Hosted by Jonathan Hicken, Executive Director of the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, this podcast spotlights groundbreaking research in Santa Cruz, California, and shares actionable, positive environmental news from the region. Featuring in-depth conversations with scientists from UC Santa Cruz and beyond, along with local leaders and environmental experts, the show makes complex science accessible while highlighting real progress and tangible solutions protecting our unique coastal community.
Pitch Analysis
Required Pod Score for this show. PitchCentric checks your profile against host openness, topical fit, and audience signals before you generate a pitch.
Contact path
Verified email
Booking probability
31%
Guest openness
Selective
Verified email on file
80/100
Required Score
Sign up to generate a grounded pitch for Science, Solutions, Santa Cruz.
Science, Solutions, Santa Cruz is a education podcast hosted by Jonathan Hicken, with 28 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.
About the host
Jonathan Hicken hosts Science, Solutions, Santa Cruz, a education show with 28 episodes published.
Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.
Episode #28
DEEP DIVE: Extreme Genes and Animal Adaptations with Joanna Kelley
Aug 12, 202644 min
What do chubby bears and antifreeze fish have in common? A legacy of extreme survival coded into their genes. In this Deep Dive special, guest host Eric Palkovacs sits down with UC Santa Cruz professor Joanna Kelley to chat about her research on animals that develop radical adaptations to overcome freezes, famine, and toxins. Observing how these adaptations are passed down, transformed, or eliminated in the genome can help scientists understand how such traits may help or hinder the animals’ survival in our changing climate. Joanna and Eric also share an exciting update about bringing some of the “crown jewels” of UC Santa Cruz research together under one banner to create more funding and training opportunities for students and scientists. Tune into the full episode to learn more! Resources: https://evogenomes.sites.ucsc.edu/people/lab-members/ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Joanna Kelley and her research 03:05 Studying adaptations to extreme environments 08:13 Convergent evolution of antifreeze proteins in different fish groups 12:25 Variation in gene copy number within species 14:16 Research in Monterey Bay and nonpolar environments 20:44 Climate change and its impact on polar and nonpolar species 24:00 Conservation concerns and evolutionary legacy 25:24 Research on bears and their hibernation strategies 27:37 Effects of climate change on bear hibernation and behavior 30:39 Historical presence of bears in California and hibernation habits 32:28 Understanding bear hibernation as metabolic depression 33:22 Environmental cues for hibernation and emergence 34:33 Reproductive strategies and energy reserves in bears 35:21 Announcing the Center for Marine Genomics at UC Santa Cruz 36:01 Goals and vision for the new center 37:04 Building a community of marine genomics researchers 38:05 Training and funding opportunities in marine genomics 39:08 Techniques and challenges in marine DNA extraction 40:25 Future directions and interdisciplinary collaborations 41:02 Closing remarks and acknowledgments Keywords: marine genomics, adaptation, polar fishes, antifreeze proteins, bears, climate change, Monterey Bay, genetic variation, conservation, UC Santa Cruz
How Philanthropy Funds Resiliency with Hilary Bryant
Aug 5, 202654 min
Hilary Bryant’s passion and entrepreneurial spirit led her to wear many hats as a Santa Cruz community member. She went from majoring in biology at UCSC to brokering real estate to building an animal hospital to running for Mayor. Now, she’s the Donor Services Director at Community Foundation Santa Cruz County where she helps people make impactful contributions to our present and future community. Hilary sat down with us in the studio to share her keen expertise on preserving what we hold dear in Santa Cruz through whatever governmental, non-profit, and philanthropic means necessary. We discuss everything from the difference between immediate funds and endowments to the privilege of helping people plan their estates at the end of their life. Settle in for the full episode to learn from Hilary just how much can be accomplished through small donations of money, time, or volunteer hours - all of which add up to something not so small at all. Resources: Community Foundation Santa Cruz County - https://www.cfscc.org/ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Santa Cruz's Coastal Challenges 02:04 Hillary Bryant's Background and Connection to Santa Cruz 03:52 The Evolution of Environmental Awareness in Local Government 07:09 The Role of Philanthropy and Community Foundations 10:56 Case Study: CZU Fires and Disaster Response 13:08 The Importance of Preparedness and Endowments eeds 19:03 The Tension Between Slow Government and Urgent Environmental Action 22:03 The Power of Community and Youth Engagement 25:03 Philanthropic Strategies for Land and Water Conservation 28:06 The Role of Science and Research in Policy Making 30:50 The Impact of Community Philanthropy and Legacy Giving 34:00 The Challenges and Opportunities of Nonprofit Collaboration 37:04 Effective Communication and Differentiation in Environmental Work 40:14 The Future of Santa Cruz's Coastal and Oceanic Health 43:06 Addressing Water Security and Climate Change 44:57 The Need for Regional and Cross-Sector Collaboration 47:52 Hope and Inspiration from the Next Generation 48:49 Closing Remarks and Community Call to Action Keywords: Santa Cruz, ocean conservation, philanthropy, government, environmental solutions, community collaboration, coastal erosion, climate change, land trust, disaster preparedness
