60 acast.com Seaweed and Me https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/seaweed-me en Niall Killeney-Taylor Seaweed,Farming,Ocean,Ocean Farming,Blue Economy,Climate Change Seaweed & Me is a boots-on-the-ground journey into the future of our oceans. Join host Niall as they look to trade the daily grind for the tide line, embarking on a quest to become a seaweed and ocean farmer.

From the rugged coastlines of Ireland to the innovative kelp forests of Canada and Africa, this show is a novice’s guide to the "Blue Revolution." Whether you are an aspiring ocean farmer, a climate-conscious consumer, or a nature lover, this podcast bridges the gap between traditional aquaculture and cutting-edge marine science.

Each episode features deep dives with:

  • Marine Biologists & Scientists uncovering the secrets of blue carbon.
  • Commercial Kelp Farmers sharing the grit and gear of offshore life.
  • Indigenous Wild Harvesters preserving ancient traditions.
  • Entrepreneurs & Activists reimagining a sustainable, ethical ocean economy.

Hit Subscribe or Follow to follow the story from the first seed to the first harvest.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Seaweed & Me is a boots-on-the-ground journey into the future of our oceans. Join host Niall as they look to trade the daily grind for the tide line, embarking on a quest to become a seaweed and ocean farmer.

From the rugged coastlines of Ireland to the innovative kelp forests of Canada and Africa, this show is a novice’s guide to the "Blue Revolution." Whether you are an aspiring ocean farmer, a climate-conscious consumer, or a nature lover, this podcast bridges the gap between traditional aquaculture and cutting-edge marine science.

Each episode features deep dives with:

  • Marine Biologists & Scientists uncovering the secrets of blue carbon.
  • Commercial Kelp Farmers sharing the grit and gear of offshore life.
  • Indigenous Wild Harvesters preserving ancient traditions.
  • Entrepreneurs & Activists reimagining a sustainable, ethical ocean economy.

Hit Subscribe or Follow to follow the story from the first seed to the first harvest.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> false Niall Killeney-Taylor niall.baloremedia@gmail.com 69f9f26182781c7c456ff798 seaweed-me episodic https://assets.pippa.io/shows/cover/1777987496362-741f1572-d60d-487d-b53b-4cb3d74a43e2.jpeg https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/seaweed-me Seaweed and Me Is Seaweed the New Gold Rush? The Reality of Kelp Farming with Majid of Cascadia Pacifico Is Seaweed the New Gold Rush? The Reality of Kelp Farming with Majid of Cascadia Pacifico Wed, 13 May 2026 12:35:49 GMT 50:53 6a044b993eb6452356f3bb0a false https://shows.acast.com/seaweed-me/episodes/6a044b993eb6452356f3bb0a 6a044b993eb6452356f3bb0a 69f9f26182781c7c456ff798 full 1 2 From a cabin in Bamfield to farms in Norway, BC, and Chile, Majid turned a post-university odd job into one of the most thoughtful seaweed operations in North America. In this episode, we put the gold rush headlines to the test. Is kelp farming a life-changing opportunity, or is it just good old clickbait?


What you'll learn

  • The $10k Per Hectare Reality Check: Why there's a "sweet spot" of 10–20 hectares for a sustainable income — and why going bigger doesn't mean earning more.
  • Three Farm Designs, One Vision: Long lines, grid systems, and wild restoration — and why Majid believes mimicking Mother Nature is both the most ecological and most financially viable approach.
  • The KelpSpot Innovation: How a specialised bio-glue and a mobile seeding machine are eliminating the most labour-intensive step in kelp farming — and why it matters most for restoration, not production.
  • The Licensing Bottleneck: Why it can take 2–3 years (or cost $1 million in California) just to get approval to put anything in the water — and what that means for the industry's future.
  • The Carbon Claim Problem: Why Majid urges serious caution around carbon sequestration claims, and why biodiversity impact is a far more honest measure of seaweed farming's value.
  • Wild Ranching vs. Farming: The Tesla vs. restored classic car analogy that reframes how we think about what "sustainable" seaweed farming actually looks like.


The novice corner — Niall's journey

Hearing Majid talk so honestly about the financial realities — the $50k startup costs, the per-hectare margins, the licensing wait times — grounded something for me. I came in excited by the headlines. I'm leaving this conversation with a spreadsheet. That's probably a good sign. His point about coastal fishermen already having the skills, tools, and lifestyle for this work is something I keep coming back to as I plan my own next steps.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> From a cabin in Bamfield to farms in Norway, BC, and Chile, Majid turned a post-university odd job into one of the most thoughtful seaweed operations in North America. In this episode, we put the gold rush headlines to the test. Is kelp farming a life-changing opportunity, or is it just good old clickbait?


