The Fisheries Podcast

349 - Gonzo Ichthyology, a Graphic Guide with Dr. Milton Love & Jessica Eggers

On this weeks episode Brendan is joined by the delightful minds behind Gonzo Ichthyology, A Graphic Guide. This incredibly illustrated book is a hilarious guide on the history of ichthyology, anatomy, behaviour, evolution, and achievements of fish.  This book is absolutely filled with illustrations that are both surreal and hilarious.  This book is both engaging, funny, and absolutely Gonzo.  We dive into what exactly gonzo means and how this passion project came to be, how humor can be used to communicate science, and how the fish in the book would feel about how they've been talked about.  From Marlon Brando to Peron parody is on full display in the podcast and the book!
Please check out the Social Media feeds for the podcast for some more images from the Book!
Dr. Milton Love is a research biologist at the Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara and wrote most of the words in the book. 
Jessica Eggers holds a Masters of Science from Rhodes University in South Africa and has published scientific illustrations, her art can be found at galleries around Europe as well as online, she drew all of the illustrations.
Please note that this podcast has a little bit more profanity and silliness than normal, I think you'll enjoy the ride! 
 
 
Get in touch with us!
The Fisheries Podcast is on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky: @FisheriesPod 
Become a Patron of the show: https://www.patreon.com/FisheriesPodcast
Buy podcast shirts, hoodies, stickers, and more: https://teespring.com/stores/the-fisheries-podcast-fan-shop
Thanks as always to Andrew Gialanella for the fantastic intro/outro music.
The Fisheries Podcast is a completely independent podcast, not affiliated with a larger organization or entity. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by the hosts are those of that individual and do not necessarily reflect the view of any entity with those individuals are affiliated in other capacities (such as employers).
 
 
You can find the book on Really Big Press - https://really-big-press.myshopify.com/ ,  as well as Jessica's webstore here: https://www.jessieggers.com/gonzo-ichthyology-a-graphic-guide/.
You can also find the book on Amazon if you get really desperate. 
Jessica's Etsy Store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Roughforradio?ref=seller-platform-mcnav 
 

348 - Spearfishing Adventures, Hormonal Induction Spawning Research, Invasive Species Removal, Aquaria, Aquaculture, and Staying Curious with Florida Sea Grant Agent Michael Sipos

Conrad sat down with Michael Sipos, Florida Sea Grant Agent, to explore his journey from aquarium hobbyist to marine biologist—connecting his passion for science, sustainability, and the sea. From his master’s research on hormonal induction spawning in ornamental fish, advancing sustainable aquaculture practices, to his current work addressing invasive species and fishing education in Florida, Mike blends research with real-world impact. Off the clock, he channels that same curiosity into spearfishing, among many other hobbies, combining skill, respect, and sustainability in everything he does. #FisheriesPodcast #SeaGrant #Spearfishing #Aquaculture #SustainableFishing #MarineScience #StayCurious 
Takeaway: stay curious
 
“Get in touch with us!
The Fisheries Podcast is on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky: @FisheriesPod 
Become a Patron of the show: https://www.patreon.com/FisheriesPodcast
Buy podcast shirts, hoodies, stickers, and more: https://teespring.com/stores/the-fisheries-podcast-fan-shop
Thanks as always to Andrew Gialanella for the fantastic intro/outro music.
The Fisheries Podcast is a completely independent podcast, not affiliated with a larger organization or entity. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by the hosts are those of that individual and do not necessarily reflect the view of any entity with those individuals are affiliated in other capacities (such as employers).”

347 - Grouper Spawning with Janelle Layton

This week, Alanna speaks with Janelle Layton, a MS/PHD student at Oregon State University about her multi-faceted research on the famous grouper spawning aggregations of Little Cayman. Listen to this week's episode to hear more about Nassau, Tiger, and Yellowfin grouper, as well as learn about some of the unique methods that Janelle uses in her work, such as heat shock protein analysis and bomb calorimetry. 
 
Main point: "Communication is important."
 
