The Deep-Sea Podcast

Episode Summary
This month on the Deep-Sea Podcast we chat with Jason Rodriguez, a celebrity ROV pilot whose enthusiasm for all things science, ocean, and collaboration are deeply inspiring. This extra packed episode is filled with Jason’s love for all things tech, problem solving on the fly and being an expansive thinker. 

Check out our lovely new website where you can find more detailed notes, images and links to the wider reading.

 

In this episode…
Welcome back to the Deep-Sea Podcast, your punk take on all things deep sea! 

 

This month Alan reveals progress on his calico beard, and buys cheap vodka in bulk from a budget grocery store for his own personal cabinet of curiosities. Thom develops his own cologne; “Eau de Cusk Eel” and receives a blast from the past in the mail. We interview Jason Rodriguez, a celebrity ROV pilot whose enthusiasm for ocean science, and collaboration are deeply inspiring. Join us as we revel in his love for all things tech, problem solving on the fly and being an expansive thinker. 

 

In the news, get ready for updates on:

Chlamydia in the deep-sea

Tiny fossilized teeth

Hybrid Vent systems

Whale Graveyard

Misplaced Megalodon Bones

 

Discord update

Member designed deep-sea games

Awkward 4 fin teenager-phase Vampire Squid photos

Chimera Processing

Tongue eating louse in the wild

Adventures tagging horseshoe crabs

In progress deep-sea inspired ceramics

Daily museum photos

Support the show
The podcast is self-sustaining (just) thanks to our lovely listeners. Thom and Alan take no money for the show. All money is put back into running it. Here’s a link to our page on how to support us, from the free options to becoming a patron of the show. We want to say a huge thank you to those patrons who have already pledged to support us:

Vivek- Lays on the seabed fossilized for millions of years

Jem- Was perfectly preserved in a bottle of vodka

 

Check out our podcast merch here!

 

Feel free to get in touch with us with questions or your own tales from the high seas on:

podcast@deepseapod.com

We’d love to actually play your voice, so feel free to record a short audio note on our brand new answerphone!

https://www.speakpipe.com/deepseapodvoicemail

Thanks again for tuning in; we’ll deep-see you next time!

 

Find out more
Social media
BlueSky: @deepseapod.com

 

Twitter: @DeepSeaPod

 

Instagram: @deepsea_podcast

 

Keep up with the team on social media
Twitter: 
Alan - @Hadalbloke

Thom - @ThomLinley 

Instagram: 
Thom - @thom.linley 

Inkfish - @inkfishexpeditions

 

BlueSky:
Thom @thomaslinley.com

 Alan @hadalbloke

 

Reference list
News 
Deep-Sea News
A submersible ride revealed a vast whale graveyard. And it holds more than just bones

Trump administration ditches plan to close a critical ocean monitoring system after furious bipartisan backlash

Scientists uncover a deep-sea coral kingdom almost the size of Vatican City

Deep-sea crust uncovers steady plutonium rain from ancient kilonova debris

Deep-sea denizens go years without food with clever biological fix | Reuters

Deep-sea megafauna co-opts microbial energy metabolism genes to withstand ultra-long starvation

Chlamydiae in the Environment - ScienceDirect

Tiny, blue Galápagos octopus identified as newfound species | CNN

A new species of Microeledone from Galápagos Islands and an amended diagnosis of the Megaleledonidae (Octopoda: Incirrata) | Zootaxa

Tiny teeth fossils reveal ancient origins of ocean’s most abundant deep-sea fish | Yale News

Expedition led by MBARI researchers reveals remarkable, and rare, form of deep-sea hydrothermal vents

Lost megalodon vertebrae resurface, confirming 80-foot size estimate

Deep-sea snails ride surface currents to reach distant hydrothermal vents

Gastropod shells record larval migration from deep-sea hydrothermal vents to the euphotic zone | Science Advances

Integrative taxonomy of new genera and species of giant foraminifera (Rhizaria: Foraminifera: Xenophyophoroidea) from the abyssal northwest Pacific reveals novel morphological complexity | Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society | Oxford Academic

 

JRod’s Instagram

@tx_jrod

 

Discord Updates
A Day On The Abyssal Plain by siphonophora

2 Hours of Snailfish to Relax/Study To | Lofi Hip Hop | Monterey Bay Aquarium Krill Waves Radio

https://nzase.org.nz/category/resources/deep-sea-tinkerer-and-fish-zoologist-dr-thom-linley/

Deep-Sea and Space with Prof. Alan Jamieson on Failure to Launch

 

Credits
Song of the Month:Important Mermaid (Living Room Version)

Stephen Spencer (@_stephenspencer) • Instagram photos and videos

Logo image: Courtesy of Jason Rodriguez

Theme: Hadal Zone Express by Märvel

Episode Summary
In this episode Thom gets his game on with the creative team behind the Deep-Sea inspired and supportive board game Endeavor: Deep-Sea. Join us for this behind-the-scenes chat with the developers of some deeply authentic and enjoyable deep-sea-inspired board games.  

