After the Breach Podcast

Frequent guest Monika Wieland Shields, co-founder and director of the Orca Behavior Institute, joins hosts Sara and Jeff for a recap of 2024 whale sightings, trends and observations. What stood out most is that there were a lot of whales in the Salish Sea in 2024. The episode covers the sightings trends for Southern Resident killer whales, Bigg's killer whales and humpbacks. We talk about numbers from tours with Maya's Legacy Whale Watching as well as the broader numbers collected by Orca Behavior Institute. 
Monika, Sara and Jeff also share their predictions for 2025, and as usual, weave in and out of other whale topics along the way. 
If you are enjoying listening to our podcast, please share this with your friends, follow/subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and leave us feedback/reviews! You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube. Please send us feedback or questions at afterthebreachpodcast@gmail.com.
 
Links from this episode:
Orca Behavior Institute: https://www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/
Maya's Legacy Whale Watching: https://sanjuanislandwhalewatch.com/

Joining us on episode 35 of After the Breach podcast is special guest Alexandra Morton. She has been called "the Jane Goodall of Canada" because of her incredible thirty-year fight to save British Columbia's wild salmon. She joins hosts Sara and Jeff to talk about her journey from whale researcher to wild salmon activist and back to whale researcher.
The episode begins with Alexandra talking about how she got started studying orca communication in California with killer whales Corky and Orky, sharing some fascinating stories from her time with them. She then discusses her move to British Columbia to study wild killer whales, including Corky's family. The conversation moves on to why she turned her attention to lead the fight to save the wild salmon these orcas depend on from the devastating impacts of open net fish farms and industrial aquaculture. Throughout the conversation she shares the challenges she faced, how she found a path to create change and begin the removal of open net salmon farms in B.C. She also shares a few ways people everywhere can help save wild salmon. 
We conclude our conversation talking about what is next for her, including a return to her passion for studying killer whales. She tells amazing stories throughout the episode.
 
Links mentioned in this episode:
Alexandra Morton: https://www.alexandramorton.ca/
Books by Alexandra Morton:
Not on My Watch:How a renegade whale biologist took on governments and industry to save wild salmon:  https://www.amazon.com/Not-My-Watch-biologist-governments/dp/0735279667
Listening to Whales: What the Orcas Have Taught Us:  https://www.amazon.com/Listening-Whales-What-Orcas-Taught/dp/0345442881
Orcalab: https://orcalab.org/

Episode 34 brings to the podcast a long overdue and special guest, the legendary Captain Jim Maya, to tell his stories, talk about his whale watching experience on the Salish Sea dating back to 1996, and the legacy he has created. 
Captain Jim is an epic story teller, teacher, whale and wildlife enthusiast, and the ultimate connector. He has connected people around the world with whales, wildlife and sense of place found in the Salish Sea, including Jeff and Sara and many of the Maya's Legacy Whale Watching team. 
Episode 34 begins by discussing these connections and moves on with Jim talking about making his big life change from being a high school teacher in California to starting a whale watch company in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. He talks about what is was like on the water when he first started, back in the day when superpods of Southern Resident killer whales were commonly seen all spring and summer and the changes that have taken place since his early days. Jim weaves in some of his great stories throughout the episode.
 
Links from this episode:
Maya's Images: https://mayasimages.com/
Maya's Legacy Whale Watching: https://sanjuanislandwhalewatch.com/
 
Photos from this episode:

