In this episode of Going Coastal, co-hosts Jon Miller and Deb Fernandes are joined by Dr. Nicole Elko, Executive Director of ASBPA and Co-Executive Director of the U.S. Coastal Research Program, and Emily Patrolia, founder of ESP Advisors. Together, they unpack what really happens during Coast Week in Washington, D.C.!

We talk about:

• - How coastlines are showing up on Capitol Hill
• - Practical tips for introverts navigating policy events
• - Why your voice matters — even as a student or early-career professional
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If you’ve ever wondered how science meets policy, or how YOU can get involved in shaping the future of our coasts, this one’s for you.

What do a soon-to-be PhD, a recent master’s grad, and two coastal professionals have in common? A love for all things coastal —and a healthy dose of imposter syndrome.

In this month’s Going Coastal, Jon and Marissa have a fun discussion about student research with Amy Bredes (Stevens Institute of Technology) and Constance Hickman (University of South Alabama), diving into nature-based solutions, modeling shoreline protection and the very real post-grad job hunt.

Whether you're curious about XBeach modeling, interdisciplinary challenges in NBS, or the truth about Jon’s hair, or even how a dirty martini fits into a coastal engineering career—this one's for you!

Tune in for inspiration, laughs, and real talk from the future of coastal science.

In this month’s episode of Going Coastal, your favorite co-hosts dive into three major topics affecting our shorelines:

Sneaker Waves – Marissa unpacks some of the physics behind these sudden, powerful waves that have taken people by surprise—where do they occur and what makes them so dangerous?

Nuisance Erosion – Jon explores this under-the-radar issue that’s affecting beaches and infrastructure. It’s not storm-driven, but it’s happening every day—what does it mean for coastal communities?

The Sand Resource Crisis – Deb takes us into the hidden world of sand scarcity. As the second most-extracted resource after water, sand is disappearing rapidly due to global demand. How are we related to sand, and what are the implications for coastal engineers?

We hope you enjoy this episode! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts, rate and share with your friends and colleagues! We’d much appreciate it <3