Protecting Our Oceans From the Inside Out with the Rozalia Project's Ashley Sullivan​

If you’ve ever walked along a shoreline, spotted trash, and thought, “How did this get here, and what can I do about it?” -- this conversation is for you. Ashley Sullivan, Executive Director of the Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean, joins me to unpack the very real problem of marine debris and microplastics, and to remind us that curiosity, community, and “lots of littles” can add up to big change.​

We explore how getting kids and adults outside for hands-on cleanups builds empathy and sparks those powerful “aha” moments that lead to action. Ashley explains what microplastics and microfibers actually are, how they move from our homes into rivers, lakes, and the ocean, and why they’re now being found in wildlife, soils, air, and even our own bodies. You’ll also learn what it’s like to live and learn aboard a 60-foot research sailboat in the Gulf of Maine.​

Ashley shares her winding career path from a childhood spent sailing in Florida to place-based environmental education and leading a marine conservation nonprofit. This episode is a rich resource for educators, caregivers, and young people imagining future STEM/STEAM and conservation careers, plus it serves up practical ideas and a generous dose of hope.​

Chapters 

• 00:48 – Meet Ashley and the Rozalia Project
• 02:30 – Marine debris 101: Where all this trash comes from
• 02:54 – Starting with wonder: cleanups, empathy, and “aha” moments
• 03:56 – Microplastics and microfibers made simple
• 09:49 – The CORA Ball
• 12:04 – American Promise: life and learning on a research sailboat
• 18:25 – “Humans caused it, humans can fix it”
• 22:06 – Place-based learning, philosophy, and the sea
• 30:09 – Climate, storms, and why inland trash still reaches the ocean
• 33:29 – What gives Ashley hope

If this episode sparked curiosity, here are some next steps to take with your learners, families, or teams.

Follow the Rozalia Project.​