2026 Guest Line Up

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Dr. Chris Malinowski’s career has been largely focused on studying how human activities affect aquatic ecosystems—from the depths of the ocean to coastal waters, estuaries, and the Great Lakes. His work has taken him everywhere from studying microscopic zooplankton to researching some of the ocean's most iconic animals: sharks, sea turtles, marine mammals, and massive Goliath Grouper. That research has spanned everything from pollution impacts and toxicology to diet and trophic ecology, movement patterns, spawning behavior, physiology, population estimates, and policy. Along the way, he’s had the incredible opportunity to share this work through National Geographic, documentary films, Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, and Netflix's hit series "All the Sharks."

Based in Florida, he co-founded Shark Docs LLC alongside his longtime friend and colleague Dr. Brendan Talwar, building on the platform established by "All the Sharks" with a shared mission of reducing the extinction risk to sharks and rays. Through Shark Docs, he develops long-term research projects and community engagement programs, runs field courses, produces podcast episodes from every location featured on the show, and leads conservation initiatives grounded in science, education, and entrepreneurship. He earned his PhD from Florida State University, and throughout his career he remains driven by a singular goal: making the greatest positive impact on ocean conservation that he possibly can.

Dr. Mike Heithaus is vice provost for Environmental Resilience and for Biscayne Bay Campus at Florida International University. He is also executive dean of the College of Arts, Sciences & Education and professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida International University. He is a marine ecologist specializing in predator-prey interactions and the ecological importance of sharks and other large marine species. Heithaus was a scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory's Center for Shark Research. He also worked with National Geographic's Remote Imaging Department where he conducted studies using their "Crittercam." Heithaus has been involved in the production of more than a dozen natural history documentaries, including two featured on Shark Week, and has hosted a National Geographic Channel television series. 

 Dr. Yannis Papastamatiou is an associate professor and marine biologist. With over 100 research publications, Papastamatiou is one of the world’s leading shark behavioral ecologists. Papastamatiou’s use of new tag technologies on species ranging from pelagic oceanic whitetips to home-ranging reef sharks has advanced the field of predator ecology and led to evidence-based marine protected area zoning. His work has appeared on National Geographic and BBC. A native of London, Papastamatiou has conducted research in California, Florida, Hawaii, South Africa and throughout the Mediterranean and Northern Pacific Ocean. He earned a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. 

Brendan is a fisheries ecologist researching tropical and subtropical sharks and the fisheries that interact with them. Based in Southern California, he is a  a postdoctoral scholar at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography - UC San Diego, where he  works in the Semmens Lab on projects spanning bycatch mitigation, healthy seafood, and citizen science. Brendan is passionate about using research to support healthy oceans and sustainable fisheries while sharing the wonder of marine life with students and the public however I can. He is  excited to partner with Dr. Chris Malinowski through their new venture Shark Docs, where they seek to use our appearance on Netflix's All the Sharks to educate students about sharks and their conservation worldwide.  

 Dr. Annmarie Fearing is a marine biologist and researcher specializing in sharks, rays, and specifically critically endangered sawfish. Rather than fearing them, her career is dedicated to conserving them. 

She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi and has been a Professor of Marine Biology, most recently collaborating with Rollins College.

She co-led the "SawSearch" initiative, which studies the genetic diversity of sawfish populations by extracting DNA from historic samples (such as rostrums or "saws") and comparing them to populations today.

Katie Propp is the Director of Conservation Strategy at Ocean First Institute, where she leads  global efforts to protect marine species. Her work focuses on translating scientific research into  compelling stories and programs that inspire action within communities. Katie has managed  multi-year projects and grants supporting conservation initiatives across continents, landing her  on BBC to discuss topics from polar bears to penguins. She’s presented to NASA, worked with  film and photography crews for National Geographic, and helped launch digital engagement  programs with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Katie continues to innovate  and drive meaningful change in the marine conservation field- especially for sharks. 

Kenzie serves as the Head Resident Scientist for the North Carolina Shark Conservancy, where she manages the shark stranding database and helps lead the development of a shark tagging program. She holds a B.S. in Marine Science from University of South Florida and an M.Sc. from Jacksonville University, with research focused on white shark movements in the Western North Atlantic.

