Meet the Special "Flonduran" Corals Thriving Against All Odds — and the Woman Championing Them, Juli Berwald

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What would you say if someone told you there was a thriving coral reef in a bay full of industrial pollution, sediment runoff, and unusually warm water — and that it had been there for many years? You'd probably say that's impossible. Juli Berwald said the same thing, and then she got on a plane to Honduras to see it for herself. Juli is an ocean scientist, award-winning author of Spineless and Life on the Rocks, and founder of the nonprofit Tela Coral. In this episode, we get into the mystery behind Tela Bay's improbable elkhorn coral population, the "Flonduran" coral hybrids that are making waves in Florida reef restoration, what it actually takes to build a biobank from scratch in a foreign country, and how a violinist helped raise $86,000 for coral conservation through the power of live music. We also talk about science writing — how Juli went from textbooks to National Geographic, why she writes memoir into her science books, and what she'd tell anyone who wants to do what she does. This one genuinely made me want to book a flight to Honduras. I think you'll feel the same way. EPISODE SHOW NOTES [https://caseysnook.com/special-flonduran-corals-thriving-against-all-odds-tela-coral-juli-berwald/↗] (click for all the links!) Juli's website: JuliBerwald.com [https://juliberwald.com/] Follow Juli: @JuliBerwald [https://www.instagram.com/juliberwald/] Juli's nonprofit, Tela Coral: TelaCoral.org [https://telacoral.org/] Follow Tela Coral: @TelaCoral [https://www.instagram.com/telacoral/] Preorder Juli's newest book!! The Shell Seeker: Encounters with 30 Seashells [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/808536/the-shell-seeker-by-juli-berwald/] comes out July 7, 2026 Podcast website [https://caseysnook.com/podcast/] Casey's Instagram - @caseysnook_ [https://www.instagram.com/caseysnook_/] Podcast Instagram - @thisismarineconservation [https://www.instagram.com/thisismarineconservation/] Say hello! Contact Casey here. [https://caseysnook.com/contact] SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, it’d mean the world if you took a moment to subscribe and leave a review and/or rating wherever you’re listening! Your support helps this podcast reach more ocean lovers and aspiring marine conservationists just like you. Thank you! Looking to break into the world of marine conservation, but don’t know where to start? I’ve got you! Download my free resource, the Aspiring Marine Conservationist’s toolkit at caseysnook.com/toolkit [https://caseysnook.myflodesk.com/ydp1sykaq1] and start making waves in your career today 🌊

I Had a Terrible Marine Conservation Volunteering Experience. Here's How to Avoid my Mistakes.

Earlier this year, I went to volunteer with a marine conservation organization in the Bali area of Indonesia... and within three days of arriving, I had quit. This episode is the story of what happened, and more importantly, what I learned from it, so you don't have to make the same mistakes I did. This episode is really about something bigger than any one organization. It's about how to vet a volunteering program before you commit your time and money, what red flags to actually take seriously, how to listen to your gut once you're there, and how to walk away when you need to. The marine conservation field needs more volunteers, but it needs you to be safe, supported, and treated with respect. Let's talk about how to make that more likely. In this episode, you'll learn: * How to vet a marine conservation organization beyond their website and curated reviews * Why a real conversation (Zoom ideally, phone at minimum) is non-negotiable before you commit money * Which pre-arrival red flags really matter, and why slow communication is information, not just an annoyance * Why a nonprofit is still a business, and what good operational standards look like * How to tell what your experience will be by watching how leaders treat the people already there * When and how to quit, even after you've paid and traveled * How to hold onto your own professional standards when you're being pressured to do things differently * Why a shared mission doesn't automatically mean shared values, and how to spot the difference Important note: I'm not naming the organization in this episode. I believe everyone trying to do marine conservation work has good intentions, even when execution falls short, and this isn't a podcast about tearing other people down. But if you're considering volunteering with a marine conservation program in the Bali area and you're worried it might be the one I'm describing, please reach out to me privately. DM me on Instagram or send an email, and I'll happily talk it through with you one-on-one. EPISODE SHOW NOTES [https://caseysnook.com/terrible-marine-conservation-volunteering-experience-avoid-my-mistakes/] (click for all the links!) Podcast website [https://caseysnook.com/podcast/] Casey's Instagram - @caseysnook_ [https://www.instagram.com/caseysnook_/] Podcast Instagram - @thisismarineconservation [https://www.instagram.com/thisismarineconservation/] Say hello! Contact Casey here. [https://caseysnook.com/contact] SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, it’d mean the world if you took a moment to subscribe and leave a review and/or rating wherever you’re listening! Your support helps this podcast reach more ocean lovers and aspiring marine conservationists just like you. Thank you! Looking to break into the world of marine conservation, but don’t know where to start? I’ve got you! Download my free resource, the Aspiring Marine Conservationists toolkit at caseysnook.com/toolkit [https://caseysnook.myflodesk.com/ydp1sykaq1] and start making waves in your career today 🌊

16. juni 202643 min

Meet the Special "Flonduran" Corals Thriving Against All Odds — and the Woman Championing Them, Juli Berwald

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