Ep45: Zamira Chevrestt - Volunteer Co-ordinator for In The Same Boat

Today I'm joined by Zamira, a volunteer coordinator and sustainability ambassador for the Norwegian environmental NGO In The Same Boat. Zamira shares what it’s really like cleaning marine litter along some of the most remote and unforgiving coastlines in the Arctic and Northern Europe — from freezing North Sea crossings to hauling tons of abandoned fishing gear off rocky beaches.

The conversation dives into how the NGO operates its fleet of sailboats, trains volunteers with little to no sailing experience, and balances hands-on cleanup with education, data collection, and systemic change. Zamira also opens up about the emotional highs and lows of life at sea, burnout in the NGO world, and why staying hopeful — and human — is essential when tackling an overwhelming global problem.

🌊 Key Takeaways

The Arctic is heavily polluted — even the most remote coastlines are clogged with marine litter, especially from fishing industries.

Cleaning is only part of the solution — education, data tracking, and collaboration with industries and governments are critical for long-term impact.

Volunteers don’t need sailing experience — just resilience, teamwork, and a willingness to get uncomfortable.

Life at sea is intense — physically demanding, emotionally charged, and deeply bonding.

Burnout is real in environmental work — stepping back, finding joy, and focusing on small wins keeps people going.

Individual actions still matter — change spreads person to person, habit to habit.

📌 Chapters (01:07:57)

01:38 – Meet Zamira & “In The Same Boat”

Cleaning the Arctic, sailing north, and teaching kids why the ocean isn’t a bin

04:10 – Volunteering at Sea: Who Can Join & What It’s Really Like

No sailing experience, extreme conditions, and physical demands

06:02 – Crossing the North Sea & Surviving Rough Waters

Seasickness, storms, fear, dolphins, and why sailors keep coming back

09:50 – How an Arctic Cleanup NGO Actually Works

Funding struggles, boats, tech, volunteers, and scaling impact

12:40 – First Cleanup Shock: “I’d Never Seen This Much Trash”

The myth of “clean” Norway and what shows up on remote beaches

16:25 – A Day in the Life of a Marine Cleanup Crew

12-hour days, midnight sun cleanups, weather chaos, and logistics

20:35 – One Million+ KG of Trash & Tracking the Data

GPS mapping, fishing nets, hotspots, and working with industry

28:15 – Burnout, Boat Life & Being ‘In the Same Boat’

Mental health, friendships, drama, romance, and volunteer reality

35:35 – Plastic, Wildlife & The Stats That Hurt

Seabirds, whales, microplastics, and why this is urgent

41:00 – Schools, Hope & Why the Next Generation Matters

Teaching kids, community impact, staying hopeful, and what you can do

52:30 – Boat Life Fun: Initiations, Food Fails & Reality TV Energy

Ghost pepper shots, porridge crimes, and why this should be a show

01:01:30 – Final Reflections: Why This Work Is Worth It

Small wins, real change, and not giving up on the ocean

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Special Thanks To:

Zamira Chevrestt

https://www.inthesameboat.eco

Get Your Copy Of 'Seems Like Smooth Sailing' here

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