After a fall hiatus while our co-hosts, Jeff and Sara, were busy on the water, the dynamic duo is back with Episode 33! Joining them is returning guest, Jared Towers, from Bay Cetology. Jared last visited to chat about the rescue of T51 “Roswell” and T49A2 “Jude” from Barnes Lake in Alaska on Episode 19 and he is back now to talk about more killer whale rescues that he’s been involved with.
The three of them start out talking about T46C2 “Sam” and her entrapment in a bay on Aristazabal Island in British Columbia. The then-four year old was surreptitiously found by two killer whale researchers who were able to rally a response that included Jared. He talks about that rescue, what they did, and what they learned from it. That feeds into the story of T73B who stayed in Comox Harbor in 2018 for a week. Unlike Sam’s story, T73B was an independent male and Comox Harbor was a very busy harbor and it was the busiest time of year—midsummer! The response had similarities but also a lot of differences to the previous one.
And last, but certainly not least, Jared talks about the rescue of T109A3A “Kʷiisaḥiʔis” (aka. Brave Little Hunter) from Zeballos, BC. this spring after her mother stranded and drowned. The ongoing rescue, which took about a month, was complicated, extensive, and really highlighted that what these rescues all share is that in the end, the whales involved are the ones calling the shots. The story of T109A3A is ongoing, with some confirmed sightings of her afterwards and we will all have to wait and see what happens in the future.
If you are enjoying listening to our podcast, please share this with your friends, follow/subscribe, and leave us feedback/reviews wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you’d like to join Jeff and Sara on a trip then reach out to Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching to book! 
You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube. Please send us feedback or questions at afterthebreachpodcast@gmail.com.
 
Links from this episode:
Bay Cetology: https://baycetology.org/
Bay Cetology Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baycetology
Killer whale observed dragging sailboat around Vancouver Island Harbor: https://youtu.be/zLMvUOq7Bms?si=jJBp91pYxFO6x-He
 
 
 
 

Join your hosts, Jeff Friedman and Sara Shimazu, along with returning guests Monika Wieland Shields from the Orca Behavior Institute and Michael Weiss from the Center for Whale Research as they dive back into demystifying killer whales. The topics range from T109A3A’s saga to Iberian orcas to Southern Resident killer whales being doofuses (per Michael) to T65A5 being a sexual genius (per Jeff).
The conversation winds its way down some rabbit holes but touches on more topics that people brought up as feedback from part one as well as from the minds of four exhausted whale people during this late night conversation. We hope you enjoy!

On Episode 31 Jeff and Sara catch up on the most recent sightings in the Salish Sea and which whales have been seen lately. It’s been a hectic few weeks and they had recorded this previously and then there was just so much more happening that they had to record it again. And it’s a good thing too — they both sit down to record after a crazy day on the water with 38 killer whales and some humpback whales too! During the episode you’ll hear Sara reference 34 whales but they actually realized there were even more after the fact!
You’ll hear about that encounter from the two of them as well as some other recent sightings, including a visit by T51 “Roswell” who was one of the whales from Episode 19. He was stuck in a saltwater lake last summer along with T49A2 “Jude” for 44 days!
The pair’s photo workshop is filling up but space remains, so if you’re interested in joining them on August 24-25th, 2024 for two all-day tours then reach out to get the details and sign up. Last year’s trips were great and they can’t wait to see what happens this year!
 
Photos from this episode:
Photos from group of over 30 Biggs killer whales. Photo by Jeff Friedman
 
Humpback whale traveling through group of killer whales. Photo by Sara Shimazu
 
Drawing of a donkey by Divot & calf
 
 
Videos from this episode:

Episode 30 of After the Breach brings to the table a conversation we often have off the air. Joining us are Michael Weiss from the Center for Whale Research and Monika Wieland Shields from Orca Behavior Institute. Throughout our discussion we try to “demystify” killer whales. Being around these amazing animals sometimes has us seeing them through a human centric filter. It’s often easy to see ourselves in them and we think this is one of the many reasons people love them. But we also feel like it’s important to recognize that they are amazing creatures because they are social, intelligent individuals and they are not human. As we spend more and more time around them the more questions we have.
But there are a few persistent themes the four of us have heard about killer whales and we take this episode to address some of them. These may (or may not) be unpopular opinions but we hope they open some new conversations as we navigate this world as humans alongside other intelligent creatures. What we feel and do and think is probably not what they feel and do and think, even if we’d like to believe we’re like them or they’re like us. We don’t mean to diminish how impressive they are, but rather recenter that admiration and amazement outside of our human lens.
If you are enjoying listening to our podcast, please share this with your friends, follow/subscribe, and leave us feedback/reviews wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you’d like to join Jeff and Sara on a trip then reach out to Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching to book! 
You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube. Please send us feedback or questions at afterthebreachpodcast@gmail.com.
 
