…but where would they live?
We 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... Continue Reading →
The 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... Continue Reading →
The other day, for the first time in a very long time I was able to breathe freely. Exhale and inhale without any heavy burden on my shoulders. Stretching, like a sun-flower, towards the sun and water at the same time, just unleashing all the aches and pains that have troubled me for much longer... Continue Reading →
2022 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... Continue Reading →
It 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... Continue Reading →
We'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... Continue Reading →
Have 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... Continue Reading →
One 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... Continue Reading →
I 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... Continue Reading →
Have 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... Continue Reading →
I 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... Continue Reading →
Sometimes 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... Continue Reading →
I'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... Continue Reading →
We 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... Continue Reading →
Have 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...
All I ever wanted was to be a writer, but lately words don't come easy. I knew I wanted to write the second I learnt how to read. Books were my escape, even at a young age - I loved the idea of creating a magical space and time where people like me could just... Continue Reading →
When 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... Continue Reading →
These 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... Continue Reading →
I 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. Over the summer, I 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... Continue Reading →
Have 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... Continue Reading →
The 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... Continue Reading →
When 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... Continue Reading →
As 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... Continue Reading →
Have 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... Continue Reading →
My 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... Continue Reading →
Being 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... Continue Reading →
As 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... Continue Reading →
Innovation 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.
As 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. You may have experienced the (side-)effects of blue health, i.e. better mood, happiness, and... Continue Reading →
I 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... Continue Reading →
Sometimes 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... Continue Reading →
Have 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... Continue Reading →
When 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... Continue Reading →
*The word mensch in German means person/human (nothing more and nothing less). It is often used in Yiddish to describe a person of honor, integrity, and having a good character. I don't think it's weird that I am up at 5am-ish every day. I also don't think it's weird that I am out the door... Continue Reading →
World 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
In this week's episode we look at Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Life Below Water. I will give you a very detailed look into what SDG14 entails, its targets and indicators and why they are specific but broad. We'll also look at why SDGs are formulated that way and how everyone (no matter where in... Continue Reading →
What are Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and where do they come from? In essence, the SDGs are here to reach sustainable development and to do that we need a plan and some actions. In this week's episode I look specifically at the SDGs and how when you aim to promote one sustainable development goal, you... Continue Reading →
I am a runner - this is not something I ever thought I'd say of myself. If you would have asked me twenty years ago to go for a run, I would have laughed... a lot. But today, it's my most favourite activity. I get asked a lot of questions, such as "how do you... Continue Reading →
Have you ever wondered what STEM was and why it was important? You're in luck! This week I'll be exploring STEM and how you can ensure that you are using this approach to problem-solving, even if you're not in academia (or perhaps precisely because you're not in academia). I will explore what STEMinism is -... Continue Reading →
The water is getting warmer, the sun is out longer and you know what that means? Bioluminescence will be in its full glory along the shores and in oceans and I cannot wait to get my next magical experience but you may wonder - how is bioluminescence created in ocean water and how come you... Continue Reading →
Tiktok took over everybody's life particularly as we all were craving human contact but were told to stay at home. And at this point, I believe many people have heard of tiktok and you're either addicted to it or you can't believe that people can be addicted to it. In this week's episode, I'll discuss... Continue Reading →
A quick update on my experience going open water swimming for the first time in 2021. Spoiler alert, IT WAS COLD.
It's open water swimming season (well, to be honest with the right gear it's always open water swimming season!). So this episode, I want to explore with you the ins and outs of open water swimming. Safety first, so you'll hear quite a few health disclaimers to keep you safe and sound and then, and... Continue Reading →
European Maritime Day is approaching fast - this year it is held virtually on May 20-21 in Den Helder in The Netherlands and it promises to be good and exciting. The agenda is out and I am looking very much forward to all the different active workshops and plenary sessions and just having an opportunity... Continue Reading →
Netflix's newest documentary "Seaspiracy" has been making waves. I watched it and there is much to say about it. This episode will provide some critical insight into why documentaries like this are important but also, why you should be careful to view the main message of this documentary critically. Listener note: This episode was recorded... Continue Reading →
Do whales need to rest? And if so, how do they sleep? In this week's episode I explore how sperm whales rest and how they use their social family structures to protect themselves and their female companions. I'll also talk about why male sperm whales don't travel with female sperm whales and why calves will... Continue Reading →
Writing is hard – there are no two ways about it. But there are tools to make it easier and one of the tools I have in my toolbox are outlines and reverse outlines. An outline is pretty much an introduction – a middle part – a conclusion – sounds pretty basic, doesn’t it? It... Continue Reading →
When I started thinking about women that inspired me, my mind started racing into so many different directions. I could have spoken to you about women that I've had the opportunity to meet - women that are in the public eye - women that went against the norm to achieve something amazing - women that... Continue Reading →
Ever wondered why sometimes you see thousands of dolphins travel together? Ever wondered what it would feel like to witness that and maybe even, what it would feel like to all of a sudden being part of it? It's an incredible spectacle that I got to live in the summer of 2015 in the Azores... Continue Reading →
My favourite thing to do is watch humpbacks feed - if you're lucky, you get to see every inch of their body as they move around, sometimes really fast and other times really slow and yet both behaviours serve the same purpose. I've never been more mesmerised than watching large animals feed in the water.... Continue Reading →
A bird loves a fish 