Oceanside Chats

Dr. Peter Gleick is a leading scientist, innovator, and communicator on global water and climate issues. He co-founded the Pacific Institute in Oakland, one of the most innovative, independent non-governmental organizations addressing the connections between the environment and global sustainability. Dr. Gleick’s work has redefined water from the realm of engineers to the world of sustainability, human rights, and integrated thinking. Gleick pioneered the concept of the “soft path for water,” developed the idea of “peak water,” and has written about the need for a “local water movement.” Among many other honors, Gleick received the prestigious MacArthur “genius” Fellowship, the U.S. Water Prize, and has been named “a visionary on the environment” by the BBC. He was elected in 2006 to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. In 2018 he was awarded the Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization. In 2023 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Gleick is the author/editor of many scientific papers and books, including The World's Water series, Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled Water (Island Press, Washington), A 21st Century U.S. Water Policy (Oxford University Press, New York), and most recently, the new book The Three Ages of Water (PublicAffairs/Hachette 2023).

Watch Full Video: https://youtu.be/RD34r9OQmuc

Learn More: https://www.vedaaustin.com/

Veda Austin is a New Zealand water researcher, author, artist and mother of three. For nearly a decade she has been photographing water in a ‘state of creation’, the state between liquid and ice that she believes is responsive to consciousness. Veda views this important phase from three perspectives. Scientifically, water is becoming a liquid crystal, artistically, water is free to design, and from a spiritual level, water enters a phase of fluidity between space and time, and is in a place of ‘becoming’.

Her desire to find a unifying force that upheld the principles of life, nature, and the cosmos manifested when she began her journey with water at the deepest of levels. Inspired by the genius of Viktor Schauberger, Marcel Vogel, Theodor Schwenk and Rudolf Steiner, Veda embraced a Goethean approach, weaving science with phenomena based learning and years of refined observation. For her, water is not limited, it enters the bodies of people as freely as it enters the bodies of ants…it can be found in the Heavens as well as the Earth, and it never dies, it is always reincarnating between liquid, solid and gas. Veda believes water is FLOW...it does what it is.

With such an extensive collection of macroscopic photographs Veda’s work could easily baffle the rational mind, but by sheer consistency and quantity cannot be disregarded. In fact, Veda believes that through this medium of art an emotional connection can be formed with water, and that this is key to creating change in the way we treat our natural world. She says, "If we think water can feel, we will care for it. If we think it is intelligent, we will learn from it."

Veda's passion for water extends out of the freezer and into primary schools where she donates time teaching water science and cleverly intertwines it with art projects. She loves to reconnect children to the living water systems inside and outside of their bodies, believing that the 'tamariki' (children) are the water bearers of the future.

“Water is the rebel element, it won't conform to the laws of physics or gravity and it can't be killed. Without it there is no life. It reincarnates for all to see and science tells us it came to Earth from outer space. Rebellious, nonconformist, eternal and alien.....just look at the power we are filled with.” - Veda Austin

Watch Full Video: https://youtu.be/D5mf62XI84o

Get your book at: https://www.giulioboccaletti.com/

For the last 20 years, Giulio's work has been at the intersection of geophysical and ecological science, public policy, and business strategy. Water security and our relationship with Earth's climate are particular interests of his.

He started out as a scientist, working on climate dynamics and physical oceanography at Bologna University, Princeton University, where he was a NASA Earth Systems Science Fellow, and MIT.

He then went into business, working for global consultancy McKinsey & Company, where he ultimately became a partner, one of the leaders of its Sustainability and Resource Productivity practice, and the co-founder of its Water practice. During his time there, he produced several public reports on key sustainability issues, including carbon and water security strategies for countries, the role of ICT sector in the climate transition, the economics of climate adaptation, and the economics of water security.

After his experience in the private sector, he joined the Nature Conservancy, first as its Global Managing Director for Water, then as its Chief Strategy Officer.

