We’re so back! This episode features Cameron Shaw (@camshaw_), your new favorite marine conservation educator, PhD candidate, and Florida summer inspiration. We talk about everything from ethical shelling and shark tooth hunting, to being a first-generation student and creating meaningful experiences for youth, to Robert Irwin on DWTS and Winter the Dolphin. Note: This episode was recorded in November 2025.

@camshaw_

@shellphonepodcast

@theoceanhq

Welcome back to Shellphone! This episode, we are diving into a topic that has been at the top of our list for a long time...CORALS! We are joined by University of South Florida professor and coral researcher, John Parkinson, to talk all about what corals are, their symbiotic friends, and their somewhat similar research models: anemones.

John's Website

@shellphonepodcast

@breachthesurface

@coastalcreative.tv

@choppingblocksoapco

Welcome to Shellphone! This episode, we are hearing from Jessica Sportelli about her work as a marine bioacoustic scientist. You'll learn all about the types of sounds that dolphins and whales make, and how bioacoustics relates to predator-prey interactions and dolphin health. We also talk about the importance of education, accessibility in science, and collaborating with local and indigenous communities.

@nmmfoundation

@shellphonepodcast

@breachthesurface

@coastalcreative.tv

@choppingblocksoapco

This episode, we're hearing from Melody Lindsay about teeny tiny microbes, extreme environments...and space! She is a research scientist and our second Shellphone guest from Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. Whether you were interested in microbes before or not, Melody shares some really awesome things that will reel you in.

@bigelow_laboratory

@shellphonepodcast

@breachthesurface

@coastalcreative.tv

@choppingblocksoapco

Thank you to Chopping Block Soap for sponsoring this episode of Shellphone! Try out some of our favorite soaps at choppingblocksoap.com for 20% off with the discount code mentioned in the episode!

This episode, we're hearing from Jessica Pate from the Florida Manta Project! Jessica shares what she's learned about manta rays after piloting research on them in Florida, and what manta mysteries are still being solved. She also talks about her favorite part of this research...the field work!

@floridamantagirl

@marinemegafauna

@shellphonepodcast

@breachthesurface

@coastalcreative.tv

This episode, we're hearing from Dr. Erin Spencer about her amazing world of marine science and communication. She talks about her hammerhead shark research, working with NatGeo, and writing children's books about topics like coral reefs and octopuses.

@erintspencer

Erin's Website

@shellphonepodcast

Breach's Website

@coastalcreative.tv

Note: Lionfish spines are sheathed, not serrated.

This episode, we're hearing from Alanna Kieffer about Oregon's coastal ecosystem, the intertidal zone, and sustainable food systems. She hosts workshops focused on coastal exploration and foraging, through her business Shifting Tides.

@shifting_tides_nw

@shellphonepodcast

@breachthesurface

@coastalcreative.tv

This episode, we’re hearing from Jo Huxster who you may also know as the Climate Convo Prof. She will share some key points about climate change and its impacts, some advice on how to have conversations about climate change, and how this topic has worked its way into fiction through movies and books. We take a look at two examples of climate fiction: The Day After Tomorrow (film) and Migrations (novel).

@theclimateconvoprof

@shellphonepodcast

@breachthesurface

@coastalcreative.tv

This episode, we're hearing from Madison Stewart, founder of Project HIU, about her lifelong connection to sharks and her work with shark fishermen in Lombok, Indonesia. Project HIU's mission is to protect sharks by hiring fishing vessels to go on eco-tourism trips instead. Get ready to dive into and explore this innovative, community-driven project with us!

@projecthiu

@sharkgirlmadison

@breachthesurface

@shellphonepodcast

@coastalcreative.tv

This episode, we’re hearing from Liberty Boyd who was working on her PhD as a marine science graduate student at the time of recording. She shares about her experiences in and advice for grad school and then we dive into the ecology, habitat, movement, and foraging decisions of green sea turtles and the pressures that they are facing from human impacts and climate change.

