songs and incredible acrobatics, it is at the top of the bucket list for many whale-watching expeditions. Growing anywhere from 14 to 17 meters in length and weighing up to 40 metric tonnes, these giants can be found in all major ocean basins and migrate long distances between mating and calving grounds in warm tropical waters.    North Pacific Migration: Humpback whales migrate from Alaska to Hawaii, traveling up to 3,000 miles in as little as 28 days. In the summer, they feed on krill and small fish in Alaska, and then in the winter, they travel to Hawaii's warm, shallow waters to give birth, mate, and raise their calves.    Sea Turtles: There are 7 species of sea turtles. The largest is the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and the only species with a softer, or leathery shell. The leatherback is the largest of all sea turtles at almost 6 feet long and up to 1100 lbs. Conversely, the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) is the smallest at almost 2 feet long and only 100 lbs. Sea turtles can be found almost everywhere, branching out from the equator. They do not inhabit the polar or subpolar regions. These animals have evolved over the last 200 million years and survived mass extinction events, but they are in trouble and may not survive this sixth Mass Extinction.   Conservation Tips: Avoid using plastic straws. Use the hashtag #saveaseaturtle!   Episode Resources:    Daina Buchner:  Website - https://headedanywhere.com/ Instagram - https://headedanywhere.com/ YouTube-https://youtube.com/@headedanywhere?si=3OnFLkWW7wtsLlsv   Happy Whale:  Have you identified a whale and want to contribute to citizen science research? Look no further and add your contribution to this website here: https://happywhale.com/hom   CSU Shark Lab:  The California State University Long Beach Shark Lab has had a long and rich history in elasmobranch research. Dr. Christopher Lowe, a former Master's student, was hired as Don's replacement in 1998. Chris took over the CSULB Shark Lab and continues to maintain the legacy. https://www.csulb.edu/shark-lab/about-the-shark-lab   FAA Website:  Are you curious about flying drones with a certification? Check this out: https://www.faa.gov/uas   Kingdom of Tonga  Learn about this Pacific island country by checking out their website: https://thekingdomoftonga.com/about/ References: Abrahms, B. Hazen, E.L. Aikens, E.O. Savoca, M.S. Goldbogen, J.A. Bograd, S.J. Jacox, M.G. Irvine, L.M. Palacios, D.M. and Mate, B.R. (2019) ‘Memory and resource tracking drive blue whale migrations.’ Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Iiangakoon, A.D. (2012) ‘Exploring anthropogenic activities that threaten endangered blue whales off Sri Lanka.’ Journal of Marine Animals and Their Ecology

Welcome to Episode #8 of Planet People! In this episode, we interview killer whale expert Nicole Schriber, who studies these amazing whales as a marine biology student at UC San Diego. She also works as a naturalist specializing in orca research and educating wildlife enthusiasts who join the “Gone Whale Watching” boat tours in San Diego. The recent sightings of orcas off of Southern California prompted a personal investigation for Nicole. As she observed this specific pod of whales, known as the Eastern Tropical Pacific Killer Whales (ETP), she was able to collect data for her photo identification book while leading these tours. Her research contributes to an overall understanding of ETPs and beyond the data collection, her experience provided amazing stories for our audience to learn from. This interview is immensely exciting as she is at the forefront of research due to the orcas’ elusiveness in Southern California waters!    In addition to her marine biology experience in California, Nicole also spends time in Alaska during the summer leading glacier tours out of Hubbard Bay. While aboard these tours she sometimes observes orcas, further fueling her passion for whale watching and educating the world around her! She captured many of these sightings from Alaska to SoCal with her camera gear, which she provides details on during this episode.    Nicole shares her passion for these amazing animals through close-up encounters. She has had several encounters with individual orcas in the ETP pod and learned about their different personalities—she even had the chance to name a female orca! Along with stories, she provides us with fun facts about these fascinating sea creatures and what it takes to survive in a matriarchal animal world. From fun facts to truly riveting stories, Nicole’s episode won’t be one you want to miss!   Featured Guests:   Nicole Schriber @nicole.orcinologist https://www.instagram.com/nicole.orcinologist?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==   Organization Handles and Information:   Nicole’s ETP Photo Guide: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ebcMKY7y_qk7nJ6kwbkgtWnkLIGTEsvpRNq01cWBD7M/mobilepresent?slide=id.g2a93adb05a9_0_34   Gone Whale Watching Tours  https://www.gonewhalewatching.com/   The North Gulf Oceanic Society https://www.whalesalaska.org/   Happy Whale https://happywhale.com/home IG: @happywhale_official   Allen Marine Tours https://allenmarinetours.com/   Intertidal Kendy @intertidalkendy https://www.instagram.com/intertidalkendy?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Thank you for tuning into Planet People!  

