Future Ecologies presents: Circle of Voices & Javan Hunt

Aug 29, 2025

Join Louise Romain, a recordist and anthropologist who brings soundscapes to life, along with Javan Hunt, a musician and conservationist dedicated to preserving mangroves in the Bahamas. They explore the rich cultural identity of the Raizal community, unveiling their fight for fishing rights and environmental protection. Hear inspiring stories of female marine biologists restoring coral reefs and the urgent call for community action against climate change. Together, they weave a narrative of resilience and hope for Caribbean coastal ecosystems.

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INSIGHT

Multi-Species Storytelling And Reciprocity

Louise Romain frames multi-species storytelling as listening to more-than-human voices through sound and human narratives.
She positions reciprocity and anti-extractive practice as central to ethical field recording.

ANECDOTE

Raizal Resistance To Mainland Control

Pedro Livingston describes Raizal belief that the islands are their ancestral territory and resist mainland legal imposition.
He recounts community organizing among fishermen to defend cultural and territorial rights.

INSIGHT

Climate Impacts Already Hitting Island Lives

Pedro and others link rising sea levels, hotter waters and stronger storms directly to impacts on fisheries and coral health.
They emphasize islands are unprepared for increasingly severe hurricanes and tidal changes.

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It's a double feature!

With help from recordist/anthropologist/podcaster Louise Romain and musician/conservationist Javan Hunt, we're visiting the Caribbean. First, off the coast of Colombia, on the islands of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, and next a musical excursion to Grand Bahama.

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From Reef to Ridge is an audio documentary love story with the Ocean, the reef, and its guardians; an invitation to travel to Caribbean shores to immerse yourself in the lived experiences of coastal communities, and in the sounds of the local ecosystems: the coral reefs and the mangroves.

You will hear stories from Raizal fishermen, turning their ignorance for corals into love, respect and admiration, and learn about the work of the female marine biologists of the Blue Indigo Foundation to restore and heal corals.

Together, they share about their dreams for the future of the reef, the challenges they face with global warming, climate change and extreme weather events, and the hopes of marine and coastal ecosystem regeneration after the recent hurricanes.

Featuring the voices of Laura Valderrama Ballesteros, Yanelys Cantillo Villa, Pedro Livingston, Ruben Azcarate, Camilo Leche, Casimiro Newball Hyman, Josselyn Bryan Arboleda, plus original music by Marc Blandel.

Find more from Louise at Circle of Voices, wherever you get podcasts, or at tuneintotheworld.com

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As Waterkeepers Bahamas' Mangrove Nursery Coordinator, as a public educator, and as a musician, Javan Hunt has introduced folks of all ages to the joy of taking an active role in ecological flourishing.

Javan's dedication to environmental stewardship is rooted in his love for The Bahamas — a place of stunning beauty. Its ecosystems, particularly its mangroves, are the lifeblood of coastal resilience. But after Hurricane Dorian, vast swaths of these critical habitats were destroyed, leaving communities vulnerable. both ecologically and culturally. The crisis wasn't just environmental — it was spiritual, a loss of identity tied to the land and sea. He has used his artistry and environmental work to create a movement that restores more than just mangroves — it restores connection, culture, and a sense of home.

Find more from Javan on all music platforms, or at javanhunt.com