Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast
Podcast & Audio Production
Overseeing the Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast's production, promotion, and strategic growth. Fluid Studios manages podcast development, from concept to publication, ensuring high-quality content that resonates with audiences. We develop social media and content marketing strategies to maximize engagement and reach. By collaborating with the Blue Frontier team, we maintain the podcast's vision, enhance its impact, and leverage analytics to optimize performance, drive continuous improvement, and contribute to the organization's dynamic leadership and innovative solutions.
A refreshing, irreverent dive into the lives, work, and explorations of today’s leading and diverse ocean voices.
Each half-hour episode co-hosted by David Helvarg of Blue Frontier and Vicki Nichols Goldstein of the Inland Ocean Coalition sails through lively discussions with our guests about marine life, culture, and critical issues affecting our rapidly changing seas. Informative, enlightening, and often humorous it is an invaluable resource for anyone passionate about understanding, enjoying, and protecting our salty blue world.
Sachi Cunningham Shoots Women Riding Giants
On 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.
Fatal Watch: Uncovering the Truth Behind Ocean Observer Murders
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.
How Your Voice Can Make Waves: The Impact of Asking Questions on Environmental Change
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.
Dive into the Deep: Krill, Conservation, and the Cousteau Legacy
Krill may be tiny, but they hold the Southern Ocean—and our climate—in balance. In this episode of Rising Tide, Philippe and Ashlan Cousteau return to unpack why protecting Antarctica’s waters is about far more than saving whales and penguins. From the role krill play in storing millions of tons of carbon each year to the hidden costs of industrial krill fishing, the conversation reveals how deeply our daily choices are connected to the most remote ocean on Earth. Sometimes the most powerful climate solutions start with the smallest life forms—and a simple shift in how we think about what we consume.
Fighting Offshore Oil Again with Richard Charter
David Helvarg and Vicki Nichols Goldstein welcome back a respected voice in the environmental arena, Richard Charter. With all eyes on California, Charter shares a compelling narrative about the realities facing the state's coastline and the broader implications for our oceans. As we explore this topic, we uncover the complexities of politics, economics, and the undeniable importance of activism. Join us on this journey as we dive into Richard's story and the monumental efforts to protect our precious shores.
End the Year by Refusing Refuse
What starts as a walk on the beach with a trash bag can turn into a movement.
In this year-end episode of Rising Tide, we head to San Francisco’s oceanfront for an on-the-ground conversation with Vince Yuen, founder of Refuse Refuse San Francisco, to explore how small, consistent acts of care can ripple outward—transforming neighborhoods, waterways, and the relationship people have with the ocean.
Joined by Holden Hardcastle and Nick Paz, Vince shares how Refuse Refuse began during the isolation of the COVID pandemic as a simple way to get outside and make a difference, and how it has since grown into a city-wide, volunteer-powered effort to tackle urban litter before it reaches the sea. Along the way, the conversation connects the dots between city streets and ocean health, showing how everyday trash becomes a marine problem—and how community action can interrupt that cycle.
This episode also looks beyond cleanup days to the policy changes needed for long-term impact, from reducing cigarette butt waste to curbing single-use plastics. It’s a grounded, hopeful reminder that protecting the ocean doesn’t always start offshore. Sometimes it starts right where we live, with people willing to show up, pick up, and care.
As the year comes to a close, End the Year by Refusing Refuse offers a powerful invitation: reflect on what’s possible when community, consistency, and purpose come together—and carry that momentum into the year ahead.
Cal Maritime’s Eric Jones — Tall Ships and Tall Orders
From the deck of America’s Tall Ship to the helm of California’s only West Coast maritime academy, Superintendent Eric Jones has spent a lifetime navigating complex waters. In this episode of Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast, David Helvarg sits down with the retired Coast Guard Rear Admiral to trace a remarkable journey shaped by saltwater, service, and leadership.
Jones reflects on his early days working fishing party boats along the California coast, the experiences that launched him into a distinguished Coast Guard career, and the high-stakes moments that defined it—from hurricane response and maritime rescues to commanding the legendary three-masted barque Eagle. The conversation also explores the enduring value of seamanship, leadership under pressure, and what tall ships still teach future officers in a high-tech world.
Now leading Cal Poly Maritime through a period of historic transition, Jones shares insights on the changing U.S. maritime industry, the integration of Cal Maritime with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and the opportunities awaiting the next generation of mariners. It’s a wide-ranging, deeply human conversation about tradition, transformation, and the future of life and work at sea.
