Adventure Travel with James Michael Dorsey - Author & Explorer

Adventure Travel - Big World Made Small

Area/Topic
Exploration, Whales, Indigenous Communities
James Michael Dorsey
Author & Explorer
James Michael Dorsey is an award-winning author, explorer, and lecturer who has spent three decades researching remote tribal cultures in fifty-nine countries. His personal narratives give a small voice to those who otherwise would vanish from the earth with few people ever knowing they existed. His separate passion is working as a cetacean naturalist on whale boats in California and Mexico, a parallel career he has pursued for three decades. These combined journeys have resulted in over 800 published essays and articles and four books.
He returns annually to lecture about gray whales in the sanctuary lagoon of San Ignacio in Baja, Mexico, where he was the resident naturalist for twenty-two seasons. His latest book “The Lagoon,”is a definitive study of gray whales and the indigenous peoples of Baja where he was resident naturalist for 22 years.
He is a former contributing editor at Transitions Abroad and has written for United Airlines, The Christian Science Monitor, Lonely Planet, Perceptive Travel, California Literary Review, Colliers, Los Angeles Times, BBC Wildlife, BBC Travel, Geo Ex, Wanderlust, and Natural History, plus several African magazines.
He is a member of the American Cetacean Society, a fellow of the Explorer’s Club, and member emeritus of the Adventurer’s Club.
https://www.jamesmichaeldorsey.com/
summary
In this episode of the Big World Made Small podcast, Jason Elkins interviews renowned explorer and author James Michael Dorsey. They discuss Dorsey's journey from a mail carrier to an adventure traveler, his experiences with indigenous cultures, and the unique relationship between humans and whales in Baja. Dorsey shares captivating stories from his travels, including a harrowing encounter with a baboon in Tanzania and the challenges of leading group tours. The conversation also touches on the impact of tourism on indigenous communities and the importance of cultural preservation.

takeaways

• James Dorsey's journey into exploration began with a kayaking trip in British Columbia.
• Dorsey has spent decades documenting vanishing tribal cultures in Africa and Asia.
• The connection between whales and indigenous cultures is profound and intertwined.
• Traveling with a partner can enhance the adventure experience, but it also presents challenges.
• Dorsey's experiences in Ethiopia included a dangerous volcano expedition that resulted in a broken leg.
• Whale watching in Baja is unique because the whales actively seek human contact.
• The ethics of whale watching are complex, with differing opinions on human interaction with wildlife.
• Dorsey leads tours to Baja, but prefers to engage with participants rather than manage logistics.
• Cultural immersion is key to understanding and respecting indigenous societies.
• Dorsey is concerned about the over-reliance of indigenous communities on tourism for survival.

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