Pop superstar Kesha joins Shark Week’s Luke Tipple to discuss her passion for saving sharks and the three-year journey it took to make her newest album, Gag Order.
Pop superstar Kesha joins Shark Week’s Luke Tipple on the podcast to discuss her love of sharks, how her music funds her addiction to diving, and how you can find inner peace while under the water. And at the end, our researcher Sierra drops in to tell us that some sharks have teeth in their eyes.
Find episode transcripts here: https://shark-weeks-daily-bite.simplecast.com/episodes/superstar-kesha-lifts-the-gag-order-on-saving-sharks
00:00:00:04 - 00:00:11:06
Luke Tipple
Today, we're going to talk to a shark diving recording artist about her love for the most feared of animals. And stick around for the shark bite when we find out that some sharks have teeth in their eyes.
00:00:11:08 - 00:00:21:20
Unknown
You’re listening to the Shark Week Podcast.
00:00:21:22 - 00:00:42:16
Luke Tipple
G’day, everyone. Welcome to Shark Week, the podcast. I'm your host, Luke Tipple. And today I'm super excited to bring on a shark diving superstar, Kesha. Now, you wouldn't think shark diving and pop superstar goes together until you meet her. Now, before we get too deep into things, make sure you subscribe to this channel like the video and ring that little bell so you never miss another one of our weekly podcasts.
00:00:42:18 - 00:01:01:21
Luke Tipple
You know, it's easy to forget about nature. I think a lot of us live in the suburbs. We live in air conditioned boxes, and we're so far away from the ocean and sharks that sometimes that can feel unimportant. Now, if there's anything I want you to get from this podcast, it is just how important the ocean is and how important sharks are to our daily lives.
00:01:01:21 - 00:01:14:13
Luke Tipple
Even if we don't see the ocean with our eyes every day. Now, one of the things I love to do is hear from people with massive voices about their love for sharks and the outdoors, which is why I invited Kesha onto the Shark Week podcast now. Kesha.
00:01:14:15 - 00:01:15:18
Kesha
Hi.
00:01:15:20 - 00:01:19:08
Luke Tipple
I've been chatting to your brother and he told me you're a badass shark diver.
00:01:19:10 - 00:01:26:18
Kesha
You know what? I am. I haven't been in, like, a year, but I have done plenty of shark diving around the world.
00:01:26:20 - 00:01:33:05
Luke Tipple
But he was telling me that and I was like no way. And if that's the case, we have to have her on the podcast. Let's talk sharks.
00:01:33:10 - 00:01:56:00
Kesha
Let's talk sharks. I mean, it's a very little known fact. I think people just kind of think of me and think of partying at a late night club or something. But I actually do what I do, and that's my passion. But my other equal passion is spending time in the wild with animals, like in their own habitat, obviously completely in the wild.
00:01:56:02 - 00:02:04:04
Kesha
I feel like some people might think I'm coming from left field, like being on this podcast even, but I'm so passionate about it, so I just want to share.
00:02:04:06 - 00:02:22:07
Luke Tipple
Yeah, I don't think it's left field at all. I think it's awesome that anybody has any interest in the ocean, especially when they have a voice like yours, you know, metaphorically and physically. You know, being able to come on and speak your mind on on conservation matters that impact the rest of the world. I mean, what higher calling is there than that?
00:02:22:09 - 00:02:44:07
Kesha
I mean, for me, that's there is none. Like I've gone swimming with humpback whales in Tonga many times, diving with hammerheads in the Galapagos, diving with tiger sharks. I went cage diving with great whites. So this is like a love of mine. Those are the sea creatures.
00:02:44:09 - 00:02:57:11
Luke Tipple
Yeah, that's really cool. You've actually got a couple of bucket list things there that I've yet to do. Galapagos has been like one of the things I've always wanted to get down and get to. You have to be a really good diver to do it. How is your experience with the Hammerheads?
