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Ocean Protect Podcast

Ocean Protect

The health of our oceans is under major threat. Every fortnight, Brad Dalrymple (Environmental Engineer with Ocean Protect) hosts a variety of guests, including scientists, engineers, and activists – to discuss the key issues affecting the health of our oceans – and what can be done about it. This podcast is for anyone interested in learning more about the health of our oceans, the key pressures, and potential solutions. Disclaimer: This podcast is for general discussion purposes, and the views expressed by its hosts and guests are opinions only. Care has been taken in the preparation of this podcast, however no guarantee, representation or warranty is given or made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information conveyed. Listeners seeking information relevant to their own personal circumstances should seek independent advice as appropriate. To the maximum extent permitted at law, IES Stormwater Pty Ltd and its affiliates, and the hosts and guests of this podcast, exclude liability for any loss or damage to any party caused by or arising from reliance on its content.

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22 episodes
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S8 · E6
September 27 · 47 min
Dr Jennifer Lavers on what long-term data shows about population impacts of ocean plastic pollution
Dr Jennifer Lavers is a marine eco-toxicologist, seabird and island conservation expert, and researcher at Adrift Lab - and returns for her second appearance on the Ocean Protect Podcast. In this chat, we delve into recent ground-breaking research on plastic pollution impacts on seabirds at Lord Howe Island - and discuss the findings from over 15 years of data, and what key actions we can take to beat plastic pollution. Useful links: Dr Jennifer Lavers on Linkedin (here) Adriftlab Dr Jennifer Lavers on the plastic in seabirds (Ocean Protect Podcast, Season 2, Episode 15, June 2020) (here) AdriftLab article (August 2026) The Birds That Never Came Home: Long-Term Data Reveal Population-Level Impacts of Ocean Plastic Pollution (here) J.L. Lavers, H. Worthington, & A.L. Bond, Ingested plastics reduce recruitment and survival of an Australian seabird, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 123 (34) e2613782123, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2613782123 (2026). https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2613782123 Lavers, J. L., de Jersey, A. M., Rivers-Auty, J., & Bond, A. L. (2026). Abrupt recent increases in plastic ingestion by Sable Shearwaters (Ardenna carneipes). Earth's Future, 14, e2026EF008572. https://doi.org/10.1029/2026EF008572 Ingrid L. Pollet, William M. Connelly, Michelle L. Feenstra, Alix M. de Jersey, Alexander L. Bond, Jennifer L. Lavers, Jack Rivers-Auty, Plastic ingestion alters stomach anatomy and biomechanics in sable shearwaters (Ardenna carneipes), Journal of Hazardous Materials: Plastics, Volume 5, 2026, 100080, ISSN 3051-0600, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazmp.2026.100080 For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S8 · E5
August 30 · 39 min
Lottie Dalziel with 365+ Ways to Save the Planet & Your Money at the Same Time
Lottie Dalziel is on a mission to make sustainability simple, accessible, and impactful - returning for her second appearance on the podcast. In this chat, we hear all about BRAD (the Banish Recycling And Disposal Program) and get some insights into her debut book "365+ Ways to Save the Planet and Your Money at the Same Time". Useful links: Lottie on LinkedIn (here) "365+ Ways to Save the Planet and Your Money at the Same Time" (here) BRAD (Banish Recycling And Disposal Program): https://banish.com.au/pages/recycling-program https://banish.com.au/ For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S8 · E4
August 9 · 39 min
Kal Glanznig on turning the tide on The Plastic Country
Kal Glanznig is a filmmaker, ocean advocate and Sutherland Shire Councillor. In this chat, we discuss Kal's latest film, "The Plastic Country" - a confronting, timely and deeply personal Australian documentary that challenges how we think about plastic, our health, our ocean and the systems that shape the world around us. From remote beaches and stormwater drains to supermarket shelves, scientific laboratories and the halls of Parliament, this powerful documentary asks a difficult question: how did Australia become one of the world’s biggest plastic waste producers per person, and what will it take to turn the tide? Useful links: "The Plastic Country" (here) Kal Glanznig on Linkedin (here) Kal's website (here) Blue Minds (here) "Kal Glanznig on youth, plastics, politics, & Rising Up for a better world" (Ocean Protect Podcast, Season 7, Episode 18) For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S8 · E3
