Best Pinniped Podcasts (2025)

1
Arctic Ecology 27:47

1+ y ago27:47

27:47

Dr Scarlett Smash celebrates the final episode of the MMS podcast with Dr. Chris Parsons. They chat about Arctic life and ecology. If you would like to keep in touch with Dr Scarlett Smash (LinkedIn) and would like to keep hearing about marine science research tune into the Marine Conservation Happy Hour podcast. https://marineconservationhappyhour…

1
Antarctic ecology 31:06

1+ y ago31:06

31:06

Dr Scarlett Smash celebrates the last two episodes of the MMS podcast with Dr. Chris Parsons. They talk about Antarctic life and ecology. If you would like to keep in touch with Dr Scarlett Smash (LinkedIn), tune into the Marine Conservation Happy Hour podcast https://marineconservationhappyhour.libsyn.com…

1
Alejandro Fernandez Ajó 21:02

1+ y ago21:02

21:02

On this episode Dr Scarlett Smash has chats with Dr. Alejandro Fernandez Ajó about his work on hormone analysis of gray whale feces to assess correlations and response to a variety of internal and external stressors.

1
Phthalate Exposure 25:54

1+ y ago25:54

25:54

On this week's episode, Dr Scarlett Smash chat with Dr. Leslie Hart about her work investigating potential health impacts from exposure chemicals like phthalate and looking at plastic pollution/plastic-contaminated prey as a potential source of exposure. H.O.P.E. Research lab (Hypothesizing Onehealth Pollution Effects) "We are a team of undergradua…

1
PCFG - Feed behavior 24:45

1+ y ago24:45

24:45

On this episode Dr Scarlett Smash talks to Clara Bird, a phd candidate about her research on the Pacific coast feeding group (PCFG) gray whales' feeding behaviors.

1
Pacific Coast Feeding Group History 21:49

1+ y ago21:49

21:49

Dr Scarlett Smash continues to talk to Dr KC Bierlich, a postdoctoral scholar about his drone research on the Pacific coast feeding group (PCFG) gray whales. Dr Bierlich shares the history of the PCFG and what it is like conducting drone research.

1
Pacific coast feeding group's morphology and Climate Change 22:54

1+ y ago22:54

22:54

On this episode Dr Scarlett Smash talks to Dr KC Bierlich, a postdoctoral scholar about his research on the Pacific coast feeding group (PCFG) gray whales. Dr Bierlich is investigating the health of whales in a changing climate, with drones.

1
Zoop to Poop: Pacific Coast Feeding Group 25:24

1+ y ago25:24

25:24

On this episode Dr Scarlett Smash has chats with Lisa Hildebrand, a PhD student at Oregon State University's Marine Mammal Institute, about her work analyzing the “summer resident” gray whale sub-species' prey species from their scat. The results were a big surprise!

1
"Summer resident” gray whales 21:31

1+ y ago21:31

21:31

On this episode Dr Scarlett Smash has chats with Dr. Leigh Torres, head of the GEMM Lab, about the health and habitat of the “summer resident” gray whale sub-species.

1
Wind Turbines and noise underwater 27:44

1+ y ago27:44

27:44

On this episode Dr Scarlett Smash has a conversation with Dr. Jim Miller about offshore wind turbines and cetaceans.

1
Working in conjunction with fishing communities in India 22:00

1+ y ago22:00

22:00

On this episode Dr Scarlett Smash chats with Dr. Dipani Sutaria about engaging fishing communities to mitigate cetacean bycatch in the west coast of India.

1
Solitary sociable dolphins 25:39

1+ y ago25:39

25:39

On this episode Dr Chris Parsons chats with Liz Sandeman from Marine Connection about the phenomenon of solitary, sociable dolphins - when single wild dolphins interact with humans. Sadly these situations often come to an unfortunate end for the dolphins. They talk about what to do if one of these dolphins is reported and ways to manage the situati…

1
Fisheries interactions and Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphins, pt 2 30:39

1+ y ago30:39

30:39

This week's host Dr Scarlett Smash chats Ketki Jog, PhD candidate, about her research on the impact of fisheries interactions on the foraging behaviour of Indian Ocean humpback dolphins along the Sindhudurg coast of Maharashtra, India. The Marine Mammal Science Podcast is supported by the Society of Marine Mammalogy membership. Join, renew, or beco…

1
Fisheries interactions and Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphins, pt 1 28:22

1+ y ago28:22

28:22

This week's host Dr Scarlett Smash chats Ketki Jog, PhD candidate, about her research on the impact of fisheries interactions on the foraging behaviour of Indian Ocean humpback dolphins along the Sindhudurg coast of Maharashtra, India. The Marine Mammal Science Podcast is supported by the Society of Marine Mammalogy membership. Join, renew, or beco…

1
Sea Otters and Surfboards 27:50

1+ y ago27:50

27:50

This week's host Dr Chris Parsons chats to Dr Naomi Rose (Senior Scientist, Animal Welfare Institute) as spate of recent attacks on surfboards by a sea otter. They also talk about issues and problems with the public trying to interact with wild marine mammals. The Marine Mammal Science Podcast is supported by the Society of Marine Mammalogy members…

1
How bottlenose dolphin mothers communicate with their calves 26:03

1+ y ago26:03

26:03

On this episode Dr Scarlett Smash chats with Dr Laela Sayigh about her work with bottlenose dolphin signature whistles and the similarities of motherhood in nonhuman mammals.

