Shark Week Gets Toxic: Forrest Galante Tracks Alien Sharks

Summary

Curiosity Weekly: Shark Week Gets Toxic – Forrest Galante Tracks Alien Sharks

Episode Release Date: July 9, 2025

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Introduction

In this thrilling episode of Curiosity Weekly, hosted by Dr. Samantha Yammine from Discovery, listeners dive deep into the mysterious and often misunderstood world of sharks. Titled "Shark Week Gets Toxic: Forrest Galante Tracks Alien Sharks," the episode aligns with the excitement of Shark Week 2025, offering groundbreaking insights and featuring an exclusive interview with renowned wildlife biologist Forrest Galante.

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Shark Week 2025 Preview

Dr. Samantha Yamin sets the stage by building anticipation for Shark Week 2025, promising listeners a series of jaw-dropping revelations and unique shark behaviors. She highlights upcoming segments, including:

• Sharks as Migrants: Exploring how certain shark species are altering known ocean migration patterns.
• Shark Communication: Unveiling the surprising discovery that sharks can intentionally produce sounds to communicate.
• Conservation Efforts: Discussing innovative methods like the use of blue stickers and shark collagen in conservation.
• Expert Voices: Featuring insights from Shark Week veterans like Luke Tipple and Paul de Gelder, who provide practical advice on shark behavior and survival.

Notable Quote:
Dr. Samantha Yamin (00:50): "Sharks still hide. Plot twists. There have been some very new and almost unbelievable discoveries around sharks in 2025."

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Breaking the Silence: Sharks Make Noise

One of the episode's most groundbreaking revelations is the discovery that sharks are not the silent creatures we've long believed them to be. Dr. Yamin delves into a recent study where researchers recorded the first known shark sounds.

• Research Insights:

  • Sharks produce high-frequency clicks when stressed, particularly when handled by researchers.
  • These sounds are hypothesized to be a stress response or a method to communicate danger among sharks.

• Historical Context:

  • Prior to this study, the consensus was that elasmobranchs (sharks, rays, and skates) were silent.
  • Comparisons are made to how rays communicate through clicking noises, leading scientists to explore if similar behaviors exist in sharks.

Notable Quote:
Forrest Galante (07:00): "Sharks do actively and intentionally make noise to communicate with one another. It is a fascinating breakthrough that builds on years of previous research."

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Exclusive Interview with Forrest Galante

The heart of the episode is an in-depth interview with Forrest Galante, a passionate wildlife biologist known for his daring expeditions and commitment to conservation.

• Expedition to Australia:

  • Galante discusses his latest project, "Alien Sharks," which focuses on two venomous shark species: the Port Jackson shark and the elephant nose shark.
  • Emphasis on showcasing unique and lesser-known shark species to promote conservation.

• Venom Research and Personal Experimentation:

  • In a bold move for scientific understanding, Galante recounts injecting himself with diluted venom from the elephant nose shark to study its effects firsthand.
  • Safety Measures:
    • Collaborated with venomologist Dr. Brian Fries and a medic to ensure the procedure's safety.
    • Resulted in intense pain akin to a stingray sting, which required immediate treatment with heat packs to neutralize the toxin.

Notable Quotes:
Dr. Samantha Yamin (12:16): "How do you get that balance in your expeditions where you're thrilling the audience but also promoting the protection of misunderstood species like venomous sharks?"
Forrest Galante (12:16): "We focus on making really fun, really upbeat, really educational, entertaining content. Alien Sharks is no different."

Forrest Galante (14:17): "Don't do what I do. Secondly. Yeah."

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Rediscovering Lost Species

Galante shares his experiences in rediscovering species believed to be extinct or data deficient, underscoring the importance of persistence in wildlife research.

• Notable Rediscoveries:

  • Fernandina Island Tortoise: Once thought extinct, its rediscovery in the Galapagos was a monumental achievement.

• Conservation Impact:

  • Finding these species reignites conservation efforts, leading to habitat protections and increased funding for research.

Notable Quote:
Forrest Galante (24:31): "It's literally the most rare animal on the planet. Only one of its species known to this day, two ever in existence."

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Shark Communication: A Major Scientific Shift

The episode delves deeper into the implications of sharks making sounds, challenging longstanding misconceptions and opening new avenues for understanding shark behavior and social structures.

• Scientific Significance:

  • This discovery reshapes how scientists perceive shark interactions and their cognitive abilities.

• Future Research:

  • Ongoing studies aim to record and interpret shark sounds in their natural habitats, without human interference.

Notable Quote:
Dr. Samantha Yamin (07:00): "If Jaws ever gets a remake, it's the 50th anniversary over the summer of 2025. After all, the great white won't need to roar. It might rise from the deep clicking."

