So You Want to Be a Marine Biologist

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Filled with stories of people living out their soul’s calling, the So You Want to Be a Marine Biologist podcast is your go-to resource for exploring the connection between humans, the land, and the high seas. If you’ve ever dreamed of journeying the ocean’s depths, wondered where your food comes from, or thought about how it all fits together, this podcast is for you. This show dives into science, conservation, and living in connection with our blue planet. 

We’ll hear stories from people following their own curiosity in life and charted their own path. Bring out your inner explorer and discover our world through a whole new lens.

112. Shane Gero: Sperm Whales, the Importance of Culture, Decoding Animal Language, and Project CETI: Using AI in Science
Jun 4, 2025 – 01:02:44
111. Alan Weisman: The Magic of the Swamp, Eating Fancy Trash Fish, Poking Your Nose in People’s Business, and Hope Dies Last
May 21, 2025 – 53:00
110. What Balance Really Looks Like in a Busy Life (and How to Find Yours)
May 7, 2025 – 08:52
109. Joe Meisel: Barrier Reefs, Midwest to Marine Science, and the Marlin’s Fiery Eye
Apr 23, 2025 – 01:07:37
108. Eve Samples: Rescuing the River of Grass, Cultivating Advocacy, How to Get Involved, and Becoming a Friend of the Everglades
Apr 9, 2025 – 55:40
107. Holly Buresh: the Importance of ‘I Don’t Know’, 1000 Days at Sea, and Becoming Captain Mermaid
Mar 26, 2025 – 01:03:15
106. Sea Turtles: The Masters of Cyclical Living
Mar 5, 2025 – 09:50
105. Stephen Kavanaugh: Ditching the 9-5, the Call of the Oyster (the Savior of Humanity), and Marine Health Foods.
Feb 19, 2025 – 01:23:52
104: Ty Walker: Swimming Upstream, Sustainable Aquaculture, and the heritage of Smoke in Chimneys
Feb 5, 2025 – 01:04:44
103. Steve Moreau: Childhood Dreams, True Wellness, and Connecting the Dots
Jan 22, 2025 – 01:20:43
102. Cody McLaughlin: Salmon Wars, Living in the Last Frontier, and Making Political Waves #102
Jan 8, 2025 – 01:18:46
Episode 101: Life pivots, what's good, and what's next
Jan 8, 2025 – 11:40
100. Lessons Learned in 100 Episodes
Feb 22, 2023 – 10:01
99. Melissa Cristina Màrquez: Sharks and Other Misunderstood Predators, Representation in Science, and Fins United
Feb 8, 2023 – 41:06
98. Emily Velasquez: Cows, Algae, Mozambique, and What Can I Do?
Jan 25, 2023 – 49:01
Andrea Richey: Sharks, Consumption, Careers of Passion, and the Hong Kong Shark Foundation
Jan 11, 2023 – 01:19:26
William Trubridge: Freediving, Dolphins, and Creating a Mental Immune System
Dec 28, 2022 – 47:15
Divya Karnad, PhD: Sharks, Sea Turtles, Seafood Commons, and Indian Fisheries.
Dec 14, 2022 – 54:15
94. Brooke Lynn Elzweig: Sea Turtles in Drains, Martian Landings, and the Largest Coral Restoration Project
Nov 30, 2022 – 56:21
93. Erich Hoyt: Killer Whales, Blackwater, Planktonia, and the Greatest Migration on Earth
Nov 16, 2022 – 01:32:05
92. Maddy McAllister, PhD: Ghost Stories, Shipwreck Mermaid, and Maritime Archeology
Nov 2, 2022 – 01:09:47
91. Stephan Abel: Startups, Switching Careers, Dot Com, the Chesapeake Bay, and Building a Shellfish Hatchery
Oct 19, 2022 – 01:02:01
90. Chris Maingot: Waves under Waves, Physical Oceanography, Working Offshore, and Ocean Engineering
Oct 5, 2022 – 48:32
89. Dr. Megan Davis: Ocean Ranchers, Pink Pearls, the Magic of 9pm, and Queen Conch Aquaculture
Sep 21, 2022 – 01:01:04
88. Dr. Josh Voss: Coral Research and Exploration, Gardens in the Sea, Technical Ninja Diving, Protected Areas and Policy
Sep 7, 2022 – 01:01:27
87. Amy Osborne: Antarctica, Outdoor Education, Curious Seals, Frigid Nudibranchs, and Life on the Ice
Aug 24, 2022 – 59:25
86. Calum Maclean: Scotland, the Right to Roam, Outdoor Swimming
Aug 10, 2022 – 01:16:05
85. Danél Wentzel: Kelp Forests, Freelance Marine Biology, Capensis, and Shark Encounters
Jul 27, 2022 – 01:02:20
84. Aislinn Olthoff: Sassy Sloths, Mugged by Whales, and Connecting with Nature
Jul 13, 2022 – 40:04
83. Constance Schéré: MPAs, Fake-out Seabirds, International Differences, and the Myth of Too Late
Jun 29, 2022 – 01:22:24
82. Isobel Yeo: Underwater Volcanoes, Chimneys in the Ocean, and Fish with Feet
Jun 15, 2022 – 01:12:05
81. Jessica Pate: Drones, Collaborations, Dream Boats, and Emails from Manta Rays
Jun 1, 2022 – 48:02
80. Dawn Borg Costanzi: International Fisheries, Information Technology, and Alternative Career Paths
May 18, 2022 – 54:51
79. Brandon Doheny: Deep Diving, eDNA, Wilderness, and Open Ocean Sailing
May 4, 2022 – 44:51
78. Allison Poklemba: Botany, Herbalism, and Nutritious, Cancer-Killing, Radioactive Combatting Seaweed
Apr 20, 2022 – 01:13:09
77. Andia Fonnegra Chavez, PhD: Coral Reefs, Colorful Sponges, and Following Your Own Path
Apr 6, 2022 – 01:23:48
76. Valeria Vergara, PhD: Research Camping, Being Adaptable, and Beluga Whales
Mar 23, 2022 – 54:40
75. Kristy Bredin: Marine Herbalism, Tide Pools, and Mermaid Botanicals
Mar 9, 2022 – 59:29
74. Winnie Courtene-Jones, PhD: Hermit Crab Battles, Dolphin Research, and Plastics in the Trenches
Feb 23, 2022 – 55:52
73. Steve Burton: Baby Dolphins, Seal Training, and Marine Mammal Response
Feb 9, 2022 – 01:14:56
72. Harri Pettitt-Wade: Fishy Movements, Invasive Species, and Narwhal Camp
Jan 26, 2022 – 51:56
71. Jim Sullivan, PhD: Powerful Phytoplankton, True Science, and Creating Change
Jan 12, 2022 – 01:22:26
70. Sindia Sosidan, PhD: Corals, Paleoclimatology, and Surfing
Dec 29, 2021 – 01:00:11
69. Bill Francois: Honey Swimming, Gangster Fishing, and the Eloquence of the Sardine
Dec 15, 2021 – 01:10:21
68. Kate Killerlain Morrisson: Match-making, Marine Affairs, and Starting New Things
Dec 1, 2021 – 42:28
67. Kaitlyn Lowder, PhD: Decapods, Global Ocean Policy, and Enabling
Nov 17, 2021 – 57:25
66. Annukka Pekkarinen: Pygmy Blue Whales, Arctic Exploring, and Napaland
Nov 3, 2021 – 51:33
65. Gardner Douglas: Shucking, Water Intoxication, and Becoming the Oyster Ninja
Oct 20, 2021 – 53:42
64. Denise Risch, PhD: Dolphins, Whale Songs, and Underwater Acoustics
Oct 6, 2021 – 57:22
63. Aurora Ricart, PhD: Corals, Seagrasses, and Combating Climate Change
Sep 22, 2021 – 56:17

