🛠️ Art as a Tool for Impact

Live from Black Rock City, Nevada! Welcome to a special bonus episode of Far Away Radio, recorded in collaboration with our friends at Burners Without Borders. This discussion is part of an ongoing series of conversations that explore the role of artists as instigators and amplifiers of cultural movements. Join Desiree Tavera as she uncovers more about the creative practice of each fascinating panelist: Shala Akintunde, Simon Malvaez, Peter Wells, Kimia Pakfar, and Matty Mo (aka The Most Famous Artist). To learn more and get involved, visit farawayprojects.org

Extended Episode! In the final installment of season one, we feature an in-depth conversation with two fascinating guests, Jeremy McKane and Susie Mai. Jeremy McKane is an artist and founder of ocn.ai, a tech company developing innovative systems to monitor ocean health. Susi Mai is an award-winning professional kiteboarder involved in a variety of ocean conservation projects. The two discuss how they met and their work on Ultramarine Ocean Action Summit, a project that aims to bring together politicians, scientists, artists, and business leaders to collaborate on ocean conservation initiatives. The guests talk to Desiree about everything from plastic waste and deep-sea mining, to their respective role models Bono and Sylvia Earle. To learn more, visit www.ocn.ai, www.susimai.com, and www.ultramarineocean.com. Thanks for listening! Stay tuned for season two of Far Away Radio coming soon.

We’re talking to Paula Rosales, project leader of the Ocean Defenders and professional kite surfer from the Philippines. The Ocean Defenders is an organization using comic art to encourage children to clean up the beach and protect the ocean. With her diverse background in communications, real estate development, project management, and event management, Paula has been instrumental in making the Ocean Defenders project a success. Tune in to this live recording from the Ultramarine Ocean Action Summit in Brooklyn, New York, to learn more about Paula's journey and the beautiful work of the Ocean Defenders. Visit www.theoceandefenders.com to see their gorgeous comics.

This week we hear from Tom Green, the CEO and co-founder of Vesta, a public benefit company harnessing the power of the ocean to turn shoreline protection carbon-negative. Tom talks about his background in biological science and business, and how he applies his wealth of knowledge to the global challenge of climate change. Vesta’s fascinating technology speeds up the natural process of coastal carbon capture by grinding the mineral olivine into sand and adding it to coastal areas. The sand dissolves in seawater, adding alkalinity and reducing ocean acidity, an added benefit to marine life. Vesta joins forces with coastal communities in the fight against climate change. Learn more about their approach and research at www.vesta.earth.

Today, we're sitting down with Gaelin Rosenwaks, a marine biologist, explorer, and storyteller who has conducted field work throughout the world - from the Antarctic to the Arctic. Gaelin is the founder of Global Ocean Exploration, a company devoted to bringing cutting-edge expedition science to the public through photography, writing, and film. In this conversation, she tells us about her first expedition to Antarctica, where she spent two months on an iceberg studying plankton. Over the years, her work has evolved and expanded, and she is now one of the most inspirational storytellers for ocean conservation on the planet. To purchase Gaelin’s book visit www.gaelinrosenwaks.com and follow @gaelingoexplore for more adventures!

In this episode, host Desiree Tavera talks to Joshua Sam Miller, an ocean advocate, multidisciplinary artist, and social impact entrepreneur. Joshua is the creator of Sounds of the Ocean, which blends art, science, and audio-visuals to create marine life experiences. He is also the founder of Embodied Sounds, a mindful content creation studio and music label that brings wellness experiences around the world. In this conversation, Joshua shares about his journey, how he got into ocean advocacy, and future plans to make ocean regeneration accessible to people who don't live by the ocean.

In this episode, Desiree Tavera interviews Dr. Sian Proctor, a geoscientist, astronaut, explorer, space artist, ocean conservationist, and soon-to-be aquanaut. Dr. Proctor talks about her love for the ocean and how it influenced her career trajectory, becoming the first African American woman to pilot a spacecraft. We discuss her journey to becoming an astronaut, her experience in space, and her organization Space2Inspire. Sian also shares her vision for a more equitable and regenerative future, inspired by the Star Trek generation. For more information about Dr. Proctor and Space2Inspire, visit www.drsianproctor.com. You can follow her on social media @DrSianProctor.