June 21 · 42 min
Dr Amelia Harry on the Plastic Exposure Reduction Transforms Health (PERTH) Trial
Dr Amelia Harry is an experienced Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, Accredited Nutritionist, and plastics, diet & human health researcher. In this chat, we discuss the latest publication (in Nature Medicine) that Dr Amelia co-authored on the results of the Plastic Exposure Reduction Transforms Health (PERTH) Trial - which assessed phthalates and bisphenols in humans and what impact a change in diet had. We discuss the methodology, results (it's good news !!) and how you can minimise plastic ingestion in your own life (and why you should). Useful links: Dr Amelia on LinkedIn (here) eatsustainably.com.au Journal paper, Low-plastic diet and urinary levels of plastic-associated phthalates and bisphenols: the randomized controlled PERTH Trial (here) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S8 · E2
June 7 · 43 min
Harry Maher on how much does bioretention cost ?
Harry Maher is a Water Engineer at Optimal Stormwater, with several years experience in the stormwater industry in Australia as both a consultant and with Council. In this chat, we discuss Harry's recent study compiling and assessing "real world" life cycle cost data for bioretention systems in Australia, and how stormwater professionals and asset managers can reduce the costs of bioretention and improve their stormwater treatment function. Useful links: Harry on LinkedIn (here) Report, How much does bioretention cost? A review of life cycle costs for conventional bioretention systems in Australia (here) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S8 · E1
May 24 · 44 min
Cocaine salmon with Marcus Michelangeli
Marcus Michelangeli is a lecturer at Griffith University, leading the Wildlife Behaviour & Ecotoxicology research group, focusing on how wildlife adapt to rapid environmental change, particularly in response to emerging threats from synthetic and psychoactive chemical contaminants. In this chat, we discuss recent research by Marcus and collaborators on the impact of cocaine on salmon behaviour. Useful links: Marcus on Linkedin (here) The Conversation article, Coked to the gills? Cocaine‑laced wastewater can make salmon roam twice as far in (here) Journal paper, Cocaine pollution alters the movement and space use of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in a large natural lake (here) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 · E19
Dec 21, 2025 · 39 min
Justine Barrett on cleaning out the undergound garbage bins
Justine Barrett Research Technician & iPhD Student with CSIRO's Marine Debris Team - currently researching how best to reduce the flow of litter into our oceans and waterways. In this chat, we discuss Justine's recent research compiling over 1300 audits of gross pollutant traps (GPTs) across Australia, the key barriers to cleaning out GPTs, and how to resolve these barriers - and ultimately better protect our oceans and waterways from stormwater pollution. Useful links: Justine on Linkedin (here) "Identifying and addressing challenges in gross pollutant trap maintenance: perspectives from the Australian stormwater industry", published in Marine Pollution Bulletin (here) For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 · E18
Dec 7, 2025 · 44 min
Kal Glanznig on youth, plastics, politics, & Rising Up for a better world
Kal Glanznig is one of Australia’s leading youth ocean and climate champions, dedicated to helping build a generation of hopeful, action-driven environmental leaders. In this chat, we talk about his journey as a film-maker, ocean-advocate and getting elected to his local Council in the name of healthier oceans and waterways. Expect inspiration, a call to action, and a reminder that real change often begins with one local “first step”. Useful links: Kal Glanznig on Linkedin (here) Kal's website (here) Blue Minds (here) "Rising up" film on Water Bear (here) For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au Photo credit: Ramone Minchero Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 · E17
Nov 23, 2025 · 42 min
Untrashing Australia's northern coastline with Grahame Lloyd
