From landlocked Nebraska to manta rays in Hawaii: bringing the Aloha Spirit home (with Chris Gorman)

From vet tech to state lobbyist: giving a voice to the voiceless (with Makenna Trapani)

Makenna Trapani spent five years in emergency veterinary medicine before realizing that individual care wasn’t enough to fix the system-level problems affecting animals. Now, at just 23, she works as a Government Affairs Associate in Arizona, helping to pass animal welfare legislation and build the coalitions needed to turn ideas into state law. Martina sits down with Makenna to explore her path from vet tech to policy work, how an internship sparked her interest in public service, and what it actually takes to move a bill through the legislature, from stakeholder negotiations to the persistence required when laws don’t pass the first time. In this episode * What emergency veterinary work revealed about the limits of care beyond the clinic * How a Senate internship sparked Makenna’s path into public policy and advocacy * What a Government Affairs Associate actually does day to day * The two-year process behind passing an animal neglect law * How bills move through committees, chambers, and legislative deadlines * What “being a voice for the voiceless” means in legislative work * The role of lobbying, amendments, and compromise in shaping legislation * Why persistence and timing matter as much as good ideas in policy work Key moments (00:00) Introducing Makenna and her work in public policy (01:14) Emergency vet work and the gaps that led her toward policy (03:30) What a Government Affairs Associate does (05:29) How Makenna and Martina first met in Hawaii (06:31) Shark research and early conservation work (07:59) Linking conservation work to policy and legislation (09:21) From vet tech shifts to policy work at the Capitol (11:28) The animal neglect case that led to new legislation (13:32) The two-year process behind Arizona's animal neglect legislation (14:50) How legislative timing and deadlines affect bills (17:23) How many people are involved in passing a bill (19:57) Stakeholder work, lobbying, and persistence (21:12) Closing reflections on civic engagement and change Resources • Episode page and resources: https://oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/vet-to-lobbyist-makenna [https://oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/vet-to-lobbyist-makenna]• Get Martina’s emails: https://oceanwingspodcast.com/newsletter [https://oceanwingspodcast.com/newsletter] • More about manta rays on https://mantarayadvocates.com [https://mantarayadvocates.com]• Watch the full video on YouTube  Follow us on Follow us on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@oceanwingspodcast] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/oceanwingspodcast] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/oceanwingspodcast] | Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/oceanwingspodcast.bsky.social]

A marine biologist connecting coastlines, classrooms, and conservation (with Dawn Murray)

For over thirty years, Professor Dawn Murray has built a career in marine science by following her curiosity wherever it led. That path has included jellyfish research at Monterey Bay, documenting Indigenous medicinal plant knowledge in Bhutan, and serving on the advisory council of the first Indigenous-led National Marine Sanctuary in the United States. In this conversation with Martina, she walks through the key turns in her career and the people and places that shaped it — and examines how ocean science translates into education, policy, and real-world action. In this episode * How a lifelong curiosity for the ocean became a 30+ year career in marine science * Ocean systems, nutrient cycles, and why they matter far beyond the shoreline * How manta rays reveal the health of ocean ecosystems * Working alongside Indigenous communities from Tulum to Bhutan to Hawai‘i * Challenging students to apply ocean science in their own communities * Grassroots activism, policy, and the long game of ocean conservation Key moments (00:00) Introduction: Dawn Murray, marine scientist and professor (01:48) Growing up coastal: Hawaii, Santa Barbara, and a love of the ocean (04:07) From art history and Italian to marine science  (06:01) Jellyfish, marine snow, and master's research at Monterey Bay (09:24) PhD work and citizen science in the intertidal (11:22) Intertidal ecology and human shoreline impacts (14:56) Why ocean health is essential for human survival (15:42) The global ocean conveyor belt explained (19:39) Phytoplankton, food webs, and climate regulation (24:30) The discovery of the third manta species (25:12) Mantas as nutrient movers and ecosystem connectors (27:40) What is plankton? Phytoplankton vs. zooplankton (32:11) Why lights attract plankton at night (34:30) Lifelong curiosity and resilient ecosystems (38:55) Teaching graduate students across the globe (46:00) Environmental awareness: Europe vs America (49:08) From awareness to action: activism and policy (52:50) The Tribal Trust Foundation and advocating for Indigenous voices (55:56) Preserving Indigenous medicinal plant knowledge in Bhutan (01:00:23) The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (01:03:10) Miloli‘i: community-led ocean stewardship (01:07:55) Curiosity, connection, and protecting what we love Resources • Episode page and resources: oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/dawn-murray-marine-biologist [https://oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/dawn-murray-marine-biologist]• Get Martina’s emails: oceanwingspodcast.com/newsletter [https://oceanwingspodcast.com/newsletter] • More about manta rays on mantarayadvocates.com [https://mantarayadvocates.com] • Watch the full video on YouTube  Follow us on Follow us on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@oceanwingspodcast] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/oceanwingspodcast] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/oceanwingspodcast] | Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/oceanwingspodcast.bsky.social]

From office to ocean: two sides of being a manta ray advocate (with Savannah Maira)

