Introducing: In the Company of Humpbacks

Mar 19, 2026

A journey into the wild rhythms of Southeast Alaska with walks on Chichagof Island, blueberry-picking conversations about whales, politics and AI. A spontaneous trip to a remote lighthouse leads to recordings of whale thrums, wind and collaborative storytelling. Gratitude for partner organizations that made deeper listening and field recording possible.

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ANECDOTE

Chance Encounters Sparked The Series

Ayana describes meeting Fred Sharpe repeatedly at his Chichagof Island field station and conversing for hours while picking blueberries and cherries.
Those chance encounters led to an invitation to Five Fingers Lighthouse and long walks, recordings, and listening to whale thrums with Rachel Mead, Joe Olson, and Fred.

ANECDOTE

Five Fingers Lighthouse Became The Field Site

Ayana accepted an invitation to Five Fingers Lighthouse — a tiny, remote island with cliffs, storms, toddlers, and the oldest lighthouse in Alaska.
That visit became the field setting for walks, recordings, and listening to whale thrums and wind that shape the audio documentary.

INSIGHT

Local Partnerships Enabled Deeper Listening

The series relied on partnerships with local organizations to deepen listening and extend reach.
Ayana credits Alaska Whale Foundation, American Cetacean Society, Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation, Five Fingers Lighthouse, and Barnacle Foods for enabling the work.

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Hey, friends. Ayana, here.

We are so excited to announce our brand new audio documentary series in the company of humpbacks. Three episodes. One goal to take you into the quiet the thrums and the wild rhythms of Southeast Alaska.

How it started. Fred Sharpe, old friend, longtime explorer of these waters, and we're always running into each other at his field station in Chichagof Island. Now, every time I see him, he brings a smile and usually a little giggle because of his very Dr. Seuss like spirit, same place different years, and the conversations just keep getting longer. This summer, we ran into each other again, picking blueberries on a little boardwalk trail, and we just stayed there hours, talking about whales, politics, AI, the ocean, Alaska, life, everything just tangled together. A few months later, I'm at my neighbor's house picking cherries, hands full, not stopping very on brand for me. And Fred calls. He's got Joe Olson on speaker, and they say you've got to come to Five Fingers Lighthouse. Tiny island, remote cliff, storms, toddlers in tow, oldest lighthouse in Alaska, totally wild, and somehow I said yes.

That yes turned into walks, recordings and hours of listening to whale thrums, wind and the subtle rhythms of life all around us along the way. Rachel Meade, Joe Olson, Fred and I shared stories that are funny, strange, challenging and often pretty magical.

We couldn't have made the series without the generosity of the Alaska Whale Foundation, the American Cetacean Society, the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation, Five Fingers Lighthouse and Barnacle Foods.

Thanks to these organizations, we are able to listen deeper, wander further and bring these stories to you. This series is also the first in the new chapter for for the wild. We're now a studio, and we are loving this new way of relational storytelling, collaborating with constellations of people who want their stories heard. If you've got a story, a campaign, or a place that feels like it needs to be shared.

Connect with us at connect@forthewild.world now.

In the Company of Humpbacks drop soon, so step into the quiet, tune your ears to the thrums and come along with us.

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