@libertyology

@breachthesurface

@shellphonepodcast

@coastalcreative.tv

@manggear

 To receive 10% off of your purchase at manggear.com enter code "LIBERTY10" at checkout.

This episode, we're hearing from Jenny Gil who will be telling us all about algae and the different ways that it is learned about, researched, and repurposed. She has worked with organizations such as National Geographic, NASA, and the Smithsonian. Although Jenny always has multiple projects happening at once, she always comes back to the theme of providing accessible educational experiences that incorporate all of the senses.

@jennyalgae

@breachthesurface

@shellphonepodcast

@coastalcreative.tv

This episode, we’re hearing from Dr. Maria Cartolano who is an educator and mentor at the University of Miami. She tells us about some of her experiences in research and education. Maria is the director of a great program called Water Advocates and Visionaries for the Environment and Sea. WAVES gives younger students an opportunity to learn about marine science and experience a college campus, and gives students at UMiami the opportunity to practice teaching younger audiences.

@waves4future

@breachthesurface

@shellphonepodcast

@coastalcreative.tv

WAVES Website

Johnson Center for Marine Conservation Website

This episode, we're hearing from Julia Sunnarborg and Justin Stevens about the changing ecosystem of the Penobscot River following dam removals. They are studying the river's response to restoration efforts by using exciting tools like eDNA and acoustic surveys. Listen in to hear about this ecosystem's recovery and the possible future of these data-collecting tools.

@breachthesurface

@shellphonepodcast

@coastalcreativetv

@maineseagrant

This episode, we're hearing from Mat Bate, author of "With A Little Kelp From Our Friends." He shares his insights on the role of storytelling in marine education, the process of creating his illustrated book, and the past and future roles of seaweed in our world.

@_sendkelp

Mat's Website

@breachthesurface

@shellphonepodcast

Chopping Block Soap

This episode, we're hearing from Emy Daniels about how she is bringing together art, science, community, and activism through her artist residency at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Oregon.

@emydanielsart

@breachthesurface

@shellphonepodcast

Chopping Block Soap

This episode, we're hearing from Tiare Fridrich who works as a manatee biologist with the Save the Manatee Club here in Florida. She sheds light on the status of manatee populations, the threats that they are facing, and related conservation initiatives.

Save the Manatee Club Website

@breachthesurface

@shellphonepodcast

Chopping Block Soap Website

Note: This episode was recorded in September 2023, so our perspective on manatee populations is from that point in time.

This episode, we're hearing from Rachel Sipler about harmful algal blooms and their impacts on the environment and humans. Not all algae is bad, but it is a complex and often unpredictable issue when HABs occur and we are still learning about them, with the help of valuable research at places like the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences.

Bigelow Labs Website

@bigelow_laboratory

@shellphonepodcast

@breachthesurface

This episode, we're hearing from Jill Pelto about how she incorporates scientific data into her paintings to communicate changes in the environment. Jill creates art relating to a variety of topics including the recession of the Northern Cascades glaciers, which she is closely tied to. She also works with educators to lead students in creating their own data-art about topics that matter to them. Listen in to hear more about this exciting, emerging field!

@jillpelto

Jill's Website

@breachthesurface

@shellphonepodcast

This episode, we're hearing from Leah Biery about finding your place in conservation through a variety of careers or in your everyday life. Leah is Director of the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, located on the St. Pete Pier. We also breach the topic of accessibility in ocean science and conservation as we take a look at the Discovery Center's programs.

@tbwdiscoverycenter

@thesaltytreasureproject

@breachthesurface

@shellphonepodcast

This episode, we're hearing from Jillian Simons about the importance of living intentionally for yourself and the planet. Jillian has spent her time traveling in her renovated eco-bus, organizing coastal cleanups, practicing meditation and building community.

Can one person really make a difference? We answer this and plenty other questions in this episode! There is so much going on in the constant quest for a healthy planet that sometimes it can be overwhelming. As Jill explains, caring for the earth doesn't have to be all or nothing, though, and it's important to care for yourself as well.

@becomingintention

@breachthesurface

@shellphonepodcast