What you'll learn

  • The $10k Per Hectare Reality Check: Why there's a "sweet spot" of 10–20 hectares for a sustainable income — and why going bigger doesn't mean earning more.
  • Three Farm Designs, One Vision: Long lines, grid systems, and wild restoration — and why Majid believes mimicking Mother Nature is both the most ecological and most financially viable approach.
  • The KelpSpot Innovation: How a specialised bio-glue and a mobile seeding machine are eliminating the most labour-intensive step in kelp farming — and why it matters most for restoration, not production.
  • The Licensing Bottleneck: Why it can take 2–3 years (or cost $1 million in California) just to get approval to put anything in the water — and what that means for the industry's future.
  • The Carbon Claim Problem: Why Majid urges serious caution around carbon sequestration claims, and why biodiversity impact is a far more honest measure of seaweed farming's value.
  • Wild Ranching vs. Farming: The Tesla vs. restored classic car analogy that reframes how we think about what "sustainable" seaweed farming actually looks like.


The novice corner — Niall's journey

Hearing Majid talk so honestly about the financial realities — the $50k startup costs, the per-hectare margins, the licensing wait times — grounded something for me. I came in excited by the headlines. I'm leaving this conversation with a spreadsheet. That's probably a good sign. His point about coastal fishermen already having the skills, tools, and lifestyle for this work is something I keep coming back to as I plan my own next steps.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> The Giant Kelp Cathedral beneath the Waves of Namibia with Daniel Hooft The Giant Kelp Cathedral beneath the Waves of Namibia with Daniel Hooft Tue, 05 May 2026 13:48:51 GMT 31:01 69f9f4381932a077a999d6c5 false https://shows.acast.com/seaweed-me/episodes/69f9f4381932a077a999d6c5 69f9f4381932a077a999d6c5 69f9f26182781c7c456ff798 full 1 1 From the helm of the oil industry to the depths of a "kelp cathedral" off the coast of Namibia, Daniel Hooft is redefining what it means to work with the ocean. In this episode, we explore the transition from extraction to rewilding and how Kelp Blue is building massive, nature-positive kelp forests that "dance with the sea".




What You’ll Learn


  • The Pivot: How a master of oil extraction found a more meaningful "artwork" in seaweed farming.


  • Philosophy of the Sea: Why we should stop fighting "biofouling" and start embracing the biodiversity that supports a healthy underwater jungle.


  • The Giant Kelp Advantage: Why Macrocystis pyrifera (Giant Kelp) is the "biomass king" and how it can be harvested mechanically without killing the plant.


  • Engineering with Nature: Designing "trampolines at sea" that allow whales to bounce off safely rather than getting tangled.


  • The Reality of Risk: Daniel shares the "eye of the needle" moments—from near-bankruptcy to the physical dangers of open-ocean farming.




The "Novice" Corner: Niall’s Journey


As I move closer to my own licensing goals in 2026, this conversation shifted my perspective on farm design. Hearing Daniel’s take on "dancing with the swells" has me rethinking my upcoming engineering drawings before I submit them for approval.



Resources & Links Mentioned



Join along for the ride

If you want to see if I actually get those engineering drawings signed off, hit Subscribe to follow the story from the very beginning.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> From the helm of the oil industry to the depths of a "kelp cathedral" off the coast of Namibia, Daniel Hooft is redefining what it means to work with the ocean. In this episode, we explore the transition from extraction to rewilding and how Kelp Blue is building massive, nature-positive kelp forests that "dance with the sea".




What You’ll Learn


  • The Pivot: How a master of oil extraction found a more meaningful "artwork" in seaweed farming.


  • Philosophy of the Sea: Why we should stop fighting "biofouling" and start embracing the biodiversity that supports a healthy underwater jungle.


  • The Giant Kelp Advantage: Why Macrocystis pyrifera (Giant Kelp) is the "biomass king" and how it can be harvested mechanically without killing the plant.


  • Engineering with Nature: Designing "trampolines at sea" that allow whales to bounce off safely rather than getting tangled.


  • The Reality of Risk: Daniel shares the "eye of the needle" moments—from near-bankruptcy to the physical dangers of open-ocean farming.




The "Novice" Corner: Niall’s Journey


As I move closer to my own licensing goals in 2026, this conversation shifted my perspective on farm design. Hearing Daniel’s take on "dancing with the swells" has me rethinking my upcoming engineering drawings before I submit them for approval.



Resources & Links Mentioned



Join along for the ride

If you want to see if I actually get those engineering drawings signed off, hit Subscribe to follow the story from the very beginning.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]>