00:02:57:13 - 00:03:16:01
Kesha
And it was amazing. I mean, I wouldn't say I'm like the most amazing diver, but I do have like a deep dive certification. One of the things I wanted to do when I was like 17, 18 is I wanted to do music, but if that didn't work out, I wanted to be a dive instructor. Okay, So I've gone diving and caves are my favorite.
00:03:16:06 - 00:03:44:14
Kesha
Like I love a shipwreck dive. I got certified in Honduras, but the Galapagos was definitely one of the most extraordinary experiences I've ever had. You go really deep and there were about 40 to 50 hammerheads just they were circling this rock in the middle of the ocean. So you just kind of you would go down and hang and they would just come by about every 15 minute.
00:03:44:14 - 00:03:52:10
Kesha
And it was so extraordinary. It was so beautiful. Was like watching Angels swim.
00:03:52:12 - 00:04:02:09
Luke Tipple
I love that. Watching Angel Swim, that's should be a song of yours. I also think, especially about Hammerheads, we're going to be on Shark Week. Really? Awesome. Yeah, totally. I what? What did you go to Honduras for?
00:04:02:11 - 00:04:16:00
Kesha
Yeah, that's where I got certified. But my brother was in the Peace Corps, and so I went down there to visit him. And then while we were there, that's when the diving obsession started, just as I was about 16, 17 years old.
00:04:16:01 - 00:04:19:11
Luke Tipple
Yeah. My my first job out of college was in Utila, in Honduras.
00:04:19:11 - 00:04:21:11
Kesha
Oh, my God. That's where I got certified.
00:04:21:12 - 00:04:41:09
Luke Tipple
I thought you might have. Yeah. So the deal was I had to have a marine biology degree, and I was just finishing, just like in my finals as I saw this on the Patty Pro's website, you had to be a dive instructor, which I was. And the deal was I got to tag whale sharks for six months of the year where I had to support myself for the other six months of the year by teaching diving.
00:04:41:11 - 00:04:57:22
Luke Tipple
So I was like, Hey, perfect job for me. So I literally got that job before I even been to my graduation ceremony, which I never went to. And I have a recurring nightmare that I'm a fraud because I never graduated. But I did get to go and all I did was dive and tag sharks. It was the coolest experience ever.
00:04:57:22 - 00:04:59:12
Kesha
Oh my God, what a dream.
00:04:59:14 - 00:05:01:22
Luke Tipple
Did you see whale sharks down there?
00:05:02:00 - 00:05:22:20
Kesha
I did not see a whale shark in Utila, but in Mexico, there's a place called La Paz where you can swim with whale sharks and I definitely had one of my favorite experiences under the water with the whale shark. Because you're snorkeling, not diving, but one I thought was like, really taking a liking to me. He swam right up to me.
00:05:22:20 - 00:05:34:04
Kesha
And, you know, I know the rules you don't touch. But he decided to bitch slap me and I have it on camera as me getting better slapped by a whale shark.
00:05:34:06 - 00:05:36:00
Luke Tipple
With with the tail you mean?
00:05:36:02 - 00:05:41:13
Kesha
His like fin, I think? I don't know. He didn't like my vibe, I guess.
00:05:41:15 - 00:06:04:06
Luke Tipple
But those. I don't think people realize just how massive those animals are. That's probably one of my favorite animals on the planet is the whale shark. I've spent so much time with great whites and stuff, and people always expect me to say some big predatory animal. But the whale sharks are just so cool. But they don't realize that their tail is so massive and it can just smack you like it feels like a whole hand slap across your body.
00:06:04:11 - 00:06:38:13
Kesha
Oh, for sure. I got like I always call it the time the whale shark bitch slapped me. I fully feel like I got bitch slapped by the whale shark. They are massive. And one of my favorite things about spending time with whales and sharks is that actually really gentle experience. It's really beautiful. It's kind of where I find my spirituality is when I'm diving and swimming with them because you're in their home and we're just visitors and I feel very honored that they decide to grace me with their presence because they have the whole ocean.
