Stuff You Should Know Stuff You Should Know

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
Listen ad-free on Castria