Protecting the Wild Kingdom
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.
Reviving the River: Amy Bowers Cordalis on Healing the Klamath—and Ourselves
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.
Ministering to Mariners
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.
Conversations and Culinary Insight with Chef Andrew Zimmern
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.
Balancing Wonder and Warning: Dr. Ben Halpern on the Future of Our Oceans
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.
Labor is for ‘Revolution’ in Offshore Wind
In the most recent episode of the Rising Tide Ocean Podcast, David Helvarg hosted Erica Hammond, the legislative director of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. The discussion centered around the collaborative efforts of labor, environmental, and community groups in Rhode Island working towards sustainable energy solutions through the Climate Jobs Rhode Island coalition.
Drew Harvell — Exploring the Secrets of the Sea
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. Harville 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.
A Voice for the Ocean's Mammals
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.
The War Against the Greens
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.
Tides of Change: Unpacking Ocean Policy with George Leonard
Unpacking Trump’s Ocean Rollbacks
n 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.
Navigating Success: Meaghan Brosnan's Journey and Mission with WildAid
Protecting Wildlife, Enforcing Change: A Global Dive with WildAid’s Meaghan Brosnan
In this episode of 'Rising Tide, the Ocean Podcast,' hosts David Helvarg and Vicki Nichols Goldstein interview Meaghan Brosnan, CEO of Wild Aid. Wild Aid is an international organization dedicated to protecting wildlife and their habitats, with a strong focus on combating illegal poaching, trafficking, and fishing, as well as addressing climate change impacts. Brosnan, who has an extensive background in marine enforcement with over 20 years in the US Coast Guard, discusses the journey that led her to Wild Aid and the significant expansion of their oceans program to over 16 nations. The episode also touches on key conservation topics, such as Trump's administration canceling subscriptions to scientific journals, and Wild Aid's impactful initiatives in areas like the Philippines and Galapagos, involving collaboration with local partners and law enforcement to protect marine life.
Navigating Change: Blue Zones, Green Zones, and Ocean Futures
In this episode of Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast, hosts David Helvarg and Vicki Nichols Goldstein from the Inland Ocean Coalition talk with Mike Sutton, Executive Director of the Goldman Environmental Prize, and Lindsay Gordon, Head of Global Programs at Parley for the Oceans. The discussion centers on the United Nations Ocean Conference held in East France from June 9th to 13th, highlighting the lack of media coverage in the US. Sutton and Gordon share their experiences, noting significant advancements in transparency and civil society engagement over the years. Sutton discusses his role in enhancing the value of the conference for Goldman Prize winners, while Gordon emphasizes the importance of managing international waters collaboratively. Key topics include the High Seas Treaty, the establishment of marine protected areas, and the importance of international funding and enforcement. They also touch on issues like sustainable fishing, plastic pollution, and the urgent need for global action on climate change. The conversation stresses the importance of accountability and progress to truly protect the oceans.
Restoring the Underwater Forest: Tom Ford's Kelp Crusade
In this episode of the Rising Tide Ocean Podcast, hosts David Helvarg and Vicki Nichols Goldstein welcome Tom Ford, CEO of the Bay Foundation and Director of the Santa Monica Bay National Estuary Program. They discuss Ford's journey from his first ocean encounter in high school to his extensive work in kelp forest restoration. Ford shares insights into the Bay Foundation's efforts, including restoring 75 acres of kelp forest off Palos Verdes, California, reintroducing endangered white abalones, and collaborating with commercial sea urchin harvesters. The conversation covers the challenges and successes of these restoration projects, the impact of environmental changes, and the importance of continued funding and community engagement. Ford also talks about his memorable kelp dives and the significance of creating sustainable marine ecosystems.
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You can also listen to Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast on a variety of platforms including Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, Android, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Blubrry, Podchaser, Gaana, the Podcast Index, and Deezer. Additionally, the podcast is broadcast on several radio stations: KGUA Radio (Public Media for the Mendonoma Coast), KWMR (Point Reyes West Marin Community Radio), KGNU & KGNU-FM (Denver & Boulder Community Radio Stations), KKRN (Round Mountain California Listener Supported Radio), & G-TOWN RADIO (Germantown Community Radio, Philadelphia).
Check out the Our Blue Frontier on Substack for transcripts, emerging ocean & climate issues highlights, and the lighter side of the Environmental Apocalypse.