00:06:38:13 - 00:06:45:23
Kesha
So I find it really beautiful when you get to interact with one of these animals. Such a special moment.
00:06:46:01 - 00:07:04:23
Luke Tipple
It really is. It's awesome to hear you say that. Like, I make it a point to get into the ocean as much as I can. And just last week I think I was stressed out about work or something. I don't know what was going on, but I just I just thought I have to get out. So I went out diving and as soon as I go into the water, it all disappears.
00:07:05:03 - 00:07:16:16
Luke Tipple
Suddenly you're in a whole different environment. Yeah, everything's calm and peaceful and you're concentrating on your breathing and found a cool wreck. Did some deep dive. Got narced. So it was a great time.
00:07:16:16 - 00:07:18:08
Kesha
You got narced?
00:07:18:10 - 00:07:22:05
Luke Tipple
Well, yeah. You know, you get a little bit deeper and you get a little bit of narcosis.
00:07:22:05 - 00:07:40:20
Kesha
Oh, my gosh. I've like, knock on wood, I've never gotten that. I think that would freak me out. But that's that's like a beautiful way to feel really present, too, diving. I feel like you have to be so present and you just hear your breathing. There's a meditative quality about diving to me.
00:07:40:22 - 00:08:01:14
Luke Tipple
All that totally is. You know, what I really love about it is, especially with deep diving, like tech diving or just sort of recreational deep diving, but there's a whole planning thing. So you've got this mission. You've got the mission to make sure that you dive safely, that you've got enough air that you know you're going to go to the right place. You're managing all the logistics of current and animals and everything.
00:08:01:14 - 00:08:18:18
Luke Tipple
But when you hit the water, suddenly it's game time. But it's such a peaceful game and you're there on your own, but you also feel connected with the ocean. It's it's this experience that I've had ever since. I remember going to the ocean when I was like five. I think my dad taught me spearfishing about then. Five or six.
00:08:18:18 - 00:08:23:14
Luke Tipple
So a lot of snorkeling, spearfishing. And ever since then I was just absolutely hooked.
00:08:23:16 - 00:08:27:13
Kesha
Me too. Are you a water sign? When’s your birthday?
00:08:27:15 - 00:08:29:09
Luke Tipple
I don't know. I'm a Virgo.
00:08:29:11 - 00:08:53:14
Kesha
Oh, you're Virgo. What's that? Yeah, I actually don't know either. No, I think you're not a water sign, but interesting. I'm a triple Pisces, which is March, but triple Pisces. Super water, super emotional, super creative. But like, I have to be by the water whenever I go into the water, it makes me feel really like baptized, born again, really cleansed energetically.
00:08:53:14 - 00:08:56:01
Kesha
It feels like it's a magic trick.
00:08:56:03 - 00:08:59:10
Luke Tipple
Yeah. What is it that attracts you to sharks?
00:08:59:12 - 00:09:25:09
Kesha
Sharks I feel like, are very misunderstood. I feel like I relate to sharks where people like they have a bad reputation in a lot of ways, but they're actually just existing and are credibly beautiful. And as long as you're not infringing on their lives, generally speaking, they don't try to attack anybody else. And I just I don't know.
00:09:25:09 - 00:09:50:11
Kesha
I've had this feeling when I first came out that everyone thought I was this wild party animal, which, you know, I had my moments, but I just really related to the sharks. When I went cage diving in South Africa, I just thought, Hmm, these guys just have a really interesting reputation. And now that I'm spending time with them, I feel like it's sensationalized because that's what people do.
00:09:50:11 - 00:10:17:04
Kesha
We live for the drama of everything, but they're just beautiful creatures existing. I just became kind of like I got so impassioned by spending time with them that it then became like tour, go diving with shark. Tour, go diving with sharks. So my one passion kind of fueled my addiction for sharks and ocean, spending time in the ocean.
