Dr. Deborah Giles on Killer Whales, Poop-Sniffing Dogs, and the Superpod that Changed Her Life

Early in 2025, the amazing killer whale research organization Wild Orca merged with SeaDoc Society, adding Giles to our growing team of scientists, alongside Joe Gaydos and Cat Lo. In today's episode we talk with Giles about her time on the water this field season, having her life changed by a Superpod on her 18th birthday, Eba the poop-sniffing dog, and the future of Southern Resident Killer Whale science and conservation. You can support this work at seadocsociety.org

Pod of Orcas is produced by The SeaDoc Society, whose big summer auction event will take place Saturday July 12th, from 4-7 pm, on Orcas Island. The event will be held at Slanted Apple Farm, just a few miles from the Orcas Island Ferry Landing. Seating is limited, so don't wait too long. Tickets and info: www.seadocsociety.org/auction

Bob Friel is the producer of SeaDoc Society's EMMY-nominated web series, Salish Sea Wild, hosted by Joe Gaydos. He's also an award-winning writer, photographer, documentary filmmaker, and author of the true-crime bestseller The Barefoot Bandit. In this episode we talk about how to get folks to care about vital science in a chaotic and unreliable media environment—more specifically how he and Joe make their own brand of magic with Salish Sea Wild. Salish Sea Wild: youtube.com/seadocsocietyGet our newsletter: seadocsociety.org/newsletter

Rockfish are very vulnerable to overfishing and don't have babies every year. Very rarely a "jackpot recruitment" happens and tons of rockfish babies are born (they give birth to live young, meaning no eggs!). The last time it happened in the San Juan Islands was decades ago. Our guest today are Adam Obaza and Olivia Carmack of Paua Marine Research Group. We work with Paua to collect data on young rockfish to aid in the recovery plan for the species. Check it out! -- www.pauamarineresearch.com ⁠www.seadocsociety.org⁠

Human feet have been washing up on beaches in the Pacific Northwest's Salish Sea since at least 2007. But why? Turns out there are scientific explanations for "why feet?" and "why here?" The answer sheds light on why the ecosystem's name—The Salish Sea—is important, and why place names matter in general. Support the creation of this show: seadocsociety.org/tidepoolers -- GUESTS: Erika Engelhaupt, author of Gory Details - https://erikaengelhaupt.com/gory-details-book/ - x.com/GoryErika David Trimbach, Conservation Social Scientist at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife - https://davidtrimbach.com/current/

Join the whole SeaDoc Society team as we reflect on 2023 and look ahead to 2024. Thanks for listening to the show and for supporting our work. All gifts will be doubled thanks for two generous donor families: seadocsociety.org Thank you!

This is the story of a mysterious fish that washed up on Orcas Island on July 11, 2023. That fish was a six-foot long Pacific bluefin tuna—a species that had never in history been documented in the inland waters of the Salish Sea. Bluefin are a delicacy that can sell for millions of dollars. Why was it here? Support the creation of this show: seadocsociety.org/donate Follow on social for visuals: - facebook.com/seadocsociety - instagram.com/seadocsociety - tiktok.com/seadocsociety - twitter.com/seadocsociety

Our guest today is Kevin Campion, founder of Deep Green Wilderness and a board member for the SeaDoc Society. In this episode we talk about the North Pacific Right Whale. Kevin and his crew have made an excellent new film called Right Over the Edge—all about their search for this elusive and severely endangered species, which used to number in the 10s of thousands and now is down to about 30.  The SeaDoc Society will be hosting a free screening of the movie on Orcas Island on the evening of Thursday May 18th at the SeaView Theatre. That event marks the in-person return of our popular Ocean Night series. Put it on your calendar and join us! Become a Tidepooler and help support this show's creation: seadocsociety.org/donate RIGHT WHALE RESOURCES Right Over the Edge film - https://www.rightwhalefilm.com/ Right Whale Website - https://www.northpacificrightwhale.org/ Deep Green Wilderness - https://www.deepgreenwilderness.com/ Rate, review and share the podcast to spread the word. Get our free monthly newsletter at ⁠seadocsociety.org/newsletter⁠. Facebook:⁠ facebook.com/seadocsociety⁠ Instagram:⁠ Instagram.com/seadocsociety⁠ Twitter:⁠ twitter.com/seadocsociety SCREENINGS May 18 at 7pm at the SeaView Theatre on Orcas Island Ocean Night: https://www.facebook.com/events/558844049702732/ May 20 at 7:30pm at the San Juan Island Yacht Club, San Juan Island

This episode is about kelp and seaweed in the Salish Sea, and more specifically whether it is safe for human consumption. Our guest is Jennifer Hahn, who has a unique and adventurous childhood story, and in adulthood kayaked solo through Alaska’s Inside Passage. She’s the author of Pacific Feast: A Cook’s Guide to West Coast Foraging and Cuisine, in which kelp is featured heavily. When Jenny started teaching classes about kelp throughout the region, she’d often get asked if it was safe to eat. Eventually that brought her into contact with SeaDoc Society Science Director Joe Gaydos. That sets in motion the scientific study you’ll hear about in this episode! In addition to Jenny’s wildlife adventures, we’ll unpack the findings of the study and her close collaboration with Tribes and First Nations from start to finish on the project.  Please rate, review and share the podcast!  SUPPORT THE SHOW: seadocsociety.org/donate FREE NEWSLETTER: seadocsociety.org/newsletter READ THE STUDY: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b071ddea2772cebc1662831/t/6331e0c85242a25e111622b8/1674754603298/hahn-kelp.pdf PACIFIC FEAST: http://www.pacificfeast.net/

This episode is about social media at the intersection of science, nature, conservation, and nonprofit work. More specifically it’s about Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and a state agency that has leveraged social media beautifully as a way to get their word out. Our guest is Rachel Terlep, Social Media Manager for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (Twitter / Instagram / Facebook). Note: We had this conversation about four hours before Twitter entered a state of crazy flux on November 17, 2022. Here are some DNR hits:  “Live, laugh, lay eggs and die.” (on salmon spawning)  “Every time you leave dog poop on the trail you’re denying trash cans essential nutrients to fatten up for winter. Heartbreaking.” “Resect our lands or catch these hands.” Here's the Snicker's bar post I reference in the episode.  SUPPORT THE CREATION OF THIS SHOW: seadocsociety.org/donate Rate, review and share the podcast to spread the word.  Free newsletter: seadocsociety.org/newsletter. Instagram: Instagram.com/seadocsociety Twitter: twitter.com/seadocsociety Facebook: facebook.com/seadocsociety