The Conch Podcast features interviews

with the most inspiring women in the world of seafood.

Join Julie Kuchepatov,

founder of Seafood and Gender Equality (SAGE),

as she interviews women striving

to succeed in the sector, as well as those already making an impact,

and the challenges they face -

all while working to improve

the environmental and social responsibility

of the planet’s most incredible food source - seafood!


Although considered one of the deadliest occupations, it’s also been said that fishing saves lives*.

In the newest episode of The Conch, we learn how one woman’s grief led her to find solace on the ocean as a deep sea angler and galley cook. She shares the myriad of challenges for women in the sportfishing industry as she pursues her ultimate goal of someday becoming captain of her own boat.

Julie is joined by Roni Hanke, school teacher, galley cook, sports angler, and aspiring boat captain. 

*Content Warning: This episode features mentions of suicide and self-harm between minutes 7:17 - 9:42 and again from 12:05 - 13:08.

Episode Transcript

Episode Guide

  • :00 Content Warning: This episode features mentions of suicide and self-harm

  • 00:25 Intro

  • 1:50 Known as the @TikiFishGal on Instagram, Roni explains her affinity for the popular, yet controversial, Tiki subculture

  • 5:08 Deep sea saltwater fishing is the ultimate escapism

  • 7:17 - 9:42 Content Warning: This passage contains mentions of self-harm and suicide.

    Consumed by the death of her father and the isolation of the pandemic, Roni ultimately finds solace and a new passion on the water

  • 9:42 Deep sea sportfishing: a primer

  • 12:05 - 13:08 Content Warning: This passage contains mentions of self-harm and suicide.

  • 13:08 A pirate’s life: insight into the dark evolution of people working on sports fishing boats

  • 18:34 What will it take for Roni to attain her goal of becoming a boat captain?

  • 24:35 Navigating unspoken boat rules and maintaining personal safety as a woman leads to conflict

  • 30:06 What it’s like being a woman, often the only one, on a boat (There are A LOT of stereotypes and assumptions about women on boats…)

  • 35:43 With no previous experience, Roni took the only job she could get on a boat as a woman—galley cook

  • 37:26 Why do we idolize big fish, but not big women?

  • 41:31 Roni uplifts fellow angler Megan Long, @LargeMouth_Sass on Instagram

  • 42:57 The final word on what to call a woman who fishes: fisher or fisherman?

Resources: 

  1. Follow Roni and her sports fishing life on Instagram @TikiFishGal

  2. Make sure to recommend this episode to anyone you know who loves and cares about the future of our oceans.

The Conch Podcast is a program of Seafood and Gender Equality (SAGE).

Audio production, engineering, editing, mixing, and sound design by Crystal Sanders-Alvarado & team at Seaworthy.

Theme music: “Dilation” by Satan's Pilgrims

 Funding generously provided by