Today is #WorldOceansDay and I’m feeling a whole lot of things. Wonder. Grief. Hope. Determination.

The ocean isn’t just a place to visit. It’s not just a good backdrop for photos.It’s breath. It’s mystery. It’s the engine of life on Earth. And right now? It needs us.

This isn’t a doom post. It’s a love letter.

To the sea slugs and phytoplankton.

To coral metropolises and whales that sing.

And to whoever has felt small in the best possible way, standing in front of something as vast and alive as our seas.

Let’s protect what’s left.

Let’s restore what we can.

Let’s be the kind of people the ocean would be proud of.

~Devon

What if the key to understanding our future was hidden in the teeth of creatures that lived millions of years ago? In this episode, we dive into the world of dental microwear with paleontologist Andrew Schwartz (@eyesonthedirt), who takes us from the fossil beds of ancient Wyoming to the jungles of Costa Rica and the highlands of the Wari Empire. Along the way, we uncover how past climate shifts reshaped life on Earth—and what that means for us today.

We explore:

• How capuchin monkeys and ancient Andean civilizations left clues in their teeth
• What the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) can teach us about modern climate change
• Why some mammals shrank while others thrived
• What a warming world could mean for our ecosystems, agriculture, and future survival

Links & Resources:

• Learn more about Andrew Schwartz’s research
• Deep dive into the PETM and its modern implications

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Let me know what you think! Leave a review, share the episode, and keep exploring the wild world around you.

Giant river otters are social, intelligent, and deeply connected to the health of their ecosystems—but what happens when their food supply starts to dwindle? In this episode of The Wild Life, we’re joined by Katherine Foree, a researcher studying how these apex predators use their habitat in the Madre de Dios region of Peru. With a Fulbright grant supporting both her research and cultural exchange, Katherine is three months into her work at Cocha Cashu Biological Station and preparing for a second study on the impact of fish depletion on otter food-sharing behaviors. We also dive into her past experiences with orangutans, lemurs, and conservation challenges around the world. Join us as we explore the fascinating lives of giant river otters and what they can teach us about the delicate balance of the Amazon’s waterways, talk books, the often overlooked humanity of scientists, animal psychology, and so much more!

Support The Wild Life at www.patreon.com/thewildlife

Follow Kat on Instagram @a.kat.named.rin