“I just didn’t want us to lose”: Brendan Talwar reflects on All the Sharks experience and conservation goals

All the Sharks, Netflix’s global shark photography competition, brought together four teams of marine experts and adventurers to dive across the world in search of rare and diverse shark species.

Among them was Brendan Talwar, a postdoctoral scholar at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, who teamed up with fellow marine biologist Chris Malinowski.

Representing the Ocean First Institute and the Reef Environmental Education Foundation, the pair competed under the name “Shark Docs.”

Over six episodes, Talwar and Malinowski climbed to the top of the leaderboard, ultimately winning the $50,000 prize for their selected nonprofits. In an interview with La Jolla Light in July 2025, Talwar said,

“I remember saying early in the season that we didn’t have to win, I just didn’t want us to lose. But as we got closer to the final locations, our sights were set on winning the money for the nonprofits. It will do a lot for them, and that motivated us.”

While the trophy was a win for the team, Talwar emphasized that the show’s biggest achievement was raising awareness for ocean conservation. He also called the competition “nonstop,” noting how physically demanding the global dives became by the final stretch.

All the Sharks gave Brendan Talwar a chance to fulfill a lifelong dream during a Galapagos dive

For Talwar, one of the most emotional highlights came during a dive at Darwin’s Arch in the Galapagos Islands. Although the competition was focused on sharks, it was the unexpected appearance of killer whales that left the strongest impact.

“That was my favorite moment, hands down. It wasn’t a shark, but that has been at the top of my bucket list since I was a child,” Talwar shared.

He described the setting as surreal, diving in one of the world’s most biologically rich sites while surrounded by orcas.

“We were crying on the boat when we were done. It was just the most joyful thing,” he said.

All the Sharks also gave Talwar a chance to explore lesser-known shark species in regions like South Africa, where he said they encountered ecosystems he didn’t know existed.

Talwar noted that they were amazed by the diversity and vibrancy of the species and environments they encountered, and said the show helped highlight the importance of protecting these animals.

Behind the scenes of All the Sharks: Hectic travel, missed messages, and a new platform for conservation

While All the Sharks celebrated wildlife and teamwork, the process took a physical toll. Talwar recalled how demanding the schedule was, often requiring four dives per day at each location after long flights.

“It’s nonstop, and I can see in our faces how exhausted we are,” he said of the final episode.

He also expressed disappointment that many of his comments about conservation didn’t make the final cut.

“Every time I spoke on camera, I was talking about conservation, and that didn’t make it on the show,” Talwar noted.

Still, he acknowledged that the show inspired curiosity in younger viewers.

Talwar shared that a friend had sent him a video of their child running around the living room shouting “Hammerhead!” while watching All the Sharks.

Hoping to build on that excitement, he and Malinowski launched a YouTube podcast called The Shark Docs, which focuses on science and conservation.

With his postdoctoral research nearing its end, Talwar added that he was hoping to secure funding for a shark-focused project that would allow him to continue working at Scripps, calling it “another huge win” if it happens.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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