Save the Whales!
Apr 28, 2026
Summary
Hosts Josh and Chuck explore the history of the "Save the Whales" movement, tracing its roots from early 20th-century conservation efforts to its 1970s cultural peak. They discuss how the 1970 album *Songs of the Humpback Whale* shifted public perception, leading to boycotts, Greenpeace activism, and the 1986 commercial whaling moratorium. The episode concludes by examining why Japan, Norway, and Iceland continue limited whaling despite low demand and significant population recoveries.
Topics discussed
Intro and Capital One sponsorship
Introduction to the Save the Whales phenomenon
Early conservation efforts and whaling history
International regulations and post-war whaling
Whale songs and the album that changed perception
Ad break and First America promo
1970s activism tactics and Maris Seidenstecker
Greenpeace, mind bombs, and the Rainbow Warrior
Sea Shepherd and direct action against whalers
Save the Whales in pop culture and media
The 1986 commercial whaling moratorium
Ad break and First America promo
Modern whaling, subsidies, and declining meat consumption
Current threats: bycatch, nets, and climate change
Listener mail and outro
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