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Innovative Conservation Techniques

Galante emphasizes the innovative approaches being adopted to protect sharks, including:

• Blue Stickers: Used as a non-invasive method to track and monitor shark movements.
• Shark Collagen: Explored for both conservation purposes and potential applications in biomedical engineering.

Notable Quote:
Forrest Galante (22:23): "Once an animal is declared extinct or it's lost to science, all hope is given up. When we go out and find something that's been missing to the scientific world, that opens up a whole new channel of resources to try and conserve not just that species, but the environment that species lives in."

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Dancing with Sharks: A Shark Week Special Feature

Towards the episode's conclusion, Dr. Yamin introduces an exciting Shark Week special titled "Dancing with Sharks," hosted by shark expert Luke Tipple. This feature showcases daring divers performing choreographed underwater duets with various shark species, highlighting their grace and intelligence.

• Participants:

  • Professional free divers, boat captains, underwater photographers, and seasoned shark whisperers.

• Challenges Faced:

  • Coordinating movements and rhythms with unpredictable predator behavior.

• Educational Value:

  • Aims to demystify shark behavior and promote understanding and respect for these apex predators.

Notable Quote:
Luke Tipple (32:10): "We're going to go down and dance. We'll see you underwater."

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Conclusion

"Shark Week Gets Toxic: Forrest Galante Tracks Alien Sharks" is a captivating episode that not only challenges existing perceptions about sharks but also underscores the relentless spirit of scientists dedicated to unraveling the ocean's mysteries. Through Galante's adventurous spirit and groundbreaking research, listeners gain a newfound appreciation for these ancient and enigmatic creatures. As Shark Week 2025 approaches, this episode serves as a compelling invitation to explore the depths of shark science and conservation.

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Key Takeaways:

• Shark Communication: Sharks are capable of producing intentional sounds, redefining their interaction patterns.
• Forrest Galante's Contributions: His expeditions and fearless experimentation provide invaluable insights into venomous shark species.
• Conservation Efforts: Rediscovering lost species revitalizes conservation initiatives and funding.
• Shark Week Highlights: Special features like "Dancing with Sharks" aim to educate and inspire respect for shark species.

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Stay Tuned:

Don’t miss Shark Week 2025 starting July 20th on Discovery, where these stories and more come to life with stunning visuals and expert commentary.

Transcript

[Marc Maron]

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[Sarah Gibson Tuttle]

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[Kristen Bell]

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[Marc Maron]

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[Kristen Bell]

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[Marc Maron]

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[Kristen Bell]

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[Marc Maron]

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[Kristen Bell]

Sell your car with Carvana today. Terms and conditions apply.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

It's Curiosity Weekly from discovery. I'm Dr. Samantha Yamin and you're not going to believe me when I tell you this. Sharks still hide. Plot twists There have been some very new and almost unbelievable discoveries around sharks in 2025. Seriously, I'll prove it to you. Consider this episode and the next one your audio companions to Shark Week 2025, which by the way returns on July 20th on Discovery. There are going to be a few big mic drops. One of them is an actual mic right into the water. We get into how some sharks are migrants and they're rewriting the ocean map while they' how shark conservation and survival can depend on one little blue sticker and shark collagen as sharkitecture. And no, it's not a supplement. And then we'll get to hear the voices of the people of Shark Week, the ones who've dedicated their lives to understanding these animals, like Luke Tipple. He'll explain why some people are dancing with sharks this year. He's underwater and sees it all.

[Luke Tipple]

We're gonna go down and dance. We'll see you underwater.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

And Paul de Gelder goes through how to survive a shark attack.

[Marc Maron]

While shark attacks have seen a slight.

[Forrest Galante]

Uptick in, they still remain extremely rare. While they're absolutely terrifying, it serves as a stark reminder that the ocean is the shark's domain and deserves our respect.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Allison Towner joins us to chat Great White Assassins and Air Jaws because she's one of the greatest great white shark conservation powerhouses in the world. Some of the best moments of my life with white sharks have been out there on the ocean. That first time seeing a white shark, it's just. It's absolute appreciation for the predator before we get to them. Discoveries resonate. Resident wildlife biologist Forrest Galanti is with me to talk about how he's all about venomous sharks.

[Forrest Galante]

