Gray Whales, the Sounders, and a Species in Crisis

Gray whales have long been considered one of conservation's greatest success stories, recovering from the brink of extinction after commercial whaling. But today, the species is facing new challenges. In this episode, we sit down with marine mammal researcher John Calambokidis, co-founder of Cascadia Research Collective, to explore the fascinating world of gray whales and discuss the troubling decline currently affecting the eastern North Pacific population. John shares insights from more than four decades of whale research, including the remarkable story of the "Sounders"—a unique group of gray whales that have learned to feed in the Salish Sea — and what their behavior may teach us about resilience and adaptation in a changing ocean. We discuss: What makes gray whales unique among baleen whales The history and discovery of the Sounders gray whales in Puget Sound How researchers identify and track individual gray whales over decades The surprising connections between eastern and western North Pacific gray whales The ongoing decline in gray whale numbers and calf production How climate-driven changes in Arctic feeding grounds are impacting whales today Ship strikes, entanglements, and other human-caused threats Reasons for hope and what people can do to help protect whales Learn more about Cascadia Research Collective and their work: https://cascadiaresearch.org If you are enjoying listening to our podcast, please share this with your friends, follow/subscribe, and leave us feedback/reviews wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you’d like to join Jeff and Sara on a whale watching tour in 2026, please check out to Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching to book!  You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook and Youtube. Please send feedback or questions to afterthebreachpodcast@gmail.com. And remember, stay safe out there.