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It usually takes two to tango in the world of shark reproduction, but in rare cases, a baby shark can be born when there are no males around. We dive into the weird and mysterious world of asexual shark reproduction with a scientist who can explain a phenomenon that might seem impossible. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Many shark scientists are pushing to change the language used to describe interactions between humans and sharks, but some survivors are wary. We talk to an Australian shark biologist who is pushing for the change and two survivors who are skeptical of the effort. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sharks populations are rapidly declining and many species are in danger of extinction. We talked to shark researcher Apryl Boyle about why that would be devastating to all life, both underwater and on land. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Scientists have conducted countless studies on shark species around the world, but know very little about what happens when they mate. We talk to senior shark scientist Nick Whitney about his research into the mysterious mating rituals of nurse sharks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A group of shark scientists watched hundreds of hours of Shark Week programming and didn’t like what they saw. They told us their data shows that Discovery’s annual cash cow has a diversity problem, and often sends the wrong message about sharks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fishermen and scientists can be at odds as researchers call for uncomfortable changes for both recreational and for-profit fishing. Jeff Kneebone has a foot in both worlds and wants to bring them together through research and understanding. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There’s a shark the size of a house with teeth the size of your hand, but luckily for you they have been dead for millions of years. The megalodon was an impressive species of shark, but is there a chance that they still exist today? Not at all, but we are looking into why people are convinced that is the case. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A group of Black women working in shark science are trying to bring needed diversity to their field with their new organization, Minorities in Shark Science. MISS president Jasmin Graham told us that finding other shark researchers like her was shocking — “What, another Black woman in shark science? That’s wild!" — and what the group is doing to bring diversity to marine science. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kara Yopak heads the Yopak Zombie Lab at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she studies what all zombies love: brains. She has a collection of shark brains that she believes holds the key to predicting shark behavior — just don’t ask her if sharks are smart. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

And white sharks seem to behave differently in Canada’s waters than elsewhere, too, according to Heather Bowlby, lead researcher at the Canadian Atlantic Shark Research Laboratory at Fisheries and Oceans Canada. She took time from her research to tell us about what Canada thinks of great white sharks and what the sharks think of Canada. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shark research legend Dr. Greg Skomal is back on the podcast to talk about getting a first-person view of a shark’s life and other ways his team has been tracking sharks off Cape Cod this summer. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Being a single shark mother is hard, especially when you have to worry about dad eating a baby or two. Dr. James Sulikowski, a shark expert at Arizona State University, shares some fascinating facts about shark babies and describes what it is like giving shark moms on-the-spot sonograms. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ever wonder how a shark reacts to a hurricane? No they don’t combine with them like in the “Sharknado” movies, but it turns out sharks don't always get out of the way when a big storm hits, either. That's one of the things Bryan Legare, a shark researcher with the Center for Coastal Studies, told us about his studies of the fine-scale movements of white sharks in the Cape Cod area. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shark Week has been airing on the Discovery Channel for decades and has had a major impact on the world of shark research and the public’s perception of sharks. We dive into this annual event with Marianne Long of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, which is featured in an episode this year, on why people keep coming back to the TV event and how it helps the future of shark research. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. James Sulikowski had been studying sharks off Maine when a white shark killed a swimmer, the state's first deadly shark attack ever. He joined us to explain what we know about sharks in this area, how people should think about risk when swimming and how climate change factored in. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The world of shark research, much like the world of an undercover spy, is all about using the right tools to collect information. I talked with Megan Winton at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy about the exciting new technology they are piloting this summer to spy on sharks, including balloons that look like blimps flying over Cape Cod beaches. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shark Tales is back at the start of a shark research season that has a very different feel. Coronavirus has brought a lot of changes to Cape Cod, so we caught up with the staff at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy on what they are seeing. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sharks have a tough public image and Cynthia Wigren, the founder of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, dedicates her life to changing people's perspectives. Hear about why she founded the conservancy and her thoughts on the shark debate in Cape Cod. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shark sightings and encounters grab the headlines, but there is so much more going on in the world of sharks. Research scientist Megan Winton talks about how statistics are essential in figuring out the "shark puzzle." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

NOAA shark researcher Lisa Natanson digs into sharks to learn more about how they age and reproduce. We talk about some of the strange things she has found inside, and get into the weird development of shark babies See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.