I like the weird, the hard to find, the creepy, the unusual.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Forrest Galante on alien sharks, coming up. But first, for the biggest plot twist of all. Sharks make noise. And we've got the tape. Here's what it sounds like. I'll play that for you again in a minute. But this is massive news. In March 2025, just a couple months before this episode was recorded, scientists got a recording of the first known shark sounds ever. This also blows up one of the biggest misconceptions about sharks. The biggest one being that all sharks are man eaters, just waiting until the right moment to surface from the deep and snack on a tasty swimmer. That one has definitely been disproven. But you'd be surprised just how many of these ideas worm their way into our perceptions of shark behavior. Some other myths include the idea that sharks need to continuously swim to stay alive, or that they only dwell in the deepest parts of the open ocean. We know these are not true. Many marine biologists and shark researchers work their whole lives to spread awareness and correct popular portrayals of sharks in the media. Take Jaws, for example. In a key moment of the movie, hunters harpoon the shark who surfaces with a roar and attempts to sink their boat. But that noise doesn't really sound like a shark, does it? Listen again. That's just one of the many creative liberties taken in the movie. The idea of a roaring shark. And fun fact, that sound was actually taken from a Tom and Jerry episode. But sharks are often referred to as silent stalkers. So which is true. Well, if we'd asked that question a year ago, scientists would have said there's no evidence that sharks actively make any noise at all. They may not have been silent killers, but they were silent. And notice I say were because mic drop, or rather, a mic drop directly into the water. In a study released this year, researchers discovered that sharks do actively and intentionally make noise to communicate with one another. And, yeah, it's not similar to the roar we hear in jaws, but it is a fascinating breakthrough that builds on years of previous research. Sharks belong to a subclass of fish known as elasmobranchs. This group also includes rays, sawfish, and skates. They're cartilaginous. That means their skeletal structures are made up of cartilage. Nice and bendy. And up until 2022, researchers thought all these fish were silent. Now, later in 2022, a group of naturalists dropped some mics and made recordings of rays in the wild. They found that they made a clicking noise. The clicking started as the rays were approached by divers and then stopped as the divers swam away. So the theory at the time was that the sounds were being used as a signal to warn fellow rays of potential predators in the area. Then, years later, other biologists published a paper confirming that, yes, rays do produce active sound in response to humans in their habitat. And that was enough to encourage our trusted shark experts to investigate whether or not this was also happening in shark species. The sharks they studied are called spotted estuary smooth hounds, but everyone just calls them rigs a lot easier. The reason they chose rigs is that these guys are small enough to hold in your hand. And that makes it a lot easier for the scientists to standardize the conditions for the research. All that means is it's easier to tell if they're reacting to a threat when a researcher is holding them than when a researcher just walks up to the tank. The other reason, there's anecdotal accounts over the years of rigs making those same clicking noises out in the wild. So what the research team did Is they recorded 10 juvenile rigs as they were being handled by researchers in experimental tanks for 20 seconds at a time. And what do you know? While the sharks were in hand, every single one made high frequency short clicks. Those were the real shark noises that they recorded. And to me, it sounds a bit like a mouse click. But that's what they noticed. When the sharks were left alone, just swimming around or eating, living their lives, they stayed completely quiet. But as soon as a researcher picked one up, everything changed. The sharks clicked more during the first 10 seconds of being handled than they did during the next 10 seconds. That drop off suggested that the clicks are a stress response, but it fades as the sharks start to get used to being held. The researchers think that the sharks are making the sound by snapping their jaws so hard that their teeth hit each other. Kind of like how our teeth chatter when we're cold. But they're still not really sure. In fact, some scientists wonder if the sharks are copying the sound of snapping shrimp to lure them out of hiding. So sneaky. Others are looking into whether sharks make the same sounds in the wild when no humans are around. This is the first time scientists have recorded sharks making intentional sounds. It's a major shift in what we know about shark communication. So if Jaws ever gets a remake, it's the 50th anniversary over the summer of 2025. After all, the great white won't need to roar. It might rise from the deep clicking.

[Marc Maron]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.

[Sarah Gibson Tuttle]

Hi. Who here loves when their nails are perfectly done? Me. I'm Sarah Gibson Tuttle and I started Olive in June because, let's be real, we all deserve to have gorgeous nails. But who wants to spend a fortune or half their day at the salon? And that's why I created the Mani system. So you can have that salon perfect manicure right at home. And guess what? The best part? Each mani only costs $2. Yup, you heard me. $2.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

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[Marc Maron]

Say hello to Samantha.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Hi there.

[Forrest Galante]

Samantha built a SaaS platform that helps small businesses manage their workflow.

[Marc Maron]

But she needed a smarter way to reach decision makers.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

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[Marc Maron]

Now that's streamlined marketing. Samantha, what's your tip for scaling smart?

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Solve a real problem and make sure the right people hear about it.

[Marc Maron]

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[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

The ocean's waters can get real dark and deep underwater. The visibility can be so low that something large could be moving just out of sight. If you ended up there, nothing but inky black all around you, you'd probably call it a day. I know I would. But for Forrest Galanti, this is the moment he's always waiting for. Forrest is a wildlife biologist with a focus on critically endangered species and fun fact, he's also a world record holder. Forrest grew up in Zimbabwe, where wild animals weren't really on the outskirts of his town, they were literally in his backyard. Ever since, he's tracked rare species across the globe and he's gone face to face with animals that even sometimes sound more like myths than science. And his latest trip took him to Australia's remote coastline to investigate some of the strangest sharks in the world. You can watch that story in Alien Sharks during Shark week this year, FYI. It starts July 20th on discovery. It's pretty safe to say that Forrest doesn't get scared, but he's going to tell you a lot more than what's going to be on TV right here on our show. Welcome to Curiosity Weekly Forest.

