Discover how Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) protect our oceans and why California is home to the largest connected network in the world. In this episode, we sit down with Jamie Blatter, climate specialist and tribal liaison at the California MPA Collaborative Network, to explore how MPAs are created, maintained, and measured for success. Learn about the science proving their impact, the importance of community and tribal partnerships, and the role of MPAs in addressing overfishing and climate change. From grassroots engagement to global conservation lessons, this conversation highlights how collaboration, equity, and identity shape the future of ocean stewardship—and why optimism comes from action.

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Episode Guest: Jamie Blatter

Learn more about the California Marine Protected Area Collaborative Network

Find 500 Queer Scientists Here

Further Reading on Queer Ecology

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media website

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Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art by Jomiro Eming

Theme music by Nela Ruiz

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Tiny ocean drifters are shaping Earth’s climate. Microzooplankton, some no larger than a grain of sand, are crucial players in the biological carbon pump — the system that moves carbon from the atmosphere into the deep sea for long-term storage. In this episode, PhD candidate Erin Jones explains how these single-celled organisms regulate climate, why their diversity matters, and what NASA’s EXORTS program is uncovering using satellites and DNA sequencing. From the invisible communities floating in seawater to the global carbon cycle, we explore how the ocean’s smallest creatures are connected to the planet’s biggest challenges. Discover why unlocking their secrets could reshape climate predictions — and why the future of carbon sequestration depends on them.

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Episode Guest: Erin Jones

Connect with Erin on LinkedIn

Learn more about the NASA EXPORTS Program

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art by Jomiro Eming

Theme music by Nela Ruiz

Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to South Pole on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Glowing sharks & blue beaches spark curiosity— journey with marine ecophysiologist Dr. Laurent Duchâtelet into the luminous world of ocean bioluminescence. Discover how lantern sharks, dragonfish, plankton and more deploy living light for hunting, hiding and flirting; why wavelengths shift from blue to green to rare red; and how decoding luciferin–luciferase chemistry is powering pollution sensors and cancer diagnostics. Guided by deep-sea ROV footage and decades of lab work, this conversation illuminates 90 independent evolutions of glow, the sport-utility of bio-light, and the urgent need to fund fundamental ocean science before these wonders wink out. If you’ve ever dreamed of swimming through spark-lit surf or marveled at fireflies, this episode reveals the science behind the magic—and what we still don’t know.

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Episode Guest: Dr. Laurent DuChatelet

Learn more about Dr. Laurent DuChatelet at UCLouvain

Read Dr. DuChatelet’s article on Marine Bioluminescence.

Find more of Dr. DuChatelet’s publications on Research Gate.

Blue Glowing Beaches Around the World

Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese

Cover art by Jomiro Eming

Theme music by Nela Ruiz

Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to South Pole on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.