Jess explores
91 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago -Marine social scientist exploring the ins and outs of marine innovation, ocean life, everyday live, some within the comfort of things I understand but mostly things I know little about.
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Episodes
Long distance
May 30, 2022 23:00 - 6 minutes - 5.93 MBI sometimes find myself think about odd topics that have nothing to do with anything that I am doing, but yet these questions still swirl around in my head... So, on this week's episode, I'm exploring what constitutes as long distance between whales. A massive spoiler alert: there are absolutely no useful answers in my episode, BUT rather a philosophical debate and a bit of insight of how my mind works... Tune in anywhere you get your podcasts!
Health benefits of open water swimming
May 23, 2022 23:00 - 7 minutes - 6.81 MBI love open water swimming for so many reasons! And if my previous episodes about the deep - freezing cold - blue did not convince you to give it a go, maybe this week's episode will. This week I'll explore some of the health benefits of open water swimming, both physical and mental health benefits. As always: When in doubt stay out! Before engaging in any physical activity, please consult with your medical doctor, GP! Anywhere you get your podcasts!
Practical tips and tricks for whale watching
May 16, 2022 23:00 - 6 minutes - 5.56 MBWhale watching season is upon us and I want to share some tips and tricks with you on how to make sure you're keeping safe and have a lovely time out and about! Tuning in anywhere you get your podcasts!
Emotions and oceans - Why ocean decision-making is so difficult?
May 09, 2022 23:00 - 10 minutes - 9.88 MBDid you ever notice that people get very emotional when it comes to anything ocean? It can be difficult to make sound decisions about ocean-related issues when emotions are high and in some cases, this can be very dangerous. On this week's episode I talk about a recent whale stranding and how three camps of people started a discussion of what should, can, and cannot be done in this instance and there is a lot of parallels from this to decision-making processes in the marine space in general...
How to refloat a healthy dolphin?
May 02, 2022 23:00 - 16 minutes - 15.1 MBLast week I talked about what to do to keep dolphins and whales comfortable when they beach themselves and the likelihood of survival is slim. In this week's episode I want to talk about how to ensure a successful refloat of dolphins - if the animal is 1. healthy and 2. and you are able to assist safely. The mantra for anything ocean related: When in doubt, stay out! Anywhere you get your podcast:
What to do with live dolphin and whale strandings?
April 25, 2022 23:00 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MBFor most people, seeing a whale or a dolphin is a memory of a lifetime. Sadly, sometimes whales and dolphins beach themselves and having seen them frolicking in the ocean, our gut-instinct could be trying to get them back into the water immediately. However, in most cases, when a whale or a dolphin beaches themselves, there is a reason and that may be that they're sick or old and trying to get them back into the water could actually create more stress on them. So in this week's episode I'll ...
Whale watching from land
April 11, 2022 23:00 - 10 minutes - 9.48 MBI always wonder what to do on days where it's really nice but I have little going on - one of my favourite activities is to head towards the coast, sit down with snacks and binoculars and look for marine animals. At the moment the basking sharks are back in Cork waters and I couldn't let the opportunity pass without trying to see them for myself... Spoiler alert: I didn't find any, but that's not to say that land watches for marine mammals isn't a super exciting activity suitable for anyone!...
Can fish smell underwater?
April 04, 2022 23:00 - 6 minutes - 6.18 MBI can't smell underwater, so I never really thought about fish smelling underwater... So, on this week's episode that is what I'll be exploring - can fish smell underwater? And this is the article I was referring to: https://daily.jstor.org/will-fish-lose-their-sense-of-smell-in-acidic-oceans/#:~:text=Unlike%20humans%20who%20don't,and%20even%20locate%20spawning%20grounds.
Beach smell
March 28, 2022 23:00 - 6 minutes - 6.07 MBHave you ever wondered why beaches smelled so beachy? In today's episode, you'll find out! Also, if you find a way of bottling this up, LET ME KNOW!
Marine story telling with Bill François
March 22, 2022 06:07 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBA few weeks before Christmas, I've received a lovely gift in the mail: A book titled The Eloquence of the Sardine written by the lovely Bill François! The second I had a chance to chat to Bill I jumped onto it and I promise you, you'll love this conversation as much as I did. Bill and I chatted about his amazing work in marine science and his amazing gift of marine story telling! Tune in anywhere you listen! You can get his book here: US edition : Eloquence of the Sardine (macmillan.com) ...