[Forrest Galante]

Hey Sam, thanks for having me. Thrilled to be here.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Now, your latest for Discovery is all about venomous sharks, a topic where I'm pretty sure there's a whole lot of adventure. No shortage of that. I know you also care a lot about conservation, so how do you get that balance in your expeditions where you're thrilling audience but also promoting the protection of misunderstood species like venomous sharks?

[Forrest Galante]

That's a great question. I mean, I strongly believe we have to be entertainment forward. So really and truthfully, as much as it cringes, especially in the scientific community, I think we're all sick of the doom and gloom. We're all sick of the world is ending. We're all sick of global warming is going to sink the whole planet, all that stuff. We are, we are for sure. Instead, you know, and I'm not saying I'm right in every regard but the way I like to do it is make really fun, really upbeat, really educational, entertaining content. It's entertainment forward, you know, And Alien Sharks is no different. Here we are, we're focusing on two species, neither of which are critically endangered, neither of which are on the edge of extinction. But they're one's data deficient. The other has definitely had a reduction in its population over the years. And they're incredible creatures that are venomous sharks. I mean, those that doesn't, you know, like, most people don't even know that exists.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

I didn't.

[Forrest Galante]

Yeah, right, exactly. So it really and truly, regardless of how you look at it, Alien Sharks is a show and tell of cool, unique, endemic, bizarre shark species. That's what the show is. The whole premise of the show is to go to Australia. I go on dives, I see as many unique shark species as I can, but I highlight and focus one or two of them. And that's what this year's is. It's on two species, the Port Jackson shark and the elephant nose shark. And it's. It's a really fun show.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

That's so exciting. I love how you're like, a standard shark's not enough for me. I gotta find the weirdest weird. The weirdest of the weird.

[Forrest Galante]

There are guys that do your generic sharks. I like the weird, the hard to find, the creepy, the unusual. That's what I like.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Yeah, I love it.

[Forrest Galante]

I don't know how many Bloomin productions have been in Australia showcasing a great white shark or whatever, you know, a crocodile, but none that I'm aware of have ever shown an elephant shark. You know, it's this big. This was by no means the most dangerous, the craziest, the scariest expedition we've ever been on. We were in hotels the whole time. You know, it was easy. We're in Australia, it's like. It's like shooting Florida. Totally. They weren't luxury. If you saw the hotels, they're not great. But one thing that I. I did on this shoot, I actually injected myself with the venom.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

No.

[Forrest Galante]

Yeah, yeah. I don't know if I'm supposed to share that, but we're going to because I actually took a shot of the venom into my forearm from the more dangerous one, the Chimera, the elephant shark. Because we don't know if this is a black mamba or a stingray. You know, we really don't. Because this branch of shark evolved independently for millions of years from other sharks. So I was like, hey, nobody knows. Let's dilute this Venom and put it in my arm and see what happens. And we did that. And it hurt. Yeah, it really hurt. No, it really sucked. But that made it more challenging than a lot of things I've done.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

I forget what I was gonna ask you next. I need to ask about that.

[Forrest Galante]

Well, okay, first of all, don't do what I do. Secondly. Yeah.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Please do not do this if you're sick.

[Forrest Galante]

No, not condoning this behavior. And don't tell my mother. But no, I. I had mentally prepared for it for weeks because I'd been planning this. And so we had a medic on set. I don't have any allergies. I'm not allergic to bees or anything like that. I've been stung by stingrays three times. Never intentionally. Never did it to myself, stood on them. I'm pretty familiar with ocean venom stings, and I want to try it. So what we did is we had a venomologist on set. His name's Brian Fries, the world's leading venomologist. So basically, him and the medic agreed the only way I would die from the venom was if I went into, like, anaphylactic shock. And I don't have any known allergies. So I was like, you know what? So we diluted it. They stuck it in my arm, and I cried like a baby.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Again, don't do this.

[Forrest Galante]

No, don't do this. But it's for science, you know, Nobody's trying it. Nobody knows. And there's a long history of human beings testing venom on themselves to see what its potency is. So that was what we did.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

I'm never gonna say I'm morbidly curious. You, Forest, are morbidly curious.

[Forrest Galante]

I'm gonna put that in my Instagram bio.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Absolutely. You just mentioned Dr. Brian Fry. I was actually gon. Since he's such a prolific venom expert and he was with you on the expedition. Like, what was it like having him with you to try to understand this venom? Because it's not super well studied. And I'm curious what you learned that might have changed your perspective on venomous creatures overall.