Links from this episode:
Center for Whale Research: https://www.whaleresearch.com/
Orca Behavior Institute: https://orcabehaviorinstitute.org/
Are we really about to talk to whales? https://theconversation.com/are-we-really-about-to-talk-to-whales-229778
 

On Episode 29 co-hosts, Jeff and Sara, welcome Judith Scott to the show. Judith has been around the world watching whales and spends much of her year in Iceland with the killer whales of the North Atlantic. She gives an introduction to the killer whales they see regularly off of Iceland and shares some stories about those whales. These killer whales feed primarily on herring, but some of them will switch to prey on seals in the summer! The three chat about that and more. They also have her share some of her adventures in other parts of the world.
If you are enjoying listening to our podcast, please share this with your friends, follow/subscribe, and leave us feedback/reviews wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you’d like to join Jeff and Sara on a trip then reach out to Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching to book! They also have their special After the Breach Workshop on August 24-25, 2024. Join the duo for two full days on the water (or just one if you prefer). There are a couple of spots left!
You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube. Please send us feedback or questions at afterthebreachpodcast@gmail.com.
 
Links from this episode:
Laki Tours: https://lakitours.com/
Icelandic Orca Project : https://www.icelandic-orcas.com/
 
Photos from this episode:
 
 
 
 

On Episode 28 of After the Breach co-hosts Jeff and Sara dive into Steller’s sea lion hunts, recent sightings, and some good news surrounding T109A3A.
This spring has been one that has been filled with a lot of sea lion hunts. And for many of these hunts the whales involved have been, or included, the T049As. Jeff and Sara discuss what it’s like to witness those hunts and talk about a few recent ones, including a particularly brutal one they watched on the first all-day trip of the 2024 season.
After that they talk about the many groups whales that have been around recently and share some topics for upcoming episodes. If you have topics you’d like to hear about on the show don’t hesitate to send them via email!
If you’ve enjoyed listening and want to help support the podcast then share with any of your whale-loving friends and family. You can also leave reviews wherever you listen to podcasts. And if you’d like to join Jeff and Sara on a trip then reach out to Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching to book! They also have their special After the Breach Workshop on August 24-25, 2024. Join the duo for two full days on the water (or just one if you prefer). There are a couple of spots left!
If you are enjoying listening to our podcast, please share this with your friends, follow/subscribe, and leave us feedback/reviews wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you’d like to join Jeff and Sara on a trip then reach out to Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching to book! They also have their special After the Breach Workshop on August 24-25, 2024. Join the duo for two full days on the water (or just one if you prefer). There are a couple of spots left!
You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube. Please send us feedback or questions at afterthebreachpodcast@gmail.com.
 
Photos from this episode:
Sea lion hunt. Photo by Sara Shimazu
 
Prey sharing after a sea lion hunt. Photo by Jeff Friedman
 
T075Bs coming in hot to join the T049As after a sea lion predation. Photo by Jeff Friedman
 
T146s. Photo by Sara Shimazu
 
T146B. Photo by Sara Shimazu
 
T128. Photo by Sara Shimazu

On Episode 27 of After the Breach podcast co-hosts Jeff and Sara share all about the most recent sightings from the Salish Sea. It has been a busy few weeks whale-wise and the duo felt they needed to catch up about it almost as soon as they had finished recording the previous episode!
Dive in with them as they talk about the families that have been seen, a very quick sea lion hunt, and a new calf with one of their favorite families!
If you are enjoying listening to our podcast, please share this with your friends, follow/subscribe, and leave us feedback/reviews! You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube. Please send us feedback or questions at afterthebreachpodcast@gmail.com.
 
Links from this episode:
The History of Cetacean Taxonomy and Nomenclature: https://youtu.be/ZAkUE60o2o8?si=l2xtliA02mM5HWOJ
Photos from this episode:
T19B breach. Photo by Jeff Friedman
 
T49As and T18s. Photo by Jeff Friedman
 
T63, "Chainsaw," with T65 and T65Bs. Photo by Jeff Friedman
 
T49A6, "Charlie II." Photo by Jeff Friedman