Previously, she worked as a fisheries biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, studying fish and shark communities across Florida’s coastal systems. Her expertise includes shark telemetry, spatial ecology, and fisheries monitoring.

Passionate about science communication, Kenzie also serves as a Regional Director for the Florida Marine Science Educators Association and actively participates in outreach events like SharkCon and Fin Fest. Her work focuses on advancing understanding of shark ecology in the Carolinas to support effective #sharkfest conservation.

 In 2019, MJ founded Clean This Beach Up, a non-profit organization for which she’s currently the CEO. Through Clean This Beach Up, MJ, a Miami Beach, Florida resident, remains involved in various initiatives that focus on educating communities and spreading awareness about their cause. During the course of their 6-year-and-counting run, they have organized coastal restoration efforts and conducted various workshops. Additionally, the organization also hosts shoreline cleanups and recently held a cleanup event at Biscayne National Park in March of 2025. They also undertook the 2025 Komodo Expedition to further actualize their goals. She is featured on Netflix's All The Sharks.

Randy Thomas is an underwater filmmaker, wildlife biologist, and educator focused on marine conservation and storytelling. He has conducted research with the Bimini Biological Field Station and worked across the Florida Keys and California coast, documenting diverse marine ecosystems and shark behavior. His work has reached global audiences through his involvement with the Netflix production All of the Sharks. Randy has led educational programs nationwide, using film and outreach to inspire a deeper understanding and protection of our oceans. 

 Scientist, Wildlife Expert, Master Diver, Outdoor Explorer, Content Creator, and Model — Rosie Moore is a champion for both nature and the next generation of women exploring it. 

Through bold storytelling and immersive fieldwork, she brings audiences face-to-face with apex predators and remote ecosystems, advocating for their protection while challenging outdated perceptions of who belongs in these spaces. Rosie is especially passionate about encouraging women to venture into uncharted territory — from the ocean depths to the wild backcountry — with confidence and curiosity. 

With a Master of Science in Geosciences from Florida Atlantic University, field experience as a Wildlife Biologist with the renowned Croc Docs at the University of Florida, and certification as a Master Diver, Rosie’s work bridges science, adventure, and impact.

She is featured on Netflix's All The Sharks.

Associate Research Scientist Brent Winner (right) received his masters’ degree in marine biology, specializing in sharks, from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
He’s caught, studied, and published scientific papers on a variety of Florida fish species including red drum, snook, sheepshead, snapper/grouper species, and sharks and rays.

Tonya grew up far from saltwater in Michigan and north Texas but developed a love for the ocean during family vacations to Florida and caught her first shark while fishing with her dad in Charlotte Harbor.  Following a stint in the US Navy she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Fisheries from Texas A&M University at Galveston.  She completed an internship with the White Shark Research Institute in South Africa, and then a temporary research project on endangered suckers with US Geological Survey in Oregon.  Tonya has worked for the Coastal Fisheries Division of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as a Marine Finfish Hatchery Technician, Ecosystem Management Technician, and Fisheries Outreach Specialist; and for Mote Marine Laboratory’s Center for Shark Research on the Sawfish Research Project leading field surveys for endangered smalltooth sawfish from Tampa Bay to the Florida Keys.  Tonya is now the President of Havenworth Coastal Conservation, founded to promote the sustainable use and conservation of marine resources through research, outreach, and education.   

Tonya has been conducting field studies of sharks and rays since 2001, including research on the endangered smalltooth sawfish in Florida, becoming an authority on the biology and ecology of the species. Tonya now leads sawfish research in the Tampa Bay area and outreach efforts throughout Florida. She serves as a Vice-President for the Sawfish Conservation Society (an organization connecting the world to advance global sawfish education, research, and conservation) and is the appointed Leader for the U.S. Smalltooth Sawfish Recovery Implementation Team (a multi-institutional panel of experts working to protect the remaining sawfish population in the U.S. and prevent the species from going extinct).