Sea Shepherd's Remote Debris Campaigner, Grahame Lloyd, joins us for his fourth appearance on the Ocean Protect Podcast - off the back of another remote beach clean in Australia Bay. In this chat, Grahame shares insights from his remote beach cleans he's done this year, looming funding crisis for beach cleans, and his thoughts on how to turn the tide on plastic pollution. Useful links: Grahame Lloyd on Linkedin (here) Get involved with Sea Shepherd Australia (here) Sea Shepherd news article Untrashing Waṉuwuy (here) For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au Image credit: Hunter Bergen / Sea Shepherd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 · E16
Nov 9, 2025 · 48 min
Doing bioretention better with Dan Rhodes
Dan Rhodes is a Senior Water Engineer at Ocean Protect - and returns for his second appearance on the podcast, but his first since joining Ocean Protect. In this chat, Dan provides a few more insights from his previous career as a professional muso, before going deep on bioretention systems - one of the most widely used stormwater treatment assets within Australia and beyond. Dan gives his perspectives from auditing 500+ bioretention systems across Australia in the 'real world' - the high 'failure' rates, the causes of these failures, and how we can fundamentally do bioretention better. Useful links: Dan on LinkedIn (here) Filterra bioretention (here) "Dan Rhodes on Gross Pollutant Traps, dodgy designs, and how to achieve better stormwater treatment" (Ocean Protect Podcast, Season 7, Episode 6, here) For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 · E15
Oct 26, 2025 · 23 min
Protecting Australian Sea Lions with Dirk Holman
Dirk Holman is a Marine Scientist and Threatened Species Campaigner with Sea Shepherd Australia. Dirk is playing a key role in Sea Shepherd Australia's activities in the Great Australian Bight - defending, conserving, and protecting Australian sea lions - ensuring the recovery of this endangered species and the preservation of a healthy marine ecosystem. In this chat, we discuss the threats to the Australian sea lion populations and what can and is being done about it. Useful links: Sea Shepherd Australia's Sea Lion Defence Campaign (here) Australian Sea Lion Recovery Foundation (here) Dirk on LinkedIn (here) For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 · E14
Oct 12, 2025 · 29 min
Ian Thomson on cleaning up waterways with Ocean Crusaders
Ian Thomson is the Founder of Ocean Crusaders - who take direct action by cleaning up waterways. Ian launched the foundation after a record breaking circumnavigation around Australia and being confronted with the reality of seeing turtles killed by ocean waste. In this chat, Ian describes the incredible work of Ocean Crusaders, what they actually remove from waterways, how they do it, and what really needs to change to help put him out of a job. Useful links: https://oceancrusaders.org Ian on LinkedIn (here) For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 · E13
Sep 28, 2025 · 31 min
Andrea Morello on combating illegal fishing in the Mediterranean Sea
Andrea Morello is President of Sea Shepherd Italy, which he founded and has coordinated since 2010. In this chat, Andrea shares insights into Sea Shepherd's incredible work combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Mediterranean Sea. Useful links: Andrea on LinkedIn (here) Sea Shepherd's Operation Siso - The fight against illegal fishing in the Mediterranean Sea (here) BBC Article "'The sea is like a minefield': The web of illegal fish traps in Italy's Mediterranean" (here) For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 · E12
Aug 17, 2025 · 28 min
Ocean Protect's Karunya Sateesh on her journey from Bangalore to Melbourne & finding purpose in environmental storytelling
Karunya Sateesh, Ocean Protect's Marketing and Communications Coordinator, takes us behind the scenes of her journey from humble beginnings in Bangalore, India, to her current career path in Melbourne, Australia. In this chat, she reflects on how witnessing the decline in Bangalore's green and blue spaces sparked her curiosity about the broader impacts of climate change, and how this exploration led to a career in championing stormwater solutions. She opens up about the impact she hopes to make throughout her career and where she hopes to go next. Karunya on LinkedIn (here). For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 · E11
Aug 3, 2025 · 33 min
Fotos Melaisis on the maintenance of stormwater treatment assets
