Becoming a dolphin trainer is a dream job for many, including Nina Leipold. It wasn’t until after a pivotal internship actually training these amazing creatures that Nina realized she didn’t actually want to train them. She wanted them in the wild. Join us today as she shares the story behind this revelation, and how she created, and became, the Mermaid of Hilton Head Island.
Quick Links
Hilton Head, South Carolina
Dolphin intelligence
Dolphins’ emotional and physical health in captivity
Hilton Head and bottlenose dolphins
Robotic dolphins
Neutrally buoyant
Free diving
The moon and the tides
Alive vs. dead sand dollars
Sea turtles and light pollution
Sunscreen and coral
Blacktip shark
Box jellyfish
Dolphins are Mammals
Rostrum
Balloons and the environment
Show Notes:
54.0 – Nina always wanted to be a dolphin trainer. Listen to what specifically fascinated her about these marine animals.
1:25 – Once Nina became a dolphin trainer, she was unsettled to see how differently dolphins in captivity behaved from wild dolphins.
3:18 – As a mate on a boat tour in Hilton Head, Nina noticed people’s interest waning when she started talking about conservation. She wanted to do something about this.
4:22 – Nina shares some of the ideas she considered on how to make conservation more accessible, before she landed on becoming the Mermaid of Hilton Head.
5:53 – As a dolphin trainer, Nina learned a lot from one particular dolphin.
10:03 – What was it like learning to swim with a mermaid tail?
14:58 – Nina and Kara talk sand dollar etiquette.
16:46 – Light pollution and hole digging. Tips on keeping sea turtles in consideration while visiting beaches.
19:22 – Sometimes a blacktip shark called Ethel joins Nina on her tours and helps show kids that sharks aren’t so scary.
22:51 – Before Nina was the Mermaid of Hilton Head, she was writing children’s books to educate people in a fun way. She shares some of the trials and tribulations of publishing.
26:22 – All of Nina’s children’s books feature messages about helping the ocean. Listen to Nina discuss Dolphin Adventures and why feeding dolphins can be very harmful.
31:40 – Being in the water as much as Nina is for the mermaid tours is no easy task. Nina shares what her training looks like.
33:24 – One organism Nina definitely worries about while in the water is the box jellyfish.
37:14 – How do the marine creatures of Hilton Head react to Nina in her mermaid tail?
38:59 – Nina tells the story of being an impromptu dolphin mom for a few weeks when a young dolphin, Aquaman, started following her around, and how she handled this responsibly.
41:25 – What makes dolphins mammals?
45:11 – Nina shares one of her favorite field stories, which involves a sea turtle with great timing, her mermaid tail, and, unfortunately, no pictures.
47:29 – Nina has several great asks for the listeners to take away from the episode. Don’t miss them!
48:57 – Balloons. Why are they so terrible?