Buoyancy
March 15, 2022 00:00 - 9 minutes - 8.41 MBHave you ever wondered how divers can go deep and how they stay down there when as a swimmer, the water will nearly keep you feeling weightless at the surface? On today's episode I'll be exploring that weightlessness and buoyancy and why it's important to have neutral buoyancy while diving. Tune in anywhere you get your podcasts!
Women and Oceans
March 08, 2022 00:00 - 9 minutes - 9.25 MBIt is international women's day! Today I want to honour all the ocean-women that have come before me and that will follow me but to do that, we need to recognise that women have been very much underappreciated in the marine field. So on today's episode I will be talking about some of the issues that may arise when women aren't included in the decision making process. Tune in anywhere you get your podcasts!
Crypto Coral Tribe
March 01, 2022 00:00 - 27 minutes - 25.8 MBHave you ever wondered what crypto markets are and how you could use crypto currency to support marine conservation projects? I never knew that was a possibility until I spoke to Jimmy and Christian from the Crypto Coral Tribe. On this week's episode, I am interviewing two founders of the Crypto Coral Tribe that graciously and patiently answered all my questions about crypto currency, the ins and outs of digital marine inspired art, and how crypto currency can support digital artists inspir...
Cold shock
February 22, 2022 00:00 - 6 minutes - 6.04 MBIf you've been to a beach lately (in the cold spring-days) and you've watched people going for a swim, you'll be familiar with all the gasping and shocked reactions of people entering the water. It's a concert of shrieking, no matter how resilient these people are, they will always gasp for air - why is that? In this week's episode, I'll talk about the cold shock and what it does to your body when you go open water swimming. As with every physical activity, please consult with your doctor b...
Carbon storage and whales
February 15, 2022 00:00 - 7 minutes - 7.03 MBI recently learned that it is not common knowledge that whales store carbon... A huge gap in knowledge, if you ask me, and something I failed to address all these times I talked about whales so far... So, on this week's episode let's talk about it! Why are whales the most awesome animals on this planet? Simple, because they are smart, resourceful, resilient, beautiful, and are a key player in ensuring our collective wellbeing! In this week's episode, I'll be talking about how whales store c...
Ocean action = climate action
February 08, 2022 00:00 - 10 minutes - 9.81 MBWhy are we addressing climate action, ocean action, biodiversity - and really anything environmental - in a siloed approach? The reality is that they are all interconnected, but yet they are often portrayed like separate issues. In this week's episode, I'm tackling why we need to talk about these issues in a holistic way! Tune in anywhere you get your podcasts!
Underwater Noise Pollution
February 01, 2022 00:00 - 9 minutes - 8.99 MBHave you ever been woken up by a jackhammer hammering along right outside your window early in the morning and thought to yourself - what awful thing is this? Now imagine you are underwater and you don't know where that noise is coming from, you don't know why that noise is even happening, and what to do to get away from it? That is what our lovely gentle giants are experiencing a lot and it's not exactly like they can put on ear plugs and go on their merry way. So in this week's episode I'l...
Marine Ecosystem Services
January 25, 2022 00:00 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MBWhat are marine ecosystem services? I asked myself that question quite a bit - turns out there are direct (such as fish and marine energy) and indirect (such as carbon sequestration and wellbeing) ecosystem services from the marine space. In this week's episode I'll talk about why marine ecosystem services are so important to anyone - regardless of if you live close to the ocean or not and why they are so difficult to manage. Tune in, anywhere you get your podcasts:
The Role of Technology in the Green and Blue Economy
January 17, 2022 23:00 - 7 minutes - 7.02 MBWe speak so often of the importance of developing technology - particularly when we talk about building a green or sustainable economy. But what is the role of technology in a blue economy? In this week's episode I dive into the importance of prioritising sustainable development in order to enable technology development rather than focussing on developing technology to achieve sustainable development. You may think me mad - but I believe there is an important difference and one that doesn't...
Blue economy
January 10, 2022 23:00 - 10 minutes - 9.39 MBThe interest in the blue economy has sky-rocketed over the last few years and will gain more momentum in the years to come as we are learning more about the ocean and realising its importance in terms of climate change and in terms of creating a sustainable future. In this week's episode I will touch upon a few issues that need to be addressed when thinking about a blue economy - what does it mean and who is it for? And what marine activities are actually included in the blue economy? This ...
