About us

About the Podcast

Coming fresh off of the 148th annual meeting of the American Fisheries Society, a meeting themed on communicating to a diverse audience, it was apparent to past host/founder Nick Kramer that our communication cannot truly reach a diverse audience if we aren't fully diversifying our method of outreach. He had a thought in the back of his head for a few months prior to the meeting, 'Why hasn't someone made a fisheries science podcast?' There seemed to be a podcast for every other topic, hobby, sport, or television show so why not fisheries science? After hearing some other people mention podcasts at AFS 148, and talking to some briefly about it, he decided to pull the trigger. 

The podcast's main goal is to share the stories of the amazing people and projects that make up fisheries science. Each week we interview a different fisheries professional, asking them about their research, their focus species, and their life. 

If you have a topic that you want covered or know a person that you think will be a great guest, reach out and let me know. This podcast is for you, the listeners, so tell us what you want. 

In 2022, The Fisheries Podcast was fortunate enough to earn the American Fisheries Society's Excellence in Public Outreach Award. This award goes out to an AFS member(s) who goes the “extra mile” in sharing the value of fisheries science/research with the general public through the popular media and other communication channels. 

 

About the Hosts

Current Hosts:

Preston Chrisman - since January 2024:

Preston Chrisman is the Freshwater Fisheries Coordinator for Region 2 with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), where he manages sportfish populations across a 13-county region. A Virginia Tech graduate with a B.S. in Fisheries Science, Preston also holds a Master of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Florida (2022). His graduate research on the mechanical removal of largemouth bass from bass-crowded small impoundments was published in the 2023 Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Preston's other special interests include habitat improvements on SC reservoirs and invasive species management, particularly in regards to Alabama Bass. Preston is the chair of SCDNR's Black Bass Working Group, and has taken the lead in analyzing the results from the statewide black bass genetics inventory. He is an active member of the American Fisheries Society, serving on the Southern Division's Small Impoundments Committee and contributing to state and division chapter activities. Preston was nominated and elected as the President-Elect of the South Carolina AFS chapter in February 2026. Preston resides in York, SC with his wife and two children.

 

Alanna Mnich:

 

Conrad Pfalzgraf:

Growing up in Washington State, Conrad developed a deep appreciation for the natural world, from the mountains to the coast. The art of noticing was instilled in him at a young age, fostering a childhood curiosity that still drives him today. This curiosity led him to explore various conservation and fisheries roles across three states and two countries over the past four years after earning his B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Redlands. Currently, He is pursuing his M.S. at Mississippi State University, focusing on acoustic telemetry and movement ecology of sheepshead. As part of the Marine Fisheries Ecology Program, he assists with fieldwork, fishing relations and contribute to research that raises awareness about fisheries, highlighting the importance of often-overlooked species in marine ecosystems. He is committed to effectively communicating findings to the public and bridging the gap between academia and wider audiences.

 

Elise Rivera - since January, 2023:

Elise is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and grew up swimming, boating, and fishing on Lake Michigan. Despite her proximity to the Great Lakes, she grew up loving all things ocean, and was especially interested in sharks, and she had a lifelong dream of becoming a marine biologist. As an undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Elise studied Biology and Environmental Science while working as a zebrafish husbandry technician at the School of Freshwater Sciences in the Milwaukee Harbor. In this job, she fell in love with the research process and decided to pursue a career in it. About a year after she finished her undergraduate studies, Elise moved to The Bahamas to participate in shark research and undertake independent research on Southern stingrays at the Bimini Biological Field Station. During her 6 months at the research station and the remote work that followed, she gained invaluable marine research experience which eventually led to her acceptance into her current MS program at the University of Miami in the Shark Research and Conservation Lab, where she now studies the physiological effects of fishing on nurse sharks in Biscayne Bay.

Elise loves all things "fish", and is passionate about science communication and community involvement in research. After completing her MS, she hopes to continue working in marine research and conservation, and talking about fish to anyone who will listen!

 

Brendan Spearin:

For his day job Brendan finds himself working as Fisheries and Oceans Canada's (DFO) Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator for the Prairies. Since 2017 he has been working with Federal and Provincial partners to manage AIS threats such as Zebra Mussel through outreach, early detection, response, and management actions.  This includes piloting the first joint Canada Border Services Agency-DFO watercraft inspection program, and spearheading novel initiatives and projects using new technology.

Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Brendan has been working on Fish and Fish Habitat related projects since 2013. He holds an Honours BSc from Brock University in Earth Science and Physical Geography and has been an avid angler since he could walk.

 

Past Hosts (duration):

Sue Colvin (April 2020 - May 2021)

Zach Crum (July 2021 - October 2022)

Katelyn Cunningham (May 2023 - March 2024)

Mirella de Oliveira Leis (August 2021 - December 2021)

Hannah Gottesman (July 2021 - August 2022)

Anders Halverson (June 2021 - March 2023)

Kadie Heinle (July 2021 - December 2024)

Brett Kelly (January 2020 - June 2021)

Nick Kramer (September 2018 - June 2025)

Reid Sutherland (February 2023 - November 2023)

Julie Vecchio (January 2020 - August 2021)