 

Check out our lovely new website where you can find more detailed notes, images and links to the wider reading.

In this episode…
Welcome back to the Deep-Sea Podcast, your punk take on all things deep sea! 

 

In our fifth instalment of the Deco Stop series, Thom gets his game on with Jarratt and Carl, the creative duo behind Endeavor: Deep-Sea, an award-winning deep-sea inspired board game that uses real-life research and events to craft a deeply authentic gameplay akin to real deep-sea research team experiences.

 

Support the show
The podcast is self-sustaining (just) thanks to our lovely listeners. Thom and Alan take no money for the show. All money is put back into running it. Here’s a link to our page on how to support us, from the free options to becoming a patron of the show. Check out our podcast merch here!

 

Feel free to get in touch with us with questions or your own tales from the high seas on:

podcast@deepseapod.com

We’d love to actually play your voice, so feel free to record a short audio note on our brand new answerphone!

https://www.speakpipe.com/deepseapodvoicemail

Thanks again for tuning in; we’ll deep-see you next time!

 

Find out more
Social media
BlueSky: @deepseapod.com

https://bsky.app/profile/deepseapod.com

 

Twitter: @DeepSeaPod

https://twitter.com/DeepSeaPod

 

Instagram: @deepsea_podcast

https://www.instagram.com/deepsea_podcast/

 

Keep up with the team on social media
Twitter: 
Alan - @Hadalbloke

https://twitter.com/Hadalbloke

Thom - @ThomLinley 

https://twitter.com/ThomLinley

Instagram: 
Thom - @thom.linley 

https://www.instagram.com/thom.linley/

Inkfish - @inkfishexpeditions

https://www.instagram.com/inkfishexpeditions/

BlueSky:
Thom @thomaslinley.com

https://bsky.app/profile/thomaslinley.com

 Alan @hadalbloke

https://bsky.app/profile/hadalbloke.bsky.social

 

Reference list
Interview Links
Endeavor Deep-Sea
Endeavor: Deep Sea, Standard Edition $59USD | Burnt Island Games

Endeavor Deep Sea: Uncharted Waters by Burnt Island Games — Kickstarter

Wellycon

Discoveries from the deep – the Bounty Trough expedition | Te Papa’s Blog

Credits
Theme: Going Home by Harvey Jones

Episode Summary
In this episode Thom gets his game on with the creative team behind two incredible Deep-Sea inspired board game: Finspan

 

Check out our lovely new website where you can find more detailed notes, images and links to the wider reading.

In this episode…
Welcome back to the Deep-Sea Podcast, your punk take on all things deep sea! 

 

In our fifth instalment of the Deco Stop series, Thom gets his game on with the creative team behind two incredible Deep-Sea-inspired and supportive board games. We hear from Michael O'Connell, the co-designer of Finspan, who gives us an insider look into the development of this game for 'fish people' which features ocean zonation, the creation of your own personal eco-system and the midnight zone- filled with some of our favourite deep-sea cuties. 

Support the show
The podcast is self-sustaining (just) thanks to our lovely listeners. Thom and Alan take no money for the show. All money is put back into running it. Here’s a link to our page on how to support us, from the free options to becoming a patron of the show. Check out our podcast merch here!

 

Feel free to get in touch with us with questions or your own tales from the high seas on:

podcast@deepseapod.com

We’d love to actually play your voice, so feel free to record a short audio note on our brand new answerphone!

https://www.speakpipe.com/deepseapodvoicemail

Thanks again for tuning in; we’ll deep-see you next time!

 

Find out more
Social media
BlueSky: @deepseapod.com

Twitter: @DeepSeaPod

Instagram: @deepsea_podcast

 

Keep up with the team on social media
Twitter: 
Alan - @Hadalbloke

https://twitter.com/Hadalbloke

Thom - @ThomLinley 

https://twitter.com/ThomLinley

Instagram: 
Thom - @thom.linley 

https://www.instagram.com/thom.linley/

Inkfish - @inkfishexpeditions

https://www.instagram.com/inkfishexpeditions/

BlueSky:
Thom @thomaslinley.com

https://bsky.app/profile/thomaslinley.com

 Alan @hadalbloke

https://bsky.app/profile/hadalbloke.bsky.social

 

Reference list
Interview Links
Finspan
Finspan – Stonemaier Games

Sharks & Reefs Expansion - Finspan

Anarchytabletop.bsky.social

Credits
Theme: Going Home by Harvey Jones

Episode Summary
Here’s our fifth episode of The Deco-Stop; a deeper look into the humans behind deep-sea science and technology. We’ve done our science dive, and now it’s time to decompress, and discuss tales at sea, career paths and the social & political aspects of deep-sea science. We have gazed into the abyss, and now it's gazing back at us.