1
Advocacy and Iberian orcas 30:54

1+ y ago30:54

30:54

On this episode Dr Naomi Rose about how scientists have come together to try to correct the misinformation about the orca population interacting with boats off of Spain and Gibraltar. They also talk about how letter writing to policy makers can be an important tactic for advocating for science.

1
Toxoplasma gondii 28:13

1+ y ago28:13

28:13

On this week's episode Dr Scarlett Smash chats with Dr Sophie Zhu about the detection and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in feces from feral cats in central coastal California, that can be harmful to marine species.

1
Rhythm under the sea, pt 2 24:00

1+ y ago24:00

24:00

On this week's episode Dr Scarlett Smash chats with Dr Taylor Hersh about her exciting work on Sperm whale clanes and identity codas.

1
Rhythm under the sea, pt 1 21:54

1+ y ago21:54

21:54

On this week's episode Dr Scarlett Smash chats with Dr Taylor Hersh about her exciting work on ceatacean's vocalization and communication.

1
Extinction Alert: Vaquita! 25:19

1+ y ago25:19

25:19

In this episode guest Mark Simmonds tells us about the plight of the vaquita and the recent “Extinction Alert” issued by the International Whaling Commission – a plea to galvanize urgent international Governmental action to try to save the most critically endangered marine mammal in the world.

1
By-catch mitigation in small-scale fisheries preliminary analysis, pt 2 22:15

1+ y ago22:15

22:15

On this week's episode Dr Scarlett Smash chats with Shanta Shamsunnaha, a PhD student at Oregon State University's Marine Mammal Institute, who shares her perspective and experience starting her Phd research on transdisciplinary approaches for by-catch mitigation in small-scale fisheries.

1
By-catch mitigation in small-scale fisheries preliminary analysis, pt 1 20:27

2y ago20:27

20:27

On this week's episode Dr Scarlett Smash chats with Shanta Shamsunnaha, a PhD student at Oregon State University's Marine Mammal Institute, who shares her perspective and experience starting her Phd research on transdisciplinary approaches for by-catch mitigation in small-scale fisheries.

1
The Vaquita, pt 2 22:34

2y ago22:34

22:34

Dr. Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho updates host Dr. Chris Parsons with the latest news of the world’s most critically endangered cetacean, the Vaquita or Gulf of California harbor porpoise.

1
The Vaquita, pt 1 17:15

2y ago17:15

17:15

Dr. Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho updates host Dr. Chris Parsons with the latest news of the world’s most critically endangered cetacean, the Vaquita or Gulf of California harbor porpoise.

1
How to conserve Franciscana dolphins 26:10

2y ago26:10

26:10

Dr Alex Zerbini, Chair of the International Whaling Commission's Scientific Committee, chats about the threatened franciscana dolphin and current efforts to conserve this vulnerable marine mammal.

1
Hector's and Maui's dolphins 31:22

2y ago31:22

31:22

In this episode Dr Liz Slooten of Otago University, New Zealand, talks about the plight of the threatened Hector's and Maui's dolphins.

1
Underwater noise and seismic surveys 26:05

2y ago26:05

26:05

In this episode guest Michael Jasny, the Director of the Natural Resources Defense Council's marine mammal program chats about underwater noise, the threat posed by oil and gas exploration and a new US bill that could have devastating impacts on marine mammals

1
Cetaceans in Lakshadweep, India, pt 2 29:44

2y ago29:44

29:44

On this week's episode Dr Ashley Scarlett (Dr Scarlett Smash) has an exciting chat with Dr. Divya Panicker about her work on cetacean diversity and distribution in the Lakshadweep islands in India.

1
Cetaceans in Lakshadweep, India, pt 1 22:36

2y ago22:36

22:36

On this week's episode Dr Ashley Scarlett (Dr Scarlett Smash) has an exciting chat with Dr. Divya Panicker about her work on cetacean diversity and distribution in the Lakshadweep islands in India.

1
Cetaceans in the Galápagos Islands 25:55

2y ago25:55

25:55

On this episode Dr. Ashley Scarlett (Dr. Scarlett Smash) chats with Dr. Daniel Palacios, the President-Elect for The Society for Marine Mammalogy, regarding his recent research on the ecology of cetaceans around the Galápagos Islands.

