A whale placenta floating off the coast of Maui, Hawaii, might sound like the beginning of a strange story, but for Pacific Whale Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to ocean conservation, it became an opportunity to rethink how science and Indigenous knowledge can work together. In this episode, Kaya Heimowitz speaks with marine scientists and cultural practitioners about conservation, Native Hawaiian values, and what it means to care for the ocean through more than one way of knowing.

Guests are JensCurrie, Chief Scientist, and Ka’apuni Aiwohi, Indigenous Knowledge and Science Integration Manager at Pacific Whale Foundation.

Whale recordings provided by Pacific Whale Foundation.

Kaya Heimowitz is a graduate student at the International Master's Program in International Communication Studies (IMICS) at National Chengchi University (NCCU).

“Speak Up” is a podcast program by College of Communication students at National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan. Season 1 features student work from the class, “Podcasting: Audio Journalism & Branded Podcasts” in Spring 2026. Supervising teacher is adjunct associate professor Emily Y. Wu.

Additional Resources:
Information on Pacific Whale Foundation: https://pacificwhale.org/who-we-are/press-rooms/# 
Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals: https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/edited-volume/9780128043271/encyclopedia-of-marine-mammals 
Humpback Whales 101: https://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/learn/humpback-whales-101.html 
NOAA Humpback Whale Info: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/humpback-whale 
To learn more about indigenous connection with whales, you can watch the film Whale Rider

A whale placenta floating off the coast of Maui, Hawaii, might sound like the beginning of a strange story, but for Pacific Whale Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to ocean conservation, it became an opportunity to rethink how science and Indigenous knowledge can work together. In this episode, Kaya Heimowitz speaks with marine scientists and cultural practitioners about conservation, Native Hawaiian values, and what it means to care for the ocean through more than one way of knowing.
Guests are Jens Currie, Chief Scientist, and Ka&rsquo;apuni Aiwohi, Indigenous Knowledge and Science Integration Manager at Pacific Whale Foundation.
Whale recordings provided by Pacific Whale Foundation.
Kaya Heimowitz is a graduate student at the International Master's Program in International Communication Studies (IMICS) at National Chengchi University (NCCU).
&ldquo;Speak Up&rdquo; is a podcast program by College of Communication students at National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan. Season 1 features student work from the class, &ldquo;Podcasting: Audio Journalism &amp; Branded Podcasts&rdquo; in Spring 2026. Supervising teacher is adjunct associate professor Emily Y. Wu.
Additional Resources:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Information on Pacific Whale Foundation: <a href="https://pacificwhale.org/who-we-are/press-rooms/#">https://pacificwhale.org/who-we-are/press-rooms/#</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals: <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/edited-volume/9780128043271/encyclopedia-of-marine-mammals">https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/edited-volume/9780128043271/encyclopedia-of-marine-mammals</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Humpback Whales 101: <a href="https://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/learn/humpback-whales-101.html">https://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/learn/humpback-whales-101.html</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">NOAA Humpback Whale Info: <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/humpback-whale">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/humpback-whale</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">To learn more about indigenous connection with whales, you can watch the film <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcRegw3K5fQ">Whale Rider</a></li>
</ul>

Episodes in this program are made by College of Communication students at National Chengchi University (NCCU) in Taipei, Taiwan. Students here are in the undergraduate program at the Department of Radio and Television, or the graduate program at IMICS (International Master's Program in International Communication Studies).

Season 1 includes student work from the class “Podcasting: Audio Journalism & Branded Podcasts” at NCCU in spring 2026. Supervising teacher is adjunct associate professor Emily Y. Wu. 

Thank you to the following people and centers for their support: Dean of College of Communication, Dr. Hsiu-Hui Sun (政大傳播學院院長孫秀蕙); Chair of the Department of Radio & TV, Dr. Stanley Chun-Ming Huang (廣播與電視學系主任黃俊銘); Director of IMICS, Dr. I-Huei Cheng (國際傳播英語碩士學位學程主任鄭怡卉); Voice of NCCU radio station (VNCCU, 政大之聲電台), and the Audio and Video Lab (影音實驗室).

本節目為台灣國立政治大學傳播學院之廣播與電視學系及國際傳播英語碩士學位學程學生作品。第一季為114學年度課程「Podcasting: Audio Journalism & Branded Podcasts」（英文教學）之作品，指導老師為兼任教師吳怡慈。政大傳播學院成立於1989年，為台灣歷史最悠久、最具指標性之新聞傳播教育學府。

Episodes in this program are made by College of Communication students at National Chengchi University (NCCU) in Taipei, Taiwan. Students here are in the undergraduate program at the Department of Radio and Television, or the graduate program at IMICS (International Master's Program in International Communication Studies).
Season 1 includes student work from the class &ldquo;Podcasting: Audio Journalism &amp; Branded Podcasts&rdquo; at NCCU in spring 2026. Supervising teacher is adjunct associate professor Emily Y. Wu.&nbsp;
Thank you to the following people and centers for their support: Dean of College of Communication, Dr. Hsiu-Hui Sun (政大傳播學院院長孫秀蕙); Chair of the Department of Radio &amp; TV, Dr. Stanley Chun-Ming Huang (廣播與電視學系主任黃俊銘); Director of IMICS, Dr. I-Huei Cheng (國際傳播英語碩士學位學程主任鄭怡卉); Voice of NCCU radio station (VNCCU, 政大之聲電台), and the Audio and Video Lab (影音實驗室).
本節目為台灣國立政治大學傳播學院之廣播與電視學系及國際傳播英語碩士學位學程學生作品。第一季為114學年度課程「Podcasting: Audio Journalism &amp; Branded Podcasts」（英文教學）之作品，指導老師為兼任教師吳怡慈。政大傳播學院成立於1989年，為台灣歷史最悠久、最具指標性之新聞傳播教育學府。