In this episode of Charted Waters, we dive into what whales leave behind—both the majestic breath from their blowholes and, yes, their poop—and what these “gifts” reveal about their lives.

Biologist Kait Yehle and adventure guide Alina Andrushko join Maureen Gordon to explore what DNA in whale feces can tell us about stress, diet, family connections, and even biodiversity. Later, we hear from Éadín O’Mahony about groundbreaking research using whale breath.

It’s a deep dive into the wild science of scat, snot, and the secrets of cetaceans.

Featured Guests:

· Kait Yehle, Biologist, Skeena Wild

· Alina Andrushko, Expedition Guide, Maple Leaf Adventures

· Éadín O’Mahony, PhD Candidate, Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews

Resources & Links:

· Learn more about ⁠Skeena Wild⁠ and ⁠BC Whales⁠

· Support the work of the ⁠North Coast Cetacean Society⁠

· View photos from Alina’s whale poop encounter [link to photo gallery or blog post]

· Explore our boutique expedition cruises:

⁠mapleleafadventures.com⁠

Like what you heard?

Please subscribe, leave a review, and share Charted Waters with fellow nature lovers.

Other Sources and Resources:

⁠https://www.raincoast.org/2024/01/using-poop-identify-individual-killer-whales/⁠

A youtube talk on this research:

⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYTj3twGekw⁠

A blog post on a "typical day collecting killer whale poo":

⁠https://ocean.org/blog/just-another-day-collecting-whale-poo/⁠

A piece written on whale poo, the carbon pump, and climate change:

⁠https://ocean.org/blog/can-whales-mitigate-climate-change-whales-and-the-carbon-cycle/⁠

⁠https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/persons/%C3%A9adin-nora-anna-omahony⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/bcwhales/?hl=en⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/skeenawild.conservation.trust⁠

Travel can change us for the better—but how exactly?

In this episode of Charted Waters: Navigating the Pacific Northwest Through Story, host Maureen Gordon is joined by Javier Labourt, a travel psychologist and TEDx speaker, to explore how travel can improve your well-being …something we’re all looking for these days.

Travel can incorporate mindfulness, self-discovery and even resilience through stepping outside your comfort zone. Through stories and tips from real life travel transformations, you’ll learn how you can include these elements in your next trip.

We’re also joined by Jenny Wong, an adventure photographer who serves as an ambassador for both Canadian Geographic and Nikon. She shares her experiences navigating uncertainty in the wild, capturing the moments of unpredictability that make travel so powerful.

We discuss how travel challenges you, surprises you, and sometimes even forces you into chaos—revealing who you truly are and who you want to be.

Travel isn’t just a mental reset—it can be transformative. It shifts your mindset, builds confidence, and may even promote longevity by keeping your brain and body engaged. Javi breaks down the science behind why travel helps promote mindfulness, self-discovery and even possibly delay the aging process, sharpening cognitive function and promoting well-being over time.

Beyond inspiration, this episode challenges you to rethink how you approach travel. How do moments of discomfort and challenge shape us? What lessons do we learn about our values, purpose, and adaptability? And how can we balance personal transformation with traveling mindfully and responsibly?

If you’re looking for more than just a vacation—if you want to truly grow through travel—this episode will inspire you to embrace the unknown and return home changed.

Tune in now and explore how travel can transform your mind, body, and even your longevity.

SHOW NOTES:

Guest 1: Javier Labourt – Travel Psychologist, TEDx Speaker

Specialty: Mental health, benefits of travel for well-being, and mindfulness.

Contact: ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Website⁠, ⁠TEDx Talk⁠

Guest 2: Jenny Wong – Nikon Ambassador, Adventure Photographer

Specialty: Adventure, travel, and wildlife photography, story telling from the wild.

Contact: ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Website⁠.

Resources:

CNN Travel Article: Travel Isn’t Just Fun. It Might Also Help Fight the Signs of Aging - ⁠https://www.cnn.com/travel/travel-news-health-impacts-tourism/index.html⁠⁠

The Growing Trend of Mindfulness in Travel and Everyday Life -https://www.forbes.com/sites/judykoutsky/2024/10/10/the-growing-trend-of-mindfulness-in-travel-and-everyday-life/

National Geographic: Why Planning a Trip Can Help Your Mental Heath -https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/planning-a-trip-is-good-for-you/