For his work on water, the World Economic Forum nominated him a Young Global Leader in 2014. He has been a member of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Water and Global Futures Council on Natural Resource Security.

His book Water: A Biography, a history of the relationship between society and water, was rated by The Economist as one of the best books of 2021.

Watch Full Video: https://youtu.be/NREuU8X74_g

Dolf Zantinge is a pioneer IT entrepreneur with a background in fiber optics, telecommunications, data mining, enterprise solutions, and artificial intelligence. He is the founder and creator of the Analemma water wand and one of the co-creators of Somarka Coherent Water.

Early in his career, he co-founded Syllogic, an international IT firm integrating artificial intelligence, machine learning, and database management systems, sold eventually to Perot Systems, where he became a European Director.

Later he worked for KPN, the largest Dutch telecommunications company, where, as Director of IT, he was responsible for IT Research and Development for new technology. He went on to found and Chair UNET, one of the first fiber optics companies in Europe.

He is widely published in the field of technical innovation and the influence of technology on society and is an adviser to organizations and governments on issues relating to innovation, cleantech, and renewable energy. Dolf’s career took a fascinating turn when he pursued the study of Chinese Medicine/Acupuncture and began seriously exploring the biological impacts of electromagnetic frequencies.

For the past two decades, his focus has been on researching electromagnetic fields and their influence on biophotonics, water, light, and system physiology. Dolf has documented important insights about the supercomputing power and energy of water and developed new innovations that will be game-changing for advancement in the water industry.

Watch Full Video: https://youtu.be/nrI0Vey0ie0

Inspired by the legacy of his grandfather Jacques Cousteau, Philippe is a multi Emmy-Nominated TV host and producer as well as an acclaimed author, speaker, and social entrepreneur.

As a social entrepreneur, Philippe is the co-founder of SeaWeed Naturals, a wellness brand that is combining the powerful benefits of restoratively farmed marine ingredients like seaweed and algae and regeneratively farmed land ingredients to create a whole new category of Land x Sea Wellness. As an impact brand, SeaWeed Naturals is committed to building a restorative economy and restoring the health and wellness of our customers AND the planet.

For six seasons, from 2014 to 2020, Philippe was the host and executive producer of the multi-Emmy nominated weekly syndicated series Awesome Planet.

Recently Philippe and his wife Ashlan were the stars of The Travel Channel’s hit series Caribbean Pirate Treasure; winner of a Cynopsis Media Award for Best Adventure Reality Series. In 2016 Philippe teamed up with his wife Ashlan to co-host Nuclear Sharks, the #1 show for Discovery’s Shark Week. In 2015, they co-hosted a three-part series with Takepart.com, exploring tiger and rhino conservation in Nepal called Treasures of the Terai.

As a special correspondent for CNN, he has hosted several award-winning shows, including his series Going Green which ran for four years and the 8-part special Expedition Sumatra. Philippe has also hosted and produced television programs for Animal Planet and the 8-part series Oceans for the BBC and Discovery Channel.

His conservation efforts are focused on solving global social and environmental problems. In 2005 he founded EarthEcho International; a leading environmental education organization that is building a global youth movement to restore and protect our ocean planet. To date, EarthEcho has activated over 2 million youth in 146 countries through its programs.

As an author, Philippe’s children’s book, Follow the Moon Home has been chosen for the prestigious Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List. In addition, he has co-written, Going Blue and Make a Splash, both of which have won multiple awards, including Learning Magazine’s 2011 Teachers’ Choice Award for the Family, a Gold Nautilus Award, and a 2010 ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Gold Award. His new book series, The Endangereds, with Harper Collins, launched in September of 2020 and his latest book, Oceans for Dummies, which he co-authored with his wife Ashlan was released in February 2021.

Philippe holds an honorary doctorate in marine biology from the University of Plymouth in England. He is a sought-after speaker having hosted and keynoted various events for the United Nations, Harvard University, the University of Florida, the Society of Environmental Journalists, The Economist Magazine global summit, and countless corporate events and global conferences. He has testified before Congress several times and serves on the Boards of Antarctica 2020, Green 2.0, and the Environmental Media Association as well as the National Council of the World Wildlife Fund.