National Maintenance Manager at Ocean Protect, coordinating Ocean Protect's maintenance of tens of thousands of stormwater treatment asset across Australia. In this chat, we discuss what these assets are stopping, why they often aren't getting maintained, and what's needed to achieve better stormwater management (and ocean and waterway health). Useful links: Fotos on LinkedIn (here) WSUD Compliance Framework (here) For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 · E10
Jul 20, 2025 · 36 min
Dr Scott Bennett on South Australia's Harmful Algal Bloom
Dr Scott Bennett is Co-Founder of the Great Southern Reef Foundation and leads their science committee. In this chat, we discuss the devastating algal bloom off South Australia's coast that has already killed (and continues to kill) countless marine species. Fresh from a dive survey of some of the impacted areas, Scott shares his insights on what's it like, what's causing it, and what needs to be done. Useful links: Scott on LinkedIn (here) Great Southern Reef Foundation (here) Great Southern Reef Foundation June 2025 Algal Bloom Update (here) InDaily article "Annual Torrens Lake blue-green algae management program kicks off today" (here, December 2024) For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 · E9
Jun 22, 2025 · 41 min
Josh Kirkman on Surfers for Climate, trading up, blue minds & silvers surfers
Josh Kirkman is CEO for Surfers for Climate - an Australian charity dedicated to turning the tide on climate change. In this chat, Josh gives an insight into the group's various campaigns - and how to better empower tradespeople, politicians and the public to help make a better world. Useful links: Josh on LinkedIn (here) Surfers for Climate (here) For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 · E8
Jun 8, 2025 · 28 min
Dr Steph Brodie on the good news for beach lovers - with research showing 39% less plastic pollution around Australian coastal cities than a decade ago
Dr Steph Brodie is a Research Scientist at CSIRO Environment in Brisbane. In this chat, we discuss a recent study that Steph was involved in which surveyed for debris in and around six Australian urban areas between 2022 and 2024. We discuss the study methodology and the results that showed that, over the past ten years, the amount of waste across Australian coastal cities has reduced by almost 40% and more places were found with no rubbish at all. Useful links: Steph at CSIRO (here) The Conversation article “Good news, beach lovers: our research found 39% less plastic waste around Australian coastal cities than a decade ago” (here) Journal paper "Drivers of environmental debris in metropolitan areas: A continental scale assessment (here). For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 · E7
May 25, 2025 · 28 min
Alix de Jersey on plastic ingestion in seabirds showing impacts to liver & brain function (& what it might mean for humans)
Alix de Jersey is a PhD candidate at the University of Tasmania, investigating the effects of microplastics on tropical shearwaters. In this chat, we discuss the world-first study of seabirds that Alix was involved with - which identified that seabird chicks heavily affected by plastic ingestion demonstrated a range of negative health consequences, including liver and brain damage. We discuss the study methodology and results - and the associated implications to both wildlife and humans. Useful links: Alix on LinkedIn (here) Alix at AdriftLab (here) Article "World-first analysis of seabirds who’ve eaten plastic reveals slow, insidious health impacts" (here) Journal paper "Seabirds in crisis: Plastic ingestion induces proteomic signatures of multiorgan failure and neurodegeneration" (here) For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au Photo credit: Dr. Neal R. Haddaway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S7 · E6
May 11, 2025 · 42 min
Dan Rhodes on Gross Pollutant Traps, dodgy designs, and how to achieve better stormwater treatment
Dan Rhodes is a Senior Water Engineer at Henry & Hymas Consulting Engineers and Optimal Stormwater - and has looked down into MANY gross pollutant traps (GPTs). In this chat, we discuss Dan's career progression from muso to engineer, insights from his many GPT audits, the Zero Litter to Bay initiative, and his thoughts around the key challenges and solutions to better stormwater management (and waterway health). Useful links: Dan on LinkedIn (here) Optimal Stormwater (here) Henry & Hymas Consulting Engineers (here) Zero Litter to Bay media statement (here) For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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