Manta rays are beautiful and majestic animals that have a life-changing effect on people who meet them. I want to protect them so humans can experience their transformational power for generations to come! My goal is to inspire people so they take action to protect the mantas' ecosystem and oceans all around the world.
Traveling with intention: a conversation with Chris Gorman
Chris Gorman lives in Nebraska - America's most landlocked state. So when he and his wife travel to the ocean, they make it count. Chris does what he calls "serial research" - diving into reviews, looking for operators who align with their values, and planning experiences that will stick with them long after they get home. In this week's episode, Chris shares how he chooses responsible travel experiences, why he looks beyond star ratings when reading reviews, and what made their manta ray swim come at exactly the right moment. But this conversation isn't just about vacation planning; it's also about what we carry home from the places we visit. Chris talks about how Hawaiian culture - the aloha spirit, the concept of pono, and the emphasis on sustainability - has influenced his daily choices back in Nebraska. We dive into what indigenous cultures teach us about living more intentionally, why slowing down is a good thing, and how travel can shift the way we see our responsibilities to the planet.
If you (want to) travel in a way that feels more impactful and less like checking boxes, Chris's approach will give you a lot to think about.
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Martina Wing
Manta rays are beautiful and majestic animals that have a life-changing effect on people who meet them. I want to protect them so humans can experience their transformational power for generations to come! My goal is to inspire people so they take action to protect the mantas' ecosystem and oceans all around the world.
Aloha Reader, It's been a busy winter season for us - while we haven't been in the water with the mantas much due to high surf and winter conditions, I wrapped up the first season of the Ocean Wings podcast. I thoroughly enjoy the long-form conversation, so I spent the rest of winter break working on another podcast I'll be hosting with my friend Tina Marie. That one has nothing to do with manta rays (or maybe it does 🙃). We recently soft-launched. 2025 statistics Back to the manta rays: we...
Aloha Reader, It's hard to believe, but we've wrapped Season 1 of Ocean Wings. Twelve episodes, twelve incredible guests, and so many moments that reminded me why I wanted to start this podcast in the first place - to share stories that inspire me and will no doubt inspire others. If you've been following along from the start, thank you. If you missed a few episodes along the way, now's the perfect time to catch up before we head into Season 2 (we're hoping to start recording in May). A few...
Aloha Reader, When someone suggested interviewing Manta Ray Advocates team members for my podcast, I didn't know what the conversation should be about: we talk and text almost every day, what else is there to say? Turns out my right hand, Savannah, has a whole lot of stories about what it's like to work here :) In this new episode of the Ocean Wings podcast, we dive into topics like collecting data on the manta rays we encounter, handling customer communication and operations, and briefing...