[Forrest Galante]

We worked together on sea snake venom. I've known Brian for years. We text each other once a week at least. He's a good friend. This guy's way tougher and more badass than I'll ever be. And he's been bitten by sea snakes and all kinds of terrible stuff.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

On purpose?

[Forrest Galante]

No, not on purpose. No. That's only me being.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

I gotta ask with you too.

[Forrest Galante]

Yeah. Fair. Fair. Him and I together is a Bad cocktail because we rev each other up. But Brian has done work on chimeras in Norway, which are a larger, very closely related venomous shark. And so he knew how bad the sting was. He's like, it's going to hurt like hell. You're not going to die. We know it's not the venom of a. Of a black mamba. You know, I've studied very closely related species, so we know the general compounds. We know generally what type of venom it is. You're not going to die, but it's going to hurt. And I was like, well, that's fine, but I forget what it was. Our medic found one record, like, like a paper record of someone who got stung by one in the 70s in Australia, and that's it. There are no other known records of anybody getting stung by one. So really there was no data. Brian wanted the toxin for his lab. I wanted to show what would happen if someone accidentally stood on one or grabbed one out of a fishing net and got stung. So it was like a good combination of things to do at my expense, of course, but it was safe enough, and so we went for it.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

What did it feel like? It hurt. Did it burn?

[Forrest Galante]

It felt a lot like a stingray sting. Yeah. I don't know if you've ever. If anybody listening has ever experienced a stingray sting. It's a very localized pain to the sight. It feels like the limb is on fire from the inside out. You want to cut it off, basically. And this was diluted and similar to a stingray sting. Thankfully, heat neutralizes the toxin. So after 15 minutes of trying not to weep on camera and be a tough guy, I said, okay, I've had enough. The medic added heat packs, and it went from intolerable to barely tolerable. But barely tolerable was enough that I could kind of wrap up what we had gone through and finish out the show, let the shark go, all things like that. So, yeah, it was, of course, got a job to do.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

That's incredible. That's pretty epic.

[Forrest Galante]

I don't want to do it again. I'm good on that one.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

You did the thing. I mean, most people think of sharks as dangerous because of their teeth, not their venom. So you had these two species that you were following, and I'm wondering if you could tell us a little bit more, like, what we know about their venom and how it works and, like, what's known about the biology there.

[Forrest Galante]

The two species were the Port Jackson shark, which we went for first, and then the elephant shark. The elephant nose shark, the Chimaera or ghost shark. It's got a whole bunch of names. The Port Jackson shark. People have been stabbed. And even the idea that it has venom is a relatively new idea. It's like, oh, it does have something. It may be a toxin, it may be bacterial, but it has something on the spine. So I did actually take a stab from that guy too, like an absolute idiot. Which still has a small scar on my hand right there because I put my hand down on it.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Was that on purpose?

[Forrest Galante]

That was on purpose, yeah. Both were. I need to test both of them. That was the whole point. And I'll tell you this, I'm trying not to make myself sound like an idiot here, but the Port Jackson shark. This is gonna sound terrible, but it felt like just driving a nail into your hand, you know, like it hurt. Casual, it hurt, but it's. It didn't feel like my arm was going to burning. It didn't feel like I wanted to cut my hand off. It just felt like, well, you're an idiot who just stood on a nail, you know, like stood on a thumbtack. That's what it felt like. So we sort of ruled that out as being a problematic, highly toxic shark pretty quickly. There were a couple instances of people getting jabbed by those guys, but there was no sort of conclusive evidence on how bad. Like, did you need any antidote, anything like that? So then when it came to the. The elephant shark is that even though they have a much sharper spine and people catch them, there's a commercial fishery for them. There were no reports that could be found, at least not by. Not by Brian, not by my medic, nobody of anybody actually getting stung by the elephant shark. So pretty strange. Which is why we felt so compelled to actually test it on me. And. Yeah, and it was just completely different sensation. Much, much worse. Like we talked about burning. It sucked.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Okay, I gotta ask. As part of the show, you were collecting venom from these live sharks. How does one, like safely collect venom from a live shark in the middle of the ocean?

[Forrest Galante]

It was so touch and go, Sam, because we were literally flying out the next morning and we hadn't caught it. So I decided to fish late into the night and we managed to catch it. So we caught it from the beach, which is why I tell you that in the middle of the night. And I learned exactly how to extract venom from a shark because I had no idea myself, which was you pull down the little sort of fleshy appendage that covers the actual spine and then you scrape the spine. And in scraping stimulates release of the venom. Similar to milking a snake where you put the fangs through something and that stimulates the venom gland. So Brian was able to scrape the venom. You could see it on this little blade. And then he centrifuged the venom to isolate it, to clean it. And then the scariest part wasn't even getting the jab. It was when he mixed it with my blood and goes, that's not good. Yeah, they drew blood. And then he goes, see, normal blood coagulates. He turns it upside down, it doesn't go anywhere. And then he adds the venom to my blood and he goes, huh? And it turned into like soup. But it was awesome. Yeah, it really came together. And then after seeing how much it was going to melt my blood, we decided to put it in my body and so on and so forth.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

In this case, the venom is on the spines on the fin.