00:10:17:06 - 00:10:36:19
Luke Tipple
You know what? I think it is? It's a people you know you might appreciate this kind of analogy that people see sharks just on the surface. You know, they see a fin coming. They don't know what's underneath it. There's an inherent fear of what's underneath. You know, they see the the shark interacting usually negatively. You know, if you're going to see it on TV, it's going to be something negative.
00:10:36:19 - 00:11:04:01
Luke Tipple
Right. So you see a negative human interaction where a shark is on the surface and, you know, they might have bitten that person or something. And that's pretty much all we see. The big mystery to people is what's underneath, you know, what happens in the deep water, What happens to how do these animals live? Are people brave enough or curious enough to get out there and explore the ocean, to be underwater, to look them in the eye, to be one in that environment?
00:11:04:03 - 00:11:12:00
Luke Tipple
Suddenly those mysteries don't necessarily go away. But you realize there's just way more than, to sharks. And there is of what we see on the surface.
00:11:12:02 - 00:11:37:11
Kesha
Totally. I feel like it's all sensationalized because the sensationalism sells whatever news organization is putting it out, you know, And we have a culture that's based on making money off of drama. And I think that that's why I want to go diving with them, too. I feel like I'm going to the moon, but it's right here and there's so much of the ocean we have unexplored.
00:11:37:13 - 00:11:55:23
Kesha
After I spent time in the Galapagos, I kind of learned more about shark finning. And there's just such a such a need for people to know that they're not monsters. And you can appreciate them and should be protected because they're really important to the ecosystem.
00:11:56:01 - 00:12:04:00
Luke Tipple
Yeah. Tell me about your work. I know you've done work with the Humane Society. I think we've got that in common. I worked for them a number of years ago. And you are one of their ambassadors, right?
00:12:04:02 - 00:12:27:09
Kesha
I am. It's like one of the most proud things of my entire career that they thought what I was doing was worthy enough to make me an ambassador, which is huge. But I've spent a lot of time just traveling, obviously, from my job, but also keeping the Humane Society in the loop. If I see something that kinda isn't going right in the area or something.
00:12:27:09 - 00:12:48:05
Kesha
So I'm like, I was in Dubai and there was a ton of boxes of full of kittens, so I was playing a show there and then I would call them and be like, Just so you know, if you have anybody in the area, this is the street. When I was in Tonga swimming with humpbacks, I saw some dogs that were getting abused.
00:12:48:05 - 00:12:54:08
Kesha
So it's just kind of everywhere I go. I try to help the animals too, because they help me so much.
00:12:54:10 - 00:13:03:14
Luke Tipple
Is there a some type of actionable response or able to do, or is it just something that where they're able to say, hey, yeah, we need to campaign a little more in that area?
00:13:03:16 - 00:13:40:05
Kesha
Well, I just have done a bunch of different things, spreading awareness, I think, to my fans, because again, I think I think my real the real ones know that I'm obsessed with animals. But I think, you know, to a lot of people, they don't know that this is my other passion. So raising money, going to events and just trying to be as aware of possible as aware as possible when I'm traveling and going to do these different animal excursions to make sure they're humane, like I did have ages ago, is like 15 years ago.
00:13:40:07 - 00:14:04:10
Kesha
But there was an elephant, one of my music videos, and they were the ones that reached out and said, Hey, like we understand that's exciting, but you shouldn't ride elephants and use them in videos. And it's one of the experiences I learned so much from from making that mistake. And I wanted to help spread awareness. So other people that may just not know any better, like I really didn't.
00:14:04:14 - 00:14:14:00
Kesha
And ever since then that actually started our relationship within the Humane Society. So I'm grateful that they reached out and could help me course orrect.
00:14:14:02 - 00:14:33:11
Luke Tipple
Yeah, I can really respect that because I think especially with someone in your position, you get given so many opportunities to do things and, you know, just the naivete of not being in that scenario or being in contact with that animal or knowing the, you know, the circumstances where somebody might just be putting you in a situation and say, Hey, this is great.