New Beginnings
January 03, 2022 23:00 - 7 minutes - 6.51 MB2022 is full of promises, full of best wishes, full of energy and productivity - maybe too much already? So, in this first episode of the new year, I'm going to reflect on why I started the podcast in the first place and come back to my beloved ocean-based roots! More ocean content is going to come your way, because that is what we all need in 2022 - I think we can all agree! I hope you enjoy this first episode, I'll catch you later.
Building confidence
December 14, 2021 00:00 - 6 minutes - 6.27 MBIt takes me 4-5 times as long to figure out anything which may take others only a few minutes, that's just how I am wired and I am okay with that because I will calculate that time into my own targets. But it can be challenging when you're asked to do a task and have no idea how and what to do... Building confidence in your co-workers and anyone close to you, is a real skill. But I think before you can help others, it's important to know who you are and what works for you. So on today's episo...
Family ties
December 07, 2021 00:00 - 10 minutes - 9.37 MBWe're coming into the reflective season and I used the opportunity to reflect on my family ties and take stock on my personal relationships! In this week's episode I talk about my family relationships and why they are so important to my learning abilities and growing abilities. While I get deeply personal, I think there is something for everyone in this personal excursion! So tune in anywhere you get your podcasts! A note of self-love: Your inspiration and your helping hands are not always ...
Running for beginners - part 2
November 30, 2021 00:00 - 9 minutes - 9.04 MBHave you ever wondered why so many runners have frequent pasta parties and how you can get invited to one? No? Well, me neither until I got to go to a pasta party and let me tell you, it was GLORIOUS! In this week's episode we'll go a bit deeper into some things to consider when running. Now, as always, these are my experiences and I had a trainer put together a schedule that allowed me to run quicker and longer! I did not become a runner over night and it took years of training where now it'...
The art of saying yes
November 23, 2021 00:00 - 10 minutes - 9.98 MBOne of the first words that many children learn is "no" - as a safety mechanism mostly and to protect them but sometimes it doesn't stop there and we say no to an awful lot of things that we are actually fully capable of! So, on today's episode, I am exploring the art of saying yes. I will talk about creating opportunities by putting yourself out of your comfort zone and rise to the occasion. I still have a hard time saying yes sometimes, but it's a process and an exciting one at that! So t...
Open water swimming for beginners - part 2
November 16, 2021 00:00 - 9 minutes - 8.8 MBI love the ocean and open water swimming is really something that will make you feel alive! So on today's episode I'll explore open water swimming - part 2 (or swimming in the ocean in the winter...). It's gotten cold, which means less people are less out and it gets darker much sooner, so there is a few extra precautions to take! As always, with any physical activity, consult with your medical doctor or GP before engaging in the activity! Anywhere you get your podcasts!
Work responsibilities
November 09, 2021 00:00 - 6 minutes - 5.91 MBI cannot tell you how many times I was asked to finish (or start) a task and had absolutely no clue what to do or how to do it and it sometimes made me doubt my own ability to do anything and with that all the small voices came creeping in that I may not be good enough to do this, that, or the other. In this week's episode I explore how you can deal with these situations and how you make sure that you are well equipped to complete your work responsibilities and also - how to find help when y...
Challenge status-quo
November 02, 2021 00:00 - 6 minutes - 5.59 MBHave you ever looked in a room and thought to yourself, "whoa, everyone looks the same here"? Be it the way people dress or behave or where they come from... It can make you feel really isolated and really lonely, especially when you feel like you may not fit in! For most of my upbringing that is exactly what I felt like - just a bit on the outside but I learnt how to be comfortable with that uncomfortable feeling and tried my best to make sure that others wouldn't have to feel the same. But...
Active decisions
October 25, 2021 23:00 - 4 minutes - 4.33 MBSometimes I find myself stuck in a rut and everything just becomes way too much and does not feel fulfilling at all, be it a personal routine, a personal relationship, a professional relationship, or the place you work at... And of course, sometimes I wonder if I should just stop it all and walk away and start something completely new some place else but I learnt through my personal relationships, that the best thing you can do is make an active decision about being present and choosing to b...
