“Sea otters feel so light and bubbly as a species…working on them has rekindled my sense of joy as a conservationist.” Jen Miller, Senior Manager, WCN Sea Otter Fund
Sea otters, eco-grief, and unexpected hope are at the heart of this new podcast conversation with Dr. Jen Miller, WCN’s Senior Manager of the Sea Otter Fund. In this episode of “Saving Wildlife with Sam,” Jen shares stories from her fieldwork on tigers in the jungles of India and black-footed ferrets in the prairies of Colorado, and from tackling the crime of songbird trafficking. She speaks on how sea otters shape entire kelp forest ecosystems, and what their return means for our coasts and communities. Jen also opens up about the emotional weight of conservation work, from climate anxiety to compassion fatigue, and how authentic connection with people and place can turn grief into action. If you care about the ocean, resilience, and real talk about hope, this is a must‑listen.
“Saving Wildlife with Sam” is hosted by WCN Partner and Executive Director of the Macaw Recovery Network, Dr. Sam Williams, and available on YouTube or Spotify. Check out other episodes of the podcast for interviews with more WCN Partners, including Dr. Colleen Begg of Niassa Lions, Peter Damerell of Saiga Conservation Alliance and Dr. Louisa Ponnampalam of Maracet.