Estuaries — the delicate places where rivers meet the sea — are among the most overlooked ecosystems on the planet. They act as nurseries for countless fish species, filters for our waterways, and buffers protecting coastlines from storms. Yet, like so much of our natural world, they’re under threat. On Episode 140 of The Roadshow Podcast, host Jacob Roads sits down with marine biologist and podcaster Kurt Krispyn (host of  @Paramount.importance  to explore why these environments matter more than most of us realize — and why their decline is a warning sign we can’t afford to ignore.Krispyn’s expertise is rooted in estuarine science: the study of those brackish, ever-changing waters that sustain life on a scale far larger than most people imagine. In this conversation, he unpacks how waste, pollution, and mismanaged fish farming ripple through estuaries, choking the very nurseries that support biodiversity. He explains how the diversity of fish schools is shrinking, how human activity is reshaping migration patterns, and why estuaries are the frontline in the fight to protect our waters.Roads and Krispyn push past the headlines, asking the hard questions: What happens when estuaries collapse? How does it affect the seafood on our plates, the health of our oceans, and even the climate? And most importantly, what can we do about it?Krispyn’s answers are both sobering and inspiring. He makes it clear that while the decline is real, it isn’t inevitable. From smarter waste management to rethinking aquaculture, from local conservation efforts to global awareness campaigns, he lays out practical steps that communities and individuals can take to preserve these ecosystems. His work — both in the field and on his own podcast, Paramount Importance — reflects a mission to raise awareness about the natural systems we take for granted.For Roads, this is more than just another interview. It’s an urgent reminder that water isn’t a passive backdrop to human life — it’s the active force that makes life possible. And estuaries, often dismissed as murky backwaters, may just be the most important battleground of all.If you’ve ever wondered why environmental decline feels so close to home, this episode will give you the answers — and the call to action — you’ve been looking for.🔔 Subscribe to The Roadshow Podcast for more conversations with thinkers, doers, and visionaries shaping the future of our world.