Find Janelle via her website janellemonetlayton.com, Instagram (@janelle_monet_), TikTok (@janellemonet_) or Bluesky (janellemonet.bsky.social)
 
Get in touch with us!
The Fisheries Podcast is on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky: @FisheriesPod 
Become a Patron of the show: https://www.patreon.com/FisheriesPodcast
Buy podcast shirts, hoodies, stickers, and more: https://teespring.com/stores/the-fisheries-podcast-fan-shop
Thanks as always to Andrew Gialanella for the fantastic intro/outro music.
The Fisheries Podcast is a completely independent podcast, not affiliated with a larger organization or entity. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by the hosts are those of that individual and do not necessarily reflect the view of any entity with those individuals are affiliated in other capacities (such as employers).
 

346 - Northern Snakehead and other Virginia nonnatives with John Odenkirk

This week, Preston chats with John Odenkirk from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. They discuss John's involvement with the Northern Snakehead introduction into the Potomac River, covering everything from the initial media-driven public hysteria to the current population status and the documented impacts (or lack thereof) of the introduction. They also discuss aquatic species that have been introduced to Virginia that received less publicity, but have shown more negative impacts to Virginia's native populations than what can be attributed to snakeheads. We hope that you enjoy this episode!
 
Main point: "Don't move fish!"
John's email address: john.odenkirk@dwr.virginia.gov
 
Get in touch with us!
The Fisheries Podcast is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky: @FisheriesPod 
Become a Patron of the show: https://www.patreon.com/FisheriesPodcast
Buy podcast shirts, hoodies, stickers, and more: https://teespring.com/stores/the-fisheries-podcast-fan-shop
Thanks as always to Andrew Gialanella for the fantastic intro/outro music.
The Fisheries Podcast is a completely independent podcast, not affiliated with a larger organization or entity. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by the hosts are those of that individual and do not necessarily reflect the view of any entity with those individuals are affiliated in other capacities (such as employers).

345 - Tapping into Local Angler Knowledge with PhD Candidate Joel Zhang from Carelton University

Brendan is joined by Joel Zhang, who is currently working on his PhD with Dr. Steven Cooke and Dr. David Phillip at Carleton University.  Brendan and Joel discuss Joel's current work looking at the impact of sanctuaries on local black bass populations, and how they used local angler knowledge to gain more information about how the fishery has performed over time.  They also discuss Joel's goals of bringing more social science into the field.
 
Joel's Paper: Local Angler Knowledge Reveals Declines in Fishing Quality for Black Bass in Lakes of Eastern Ontario
Joel's Profile on the Cooke Lab Website
Main Point: Don't forget to stay humble and keep learning!
 
Get in touch with us!
The Fisheries Podcast is on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky: @FisheriesPod 
Become a Patron of the show: https://www.patreon.com/FisheriesPodcast
Buy podcast shirts, hoodies, stickers, and more: https://teespring.com/stores/the-fisheries-podcast-fan-shop
Thanks as always to Andrew Gialanella for the fantastic intro/outro music.
The Fisheries Podcast is a completely independent podcast, not affiliated with a larger organization or entity. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by the hosts are those of that individual and do not necessarily reflect the view of any entity with those individuals are affiliated in other capacities (such as employers).

344- Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Apicomplexan Blood Parasites Infecting Coral Reef Fishes with Natalie Ritter

This week, Conrad had the pleasure of speaking with his good friend, Natalie Ritter. Natalie is currently pursuing her master's degree in marine and environmental science at the University of the Virgin Islands. Her research focuses on the biodiversity and taxonomy of Apicomplexan blood parasites that infect coral reef fishes. They speak on the accessibility of scientific information and the benefit of a variety of different media types to spread scientific awareness. We hope you enjoy this week's episode. Takeaway: Everything is connected.#reefish #parasites #virginislands
“Get in touch with us!
The Fisheries Podcast is on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky: @FisheriesPod 
Become a Patron of the show: https://www.patreon.com/FisheriesPodcast
Buy podcast shirts, hoodies, stickers, and more: https://teespring.com/stores/the-fisheries-podcast-fan-shop
Thanks as always to Andrew Gialanella for the fantastic intro/outro music.
The Fisheries Podcast is a completely independent podcast, not affiliated with a larger organization or entity. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by the hosts are those of that individual and do not necessarily reflect the view of any entity with those individuals are affiliated in other capacities (such as employers).”

