Octopus intelligence is nothing short of extraordinary—and in this episode, we dive deep with award-winning author Mark Leiren-Young to explore the surprising minds, behaviors, and conservation challenges of one of the ocean’s most elusive animals. Inspired by his latest book Octopus Ocean: Geniuses of the Deep, Mark shares jaw-dropping stories about tool-using octopuses, their ability to dream, their strange biology (think blue blood and donut-shaped brains), and why these misunderstood creatures deserve our awe and protection.

Octopus conservation is becoming a hot topic thanks to a growing public fascination with cephalopods—sparked in part by documentaries like My Octopus Teacher. Mark and I discuss the ethical questions around octopus farming, the movement to grant them legal protections, and how young readers (and adults!) can become stewards of marine life. This episode is a fun, insightful, and important listen for ocean lovers of all ages.

Buy the book: https://www.orcabook.com/Octopus-Ocean

Website: https://www.leiren-young.com/

Connect with Speak Up For Blue:
Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@speakupforblue
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc
YouTube: www.speakupforblue.com/youtube