We’re kicking off The Coastal Society’s 50th anniversary podcast series with a powerful conversation featuring Executive Director Judy Tucker and President Jennifer Biddle.

Host and TCS Board Member William Ferris chats with fellow Duke affiliate Tibor Vegh , Senior Policy Associate at the Nicholas Institute. From nature-based solutions to coastal adaptation policy, Tibor shares how research and planning can drive real-world resilience for coastal communities.

Host Sam Boyce, Chair of the TCS Forum Planning Committee, welcomes environmental advocate and educator Bonnie Monteleone. Bonnie is the co-founder of the Plastic Ocean Project, a leader in the Plus Nature initiative, and a part-time instructor at UNCW. Her work centers on engaging communities, mentoring students, and advancing field research on marine plastic pollution

Jeff Flood, member of the planning team for the upcoming TCS Forum at UNC Wilmington, sits down with his longtime mentor and coastal science leader, Dr. Larry Cahoon. Dr. Cahoon recently retired after more than four decades as a Professor of Biology & Marine Biology at UNCW, where he taught thousands of students and contributed extensively to marine science, environmental policy, and public service.

We’re continuing the conversation on coastal issues and innovations! In our next episode, our very own Board Member, Kate Fuller, takes the mic. Kate, a research scientist specializing in aquatic ecology and an expert in science communication, interviews Scott Baker of NC Sea Grant, a longtime fisheries specialist based at UNCW’s Center for Marine Science satellite office.

In this episode of Making Waves, TCS Board Member William N. Ferris sits down with Rob Zapple, Commissioner for New Hanover County, North Carolina. Rob shares his insights on the critical role local governments play in shaping coastal resilience and his own journey to public service. Tune in for a candid discussion* on community engagement and the innovative strategies that New Hanover County uses to protect its coastal future.

On this episode of Making Waves, TCS interviews Jeff Flood, Virginia CZM Senior Coastal Planner (II) and TCS’s Career Development Committee Chair. We learn about Jeff’s professional journey and dive in on what makes TCS’s MAD, or Margaret A. Davidson Coastal Career Development, Program truly remarkable. Tune in for exciting news about the year to come!