Episode 233 - Dr. Lawrence Pratt

The Cripescast Podcast

Charlie Berens

Comedy Interviews, Comedy

5 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 12 February 2025

⏱️ 67 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

It’s estimated that 8 million tons of plastic enter the world’s oceans every year. But did you know, the plastic we see floating on the oceans’ surface, is only ~1% of those 8 million tons? As for the 99% below the surface? They’re still a mystery to the scientists studying microplastics today. One in particular is Dr. Lawrence Pratt, senior scientist at the Wood’s Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) in Massachusetts, who is working on figuring out where the oceans’ currents carry these mystery plastics. The goal of his research is to locate where plastics and microplastics congregate, so that when filtering technology becomes accessible, we know exactly where to start. In this episode of the Cripescast, Larry defines microplastics, how they pose a threat to humans and animals alike, and what we can do to reduce their existence in the first place. He and Charlie also chat about Wisconsin winters, scuba diving, and sharks.

For more information on the Wood’s Hole Oceanographic Institute, visithttps://www.whoi.edu/.

Follow the Cripescast on all platforms at @cripescast and follow Charlie @charlieberens.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, folks, welcome to the Krepscast.
0:02.0	This is the podcast we talk to people for and or from the Midwest.
0:05.3	We are powered by Everlight Solar and here is this week's episode.
0:09.2	Hello, folks.
0:10.2	Welcome back to another episode of the Krepscast.
0:12.9	Today we are talking with Dr. Larry Pratt.
0:17.0	Dr. Pratt, he's a Wisconsin guy.
0:19.3	He's from Rhinelander, go Hodeg.
0:23.4	Is that what they say, Rhinelander? Go Hodegs.
0:27.5	If you've never been to Rhinelander, Wisconsin, guys, there is just one of the most beautiful
0:32.8	creatures to ever walk this globe. And yes, it's a real creature, the Hodeg. You can find the Hodagh in the woods of Rhinelander.
0:40.2	But I would travel softly and carry a big stick because that thing apparently could be vicious.
0:47.6	I don't know.
0:48.8	Nice tangent, Charlie.
0:50.2	Anyway, back to Dr. Pratt.
0:52.0	He went to the University of Wisconsin for his bachelor's.
0:56.4	He got his master's from the University of Wisconsin as well.
0:59.2	And he is an expert in ocean currents.
1:01.7	Why is that important?
1:02.8	Because what's going through the currents?
1:04.9	Microplastics, ladies and gentlemen, that's what this week's episode is mostly focused on is microplastics.
1:10.0	And the reason I'm focused on them is because there's a lot of studies out there that say
	...

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