Academic reading
October 18, 2021 23:00 - 9 minutes - 8.61 MBI've been told countless times that reading academic papers is boring and dull - especially new students are often overwhelmed by the world jumble that is thrown at them for them to make sense of it all and it is exhausting! In this week's episode I'll share some tips and tricks on how to read academic papers, journals, government papers, or any scientific reports effectively and how you can get the most out of the papers without having to spend hours and hours trying to decipher what is sai...
First Impressions
October 11, 2021 23:00 - 10 minutes - 9.4 MBWe have all been in a situation where we knew we had to make a good first impression or we met someone who did not make a good first impression. It's not rare that the first impression may not be the best but you end up being great colleagues or friends. But how do you prepare to meet someone new and how can you make sure that you leave a good first impression? I don't have any one-size-fits-all solution but maybe a few tips that may help!
Academic conferences
October 04, 2021 23:00 - 7 minutes - 6.57 MBHave you ever wondered why there were so many academic conferences and who attends all of these? And also - why do academics go to all of these? In this week's episode we explore academic conferences, why they are important, and who should attend them, and when to maybe not to attend...
Aerial acrobatics for beginners
September 27, 2021 23:00 - 8 minutes - 7.96 MBWhen I was younger, I loved the idea of going to the circus. In fact, I don't actually think I went all that often, but it was one of these magical experiences in my mind. It was never about the animals, but what I absolutely loved were the people and their ability to do things that just seemed so outlandish to me. Especially aerial acrobatics - hanging on silk ropes, catching themselves, climbing up again, flying through the arena - it always seemed so magical. So, naturally, I thought, why...
Generalist
September 20, 2021 23:00 - 8 minutes - 7.76 MBThese days it sometimes seems like everyone is a specialist - but what about all of us (including me) who are generalists who like to know a little bit about everything? There is a place for all of us in this world! In this week's episode, I explore what a generalist is and how they operate and why you should maybe also consider a generalist approach to whatever you do. I also talk about specialists and why we need their skills to even consider being a generalist!
Sailing for beginners
September 13, 2021 23:00 - 22 minutes - 21.2 MBI absolutely love any water-based activities, no matter how terrifying they seem to some and believe me, this week's episode has some terrifying moments in it. I recently joined the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) on one of their sailing trips on the Celtic Mist. This was my second time around and it was very different from two years ago. So tune in, know that no humans or animals were harmed during the course of this experience, and enjoy!
Constructive Feedback
September 06, 2021 23:00 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MBHave you ever received feedback and thought to yourself - what on earth was that? Well, I've been at the receiving end of that more times than I care to remember and there was a time in my life where I would have taken any feedback as a critique on my personal being. And of course, when you feel like someone is attacking you, you will never be able to actually listen to what they are saying (if in fact what they are saying has any merit). But, it turns out, that when you give constructive fe...
Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
August 30, 2021 23:00 - 6 minutes - 6.38 MBThe fear of missing out (FOMO) is that feeling you get when you at one place but wish you were some place else and while you are in that place, you are unable to enjoy yourself or really take in what is happening. While most of us think of this in the context of being invited to two parties at the same time, it's something we actually experience every day in our personal and professional lives. For instance, when you signed up for a webinar but are not paying attention to the webinar because...
My first job
August 23, 2021 23:00 - 8 minutes - 7.93 MBWhen I was 14, I made the decision to become a fashion designer/seamstress, thinking that I found my calling and that one day I would be the next Vivian Westwood. Spoiler alert: that didn't quite happen (yet?!). I worked in a theatre for about 4 weeks, clocked 38.5 hours per week and made a whopping 168 euros (not per week - that was one month's salary!). But I took a few moments in this week's episode and reflected on what I learnt in that job and how important it was to understand that wh...
Ecotourism
August 16, 2021 23:00 - 5 minutes - 4.96 MBAs we are all taking a few much-needed days off, it is important to reflect on how you take leave! You may have heard the buzzword "ecotourism" thrown around quite a bit, but what does that actually mean and how far do you have to travel to really be an ecotourist? Turns out, not that far at all! Join me in this week's episode where I talk about ecotourism, what that means and how you can make sure that you travel environmentally-friendly and eco-conscious.
