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When I first met Bren Smith, I knew right away he was someone who lived what he believed. A former commercial fisherman turned regenerative ocean farmer, Bren has spent decades rebuilding his relationship with the sea and showing us how our food systems can do the same.
In this conversation, Bren shares how he went from chasing fish across the world’s oceans to cultivating kelp and shellfish that actually heal marine ecosystems. His story is raw, real, and deeply hopeful. We talk about what happens when industry and nature collide, why the ocean holds answers to our food and climate crises, and how each of us can start supporting regenerative systems right now.
Why This Matters to You
Feeling disconnected from what’s on your plate? Our modern food system was built for convenience, not connection. It takes from the land and sea without giving much back, leaving you wondering how to make choices that actually matter.
Tired of greenwashed labels and confusing “sustainability” claims? You’re not alone. Bren’s story cuts through the noise with a simple truth: food can nourish people and the planet at the same time. His journey from fisherman to regenerative ocean farmer shows what happens when we stop fighting nature and start learning from him.
Frustrated by the feeling that your choices don’t add up to real change? Here’s the shift. Regenerative ocean farming grows kelp and shellfish that clean the water, capture carbon, and rebuild marine ecosystems. It’s not about doing less harm. It’s about giving back more than you take.
Think you need to live on the coast to make a difference? You don’t. Every time you choose foods grown or made through regenerative methods, you’re investing in cleaner oceans, stronger communities, and a healthier planet.
Ready to rethink your relationship with nature? Bren’s work reminds you that she already has the answers. When you model your choices on his principles, diversity, balance, reciprocity, you move from extraction to regeneration. And that’s where real change begins.
Actionable Advice
Add sea vegetables to your plate. Start small, try kelp-based sauces, seasonings, or snacks. It supports coastal farmers and reduces strain on land agriculture.
Learn from nature’s playbook. Whether you’re a business owner or parent, model your systems after the balance and feedback loops you see in ecosystems.
Support regenerative brands. Choose companies that grow, source, and package food or materials in ways that restore soil and sea health.
Educate your community. Share what you’ve learned about ocean farming and the power of regenerative food systems. Awareness drives change.
Move into the “politics of yes.” Instead of focusing on what’s broken, look for the innovators building new solutions.
Bren grew up in a small Newfoundland fishing village where sustainability wasn’t a buzzword, it was a way of life. After years as a commercial fisherman in Alaska and witnessing firsthand the collapse of fish stocks, he knew something had to change. He traded in his trawling nets for kelp lines, founding Green Wave, a nonprofit that trains new ocean farmers to grow seaweed and shellfish that clean the water, capture carbon, and feed communities. Today, his model is reshaping how we think about food, climate, and meaningful work.
Links and Resources to Explore
Listen to the Full Episode – Available now on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.
At the end of the day, reconnecting to nature isn’t a luxury, it’s our lifeline. Bren’s work reminds us that regeneration starts with awareness, then action. So dive into this episode, take what resonates, and start making choices that bring life back to your own ecosystem, one meal, one habit, one small act at a time.
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