Welcome to Episode #7 of Planet People! In this episode, we continue our conversation from Ep. 6 with Amber Becerra, founder of Sol Sanctuary, Wildlife Protection Alliance, and former CEO of Marine Mammal Care Center. In this episode, we learn more about Amber’s eco-lodge and what it means to operate one through a sustainable approach to living among nature.  By defining an eco-lodge and coexisting amongst nature, you will understand how to differentiate between real and fake greenwashing tactics. Through this conversation, you will discover that greenwashing is rooted in colonialist methods that promote unsustainable development, which erases indigenous communities and local wildlife. By incorporating local knowledge in her best practices, Amber is an exemplary model of how one can learn to live the way the locals have for generations.   Beyond sustainable and communal living, Amber embodies the spirit of a planet person as she seeks to protect different Costa Rican wildlife, like Howler Monkeys, as she builds with the trees at Sol Sanctuary rather than clear-cutting them, thereby creating habitat connectivity. We get an inside look at how Amber works with local indigenous groups to protect these animals by building natural bridges for the Howler Monkeys to safely cross their tree canopy without being electrocuted by power lines. With so much clear-cutting happening regionally in Playa Grande, this conversation is more pressing than ever to understand solutions to best practices for protecting nature.  Amber is also the dedicated leader of the Wildlife Protection Alliance, with the slogan #RespectTheWildlife, which is at the heart of what we stand for at Planet People.  From best living practices at Sol Sanctuary to uncovering greenwashing tactics and protecting wildlife through her rehab center, Amber’s story is one you won’t want to miss! Her experience starting an eco-lodge and protecting Costa Rican wildlife is what this planet needs now more than ever.    Featured Guests: Amber Becerra, founder of Wildlife Protection Alliance and former CEO of Marine Mammal Care Center   Organization Handles and Information:  To learn more about Wildlife Protection Alliance and Amber's retreat center, Sol Sanctuary, you can check out their websites & social media. Wildlife Protection Alliance (@respectthewildlife) at  https://www.respectthewildlife.org/ and Sol Sanctuary (@sol_sanctuary) https://www.solsanctuary.org/ Amber’s book, Coastal California: The Wild Life. The organizations highlighted in this book are:  San Diego Humane Society-Project Wildlife @sdhumansociety Marine Mammal Care Center @marinemammalcarecenter   Cougar Conservancy @couagarconservancy  Santa Monica Mountains Fund (SAMO @samofund) International Bird Rescue @intbirdrescue Point Blue @pointblue_conservationscience  Project Blue @go.projectblue Shark Allies @sharkallies  Sea Otter Savvy @seaottersavvy   Thank you for tuning into Planet People!   

Welcome to Episode #6 of Planet People! In this episode, we introduce Amber Becerra, founder of Wildlife Protection Alliance and former CEO of Marine Mammal Care Center. We take you behind the scenes with Amber to learn more about her advocacy work and the challenges she faces as a conservationist. From rebuilding the Marine Mammal Care Center and raising millions of dollars to aid marine mammals’ welfare to pushing for stronger protections for these animals worldwide, her journey has been both inspiring and enlightening. Amber, the dedicated leader of the Wildlife Protection Alliance, with the slogan #RespectTheWildlife, is at the heart of what we stand for at Planet People. Her experience raising awareness for coastal wildlife in California, and now globally, is what this planet needs now more than ever.    Featured Guests: Amber Becerra, founder of Wildlife Protection Alliance and former CEO of Marine Mammal Care Center   Organization Handles and Information:  To learn more about Wildlife Protection Alliance and Amber's retreat center, Sol Sanctuary, you can check out their websites & social media. Wildlife Protection Alliance (@respectthewildlife) at  https://www.respectthewildlife.org/ and Sol Sanctuary (@sol_sanctuary) https://www.solsanctuary.org/  To learn more about AZA-Accredited zoos & aquariums (@zoos_aquariums), you can check out details on their website. https://www.aza.org To learn more about and support the Marine Mammal Care Center (@marinemammalcarecenter) in LA. https://marinemammalcare.org   Amber’s book, Coastal California: The Wild Life. The organizations highlighted in this book are San Diego Humane Society-Project Wildlife (@sdhumansociety), Marine Mammal Care Center (@marinemammalcarecenter), Cougar Conservancy (@couagarconservancy), Santa Monica Mountains Fund (SAMO @samofund), International Bird Rescue (@intbirdrescue), Point Blue (@pointblue_conservationscience), Project Blue (@go.projectblue), Shark Allies (@sharkallies), Sea Otter Savvy (@seaottersavvy)   Thank you for tuning into Planet People! Be sure to check back in for Pt. 2 of our interview with Amber Becerra. 