1
Whale songs and culture, pt 2 22:24

2y ago22:24

22:24

On this episode Dr. Ashley Scarlett (Dr. Scarlett Smash) chat with Dr. Ellen Garland regarding her work on humpback whale songs.

1
Whale Songs and Culture, pt 1 25:21

2y ago25:21

25:21

On this episode Dr. Ashley Scarlett (Dr. Scarlett Smash) chat with Dr. Ellen Garland regarding her work on humpback whale songs.

1
Sea Otters, pt3 24:32

2y ago24:32

24:32

This is part 3 of 3 episodes with Dr Scarlett Smash (Ashley Scarlett) chatting with Heather Barrett about Sea Otter Savvy’s programs, including preventing disturbance to sea otters and the energetic costs that disturbance causes otters.

1
Sea Otters, pt2 23:31

2y ago23:31

23:31

This is part 2 of 3 episodes with Dr Scarlett Smash (Ashley Scarlett) chatting with Heather Barrett about Sea Otter Savvy’s programs, including preventing disturbance to sea otters and the energetic costs that disturbance causes otters.

1
Sea Otters, pt1 26:15

2y ago26:15

26:15

On this episode Dr Scarlett Smash (Ashley Scarlett) chats with Heather Barrett about Sea Otter Savvy’s programs, including preventing disturbance to sea otters and the energetic costs that disturbance causes otters.

1
Southern Resident Orca Population 18:53

2y ago18:53

18:53

On this episode Kathleen Callaghy, Defenders of Wildlife Northwest Representative talks about the threats being faced by the endangered southern resident orca population.

1
Sea Otter Conservation Efforts 25:43

2y ago25:43

25:43

On this week's episode Andrew Johnson, Defenders of Wildlife California Representative speaks about its sea otter conservation programs and rescues.

1
Florida Manatee Conservation Efforts 23:35

2y ago23:35

23:35

On this week's episode Elizabeth Fleming, Senior Florida Representative from Defenders of Wildlife continues to speak about Florida Manatee's important habitat and events that have effected it.

1
Florida Manatee Habitat 16:45

2y ago16:45

16:45

On this week's episode Elizabeth Fleming, Senior Florida Representative from Defenders of Wildlife speaks about Florida Mantee's important habitat and events that have effected it.

1
Inlet Cook Beluga Whale Conservation 24:36

2y ago24:36

24:36

On this episode guest Ragan Davey, the Alaska Marine Representative from Defenders of Wildlife, talks about Beluga Conservation in Cook Inlet.

1
Delisting of Endangered Species on the ESA 19:13

2y ago19:13

19:13

On this week's episode Dr Scarlett Smash (Dr Ashley Scarlett) and Dr Chris Parsons discuss recent marine mammal news that is causing major concerns.

1
Humpback whales washing up on the East Coast 19:11

2y ago19:11

19:11

On this week's episode Dr Scarlett Smash (Dr Ashley Scarlett) and Dr Chris Parsons discuss recent marine mammal news that is causing major concerns.

1
The Cardiovascular and respiratory system during dives 27:12

2y ago27:12

27:12

On this episode Dr Scarlet Smash chats with Dr Ashley Blawas about her PhD disseration work on whale and dolphin's cardiovascular and metabolic processes.

1
Elephant Seals and Plastics 25:01

2y ago25:01

25:01

On this episode Dr Ashley Scarlett (Dr Scarlett Smash) chats with Lauren Kashiwabara about her work studying the effects of plastic pollution.

1
Orca predation on white sharks in Africa 31:46

2y ago31:46

31:46

On this week's episodes Dr Ashley Scarlett (Dr Scarlett Smash) has Dr Simon Elwen explain what is happening to white sharks in Africa. He goes over the detailed footage that was captured.

1
General Principles for Whale Watching 23:38

2y ago23:38

23:38

On this week's episode, Dr. Ashley Scarlett (Dr. Scarlett Smash) chats with Dr. Imogen Webster, Lead for Programme Development at IWC about the new IWC document – General Principles for Whale Watching.

1
Female dolphins and their social connectivity 28:11

2y ago28:11

28:11

On this week's episode Dr. Scarlett Smash chats with Dr. Vivienne Foroughirad about her research on the social structure and kinship in female bottlenose dolphins.

1
Group size varies with climate conditions in bottlenose dolphins, pt 2 13:23

2+ y ago13:23

13:23

On this week's episode Dr Ashley Scarlett (Dr Scarlett Smash) chats with Dr. Séverine Methion, lead investigator on dolphin research at the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute, who tells us about how bottlenose dolphin group size varies with the environment.

1
Group size varies with climate conditions in bottlenose dolphins, pt 1 20:22

2+ y ago20:22

20:22

On this week's episode Dr Ashley Scarlett (Dr Scarlett Smash) chats with Dr. Bruno Díaz López the founder of the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute, who tells us about how bottlenose dolphin group size varies with climate and oceanographic conditions , and the work of BDRI.

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