One Stroke at a Time: A Journey of Purpose and Resilience

In our first episode after a long pause, the Healthy Seas Podcast dives back in with a guest who embodies everything we stand for—passion, action, and deep connection to the sea. Andy Donaldson is not just the first person to complete the Ocean’s Seven in a single year—he’s a man on a mission.

In this honest and inspiring conversation, Andy reflects on his transformation from elite swimmer to accountant and back again—this time driven by a renewed sense of purpose. He opens up about burnout, mental health, and the healing power of water, sharing tools that can help not only athletes but anyone navigating tough times or long-term goals.

His message? Whether you’re swimming across oceans or facing challenges on land, the key is knowing your “why”—and taking one brave stroke at a time.

Endurance Meets Advocacy: Lessons for Athletes and Activists

This episode isn’t only for swimmers. Andy shares insights that resonate with anyone tackling long journeys—especially changemakers and environmental advocates who may be facing burnout or self-doubt.

He speaks candidly about building mental and physical resilience, preparing for setbacks, and using sport as a platform to protect what you love. From ultra-cold training swims to mindset tricks that helped him through 15-hour ocean crossings, Andy’s story is packed with actionable takeaways.

For young athletes, this is a masterclass in grit. For activists, it’s a reminder that the same tools of endurance apply to advocacy.

Sharing What You Love Means Protecting It

Andy joined Healthy Seas and our partner Arena on a ghost net cleanup in Croatia, witnessing first-hand the damage left behind by abandoned fishing gear. His experience turned into a powerful call to action: “We need clean oceans not just to swim—but to live, to breathe, to thrive.”

He’s now dreaming big—imagining a global network of athletes advocating for the sea through sport, visibility, and action. As he says in the episode: “Share what you love—and protect it too.”

If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Healthy Seas is a marine conservation organization whose mission is to tackle the ghost fishing phenomenon and turn this waste into an opportunity for a more circular economy. They do this through clean-ups, prevention, education, and working with partners who recycle and repurpose this material. The podcast is hosted by Crystal DiMiceli.

Join us as we dive into the depths to explore the challenges and solutions shaping the future of our seas. Hosted by Crystal DiMiceli, each episode features conversations with the people making waves in marine protection: divers, scientists, educators, business partners, and local communities.

Healthy Seas is a unique alliance of NGOs and businesses working together to tackle marine litter, especially ghost fishing gear, and transform waste into opportunity through circular economy solutions. Active across 20+ countries, we operate with a global mission and a local heartbeat.

Through cleanups, education, innovation, and partnerships, we’re restoring the ocean and inspiring action—one net at a time.

Backed by over a decade of impact and part of the UN Ocean Decade movement, this podcast invites listeners and companies alike to dive into a world where environmental restoration meets meaningful collaboration.

If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Healthy Seas is a marine conservation organization whose mission is to tackle the ghost fishing phenomenon and turn this waste into an opportunity for a more circular economy. They do this through clean-ups, prevention, education, and working with partners who recycle and repurpose this material. The podcast is hosted by Crystal DiMiceli.

In this latest episode of the Healthy Seas podcast, we dive into the revolutionary world of eDNA with Nicole Yeomans, the Offshore Industrials Lead and marine ecology expert at NatureMetrics. With a powerful commitment to making biodiversity measurable, NatureMetrics uses environmental DNA (eDNA) to reveal previously unseen insights into marine ecosystems. Now a finalist for the prestigious Earthshot Prize, NatureMetrics is showing how this cutting-edge technology has become an essential tool not only for scientists but also for corporations and NGOs dedicated to conservation.

Throughout this episode, Nicole introduces eDNA and explains how it captures the unique traces left by every organism. She shares examples of how NatureMetrics has partnered with companies like MSC Cruises to track species across cruise routes, from bacteria to blue whales, creating data that directly supports efforts to protect and measure biodiversity. We also discuss the critical role of eDNA in helping companies integrate nature-positive practices into their operations, aligning with conservation goals and regulatory needs.

Listeners will learn about the limitations and unique advantages of eDNA, how it has transformed traditional research, and why it’s critical for businesses and NGOs to monitor and protect biodiversity. For anyone interested in understanding how technology is advancing marine conservation, this episode is a must-listen.

Catch the episode to learn:

• What eDNA is and how it works to reveal the "hidden" biodiversity of our oceans
• Real-world applications in corporate and environmental conservation
• Why businesses are turning to eDNA to align with nature-positive targets and regulations
• How eDNA offers a non-invasive and powerful way to monitor ecosystems

Don't miss this deep dive into a technology shaping the future of ocean and nature conservation.

If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Healthy Seas is a marine conservation organization whose mission is to tackle the ghost fishing phenomenon and turn this waste into an opportunity for a more circular economy. They do this through clean-ups, prevention, education, and working with partners who recycle and repurpose this material. The podcast is hosted by Crystal DiMiceli.