00:14:33:13 - 00:14:46:06
Luke Tipple
Like, where is that check and balance to be able to understand until somebody lets you know? And yeah, but then to be able to take that and say, Hey, I'm going to make this a passion of mine to make sure other people also understand. That's pretty awesome, mate.
00:14:46:08 - 00:14:47:08
Kesha
Absolutely.
00:14:47:08 - 00:14:48:07
Luke Tipple
I really appreciate that.
00:14:48:09 - 00:15:17:06
Kesha
Yeah, of course. And even just I try to help them with animal testing on cosmetics because obviously I like live in the world of lots of cosmetics and I've done like a campaign with them. So people are aware of which brands don't test on animals. And I did a cosmetic line and I made sure obviously that I didn't test on animals and just kind of supporting people living an aware life that also doesn't harm animals.
00:15:17:08 - 00:15:46:04
Kesha
Something like swimming with dolphins in the wild is so drastically different than swimming with them in captivity. And I just think it's, you know, like a that's why I used my experience from the elephant, because I really didn't I should have thought a little harder about it, but I didn't. And so just giving people the options of how to do it in a humane way so the animals can feel happy, safe and free and protected.
00:15:46:06 - 00:15:53:17
Luke Tipple
What's on your bucket list for travel? I mean, you've probably been almost everywhere, but the oceans are a big place. So where where do you want to go?
00:15:53:18 - 00:16:19:11
Kesha
I'd love to go see some sperm whales. I think near Sri Lanka, there's a jellyfish lake in Palau that I've been dying to go to. It looks so beautiful. I really. I have whales tattooed all over my body like I'm a psychopath. But I really want to go Look, you can kayak and look for narwhals, and that's my bucket bucket list.
00:16:19:11 - 00:16:29:15
Kesha
Sounds so to be freezing and insane, but I really would like to see a narwhal in the wild before I die. That's one of my dream excursions.
00:16:29:17 - 00:16:41:15
Luke Tipple
So that would be like in between the ice floes, kayaking around, waiting for this big unicorn, prehistoric looking animal to come up and rear this, it's like those things are the craziest looking animals.
00:16:41:18 - 00:16:41:22
Kesha
They are so.
00:16:42:11 - 00:17:09:20
Kesha
Oh, I have like a giant tattoo of a narwhal on my forearm, which I've just been obsessed with them since I was a little kid. And I think they're so magical. There's something really magical about animals, especially in the wild, and you just see them living their life. I feel like you get blessed. And so I just would be so grateful and so humbled to be able to see these magical unicorn whales.
00:17:10:17 - 00:17:15:00
Luke Tipple
My daughter calls them unicorns of the ocean. She's kind of obsessed with them too.
00:17:15:02 - 00:17:18:16
Kesha
Oh good. We have that it common. Yeah.
00:17:18:18 - 00:17:35:00
Luke Tipple
So what are you. Yeah, you work at the humane side and everything else. Obviously, there's a need for shark conservation, preservation. I'm sure you've traveled to many places where that's not really the first thought of the people living there. How does that make you feel?
00:17:35:02 - 00:18:04:22
Kesha
I think it's you know, a lot of people in culture, I think you get you get used to something in a culture. And I don't blame any person, but I think it's about education of how we can course correct a little bit. Um, watching The Cove, that documentary, I loved seeing that because it's giving people that have been doing something for so long another option because people just want to live their lives, make money for their family.
00:18:04:22 - 00:18:20:04
Kesha
And I understand that, but I feel like people want to do better. We want to be good. We think we can collectively, as people say, we want our children to be able to see white rhinos in the wild. We want our children to be able to see a hammerhead. We don't want them to go extinct.
00:18:20:06 - 00:18:24:05
Luke Tipple
Yeah, You mentioned The Cove. Was that an important film for you?