Brains Behind the Santa Cruz Water Supply with Heidi Luckenbach
Jul 29, 202653 min
Follow a drop of water from the Santa Cruz Mountains to your faucet at home in this episode with Heidi Luckenbach, Water Director for the City of Santa Cruz Water. Heidi walks listeners through the water sources and systems that deliver this precious resource throughout the community. With the mind of a civil engineer and a heart for public service, Heidi is passionate about helping people understand the infrastructure they engage with every day. Her team at the Water Department developed Aqua Cruz: The Water Challenge —a board game that challenges players to keep water flowing through Santa Cruz as they draw action cards that reflect real-world weather events and project proposals. Tune into this episode today to hear Heidi discuss the intricacies of water management in a changing climate and hear her outlook on the future of water independence in Santa Cruz. Also, join us here at Seymour Center on August 22nd to play Aqua Cruz: The Water Challenge for yourself! Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Santa Cruz Water Supply 01:04 Heidi Luckenbach's Journey into Water Management 02:11 The Role of Civil Engineering in Water Utilities 04:22 Sources of Water in Santa Cruz 07:22 Managing Water Sources Seasonally 08:25 Water Mains and Distribution System 10:56 Community Conservation and Climate Impact 14:21 Regional Water Collaboration 29:13 Aquifer Storage and Recovery Explained 32:44 Other Water Supply Options: Recycled Water & Desalination 35:06 Desalination in Santa Cruz 37:38 Cost and Climate Considerations for Water Projects 39:45 Introducing Aqua Cruz: The Water Game 48:22 Community Values and Water Management 49:07 The Role of Public Engagement 50:40 Where to Find the Water Game and Community Events 51:11 Closing Remarks and Community Engagement Resources: Santa Cruz Water Department - https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/departments/water Aquacruz Water Game - https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/departments/water/aquacruz Keywords water management, Santa Cruz, water conservation, water supply, aquifer storage, water infrastructure, climate change, groundwater recharge, drought resilience
FIELD DIARY: Gelatinous Glowing Wonders of the Deep Sea with Steve Haddock
Jul 22, 202654 min
Prepare to journey into a deep, mysterious realm on our planet from the comfort of your streaming device. In this special Field Diary episode, guest host Cassidy Beach follows marine biologist Steve Haddock from the podcast studio to a day of deep sea exploration with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). Steve’s research focuses on the boneless, bioluminescent beings in a slice of the ocean thousands of feet below the surface. He brings Cassidy inside the control room for the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Ventana as it descends to search for these little glowing jellies, then gently brings them up to the surface where they come face to face with scientists. Both in the studio and at sea, Steve and Cassidy discuss how the deep ocean is not a lifeless void, but a vast ecosystem teeming with fantastical lifeforms that support us surface-dwellers in ways we’re only just beginning to understand. Dive into this episode today to learn more about why this wondrous expanse deserves our protection and attention now more than ever before. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Deep Sea Exploration 01:04 Meet Steve Haddock and His Work at MBARI 03:22 Why the Deep Sea Matters to Us 06:25 Light in the Deep: Bioluminescence and Its Roles 10:59 Can We See Bioluminescence in Santa Cruz? 12:34 Accessing the Deep Sea: Technology and Location 13:28 Collecting and Studying Deep Sea Creatures 34:32 Threats to the Deep Sea: Mining and Pollution 43:36 The Impact of Human Activities on Deep Sea Ecosystems 44:21 Future of Deep Sea Research and Conservation 46:25 Citizen Science and Public Engagement in Marine Research 48:01 Lightning Round: Personal Insights from Steve Haddock Resources: MBARI Official Website - https://www.mbari.org Steve Haddock - MBARI Profile - https://www.mbari.org/person/steven-haddock/ Steve’s book: “The Radiant Sea” - https://bookshopsantacruz.com/book/9781419772375 Bioluminescence Documentary - David Attenborough’s Light on Earth - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rpmiaCxyEk Keywords Deep Sea Research, Marine Biology, Bioluminescence, Monterey Bay, Ocean Conservation, Deep Sea Mining, Offshore Drilling, Marine Biodiversity
