Skip to main content

Ask RayNew Trends Ads Appearances Podcasts API

We value your privacy

We use cookies to understand how you use our platform and to improve your experience. Click “Accept All” to consent, or “Decline non-essential” to opt out of non-essential cookies. Read our Privacy Policy.

Life Without

Life Without Plankton

Oct 30, 2026 · 15 min · 10 segments

The ocean’s tiniest drifters disappear. In this episode of Life Without, Alan Davies removes plankton from the sea. They may be hard to see, but what happens when the foundation of ocean life is…

The ocean’s tiniest drifters disappear. In this episode of Life Without, Alan Davies removes plankton from the sea. They may be hard to see, but what happens when the foundation of ocean life is suddenly gone? Alan episode explores the food webs that begin with plankton, from fish to seabirds and whales. He also looks at the familiar things they shape, including the smell of the seaside and glowing blue tides, and at their broader role in climate and ocean science. Featuring Dr Clare Ostle, marine biogeochemist at the Marine Biological Association, and environmental journalist Anna Turns. An ITN production for BBC Radio 4

The ocean’s tiniest drifters disappear. In this episode of Life Without, Alan Davies removes plankton from the sea. They may be hard to see, but what happens when the foundation of ocean life is…

Speakers: Alan DaviesHostAnna TurnsGuestClare OstleGuestKiri Pritchard-McLeanHost

Top entities: Alan Davies×12 Anna Turns×10 Plankton×3 BBC Radio 4×4 Clare Ostle×3

Show signals: PopularityPopulartop 10%

Meet the Ocean's Drifters1:34 – 2:47

Clare OstleGuest

1:34

There's many organisms that are very charismatic and people care about, but actually plankton are the life of the oceans, they're the life of this planet, and we should be understanding more about them.

Alan DaviesHost

1:43

That's Dr Claire Ostall, marine biogeochemist at the Marine Biological Association and the chair of the Global Alliance of Continuous Plankton Recorder Surveys.

Alan DaviesHost

1:55

And Anna Turns, an environmental journalist and senior environment editor for The Conversation.

Anna TurnsGuest

2:01

I am very worried about a world without plankton.

Anna TurnsGuest

2:03

I think it's going to be very tricky.

Alan DaviesHost

2:09

If you can't swim against the current, congratulations, you're plankton.

Alan DaviesHost

2:14

You can be a microscopic speck of algae or a huge jellyfish drifting through the deep and you still get the job title, plankton.

Alan DaviesHost

2:23

The extras in the film of life, filling the frame, setting the scene and almost never getting noticed.

Alan DaviesHost

2:29

Well, I'm the director today and I'm cutting costs.

Alan DaviesHost

2:33

The extras are fired.

Alan DaviesHost

2:35

Plankton are out.

Alan DaviesHost

2:37

Now, let's see if the stars can keep the show going.

Alan DaviesPersonActor and host
97%12 mentions
Anna TurnsPersonJournalist
92%10 mentions
PlanktonEntity
87%3 mentions
BBC Radio 4Radio StationRadio station
82%4 mentions
Clare OstlePersonResearcher
76%3 mentions
Alfred NobelPersonSwedish chemist and inventor
71%2 mentions
BBCCompanyBroadcasting company
66%5 mentions
Continuous Plankton RecorderEntity
61%2 mentions
Kiri Pritchard-McLeanPersonComedian and writer
55%4 mentions
Southern OceanBody of WaterOcean
50%2 mentions
Marine Biological Association of the United KingdomEntityResearch institute in Plymouth, England
45%2 mentions
Greek languageEntityHuman language
39%1 mention
NASAGovernment OrganizationGovernment agency
34%1 mention
SpongeBob SquarePantsTV SeriesAmerican animated series
29%1 mention
FibonacciPersonItalian mathematician
24%1 mention
Student orientationEntityEvent
18%1 mention
Nick HanleyPersonResearcher
13%1 mention
EdinburghCityCapital of Scotland
8%1 mention
United KingdomCountryCountry in Europe
3%1 mention

OceanographyScience
OceansEnvironment
Marine Environmental MonitoringScience > Oceanography
Phytoplankton and Zooplankton CommunitiesScience > Biology > Marine Biology > Plankton Ecology
Marine Food WebsEnvironment > Oceans > Marine Ecosystems
Plankton-Supported Fisheries and SeabirdsEnvironment > Oceans > Marine Ecosystems > Marine Food Webs
Continuous Plankton Recorder SurveysScience > Oceanography > Marine Environmental Monitoring
Long-Term Plankton Change and Genetic AnalysisScience > Oceanography > Marine Environmental Monitoring > Continuous Plankton Recorder Surveys
Fisheries and AquacultureEconomics > Natural Resources > Marine Resources
Natural ResourcesEconomics
Marine EcosystemsEnvironment > Oceans
Marine BiologyScience > Biology
Biological Carbon PumpEnvironment > Climate Change > Carbon Cycle
Marine ResourcesEconomics > Natural Resources
Plankton EcologyScience > Biology > Marine Biology
Carbon CycleEnvironment > Climate Change
Environment
Economics
Science
Climate ChangeEnvironment
BiologyScience

Meet the Ocean's Drifters1:34 – 2:47

Clare OstleGuest

1:34

There's many organisms that are very charismatic and people care about, but actually plankton are the life of the oceans, they're the life of this planet, and we should be understanding more about them.

Alan DaviesHost

1:43

That's Dr Claire Ostall, marine biogeochemist at the Marine Biological Association and the chair of the Global Alliance of Continuous Plankton Recorder Surveys.

Alan DaviesHost

1:55

And Anna Turns, an environmental journalist and senior environment editor for The Conversation.

Anna TurnsGuest

2:01

I am very worried about a world without plankton.

Anna TurnsGuest

2:03

I think it's going to be very tricky.

Alan DaviesHost

2:09

If you can't swim against the current, congratulations, you're plankton.

Alan DaviesHost

2:14

You can be a microscopic speck of algae or a huge jellyfish drifting through the deep and you still get the job title, plankton.

Alan DaviesHost

2:23

The extras in the film of life, filling the frame, setting the scene and almost never getting noticed.

Alan DaviesHost

2:29

Well, I'm the director today and I'm cutting costs.

Alan DaviesHost

2:33

The extras are fired.

Alan DaviesHost

2:35

Plankton are out.

Alan DaviesHost

2:37

Now, let's see if the stars can keep the show going.

Sign up to see more

The rest of this transcript — segmented and speaker-labeled, so you land on the exact moment something was said
Search every transcript — by keyword, by phrase, or by meaning, across every show Radar indexes
Trends — what is surging across podcasts, measured against its own baseline
Alerts — when a name you follow appears in a newly indexed episode

Create an account Already have an account? Log in

No account is needed to search Radar.