00:18:24:07 - 00:18:41:17
Kesha
It was very much because I was totally unaware of what was going on, and I think that's the case for a lot of people. I mean, at least for me, you learn when you learn things right? You don't just know them, especially if you grow up in a culture that doesn't talk about it or find it a problem.
00:18:41:19 - 00:19:07:11
Luke Tipple
Yeah, well, we're certainly all working towards I mean, the we're just talking about it the other day. It's a really difficult thing to to tackle. But I think you're right, it comes down to the culture of some of these countries who are demanding the products from these animals. That needs to be changed. And that's why people like you come in who, you know, are able to touch the the hearts of many other cultures and say, hey, you know, also I’m making cool music.
00:19:07:11 - 00:19:15:12
Luke Tipple
And also, could you maybe listen to me and challenge what you've been brought up to think about sharks because we kind of need them.
00:19:15:14 - 00:19:47:14
Kesha
We do need them. And I feel like, you know, I have my tiny little corner of the world, but I want to do what I can because I've had personal experience with these animals and it's such a beautiful, majestic, life changing experience. And I hope that for my kids one day and their kids. So I think it's it's also about the education of what the the products that come from shark finning, how they're really not scientifically proven to do a lot of the things that people say they do.
00:19:47:16 - 00:19:48:18
Luke Tipple
Yeah, yeah. None of it.
00:19:48:18 - 00:19:50:06
Kesha
So no.
00:19:50:06 - 00:19:51:15
Luke Tipple
It's eating toenails.
00:19:51:17 - 00:20:14:11
Kesha
Yeah. And you know with tigers, too. That's one of my bucket list things is to go to India and camp with the wild tigers. But I think the if people experience these animals and in their majesty and it's so spiritual to me when I spend time with these animals, then you're more inclined to want to protect them and learn more about them.
00:20:14:13 - 00:20:19:19
Luke Tipple
Yeah. Well, you mentioned your, you know, little corner of the world, which isn't all that little, really. Oh.
00:20:19:21 - 00:20:24:05
Kesha
I know. But you know, there's billions of people on this planet.
00:20:24:07 - 00:20:28:18
Luke Tipple
Well, you know, a good portion are hearing your music. You just put out a new album, right?
00:20:28:19 - 00:20:32:06
Kesha
I did. I did, like one month ago about.
00:20:32:08 - 00:20:34:17
Luke Tipple
So what's that experience like? Is it crazy so far?
00:20:34:19 - 00:20:54:23
Kesha
Oh, it. It was the most intense album I've ever made. It's called Gag Order, and I did it with Rick Rubin. I don't know if you know who that is, but yeah, he is someone I looked up to for my entire life. He's one of the greatest living music producers and maybe just one of the greatest music producers of all time.
00:20:54:23 - 00:21:29:05
Kesha
He's iconic, and to be able to work with someone who to me, I respect so much in him wanting to work with me and also was really mind blowing. And it's just been a series of pretty magnificent spiritual experiences, both musically and energetically with Rick. And even for my birthday, like two months ago, I went and I was kayaking with orcas in the wild outside of like off the coast of Washington.
00:21:29:07 - 00:21:40:15
Kesha
So those really are my two things. One feels the other, the nature gives me the energy to make the music and the music funds my experiences in nature.
00:21:40:17 - 00:21:48:01
Luke Tipple
Yeah, so this is legit. Like your you're literally out there all the time in nature in the wild, interacting with different animals.
00:21:48:03 - 00:21:57:13
Kesha
Oh, God, yeah. That's like what I live for. It's my favorite thing in the world. Aside from playing shows, my favorite thing in the world is spending time with animals.
00:21:57:15 - 00:22:05:15
Luke Tipple
What's that feeling like when you're on a massive stage in front of people like that energy off of that compared to a great white shark coming towards you?
00:22:05:17 - 00:22:33:03
Kesha
You know what's weird? I'm actually just realizing this as we're talking. But it's not that different of a feeling when you're in the ocean and you like, go under water and you see some beautiful animal that decides to grace you with their gorgeous presence. And being on stage is like, you're in this big space and you're with your fans.