343 - Sharks of Ningaloo and Around the World with Dr. Emily Lester

Joining Alanna on the podcast this week is Dr. Emily Lester, a marine ecologist with an interest in coral reef ecosystems, predator-prey dynamics, and anthropogenic changes to animal behavior. Emily shares her experience working with the whale sharks of Ningaloo and explains the process to becoming a Fulbright researcher. Listeners will get a sneak peak of Emily's newest research on meeting goals in global shark conservation!
 
Main point: "The best conservation happens when people and nature both win"
 
Find Emily through instagram @emily_lester or bluesky @emilylester.bsky.social
 
Get in touch with us!
The Fisheries Podcast is on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky: @FisheriesPod 
Become a Patron of the show: https://www.patreon.com/FisheriesPodcast
Buy podcast shirts, hoodies, stickers, and more: https://teespring.com/stores/the-fisheries-podcast-fan-shop
Thanks as always to Andrew Gialanella for the fantastic intro/outro music.
The Fisheries Podcast is a completely independent podcast, not affiliated with a larger organization or entity. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by the hosts are those of that individual and do not necessarily reflect the view of any entity with those individuals are affiliated in other capacities (such as employers).
 

342 - The history and the future of Smallmouth Bass management in Connecticut with Andrew Bade

This week, Preston catches up with Andrew Bade, the supervisor of the Warmwater and Coldwater Fisheries Management Programs for Connecticut DEEP. They discuss Andrew's education and career journeys, before diving into the history of introduced Smallmouth Bass in Connecticut. Andrew focuses in and shares the unique and cyclical history of Smallmouth Bass in one of Connecticut's lakes, as well as the current management strategies they are implementing to restore this popular fishery. We hope that you enjoy this episode!
 
Main point: "Learn the history of your fisheries."
Andrew's email address: Andrew.Bade@ct.gov
 
Get in touch with us!
The Fisheries Podcast is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky: @FisheriesPod 
Become a Patron of the show: https://www.patreon.com/FisheriesPodcast
Buy podcast shirts, hoodies, stickers, and more: https://teespring.com/stores/the-fisheries-podcast-fan-shop
Thanks as always to Andrew Gialanella for the fantastic intro/outro music.
The Fisheries Podcast is a completely independent podcast, not affiliated with a larger organization or entity. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by the hosts are those of that individual and do not necessarily reflect the view of any entity with those individuals are affiliated in other capacities (such as employers).

341 - "Would a Walleye by any other name taste as sweet?" A discussion on how fishes get their names with Dr. Nicholas Mandrak

For the final episode of 2025 The Fisheries Podcast brings you an absolutely delightful conversation between Brendan and Dr. Nicholas Mandrak of the University of Toronto Scarborough on binomial nomenclature, the Committee on Names of Fishes, and most importantly, how and why fish get and keep and or change their scientific and or common names!
Dr. Mandrak is a legendary scientist in Canadian circles, having co-authored over 250 primary publications, over 100 government reports, 40 COSEWIC reports, and five books, including the newly revised Royal Ontario Museum Field Guide to Ontario Fishes. He is Program Director of the Conservation and Biodiversity stream of the professional M.Env.Sci. program at UTSC. Nick is also a Research Associate of the Royal Ontario Museum and South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity. He is a member, and former Co-Chair, of the Freshwater Fishes Species Specialist Subcommittee of COSEWIC. His research interests are the biodiversity, biogeography, and conservation of freshwater fishes, with emphasis on endangered and invasive fishes. 
You can find more information about Nick's work on his lab website here: https://mandraklab.ca/ 
Main Point: Freshwater fish conservation matters, get in touch with your local representatives to remind them of this fact! 
Here's to a happy New Year and we'll be serving a fresh catch of episodes to your ears in 2026! 
 
Get in touch with us!
The Fisheries Podcast is on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky: @FisheriesPod 
Become a Patron of the show: https://www.patreon.com/FisheriesPodcast
Buy podcast shirts, hoodies, stickers, and more: https://teespring.com/stores/the-fisheries-podcast-fan-shop
Thanks as always to Andrew Gialanella for the fantastic intro/outro music.
The Fisheries Podcast is a completely independent podcast, not affiliated with a larger organization or entity. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by the hosts are those of that individual and do not necessarily reflect the view of any entity with those individuals are affiliated in other capacities (such as employers).