Philippe and his wife, fellow adventurer and TV host Ashlan Cousteau, reside in Los Angeles, California with their two daughters, two chickens, and rescue dog Kenai.

Watch Full Video: https://youtu.be/uevzKk79eLw

Robert Slovak devoted himself to the science of water after life-altering experiences. He took his astronautical and mechanical engineering degrees and decided to pursue the research of reverse osmosis with his brother Jack. The dynamic duo were considered the early developers of Reverse Osmosis technology.

Robert is best known for co-founding Water Factory Systems in the early 1970’s. He and his brother were among the early developers of Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology and its many applications.

Their successful innovations encompassed home and office RO drinking water systems, bottled water production, laboratory purification, hemodialysis, seawater desalination, microchip production, bottled water production, water vending, spot-free vehicle washing and more.

As a result of the rapid growth of RO applications, Robert’s ongoing seminars, and a best-selling industry book on the subject of POU (Point of Use) RO, he became a well-known figure in the water industry. In 1989 Water Factory Systems was purchased by CUNO Inc, a global leader in fluid treatment. Since then, it was acquired by the 3M Corporation, which continues to market many of their original products.

Elan is a creative advisor who activates social permaculture. With an ear tuned to the plant and mineral voices, she draws on her native Hawaiian roots to weave ceremony of imprints from paradise. The essence of her work embodies the protection of all that is Sacred, all that is magical, all that is living within and outside of us.

As a founder of the Holographic Temple and as an advocate for the boundless imagination within children, Elan creates Rites of Passage templates to support youth during their pivotal life transitions.

She also serves as an advisor to the Calder Foundation, weaving the feminine spiral through land acknowledgment, ethnobotanical education, and historic preservation.

Learn More: https://www.vedaaustin.com/

Veda Austin is a New Zealand water researcher, author, artist and mother of three. For nearly a decade she has been photographing water in a ‘state of creation’, the state between liquid and ice that she believes is responsive to consciousness. Veda views this important phase from three perspectives. Scientifically, water is becoming a liquid crystal, artistically, water is free to design, and from a spiritual level, water enters a phase of fluidity between space and time, and is in a place of ‘becoming’.

Her desire to find a unifying force that upheld the principles of life, nature, and the cosmos manifested when she began her journey with water at the deepest of levels. Inspired by the genius of Viktor Schauberger, Marcel Vogel, Theodor Schwenk and Rudolf Steiner, Veda embraced a Goethean approach, weaving science with phenomena based learning and years of refined observation. For her, water is not limited, it enters the bodies of people as freely as it enters the bodies of ants…it can be found in the Heavens as well as the Earth, and it never dies, it is always reincarnating between liquid, solid and gas. Veda believes water is FLOW...it does what it is.

With such an extensive collection of macroscopic photographs Veda’s work could easily baffle the rational mind, but by sheer consistency and quantity cannot be disregarded. In fact, Veda believes that through this medium of art an emotional connection can be formed with water, and that this is key to creating change in the way we treat our natural world. She says, "If we think water can feel, we will care for it. If we think it is intelligent, we will learn from it."

Veda's passion for water extends out of the freezer and into primary schools where she donates time teaching water science and cleverly intertwines it with art projects. She loves to reconnect children to the living water systems inside and outside of their bodies, believing that the 'tamariki' (children) are the water bearers of the future.