[Forrest Galante]

Correct. On the dorsal fin.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Oh, interesting. I mean, that's so fascinating. That's so cool. Sharks are so cool.

[Forrest Galante]

They are. They really are. And they're older than dinosaurs. They're older than trees, not even older than dinosaurs. They've been around on the planet longer than trees have. I mean, sharks are incredible. Yeah. Yeah. My goal ultimately is not to find the rarest of the rare or hunt down something that nobody else can find or even bring it back from the edge of extinction, which I love to do, but that's not really my ultimate goal. My ultimate goal is to spread love for wildlife. Because if we love something, then we cherish it. If we cherish it, we care to protect it. So to me, it really doesn't matter what the species is if it's amazing. I love to share a passion for it.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

And you're really well known for searching for animals thought to be extinct on your show. Extinct or alive, especially. What's motivating you to keep looking for these lost species?

[Forrest Galante]

I think that a lot of times the reason a species is considered lost or it's missing or whatever it happens to be data deficient is because people give up before going to the ends of the earth to look for it. Times have changed. It's really hard to go on these month long expeditions to find things anymore. But one thing my team and I, what we built our whole reputation on is we don't give up. You know, we go and go and go to the point of utter exhaustion, fatigue, sunstroke, malaria, you name it, we've had it all. And it's, it's Fun, because you get rewarded when you never give up, you know, and it's almost like some form of karma or something where when you put it all on the line, you don't throw in the towel. Eventually you find that thing. And of course, that's impossible with certain extinct species, but with some of them, it's not. You know, it's human error, and we strive to prove that wrong.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

It's interesting you say data deficient because I think it's a really important point. We think a lot about discovering new species or bringing something back from extinction, but there's a huge group of animals where we've just kind of lost touch with them. We haven't seen them sometimes in decades, and then you've gone and found them again after it's been a few decades even since they were last spotted. So that's a really interesting angle, I think, that doesn't get talked about enough.

[Forrest Galante]

So once an animal is declared extinct or it's lost to science, all hope is given up. It's not like there's funding for an animal that's labeled extinct. You know what I mean? It's gone.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Yeah.

[Forrest Galante]

So when we go out and find something that's been missing to the scientific world, that opens up a whole new channel of resources to try and conserve not just that species, but the environment that species lives in, those ecosystems, puts parks in place, puts laws and protections in place. And we've really changed the gamut on that in a number of different countries. And it's been an awesome thing to see the fruits of our labor come through like that.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

It's super cool. Now you've helped rediscover animals thought to be extinct, like the Zanzibar leopard and the Pondicherry shark. There's a bunch of others. I'm wondering if there's a rediscovery that stands out to you as the most meaningful or even surprising.

[Forrest Galante]

The most surprising was the Fernandina island tortoise. Because, you know, everybody, including the Galapagos government, like, laughed at us when we said we were going to find it or look for it. And it was almost one of those things where my. My producer and I, who's a very close friend of mine, Patrick, he goes, where should we go? Like, we have, like, a couple episodes left. What should we just do that we've always wanted to do? And I was like, let's go to the Galapagos.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Like, why not?

[Forrest Galante]

We'll probably never find the tortoise, but let's go anyway, you know? And we did. And Then sure enough, we frickin found it. And I think what, what's so crazy about that more than anything is I dove into the bush like I was trying to catch a cheetah. And it was literally a tortoise, and I scooped it up. And holding in my hand is the crown jewel of rarity. Literally the most rare creature on planet Earth. Only one of its species known to this day, two ever in existence. The other one was found 114 years prior. And that's it. There's never been another specimen ever. So it's literally the rarest animal on the planet. I was holding in my hand, and as I say that, I get goosebumps on my arm because it was just such a surprising, incredible, shocking thing to have happen, and it was just. That was earth shattering for me.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

I feel like I barely need to ask this now that you told me about all these wild things you did. But if you have to tell us one more thing about this year's Shark Week special and why people need to watch it, besides watching you get injected with the venom, what would it be?

[Forrest Galante]

Well, we've sat here and talked about two species that have venom. The show has 16 species of elasmabranch in it. I mean, I get zapped by one that puts out electrical currents. Not intentionally. That one just sucks.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Okay.

[Forrest Galante]

There's all kinds of really, really cool species. Ones that glow in the dark, ones that inflate, ones that have saws for rostrums. Hint, hint. And then in addition to that, we have a whole second Shark Week show coming out on why New Smyrna beach is the shark attack capital of the world. New Smyrna is also about a smaller, less often documented shark, shockingly, because most people think it's bull sharks biting everybody there, but it's not. So we did two shows this year, and I think they really tell a good story.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

I, for one, am really excited to tune in and thank you for your contributions to science. Again, no one else should do what you do. Don't do it.

