The Nature Of with Willow Defebaugh Stories from the Deep with Cristina Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen
Jan 20, 2026
Cristina Mittermeier, a pioneering conservation photographer and founder of the conservation photography movement, joins forces with Paul Nicklen, a former polar biologist and celebrated nature photographer. They share harrowing tales of near-death experiences while documenting wildlife, emphasizing the urgency of storytelling in conservation efforts. From their intimate bond to their advocacy for the ocean, they argue for the power of ordinary people as 'glorious amateurs' in the fight for our planet, guided by love, hope, and the transformative beauty of nature.
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Meeting Through A Leopard Seal Talk
- Paul met Cristina after presenting his leopard seal story at National Geographic and they became close friends before romance followed.
- Their relationship grew over years of professional collaboration and shared conservation purpose.
Getting To Know A Leopard Seal
- Paul spent two months in Antarctica getting in the water with leopard seals to understand them after a scientist's death.
- He described a repeated nurturing interaction where a seal tried to feed him penguins and gently tickled him with whiskers.
Storytelling Wins Conservation Battles
- Storytelling can shift public perception and win conservation battles by humanizing animals and ecosystems.
- Cristina argues who tells the story often determines which conservation issues gain traction.