Imposter Syndrome
August 09, 2021 23:00 - 7 minutes - 6.7 MBHave you ever found yourself in a situation where a tiny voice in your head told you that you don't have the skills, experience, or knowledge to participate in a conversation? Did it ever feel like anyone else around you knew much more and was much better equipped to respond to questions and make comments than you? Has this ever held you back in speaking your mind, applying for a job, or just feeling good about yourself? You may have a case of imposter syndrome and let me tell you, we've all...
Surfing for Beginners
August 02, 2021 23:00 - 10 minutes - 9.93 MBMy image of surfers is quite stereotypical - carefree, lots of abs, and salty hair... Turns out, I was half right. In this week's episode I explore the ins and outs of surfing, talking about the board itself and what you should do in theory to be able to stand on a board... P.S. if it sounds like I am demonstrating the steps on how to surf, you are absolutely right, that is exactly what I was doing, although nobody could see it and I was talking to myself...
Rip currents
July 26, 2021 23:00 - 8 minutes - 7.65 MBBeing beach-smart is important - in this week's episode I'll discuss rip currents and how you can stay safe in the water. As with any physical activity, please consult your GP or medical doctor before engaging in any physical and/or water related activity. Disclaimer: I use riptide and rip current interchangeably, as I am sure many of us do. However, they are not the same thing and no matter how much I reminded myself to call it rip currents, the habit succeeded... A riptide is a tidal cur...
Snorkeling for beginners
July 19, 2021 23:00 - 10 minutes - 10 MBAs the weather's heating up (and with that the urge to go to the ocean becomes stronger), I want to explore snorkeling with you! It's one of my favourite ocean-related activities because you don't need much experience, all you need is a snorkel and a mask and you're good to go! So on this week's episode I'll walk you through snorkeling for beginners, an easy guide to get you comfortable in the water and make sure you know what to do when your mask fills up with water! Please consult with yo...
Innovation
July 12, 2021 23:00 - 10 minutes - 9.8 MBInnovation has become a buzzword and while we all have ideas what innovation means and why it's important, on this week's episode I did a deep-dive on the theory of innovation and why so many governments and policymakers strive to be innovative.
Blue health
July 05, 2021 23:00 - 4 minutes - 4.56 MBAs we are moving towards warmer months and warmer waters, I wanted to take a second and talk to you about blue health. It's a new and interesting concept looking at the benefits humans can get from interacting with the ocean.
Sea kayaking for beginners
June 28, 2021 23:00 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBI love being in/on/at/by the ocean, so a couple weeks ago, I tried a new way of enjoying the marine space - through sea kayaking. I took a 2-day-course a couple weeks ago and what started as a fun excursion quickly transitioned into a nightmare of hand-eye-coordination resulting in very sore muscles and a somewhat painful sun tan... So, quickly summarised: a successful excursion. As with anything active, please consult with your doctor before undertaking any physical activities.
Grounding yourself
June 21, 2021 23:00 - 6 minutes - 5.78 MBSometimes I find myself in situations where I am somewhat lost. I know what I do is important and I typically can remember why I started to begin with, but when you loose sight of what is important, it becomes difficult to really make sense of it all. To avoid that utter confusion, it is important to ground yourself - find something that makes you go out of your own head and come back to what really matters. For that, I call my parents and we talk about anything for hours on end - you may do...
Power of Language and Definitions
June 14, 2021 23:00 - 7 minutes - 6.5 MBHave you ever felt completely misunderstood or thought you knew exactly what you and your partner or colleague were talking about and then learnt that you couldn't be further from the truth? Misunderstandings like that make life very difficult and challenging when they don't have to be! On this week's episode I explore the power of language and definitions and why this is such an important way to create trust and build a long-lasting workforce but how it can also create barriers for new emp...
Transferable Skills
June 07, 2021 23:00 - 10 minutes - 9.75 MBWhen I was in school, my math teacher always used to say, "what you learn in this class will be usable in your other classes". That never made sense to me - was I supposed to calculate how many words per hour someone could write in class? It wasn't until much later that I understood the real lesson - the ability to take something I learnt in one context and use that knowledge, and the skills acquired in a completely different context. Transferable skills - as we like to call this learning ex...
World Ocean Day - June 8th, 2021
May 31, 2021 23:00 - 4 minutes - 4.15 MBWorld Oceans Day takes place every year on June 8th! This year's theme is The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods where we celebrate and shine a light on all that we've been up to in the realm of ocean space. To find out more about how to get involved, please visit: https://www.un.org/en/observances/oceans-day