Recent Reviews

nastylistener

Marine biologist/oceanographer wannabe

Thank you so much for this podcast! It has been so informative and enjoyable to listen to. I absolutely can’t wait for new episodes!
Dinosaur IM

My Dream Job

Hi there I’m Indra and I absolutely love the ocean and fish so much since I was a kid I am considering getting into a marine biology job because it’s my passion and I have been to many aquariums in the world in the past
jesusfreak4224

Best podcast ever!

I am normally not a podcast person at all but this is the one show that I can listen to for hours! I recently decided to pursue a career in marine biology so I wanted to learn about all of my options and this show is perfect. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is interested in a carrier in marine bio or just someone who loves the ocean. Thank you so much Kara for making these wonderful podcasts and I’m looking forward to your next one!
Bananasrock18222

One of my favorite podcasts

Great podcast with fun guests and topics!
meow dork

LOVE IT

I absolutely love this podcast 😍 it is educational and fun 🤩 I want to be a marine biologist and I think this podcast made me want to be even more it gives me hope that one day i could do that
SissyMKH

Future manatee marine biologist

I want to save manatees. They are very cute and one of the calmest animals. I do have a question……….. do I have to only go to Florida to study them? I might be afraid of crocodiles. 😬I have always wanted to be a marine biologist. Thanks! -A big fan Ps. What am trying to say, in the question, is there another place where manatees are mostly? 😜🤪🥰
Future Marine Biologist

