A THREE-PART DOCUMENTARY SERIES
premiering on pbs june 19, 2024
HOPE IN
THE WATER
FEATURING Shailene Woodley, Martha Stewart,
Jose Andrés, and Baratunde Thurston
HOPE
IN THE WATER
A THREE-PART DOCUMENTARY SERIES
PREMIERING ON PBS june 19, 2024
FEATURING Shailene Woodley,
Martha Stewart, Jose Andrés,
and Baratunde Thurston.
The Hope In The Water docuseries travels the globe to discover the creative solutions and breakthrough blue food technologies that could not only feed us but help save our threatened seas and fresh waterways. The series highlights the stories of amazing innovators, water farmers, and fishers who are working toward a sustainable future for the planet. This three-part docuseries is brought to you by thirteen-time Emmy award-winning producer and writer David E. Kelley and four-time James Beard award and Emmy award winner, Andrew Zimmern.
Celebrated environmental enthusiasts Shailene Woodley, Martha Stewart, José Andrés, and Baratunde Thurston reveal hidden underworlds jeopardized by climate change, irresponsible fishing and exploitation, and habitat destruction. They are each authentically tied to a particular story, seeking smart solutions to a planet in peril.
“The interconnectivity between Earth and all its inhabitants has always inspired my passions,” says Stewart. “We’ve been given the gift of this incredible planet – the only one we call home – and when we pair it with human ingenuity to think outside the box, we can become more eco-friendly and expect better for our future.”
An inspiring actor and activist, Woodley grew up surfing the California coast and has witnessed firsthand how “zombie” purple urchins have taken over and destroyed kelp forests. She goes underwater with urchin divers who collect the barren urchins then deliver them to a farm where their buttery roe is grown and harvested – turning an ecological imbalance into a sellable commodity and helping to save the kelp at the same time.
“It’s my hope that through this important work, we can collectively practice better alternatives that will nourish communities across the planet and sustain our waters,” says Woodley.
“We’re particularly excited about Hope In The Water’s potential to reach broad audiences thanks to the powerful voices at the forefront of the series, who demonstrate the possibilities of a more sustainable future, said Bill Gardner,
Vice President Multiplatform Programming and Head of Development at PBS. With a commitment to extensive public engagement around the series, we aim to not only bring compelling and authentic documentary content to audiences but also to connect and strengthen voices, people and communities with real world ways to make a difference.”
Baratunde Thurston tells a better story of us, weaving together threads of technology, democracy, and climate through his work as an Emmy-nominated host, producer, writer, and public speaker. He is a founding partner of the new media startup Puck and creator and host of the How To Citizen podcast. He is also the host and executive producer of the PBS television series America Outdoors. Baratunde is committed to telling stories that help us live together better, with each other and with the planet.
“I’ve assessed all the planets and strongly prefer life on Earth. It’s essential that we find ways to take care of this planet which is another way of saying take care of ourselves,” says Thurston.
We can save the seas. And the seas can save us.
Andrew Zimmern, executive producer
Andrew is an Emmy and 4-time James Beard Award-winning TV personality, writer, and chef. As the creator, executive producer, and host of the Bizarre Foods franchise and MSNBC’s What’s Eating America, he has explored cultures in more than 170 countries, promoting impactful ways to think about, create, and live with food. Andrew is a sought-after speaker on the topic of restorative water farming. In his travels, he has seen firsthand the plight of our oceans, its adverse impact on local communities, and the potential of restorative water farming to boost local economies, regenerate marine habitat, and help feed a growing world population. Read more about Andrew.
DAVID E. KELLEY, executive advisor
Multi award-winning writer and producer David E. Kelley is behind some of America’s most groundbreaking and distinctive television programs that address contemporary issues such as social justice, diversity, and privilege. He is the creator of the Emmy, Peabody, and Golden Globe Award-winning shows “Boston Legal,” “The Practice,” “Ally McBeal,” plus the critically acclaimed dramatic series “Boston Public,” “Chicago Hope,” and “Picket Fences.” Kelley’s adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s book “Big Little Lies” received multiple awards including an Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series as well as four Golden Globes. His latest projects include HBO’s most-watched series of 2020 “The Undoing,” Hulu’s most-watched original series “Nine Perfect Strangers,” and the upcoming series “Love And Death” for HBO Max. In addition to his incredible TV career, Kelley is the founder of Riverence, the largest grower of steelhead and rainbow trout in North America, with approximately 20 sustainably-managed farms in Idaho and Washington State.