Welcome to Episode #5 of Planet People! In this episode, we take you behind the scenes with the Sierra Club Seal Society to learn more about their advocacy work and the challenges they faced in safeguarding marine life in beautiful La Jolla, California. Robyn Davidoff and Carol Toye, the dedicated leaders of the Seal Society, share their experience raising awareness for marine mammals in La Jolla. From advocating for the welfare of the California harbor seal and sea lion to pushing for stronger protections for these animals, their journey has been both inspiring and enlightening.    Featured Guests: Robyn Davidoff, Chairperson, Sierra Club Seal Society Chapter  Carol Toye, Chairperson, Sierra Club Seal Society Chapter    Organizations mentioned in this episode:   Sierra Club Seal Society Chapter: @sdsealsociety  To preserve the La Jolla Harbor Seal and Sea Lion Rookeries for ecological, educational, scientific, historic, and scenic opportunities. To create and administer a volunteer docent program that provides environmental education for the public and promotes safe viewing of our local harbor seal and sea lion colonies.   Wildlife Protection Alliance: @respectthewildlife  The mission of Respect Wildlife is to reduce disruptive human encounters with coastal marine wildlife.   Wildlife Need Their Space Respect Means…If an animal starts to stare, fidget, or flee, calmly back away and give them more space.   NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration): @NOAA   NOAA’s mission to better understand our natural world and help protect its precious resources extends beyond national borders to monitor global weather and climate and work with partners worldwide.  Viewing Guidelines: NOAA Viewing Guidelines

Welcome to Episode #4 of Planet People! In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of rays, shedding light on their importance in marine ecosystems and their challenges in today's changing environment. Additionally, we explore the concept of queer ecology and its significance in the broader context of environmentalism and conservation. We touch on how queer ecology can inspire humans not to limit or put themselves into boxes. Our guests for today are Nicole and Angel Morris, a remarkable power couple passionate about environmental conservation and nature exploration. Nicole is an esteemed environmental educator, while Angel is a talented documentary filmmaker and nature enthusiast. Together, they bring a unique perspective to our discussion. In the second half of the episode, we discuss the fantastic documentary, “Diving For Rays,” produced and edited by Angel Morris and their Co-Director/Producer Nova West. You can find it on the WaterBear Network.   Featured Guests: Nicole Morris: Environmental Educator @coliejean  Angel Morris: Documentary Filmmaker and Nature Enthusiast @angelmorris.edit   In this episode, we also highlight organizations that advocate for ray protection and offer opportunities for listeners to get involved in supporting these efforts: Manta Trust: focuses on research and conservation efforts to understand manta rays better and safeguard their habitats. Their work includes education, research, and advocacy to ensure these gentle giants continue to grace our oceans for future generations. Ray of Hope Expeditions: partners with researchers, conservationists, and local communities to conduct field research and support conservation initiatives for rays and other vulnerable marine species.  Defenders of Wildlife: an important organization that provides avenues for advocacy and policy work to protect marine species, including rays.    Two resources mentioned to get involved in research and filmmaking: Field School: an organization that focuses on in-person field work for scientists in the making.  Jackson Wild Summit: an organization that focuses on developing young filmmakers and storytellers in nature, science and climate.    By supporting these organizations, whether through donations, volunteer work, or spreading awareness, we can all play a part in ensuring the survival of these magnificent creatures.   Thank you for joining us on this insightful episode of Planet People! We hope you enjoy the discussion and feel inspired to take action to protect our natural world.

Join us on this exciting episode as we dive into the incredible world of shark expert Randy Thomas. Randy, the founder of the non-profit organization "The Adventures of 5k," is a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation and an exceptional wildlife photographer. Through his captivating imagery and educational outreach efforts, Randy uses his platform to shed light on the importance of protecting marine life and its fragile ecosystem. But it doesn't end there! Randy's mission extends beyond awareness. He actively encourages action and invites listeners to join him in the fight to protect marine life. Randy inspires and educates a global community through his social media platform and engaging YouTube channel, showing us how we can all play a role in preserving our oceans. Tune in to this episode of "Safe Guarding the Seas" to be inspired by Randy's remarkable work, learn about the endangered sharks he champions, and discover how you can make a difference in the world of marine conservation. Get ready to be captivated by Randy's passion for wildlife and embark on an adventure that will leave you motivated to take action!   Featured Guest:  Randy Thomas @theadventuresof5k https://www.instagram.com/theadventuresof5k/   As mentioned in the episode, here are a few organizations to donate to and spread awareness: Shark Savers (https://www.sharksavers.org/)  Shark Trust (https://www.sharktrust.org/) Save Our Seas Foundation (https://saveourseas.com/) Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (https://seashepherd.org/) Sharkwater Extinction (https://www.sharkwater.com/)   Documentaries: "Sharkwater" (2006) "Racing Extinction" (2015)   Shows: - "Shark Academy" (Discovery +)

Join us as we dive into the world of coastal conservation with Cristina Santa Maria! Cristina is the conservation manager with the San Diego Audubon Chapter and she works to protect the endangered California least tern. Tune in to learn more about this conservation problem and how Cristina is working to create a solution.

Join us in this episode as we learn about the holistic approach of community-based conservation in La Jolla Cove to protect natural resources. We address the social ecology that makes this such a complicated human wildlife co-existence issue. The marine mammals, seabirds, and living shoreline are all impacted by human disturbance and we want to learn how to address is to create a harmonious solution rooted in community-based conservation!