SETI and Information Theory

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In this episode, astrophysicist Dr. Laurance Doyle explains how he applies information theory to bridge the gap between astronomy and animal communication. By studying the mathematical structure of humpback whale songs and dolphin whistles, researchers can identify universal principles of intelligence that may eventually help us recognize and decode extraterrestrial signals. Doyle argues that planetary magnetic fields likely distort narrow radio waves, suggesting we must instead search for the complexity and syntax inherent in a message rather than just a simple carrier wave. Using Zipf’s Law, he demonstrates that complex communication follows specific entropic rules that distinguish structured language from random noise. Ultimately, his cross-disciplinary approach aims to redefine our place in the cosmos by viewing intelligence and consciousness as fundamental laws of the universe rather than uniquely human traits. 

This episode features Jared Towers, who brings his deep experience in killer whale research to a conversation that spans technology, behavior, and the nature of intelligence itself. Jared speaks to the evolution of photo‑identification and the growing role of AI in tracking orca populations, then moves into broader reflections on animal consciousness, culture, and the striking convergent evolution shared by humans and cetaceans. He discusses extraordinary examples of interspecific food sharing, interactive acoustic playbacks, and the ways these encounters challenge rigid scientific frameworks. Throughout the episode, Jared advocates for a more relational understanding of marine life—one that recognizes whale societies as autonomous nations and treats their communication as a window into universal principles of intelligence.

In this podcast episode, Dr.  Deborah Giles, a conservation biologist dedicated to the survival of the Southern Resident killer whales details her innovative, non-invasive research methods, which primarily involve using scent-detection dogs and drones to collect fecal and breath samples for DNA, hormone, and toxicant analysis. These biological markers reveal a population in crisis, suffering from a critical lack of prey, specifically Chinook salmon, which forces the whales to metabolize fat stores and release stored toxins into their systems. She highlights the complex social structures and unique dialects of these endangered orcas while calling for urgent fisheries management reform to ensure their recovery.

This episode features paleontologist Pat Trask in a conversation about what Earth’s deep past can teach us about its future. He traces how the fossil record reveals patterns of extinction, resilience, and long‑term environmental change, contrasting the slow pace of ancient evolution with today’s rapidly accelerating climate pressures. Pat shares the story of how an Elasmosaur discovery on Vancouver Island launched his career, describes why British Columbia’s geology offers such vivid windows into ancient marine worlds, and highlights the collaborative, community‑driven nature of paleontology. Through fossil tours, hands‑on discovery, and tools like index fossils, he shows how engaging directly with deep time helps people connect with our evolutionary history and gain perspective on the future we’re shaping.

In this podcast , hereditary chief and artist Randy Cook (Makula) shares how his creative practice is inextricably linked to his Kwakwaka’wakw identity and the ancestral wisdom of his grandparents. He describes his artistic process as a form of spiritual channeling, where he acts as a vessel for stories that transcend the boundary between the traditional and the contemporary. Central to his mission is the concept of environmental regeneration, as he advocates for a shift from colonial extraction toward indigenous land stewardship and the protection of ancient root gardens. By passing these cultural responsibilities to his children and collaborating with scientists, Cook seeks to use art as a map for future generations to reclaim their connection to the earth and foster collective healing.

In this episode, Dr. Shandin Pete joins the conversation for a reflective and wide‑ranging dialogue on the power of storytelling as both cultural memory and environmental guide. Pete traces his own journey from a  youth to an adult deeply grounded in the understanding that landscapes, star patterns, and language itself function as living records, particularly within the Salish world of the Flathead Indian Reservation. Drawing on his work as a hydrogeologist, he thoughtfully weaves together Western scientific practice and Indigenous ways of knowing, showing how ancestral narratives provide essential orientation points for the human mind. Throughout the discussion, Pete reflects on how oral tradition, place‑based knowledge, and communal responsibility once held societies together, and how modern convenience and capitalism have contributed to social fragmentation and cultural amnesia. The episode ultimately offers a quiet but compelling call to return to shared sacrifice, listening, and story as a means of restoring cohesion, meaning, and ancestral wisdom in an increasingly disconnected world.

This episode features psychologist and METI International president Dr. Doug Vakoch, who traces his journey from the SETI Institute to founding an organization dedicated not just to listening for extraterrestrial signals, but to sending messages outward. Vakoch explains why humanity should move beyond simple mathematical transmissions and begin sharing richer cultural expressions—such as music—encoded into radio frequencies. He draws compelling parallels between whale song and potential extraterrestrial communication, arguing that learning to decode non‑human intelligence on Earth is essential preparation for any future cosmic dialogue. Throughout the conversation, he outlines a vision for a universal protocol of interstellar exchange that reflects the full diversity, creativity, and complexity of life.

 In this episode,  artist and humpback whale researcher Tasli Shaw explores the connection between humpback whale research and the broader search for extraterrestrial intelligence. As lead investigator of the Humpback Whales of the Salish Sea project, Shaw describes the recent recolonization of local waters by humpbacks and the critical role of community‑driven photo‑identification in tracing maternal lineages and long‑term population recovery. She details the rigor of population databases as well as more intimate moments of interspecies encounters, including the rare eye contact that challenged her assumptions about intelligence and awareness. This episode highlights mounting conservation pressures from vessel traffic and fishing, while calling for renewed humility toward the sentient life already thriving in our shared coastal environments. It features her art which reflects her deep relationship with these animals as individuals.