[Forrest Galante]

Yeah, don't do it.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

We should definitely watch it. How about that?

[Forrest Galante]

Yeah, do as I say, not as I do.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Yeah, just watch.

[Forrest Galante]

That's right, just watch.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Thank you so much for being on the show for us.

[Forrest Galante]

It was a delight, Sam, thanks for having me.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

You can follow Forest Galante on Instagram orrest with two Rs, galant and find more of his [e-mail] to see him in action. Watch Alien Sharks. It airs during shark week starting July 20th on discovery.

[Marc Maron]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.

[Forrest Galante]

That is a gamble.

[Luke Tipple]

Money Expunge your podcast okay, what is.

[Kristen Bell]

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[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

But with Acast Smart recommendations, finding the right podcast to sponsor takes seconds. Powered by AI, it curates the ideal podcast list based on your target audience.

[Kristen Bell]

From millennial men into fitness or tech savvy women in business. Just type in who you want to reach and get instant data driven recommendations. Start reaching the right listeners today at.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Go.Acast.Com ads it's human nature to try to recreate what we see in the natural world. Biomimicry draws inspiration from living organisms to create designs, structures, inventions, materials, and so much more. And we've been doing that for a long time. Like Velcro that was inspired by burrs from the burdock plant. We've taken a cue from sharks too, and even developed a biomimicry inspired material for swimsuits. The material mimics the texture of shark skin and it helps swimmers swim faster. Well, now instead of skin, a group of scientists are looking at the shark skeleton for their next biomimicry inspired design. A team of researchers wanted to know how shark skeletons avoid the wear and tear of their almost constant swimming motion. They looked specifically at the blacktip shark. These gray sharks are named after the black markings on the tips of their fins. This was a collaborative effort from the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and Engineering at Florida Atlantic University, the National oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA for short, and the German Electron Synctron. The team used a high powered X ray that can create 3D images instead of the flat black and white pictures your doctor might take if they think you've broken a bone. But these images are at such high resolution, they're at the nanoscale that's teeny tiny. A single human hair is about 80,000 to 100,000 nanometers wide. So you can imagine that these 3D x ray images, they allow the researchers to really get to know what's inside the shark skeleton on a whole other level. Sharks are famously boneless, made of mineralized cartilage. The cartilage in their bodies has a few functions too. It helps them to be lighter and more buoyant in the water and since their jaw isn't fused with their skull, they can open their mouths super wide, which gives more power and speed to the force of their bite. So when researchers took a super close look at shark cartilage, they found some pretty fascinating stuff. And it's so unique that some people are calling it sharkitecture. Basically, they found two regions within the cartilage, each with vastly different internal structures that layer and work together to prevent repeated stress on the shark's body. At the tiniest level, they zoomed in on those two different regions within the shark's vertebral column. One known for its stiffness and strength and the other for its flexibility. While both have collagen fibers and the mineral bioapatite at the nanoscale, they're organized completely differently. For the stiff region, everything was aligned to give a nice sturdy structure. Whereas for the more flexible part, that's enabling the vertebrae to recoil and store and release energy with each tail beat. So there you have these more helical collagen fibers winding around the scaffold. The structural combination gives the cartilage skeleton its superpower. It's strong, springy, and surprisingly damage resistant. Now, the specifics of what the research teams observed is a little bit more complicated than that though. But the research is just starting. Here's the main point. If scientists can copy the way shark skeletons are built, they could create a new material that's strong, flexible, and stores energy as well. That kind of material could show up in things like protective gear and life saving medical tech. So shark skeletons might just be the key to designing materials that protect us and repair our own bodies. And you know what, as someone with chronic back pain, I sure would love that shark transplant. Like, just give me a springy and strong spine immediately. And Shark Week premieres July 20 at 8pm Eastern on Discovery for Warner Bros. Discovery Curiosity Weekly is produced by the team at Wheelhouse DNA. The senior producer and editorial correspondent is Teresa Carey. Our producer is Chiara Noni. Our audio engineer is Nick Kharisimi. And head of Production for Wheelhouse DNA is Cassie Berman. And I'm Dr. Samantha Yamin. Thanks for listening.

[Luke Tipple]

The ocean has no script, no choreography, and no second takes its currents move with power. Sure, it's predators with purpose. But this Shark Week, a few bold individuals are stepping in with music. I'm Luke Tipple, shark expert, expedition leader and your underwater correspondent to one of the most daring competitions ever filmed underwater. Five of the world's most fearless shark divers will face off, but not to tag, feed or track sharks. They're dancing with sharks on shark week. Returning July 20th on discovery. Dancing with sharks immerses you in the turquoise waters of the Bahamas, where each diver selects a shark species as their partner. A tiger shark, a lemon shark, a hammerhead, a nurse shark. Then they attempt something extraordinary. A choreographed underwater duet. No cages, no safety divers in the frame. Just their instincts, timing, and a wild predator that doesn't care. If you miss a beat, listen.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Dance is already hard. Dancing underwater is hard. Dancing underwater with sharks is even harder. So we're asking a lot of these competitors.