 

In this episode Thom gets his game on with the creative team behind two incredible Deep-Sea inspired and supportive board games: Finspan and Endeavor: Deep-Sea. Join us for this behind-the-scenes chat with the developers of some deeply authentic and enjoyable deep-sea-inspired board games.  

 

Check out our lovely new website where you can find more detailed notes, images and links to the wider reading.

In this episode…
Welcome back to the Deep-Sea Podcast, your punk take on all things deep sea! 

 

In our fifth instalment of the Deco Stop series, Thom gets his game on with the creative team behind two incredible Deep-Sea-inspired and supportive board games. We hear from Michael O'Connell, the co-designer of Finspan, who gives us an insider look into the development of this game for 'fish people' which features ocean zonation, the creation of your own personal eco-system and the midnight zone- filled with some of our favourite deep-sea cuties. Thom also talks with Jarratt and Carl, the creative duo behind Endeavor: Deep-Sea, an award-winning deep-sea inspired board game that uses real-life research and events to craft a deeply authentic gameplay akin to real deep-sea research team experiences.

 

 As one of our infrequent in-person interviews, this one hums with personal connection, bringing another heartwarming Deco-Stop Episode all about the human aspect of the deep-sea community to you, our much-appreciated listeners. 

Support the show
The podcast is self-sustaining (just) thanks to our lovely listeners. Thom and Alan take no money for the show. All money is put back into running it. Here’s a link to our page on how to support us, from the free options to becoming a patron of the show. Check out our podcast merch here!

 

Feel free to get in touch with us with questions or your own tales from the high seas on:

podcast@deepseapod.com

We’d love to actually play your voice, so feel free to record a short audio note on our brand new answerphone!

https://www.speakpipe.com/deepseapodvoicemail

Thanks again for tuning in; we’ll deep-see you next time!

 

Find out more
Social media
BlueSky: @deepseapod.com

https://bsky.app/profile/deepseapod.com

 

Twitter: @DeepSeaPod

https://twitter.com/DeepSeaPod

 

Instagram: @deepsea_podcast

https://www.instagram.com/deepsea_podcast/

 

Keep up with the team on social media
Twitter: 
Alan - @Hadalbloke

https://twitter.com/Hadalbloke

Thom - @ThomLinley 

https://twitter.com/ThomLinley

Instagram: 
Thom - @thom.linley 

https://www.instagram.com/thom.linley/

Inkfish - @inkfishexpeditions

https://www.instagram.com/inkfishexpeditions/

BlueSky:
Thom @thomaslinley.com

https://bsky.app/profile/thomaslinley.com

 Alan @hadalbloke

https://bsky.app/profile/hadalbloke.bsky.social

 

Reference list
Interview Links
Finspan
Finspan – Stonemaier Games

Sharks & Reefs Expansion - Finspan

Anarchytabletop.bsky.social

 

Endeavor Deep-Sea
Endeavor: Deep Sea, Standard Edition $59USD | Burnt Island Games

Endeavor Deep Sea: Uncharted Waters by Burnt Island Games — Kickstarter

Wellycon

Discoveries from the deep – the Bounty Trough expedition | Te Papa’s Blog

Credits
Theme: Going Home by Harvey Jones

C-C-C-C-CROSSOVER!
Ocean Trenches Explained with Professor Alan Jamieson. 
Join Professor Alan Jamieson, one of our venerated hosts, for a special cross over episode with our friends at Oceanography. This hadal trenches primer episode is a great overview for a first time deep-diver, taking you to the deepest parts of our favorite habitat. 

Ocean trenches are Earth’s deepest habitats—and they’re full of life. This episode is a guided dive into the hadal zone (6,000–11,000 meters), where tectonic plates create steep trenches that plunge toward the mantle. Learn what trenches are geologically, what conditions are like at full ocean depth (cold, pressure, darkness), and why the deep sea isn’t a single ecosystem—each trench is its own world. You’ll also get myth-busting on how “the abyss” shows up in pop culture, plus an inside look at the technology that makes trench science possible: multibeam mapping, baited landers, and human-occupied submersibles. Finally, we explore the big research questions scientists are asking about biodiversity, evolution, and connectivity across the deepest ocean.

 

Special thanks to the Monterey Bay Aquarium for sponsoring this episode.

Episode Guest: Professor Alan Jamieson

Browse Professor Jamieson’s publications on Google Scholar

Visit the Hadal Zone Deep Sea Research Center and follow their work on Instagram

Episode Transcript  and more information on the Pine Forest Media website

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia

Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese 

Cover art by Jomiro Eming

Theme music by Nela Ruiz