In this episode, Martina sits down with Savannah Maira, a core member of the Manta Ray Advocates team, to discuss her journey to her current role in ocean conservation. With a background in backstage theater and office administration, Savannah explains how her skills in organization, consistency, and long-term observation now contribute to manta ray conservation and enhance the guest experience. The conversation provides insight into how individual manta rays are tracked over time, how real sighting data informs candid discussions with guests, and how considerations such as safety, seasonality, and preparation guide responsible ocean encounters.  In this episode * Savannah’s path from theater and admin work to swim guiding with manta rays * How nightly manta sightings are tracked and documented over time * The story of Black Diamond’s fishing hook injury and its long-term resolution * What the 2025 sighting data reveals about familiar mantas and close encounters * Why manta ray sightings vary by season, and when tours are canceled for safety * How the box jellyfish calendar evolved into the Manta Rays of Kona calendar project * Sharing manta ray work and knowledge with the next generation Key moments (00:00) Introduction to Savannah and her role at Manta Ray Advocates (00:37) Backstage theater and the path to Hawaii (04:21) How a family connection led to an unexpected job opportunity (07:04) Starting in admin and learning the business fast (08:45) First manta swim and moving into guide briefings (11:19) Swim guide training and lifeguard certification (13:44) Commuting across the island for weekend guiding (15:13) Tracking Black Diamond’s fishing hook injury over time (22:06) Recording nightly manta sightings to answer guest questions (23:41) 2025 sightings: familiar mantas and close encounters (29:14) Seasonal manta sightings and tour cancellations (34:46) The Manta Rays of Kona calendar project (40:21) Raising a four-year-old manta ray enthusiast Resources • Episode page and resources: https://oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/savannah-swim-guide [https://oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/savannah-swim-guide] https://oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/Savannah-swim-guide• Get Martina’s emails: https://oceanwingspodcast.com/newsletter [https://oceanwingspodcast.com/newsletter] • More about manta rays on https://mantarayadvocates.com [https://mantarayadvocates.com]• Watch the full video on YouTube  Follow us on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@oceanwingspodcast] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/oceanwingspodcast] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/oceanwingspodcast] | Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/oceanwingspodcast.bsky.social]

Trauma and Body Trust: a licensed therapist on manta rays as therapy with Rae Madison Gerber

Rae Madison Gerber’s life has been shaped by three encounters with manta rays that became unexpected turning points. What began as a tentative first swim evolved into a way to reconnect with her body, question long-held beliefs about trust and worth, and find the clarity to step away from work that no longer felt right. This episode explores listening inward, finding momentum when the world feels overwhelming, and how the ocean can create space for emotional release. In this episode: * What manta rays can teach us about self-acceptance and seeing bodies without judgment. * How Rae’s work with Body Trust shapes her approach to healing and care. * The role of listening inward and continuing forward to something better when the work you’re doing no longer fits. * How trauma lives in the body and why the ocean can help unlock what gets stuck. * How Rae imagines blending the power of the ocean with therapeutic work to create a different kind of healing space. Key moments: (00:00) Introduction  (01:33) Rae's first manta experience (03:33) From anxiety on the beach to joy in the water  (06:25) Rae’s path into mental health counseling (07:52) Unlearning body shame with the mantas (09:26) "Big Bertha," a manta ray matriarch  (11:43) Burnout and wondering if therapy is still the right path (16:26) A new chapter and choosing work that makes your heart sing (19:47) What Body Trust is and why it matters  (22:48) Third manta swim and finding community in the dark (26:41) Keeping momentum when the world feels heavy (31:52) Learning scuba the right way: skill, discipline, safety (34:20) Scar the sea turtle and protecting the ocean (35:46) Body Trust meets the ocean: Rae's vision for group therapy (37:21) Trauma in the body and healing in the ocean Resources • Episode page and resources: https://oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/rae-body-trust-therapy [https://oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/rae-body-trust-therapy] http://oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/SLUG• Get Martina’s emails: https://oceanwingspodcast.com/newsletter [https://oceanwingspodcast.com/newsletter] • More about manta rays on https://mantarayadvocates.com [https://mantarayadvocates.com] https://mantarayadvocates.com/• Watch the full video on YouTube Follow us on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@oceanwingspodcast] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/oceanwingspodcast] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/oceanwingspodcast] | Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/oceanwingspodcast.bsky.social]

From landlocked Nebraska to manta rays in Hawaii: bringing the Aloha Spirit home (with Chris Gorman)

Living in landlocked Nebraska makes ocean visits precious. In this episode, Chris Gorman reflects on why he and his wife keep returning to Hawaii, how they approach travel with care and curiosity, and what made their manta ray experience unexpectedly impactful. It’s a conversation about slowing down, traveling with intention, and bringing a little of the Aloha Spirit back home. In this episode: * Chris’s approach to sustainable travel and experiencing places from a local’s perspective  * How to cut through online noise and figure out which experiences are actually worth your time * Why choosing fewer, better experiences often leads to deeper trust and more meaningful moments * Carrying lessons from travel back home: slowing down, consuming more thoughtfully, and being more aware of everyday choices Key moments: (00:00) Intro and living in landlocked Nebraska (04:37) Swimming with manta rays during a stressful season (05:20)  Learning about Hawaii from locals, not guidebooks (08:19)  Choosing responsible travel experiences  (10:05)  A magical moment in the water with the manta rays (17:09)  "Serial research" and planning trips with intention  (18:16)  Going beyond the guidebooks and maximizing your travel experience (26:51)  Reading between the lines of online reviews (32:48)  How preparation and experience create trust on the water (38:02)  What indigenous cultures reveal about sustainability (42:19)  Feeling more tuned into the planet after time in Hawaii (44:39)  Aloha as a way of living, not just a greeting Resources • Episode page and resources: https://oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/chris-intentional-travel [https://oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/chris-intentional-travel] http://oceanwingspodcast.com/episode/SLUG• Get Martina’s emails: https://oceanwingspodcast.com/newsletter [https://oceanwingspodcast.com/newsletter] • More about manta rays on https://mantarayadvocates.com [https://mantarayadvocates.com]• Watch the full video on YouTube Follow us on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@oceanwingspodcast] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/oceanwingspodcast] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/oceanwingspodcast] | Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/oceanwingspodcast.bsky.social]