“Water is the rebel element, it won't conform to the laws of physics or gravity and it can't be killed. Without it there is no life. It reincarnates for all to see and science tells us it came to Earth from outer space. Rebellious, nonconformist, eternal and alien.....just look at the power we are filled with.” - Veda Austin

Hereditary Chief Phil Lane Jr. is an enrolled member of the Yankton Dakota and Chickasaw First Nations and an internationally recognized leader in human and community development. During the past 45 years, he has worked with Indigenous peoples in North, Central and South America, Micronesia, South East Asia, India, Hawaii, and Africa. He served 16 years as an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education at the University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. With elders from across North America, Chief Phil co-founded the Four Worlds International Institute. As well, Chief Phil is a Director of the Four Directions Corporation, an Indigenous-owned company, incorporated in 1996 as Four Worlds’ economic development arm.

Visit Isabel's website: https://www.waterislife.love/

"I'm Isabel Friend!

I have a borderline obsessive fascination with water. I teach workshops, write articles, create content, guestspot podcasts, facilitate ceremonies and host retreats about water.

Usually, when I mention this passion, people look at me like I just admitted to a fetish for dust. "Um... water?" they ask. "What do you mean?" As though it's the simplest and most boring thing on the planet.

But here's the secret I'm shouting from the rooftops:

WATER is the most complex and mysterious substance in the Universe!

Over the years I've become a public speaker, certified nutritionist, Mystic dance and Integral yoga teacher and Reiki master with a passion for understanding the power of earth-based living and 5 element integration. I've also trained extensively in armoatherapy and herbalism. With 10 years of experience in the field of health, my wellness philosophy centers around the idea that the closer we come to nature, the healthier and more human we become. Contrastly, when we stray from these foundational laws of life, we become ill and feel disconnected from our Source. I'm a consummate nerd, always reading and researching, and I'm passionate about bringing modern scientific understanding together with ancient ancestral wisdom in a way that grounds primal living strategies into our 21st century lifestyles.

I've taught about Water throughout the US, Canada, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Bali and Thailand."

Ting Kelly is an oracular designer, writer and network weaver who walks the path between Silicon Valley and the East, the ancient world of temple arts and the new jedi leadership schools. Growing up in the living room of Wired magazine and roaming the Playa of Burning Man starting at the age of 6, to traveling the world with her anthro-futurist family photographing indigenous craft and ceremony. Ting imprinted her cellular memory of the ancient with her bi-lingual international education in Silicon Valley giving her the rigor and discipline to ground big ideas into the present future. After a 10-year career as an innovation consultant, experience designer and ecosystem researcher, starting with her first company when she was 10, to consulting city governments, foundations and family offices, Fortune 100 executives, and startup founders, she founded Ritual Collective to weave wisdom practitioners with the conscious leaders to create the foundation for a new paradigm of school system devoted to the Sacred for all stages of life. They have hosted over 25 immersive retreats, gatherings and workshops around the world, designed several online courses, and partnered with countless practitioners to translate their teachings for the modern medium. An avid world traveler, her roots permeate deep on the coast of California, where she lives devoting her ritual practices to integral studies, calligraphy and cacao. She serves on several advisory boards doing real good work in the world: Long Now Foundation, UN DP Innovation Accelerator, TACT Agora, Water Innovation Advisors and School for Traditions.

Kumu Hula, Kehaulani Kekua – Hula Master of Halau Palaihiwa O Kaipuwai, is one of Kaua’i’s most respected Hawaiian cultural experts. Her knowledge of Kaua’i and Hawaiian culture, history, ancestral practices and art forms are vast. She is well connected with native Hawaiian masters and practitioners who specialize in various disciplines from throughout the Hawaiian Island Chain. Perpetuation and practice of authentic Hawaiian culture is her passion and life’s work.

Kehaulani Kekua has studied hula and the art form of Hawaiian oral traditions all of her life. Born in to a family of hula masters and practitioners, the foundation of her “ohana’s knowledge is deeply rooted in the hula kapu. As the hiapo, she was brought up in the tradition of hanai – freely given to be raised and groomed in hula by her maternal grandmother, Helen Kaipuwai Kekua Waiau There was always an understanding that Kehaulani would inherit the responsibility of maintaining and perpetuating the family’s hula traditions which originated in the celebrated heiau hula of Wahiawa, Kaua’i.