Passion Project
Interview with Stefanie Brendl of Shark Allies
We talked late into the night, the California sun had long set behind her. We were connecting via Skype and were starting to wrap up, but Stefanie Brendl was blowing my mind about her experiences diving with sharks, shark population trends, and of course, shark finning. I was enthralled. Stefanie has a story to tell.…
Read MoreInterview With Amelia Mason of Skywatch Bird Rescue
The chaotic chirping slowly started syncopating in time, like a band practice that was just starting to get into a rhythm. I was at Skywatch Bird Rescue and Conservation Center, and the resident birds certainly wanted me to know it. Skywatch Bird Rescue offers rehab and care for injured or orphaned wild birds to help…
Read MoreInterview with Dr. Paul O’Donoghue of Scottish Wildcat Haven
You could hear the excitement in his voice, nearly quivering as he was describing them, “they are just beautiful”. Immediately you understand that Dr. Paul O’Donoghue will do whatever it takes to save the rarest cat in the world, the Scottish Wildcat. But years ago, Paul didn’t even know that such a creature existed. “To…
Read MoreInterview with Neagha Leonard of the Ca Ba Langur Conservation Project
Every year, millions of travelers come to Ha Long Bay to explore and party in the beautiful crystal clear waters, however just miles away from one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world lies a small island with a world unto itself. This complex eco-system, with emerald waters and limestone karsts soaring up to…
Read MoreInterview with Ben Stone of The Phoenix Conservancy
Often times, the efforts of conservationists and those who rely on the land for farming and ranching are inherently at odds. However, of all the organizations that I have researched and talked to, the objective of The Phoenix Conservancy has seemed to best bridge the needs between the two sides. Their mission clearly states their…
Read MoreInterview with Craig Sholley of African Wildlife Foundation
It’s not every day that you can interview a personal hero, but luckily for me, today is one of those days. Craig Sholley had the life that many wilderness lovers and environmentalists dream of, and throughout his illustrious career, he has had unprecedented exposure with mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Congo, and has…
Read MoreInterview With Tim Holbrook of Masonboro Reserve Oyster Co.
It should be no surprise to any reader that in another life I was most likely destined to be an oyster farmer. Unfortunately, things just didn’t work out that way, and I have begrudgingly accepted my fate to make a living on dry land. However, Tim Holbrook gives me confidence that my dream is still…
Read MoreInterview with Sam Blount of Frontline Freediving
“It’s all mental, I mean you can totally freedive 100 feet,” Sam told me. “You’re shitting me”, I said, momentarily looking up from my audio recorder. Looking at his warm, genuine smile, I can tell he indeed wasn’t shitting me. “Well, not with that attitude”. I was worried it would be something like that. In…
Read MoreMy Secret Quest To Be An Oyster Farmer
Aquaculture and conservation don’t necessarily go hand in hand. Fish farming, for example, can be quite detrimental to the environment if done improperly. So, when sustainable food and environmentalism meet it’s a big deal, and luckily for us, it’s in the form of something truly delicious—the oyster. Recently, I had the opportunity to volunteer at…
Read MoreUnfinished Business—How I Tried to Rebuild My Life
Looking back on it, I might as well have said “let’s build a rocket ship” I was so out of my element. But now, three months later and after gaining experience with log tongs, ridge poles, and reimagined “non-permitted structure” foundations, I’d compare it more to building a Boeing-787. Still well out of my element,…
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