[Luke Tipple]

Each diver gets just one shot. Their movements are scored.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

I want to see their handling skills. I want to see how they are.

[Kristen Bell]

Moving the sharks, how they are leading the sharks.

[Luke Tipple]

Their choices judged, the shark behavior assessed.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

So when you're diving with predators like that, you must lead them from a safety standpoint. They cannot leave you.

[Luke Tipple]

And their safety never guaranteed.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

These are dangerous, top predators, so you definitely need to stay humble to their abilities.

[Luke Tipple]

The divers are not actors, they're not reality stars. They're professionals. Free divers, boat captains, underwater photographers, and second generation shark whisperers. People who, like me, have dedicated their lives to understanding these animals. Take Connor Cassidy.

[Forrest Galante]

I spend my days underwater feeding sharks for a living.

[Luke Tipple]

He's one of the pioneers of hand feeding techniques at Tiger Beach. His challenge, keeping rhythm just inches from a tiger shark's mouth.

[Forrest Galante]

My dance skills have a little bit to be desired.

[Luke Tipple]

Then there's Jamie Ferguson, a Bahamian shark feeder and local legend.

[Forrest Galante]

My deal is when I see a shark, I go in the water. So it's me being a Bahamian, I could change up perspective on what they think about the sharks.

[Luke Tipple]

He's diving into an underwater dance hall with a hammerhead. Then Janelle Van Ruyuten spends more time.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Underwater than above looking this shark in the eye. You're in that moment, it's almost like time stops.

[Luke Tipple]

She leads global expeditions, trains divers, and captures shark behavior through the lens of a camera.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

They're these apex predators, like these massive animals that can hurt you at any second. And you just want to be able to control your movements and you want to be able to control the shark as well.

[Luke Tipple]

And David Martinez, whose father founded Shark Diver magazine, is bringing hip hop underwater with a hammerhead at his side.

[Forrest Galante]

My dad was one of the first people to kick off the tiger shark. Diving people think that sharks are mindless predators that are coming out to get us. That is not true.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

And through these interactions, we can hopefully change the idea.

[Luke Tipple]

Dancing with sharks pushes the limits of movement, science and connection. Because while the divers may be trained. The sharks aren't.

[Forrest Galante]

Oh, that was close to his hand.

[Luke Tipple]

One missed cue. One flick of the tail. Almost taking a tail to the face. One lapse in focus and the entire routine can unravel in an interview. Instant.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Oh, wow.

[Luke Tipple]

Judges will score from a floating studio.

[Forrest Galante]

Esteemed panel of judges will be critiquing each performance.

[Luke Tipple]

Because out here, the ocean doesn't hand out trophies. But Shark Week does. Don't miss. Who will be crowned champion of dancing with sharks when shark week returns July 20th on discovery. We're going to go down and dance. We'll see you underwater.

[Marc Maron]

Hey, it's Marc Maron from WTF here to let you know that this podcast is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. And I'm sure the reason you're listening to this podcast right now is because you chose it well. Choose Progressives. Name your price tool and you could find insurance options that fit your budget so you can pick the best one for your situation. Who doesn't like choice? Try [e-mail] and now some legal info. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates price and coverage match limited by state law. Not available in all states.

[Kristen Bell]

Hi, I'm Kristen Bell and if you know my husband Dax, then you also know he loves shopping for a car. Selling a car, not so much.

[Marc Maron]

We're really doing this, huh?

[Kristen Bell]

Thankfully, Carvana makes it easy. Answer a few questions, put in your van or license and done. We sold ours in minutes this morning and they'll come pick it up and pay us this afternoon.

[Marc Maron]

Bye bye Truckee.

[Kristen Bell]

Of course, we kept the favorite.

[Marc Maron]

Hello other Truckee.

[Kristen Bell]

Sell your car with Carvana today. Terms and conditions apply.

[Forrest Galante]

ACAST powers the world's best podcasts.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Here's a show that we recommend this season on the Dream.

[Sarah Gibson Tuttle]

Supplies are being provided by nurses who.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

Run out in the middle of the night and purchase diapers.

[Sarah Gibson Tuttle]

But the hospital is still charging as.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

If they still have these items. We are digging into every topic we've ever wanted to cover on this show. It's a spinning plate analogy. The second that you stop spinning those plates, that crashes.

[Kristen Bell]

So you can never stop working.

[Dr. Samantha Yamin]

The Dream Season 4 comes at you weekly. Starting Monday, January 20, Acast helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere.

[Forrest Galante]

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