340 - Tales of the 48 with Ryan Burch

This week, Conrad speaks with his friend Ryan Burch of @talesofthe48. Ryan is on an inspiring journey, traveling across the lower 48 states in a truck camper with his dog. His mission? To create a documentary about catching a fish on the fly in each state he visits. In the spirit of the holiday season, Ryan reflects on the kindness he's encountered from people across the first 24 states. He shares heartwarming stories that showcase not only the fish he has caught but also the hospitality and generosity of strangers.
Ryan discusses the blend of science and art in his fishing adventures, highlighting remarkable individuals he has met along the way—all with unique tales and wisdom passed down through generations. Throughout his journey, Ryan has found that his interactions with nature celebrate the power of human connection and the joy of discovery. This experience has transformed his perspective on humanity, deepening his appreciation for the kindness he has witnessed and the fortunate experiences he's had.
Join us for this heartfelt episode, where we explore how fishing can foster a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us!
Main Point: It's okay to not be the best or super good at things you're pursuing. 
Find Ryan through Instagram @talesofthe48 or contact him through email talesofthe48@gmail.com 
 
#TalesOfThe48 #FishingAdventure #FishingDocumentary #RoadTrip #JoyOfDiscovery #CamperLife #FlyFishing #Orvis #OrvisFlyFishing #TroutFishing #OrvisGear #FlyTying #TroutSeason #storytelling  
 
Get in touch with us!
The Fisheries Podcast is on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky: @FisheriesPod 
Become a Patron of the show: https://www.patreon.com/FisheriesPodcast
Buy podcast shirts, hoodies, stickers, and more: https://teespring.com/stores/the-fisheries-podcast-fan-shop
Thanks as always to Andrew Gialanella for the fantastic intro/outro music.
The Fisheries Podcast is a completely independent podcast, not affiliated with a larger organization or entity. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by the hosts are those of that individual and do not necessarily reflect the view of any entity with those individuals are affiliated in other capacities (such as employers).

339 - Natural Chemical Tracers and Applications in Fisheries with Dr. John Mohan

This week Alanna chats with Dr. John Mohan, a Conservation Biologist in Protected Resources at the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, about his work using chemical tracers such as trace elements and isotopes in fisheries science. The two chemistry fans talk about applications in species such as striped bass, Atlantic croakers, Pacific bluefin tuna, and a variety of sharks. John provides a crash course in chemical tracers for those interested in using these tools, and gives excellent advice for scientists of all stages.
 
Main point: "Go with the flow"
 
Find John through instagram @phdude_fishecology and email at john.austin.mohan@gmail.com
 
Get in touch with us!
The Fisheries Podcast is on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky: @FisheriesPod 
Become a Patron of the show: https://www.patreon.com/FisheriesPodcast
Buy podcast shirts, hoodies, stickers, and more: https://teespring.com/stores/the-fisheries-podcast-fan-shop
Thanks as always to Andrew Gialanella for the fantastic intro/outro music.
The Fisheries Podcast is a completely independent podcast, not affiliated with a larger organization or entity. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by the hosts are those of that individual and do not necessarily reflect the view of any entity with those individuals are affiliated in other capacities (such as employers).

338 - Preston goes solo: personal and professional updates, and science-y book recommendations

This week, a busy 2025, a lack of sleep, and possible procrastination result in Preston having to do a solo episode. He provides updates on his career journey since he was last on the show as a guest in late 2023. He then opens up about some of the personal challenges going on at home and he wraps up by giving out some of his top book recommendations in several science-y categories. 
 
Main point: "Never hesitate to reach out for help."
Preston's Instagram: @hokie_fish_biologist
 
Get in touch with us!
The Fisheries Podcast is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky: @FisheriesPod 
Become a Patron of the show: https://www.patreon.com/FisheriesPodcast
Buy podcast shirts, hoodies, stickers, and more: https://teespring.com/stores/the-fisheries-podcast-fan-shop
Thanks as always to Andrew Gialanella for the fantastic intro/outro music.
The Fisheries Podcast is a completely independent podcast, not affiliated with a larger organization or entity. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by the hosts are those of that individual and do not necessarily reflect the view of any entity with those individuals are affiliated in other capacities (such as employers).