Dream Job

One night I was in the car with my dad geeking out on marine animals and he found this podcast. I was talking a lot of how much I want to be a Marine Biologist and how long it would take to do so. I was also talking about what college I would go to. Mind you I was in middle school at the time. He found this podcast on the drive back home from some place. I have loved it ever since. I now know so much about marine biology and what I can do to become one. It is truly a big inspiration in my life.
Sky bestie

THATS ME DREAM JOB

I LOVE THIS SO MUCHHHHH IT TELLS ME ALL THE SEA LIFE
arandomlife4me

Good stuff

For science nerds this podcast is gold. It’s encouraging to listen to the many journeys so many of these scientists have been on. Gives me hope that I can do it too.
RoxyRoxs

Educational and Entertaining!

I love this podcast! I’ve been listening to it non stop for a week or so trying to catch up on all the episodes! I’m an aspiring marine biologist, and have learned so much in a short time by listening! I love the selection of guests and the wide variety of topics!
cvp123456

Love this podcast!

I am working towards becoming a marine biologist and doing research this summer in a marine lab. This is a great podcast to keep me educated on specific topics!
alexisf7

Perfect for aspiring marine biologist

I’m currently studying biology so I can become a marine biologist. This podcast has helped motivate me in my classes and shown me different paths I can take after school!
LTang14

Fun and interesting!

I’m on episode 2 and am hooked. Being a marine biologist would be a dream job...while I can’t pursue it at the moment, this podcast certainly scratches the itch! :) A fun and interesting listen for a person who isn’t in the field of marine biology.
rtaylor87

This is a great podcast!

I really enjoy listening and learning from this podcast. The interviews are deep dives into subjects that are important for all ocean lovers but easily understandable. Keep up the great work!
GuineaPigLover123!

Amazing!

I love this podcast so much! It’s very informative, interesting, and makes me want to become a marine biologist even more. It was hard for me to find a good information source on how to become a marine biologist, conservation information, and updates in our ocean, but this gives me the whole picture! I get inspired every time I listen to this podcast and can’t wait for the next episode!
Andy/Alecz

Love it!

I just binged all 31 currently available episodes and can’t talk enough about how much I enjoyed it. I love the positivity about maybe feeling unsure sometimes but this path just finds you, and the great stories and experiences all guests have shared! From this, I’ve found new people to follow who do work in areas I’m really interested in. I’m NOT a marine biologist (god I wish), but getting scuba certified made me wish I had known how invested I’d become in the ocean when I was still in school so I could reroute my path I’ve mostly been putting it on while at work, but now that I’ve caught up, I’ll check out the website when I get a chance!
amthyst1606

Finally!

I finally found a good science podcast. I can hear the passion in your voice and that makes me even more passionate every time I hear this podcast.
BSB714

THANK YOU

I absolutely love this podcast I want to be marine biologist myself and it’s amazing to find this podcast about the ocean that talk about what I wanna be you guys are truly inspiring and amazing
EarRapinglyFaceShreddingly

Informative and relevant

This podcast is great for anyone interested in Marine Biology or conservation. Cara does a fantastic job of bringing up topics that inspire would-be marine biologists, interviewing experts in the field and lab to discuss their research and career paths. The variety of episodes allows for students to realize that there are plenty of opportunities to work in the field of Marine Biology, and for someone who grew up in the desert of Arizona (me), this information is invaluable
SMGregory

Fun & informative

Great podcast that not only teaches about marine biology but entertains as well! Very easy to listen and enjoy the stories and interviews and advise on how to get into this field or just to be involved in the ocean/marine communities!
tornadoboi

I loved listening!!!!

I’m 12 and I have always wanted to be a marine biologist and listening to this podcast stimulated that interest! Learning all about marine biology was so much fun and it was a fun listening. Thank you!
sidneyldjwijdn

Amazing and informative

I’ve been having trouble picking a major between marine bio, entomology, and herpetology. So I decided I’d listen to some podcasts about each subject and hopefully find one that really resonates with me. This podcast made me pick marine biology. So far I haven’t heard an episode about whales, which are my one true loves, but I can’t wait for that day to come. Thank you for helping me find my passion.
Sloan E.

Future marine biologist

I am currently three days away from heading off to college to start my journey to become a marine biologist. My Dad suggested I look at podcasts to obtain more tips and advice for becoming successful in this field. Love this podcast because it is very informative and feels as if I am having a personal conversation with a marine biologist. Great podcast!