Host:
Welcome back to Podcast Junkie, the show where we explore the best audio storytelling. I’m here today with Emmen Naqvi, who is joining us to talk about a podcast that stood out to her: Episode 1: Save the Whale from The Serial. Emmen, why don’t you get started and tell us about it?

Emmen:
First of all, thank you for having me. This is a podcast that I’m really excited about, and I think it’s about a topic that I think more people should know about. So, Save the Whale is the first episode from a podcast series detailing the events about a whale named Keiko, or what may be more familiar to listeners as Willy from the popular movie “Free Willy,” which he starred in. This episode specifically zooms in on Keiko’s significance as a public figure before the movie was made, and also his very sad beginnings.

Host:
Could you talk more about his beginnings?

Emmen:
Of course! Keiko was an orca whale and from before he was 2 years old, he was stripped away from his mother and taken away to an amusement park in Mexico City. Now, this is very important to understand because the thing about orca whales is that they are very attached to their mothers, even up to adulthood. In fact, as mentioned in the podcast, even at the age of 20, male orcas are found to be swimming next to their mothers while they share the same meals together–

Host:
Wow, that sounds just horrible.

Emmen:
Yeah, so you can imagine how detrimental an effect that would have on a baby whale, like Keiko was. The podcast also mentioned how he was bullied by the other orcas in the past, and was moved to a small solitary aquarium. You know, orcas are very social creatures, but he was completely alone. All he had was his human friends, who, I must say, seemed to love him dearly. In the podcast, there is a woman who took care of Keiko who talks about him with so much compassion, she even gets emotional when remembering him.

Host:
I thought Willy, or Keiko as you say, was only famous because of the movie, but you mentioned he was already a public figure?

Emmen:
Yes, that was one of the things that struck me most while listening to the podcast, which was how essential he was to Mexican culture at the time. Tens of thousands flocked to see him perform tricks, and he appeared in telenovelas and TV specials. Celebrities requested to have a private swim with him. He wasn’t just a zoo attraction; he was a national celebrity. As mentioned in the podcast, he could be compared to Mexico’s Mickey Mouse. He was already a beloved icon long before the Hollywood spotlight.

After the movie; however, when news came about that he was sick and living in poor conditions, the world spoke out for his release back into the wild. Of course, more episodes in the series will cover this, but he did eventually have to leave Mexico, and that was a huge event. Some people compared it to the Pope visiting Mexico.

Host:
That’s incredibly interesting. It sounds like this podcast was quite engaging. Did the production style contribute to the experience?

Emmen:
Definitely. Serial always brings that clean, immersive sound design, and the host has a great way of guiding the story with curiosity and clarity. You’re not just listening to a series of events, but you feel the concerns, the excitement, the hope, the sadness. You feel for Keiko and empathize with his suffering.

Host:
Would you recommend this to everyone?

Emmen:
Absolutely. This podcast explores ideas of wildlife conservation, protecting nature, and also the works of Hollywood. I think it has something in it for everyone to listen to and learn from.

Host:
Thanks for sharing it, Emmen. You have given us a lot to think about.

Emmen:
Thank you! It was truly a pleasure