DEEP DIVE: California's Marine Protected Area Network with Mark Carr
Jul 15, 20261h 3m
In this special “Deep Dive” episode, guest host Eric Palkovacs, Director of the Institute of Marine Sciences at UC Santa Cruz, sits down with Mark Carr. Mark is a living legend of marine ecology who helped pioneer the concept of Marine Protected Areas (MPA'S) in California and now advises for new MPA’s all over the world. As a scientist, Eric brings a different perspective to his interviews. He still gets to the core of why this research matters to our community, but he also asks for some key behind the scenes details that reveal the thoughts, twists, and turns behind the science. Mark and Eric discuss land versus ocean conservation, how keystones species fluctuations and climate change have altered California’s underwater ecosystems, and much more in this all-encompassing chat. If you’re a scientist or someone who likes watching the director’s commentary of a movie, then you’ll love this episode. Prep your SCUBA gear, because we’re going deep on this one. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to the episode and guest Mark Carr 02:09 Purpose of the deep dive episodes and scientific storytelling 04:55 Overview of California's Marine Protected Areas and their significance 09:02 History and motivation behind California's MPA network 12:06 Design principles and scientific basis for MPAs 17:07 Stakeholder involvement in establishing MPAs 22:01 Ecosystem types and habitat representation in MPAs 27:08 Monitoring outcomes and ecological responses to MPAs 33:03 Role of key predators and species in ecosystem health 38:52 Climate change impacts and resilience of MPAs 44:53 Future directions and expansion of the MPA network 51:50 Global perspectives and advice for other countries 01:00:03 Summary of lessons learned and importance of ongoing monitoring Resources: Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) - https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/MLPA California Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) - https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/MPAs UC Santa Cruz Institute of Marine Sciences - https://marine.ucsc.edu British Columbia Marine Protected Areas Planning - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/marine-conservation First Nations Marine Protected Areas in Canada - https://www.bcnature.ca Deep Sea Conservation Coalition - https://www.savethehighseas.org Keywords Marine Protected Areas, California MPAs, Marine Conservation, Ecosystem Monitoring, Climate Change Impact, Marine Biodiversity, Fisheries Management, Marine Science, Conservation Policy
Every question we get asked before someone starts their trial.
If you have a concern about deliverability, AI quality, data privacy, or whether this will actually work for your specific situation, it's probably answered below.
What is the difference between Founder Solo and Founder Pro?
Founder Solo gives you 50 AI pitches per month using the credit model (Standard pitches cost 1 credit, Enriched pitches cost 2). Founder Pro raises that to 200 credits per month and adds full Booking Probability access, unlimited Magic Match, Apollo enrichment credits, and data export capabilities. Both plans use the same credit system, so you can stretch your monthly budget further by using Standard-mode drafting.
How do agency tiers work?
Agency tiers have no base fee. You pay per managed client and per talent profile. Agency Standard is $199 per client per month; Agency Pro is $399 per client per month. Both add $39 per talent profile per month. Your own team's user seats are always free.
What is a talent profile?
A talent profile represents one person (founder, executive, or spokesperson) you are booking onto podcasts. It includes their bio, topics, headshots, and outreach history. Team plans include 5 profiles; agency plans are pay-as-you-go.
Can I switch plans later?
Yes, at any time. Upgrades take effect immediately; downgrades apply at the end of the current billing period. Contact support if you need help migrating between plan families.
Do you offer a free trial?
Every paid plan includes a 15-day free trial. Your card is saved at signup but you will not be charged until day 16. Cancel any time from your dashboard.
What happens if I cancel?
You keep access until the end of your current billing period. No charges after that. Your data is retained for 30 days in case you reactivate.
Is the 20% annual discount automatic?
Yes. Select Annual on the pricing toggle and the discounted price is applied automatically at checkout. The annual price shown is the full year cost.
What if I have more than 50 profiles or 20 clients?
That is our Enterprise tier. Contact our sales team and we will build a custom plan with volume pricing, a dedicated account manager, and SLA guarantees.
