Broadcaster Spotlight: MontereyAq

Ever wonder what it’s like to feed a shark, go diving in a kelp forest, or have a penguin sit in your lap? Meet Patrick Webster from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, who broadcasts close encounters with marine life and the science behind it all from @MontereyAq.

What inspired you to start broadcasting?

The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the ocean. We’re always looking for new ways to help people make a personal connection with the underwater world, and Periscope is an amazing platform to reach the ocean-minded, global community. Plus, I enjoy nerding out about marine biology in public — Periscope is an enabler of that vice.

What do you wish someone had told you before you started broadcasting?

The main thing that I had to learn was to not overthink it. There’s always a drive to make the next scope “better” than the previous scope — but on the other end of the scope are a bunch of fans and followers that just want to hang out, see something fun, and have a conversation with you. “Just go live and have fun.”

What’s been your most interesting experience that you’ve shared on Periscope?

I’m fortunate to work at such an incredible institution — it’s really convenient to have the Monterey Bay, amazing animals, and a world-class aquarium on hand every day for a scope! The 360 scope inside the penguin exhibit was surreal — I’ve wanted to work at the Aquarium since I was five, so to be able to be in that display, with little Rey jumping into my lap, and streaming to thousands of people, was definitely a highlight.

What’s the most awkward thing that’s happening to you while broadcasting?

On our first underwater, narrated scope in our Kelp Forest exhibit, one of the connectors to my video cable started to leak and shorted out the video. I was still live on audio though. So there I was, alone underwater at the other end of the feed, trying to troubleshoot the stream with everyone topside, all the while live-narrating over a blank screen. And the fish didn’t exactly offer any comforting words, either.

What’s on your bucket list of things to broadcast?

Since I started broadcasting, I’ve wanted to narrate a scope in a wild kelp forest and all around the Monterey Bay — basically closing the loop by sharing our local waters with the world that started with the opening of the Aquarium 33 years ago. Ocean’s the limit!

Who are three of your favorite broadcasters who we should follow today?

• @CAStateParks — they’ve got some amazing wildlife and historic monuments and are ramping up their Periscope presence.
• @GrandCanyonNPS — self-explanatory. So peaceful.
• @MitchOates, that glorious bleeding-edge aquatic instigator. See you underwater, buddy!