00:22:33:05 - 00:22:43:16
Kesha
I don't know what it is. Maybe it's the adrenaline, but there's something similar about both experiences. That is something I crave desperately in my heart.
00:22:43:18 - 00:23:08:18
Luke Tipple
I wonder if it's like people talk to me and they say, Oh, you're an adrenaline junkie because, you know, shark diving, a bunch of other stuff that that I get into. But I've never thought of it that way. I've always thought of as like just an intense focus. It doesn't feel like I'm trying to drink 20 cans of energy drink and go like I'm not as it's actually went on peaceful and not like screaming and yelling and stuff that I feel the most focused on.
00:23:08:18 - 00:23:12:02
Luke Tipple
Yeah, might be doing something that if I mess up, it costs me my life.
00:23:12:04 - 00:23:13:08
Kesha
But absolutely.
00:23:13:12 - 00:23:20:04
Luke Tipple
And that that's the fuel you know it must be some a tiny bit of what you feel on stage.
00:23:20:06 - 00:23:43:13
Kesha
Oh, it feels really like special. It feels important. It feels like cosmic divine timing has to line up for this particular thing to occur. And I think that it's okay to be an adrenaline junkie for me. I find exactly what you just said. For me to be the most present, I think it takes a lot of stimulus for me for whatever reason.
00:23:43:15 - 00:24:04:14
Kesha
Like I thrive in slightly chaotic environments, I think because of my job. But you you are forced into being present both on stage and when you're diving with great whites, like you have to be so present. And I think that that's a beautiful experience. That's why I think it's meditative in a way, because you can't get more present.
00:24:04:14 - 00:24:08:00
Kesha
Than being underwater with a tiger shark.
00:24:08:02 - 00:24:13:13
Luke Tipple
Oh yeah, you really can't. And and if you, you know, space off, then that can cost you dearly.
00:24:13:19 - 00:24:15:01
Kesha
Absolutely.
00:24:15:03 - 00:24:22:03
Luke Tipple
Yeah. What do you hope that this album does for you other than just make people enjoy the music?
00:24:22:03 - 00:24:53:16
Kesha
Interesting, I made it from this deep place of needing to get this experience out of my system. I had this like, really beautiful spiritual kind of awakening moment, and I wanted to make an album that sounded like that felt because I hadn't heard something that sounded the way that felt for me. So I went on this three year long journey of trying to find the perfect flow of exactly what it felt like.
00:24:53:18 - 00:25:22:06
Kesha
So it was mine for three years and now I've given it away. And so I just hope people listen to it and they know that they're not alone If they've experienced these like weird, almost psychedelic feelings. And, you know, I speak about my insecurity. I speak about like, who I once was and will ever get her back and heartbreak and how it would I just want to be happy as other people have these feelings.
00:25:22:06 - 00:25:37:07
Kesha
I just want them to know they're not alone. And I think that there's a lot of comfort in knowing you're not alone as a human, as one of one of the billions of people. I think it's nice to know you're not alone in your kind of like, darker, scarier thought.
00:25:37:09 - 00:25:58:01
Luke Tipple
Yeah. Is that normal for someone to take three years to sort of contemplate and ponder and put out an album and seems like we live in such a fast food world of music? But no, I think it's actually great that you could spend that amount of time and thought to put something out that that evokes those years of of contemplation.
00:25:58:03 - 00:26:21:03
Kesha
Well, I really wanted to capture it like a book, like a chapter of my life. I want to capture that musically. And I think I really did. And it was a scary time for like the whole world. We're all going through this collective pandemic. So I really like, took my time with it, which I will have to give Rick Rubin props because he kept telling me to be patient.
00:26:21:03 - 00:26:41:14
Kesha
And I'm not a patient human being, but it was nice to actually listen back to it when it was finished and think it's exactly what I wanted it to be. So you can be proud and what I can be proud in what I've made. It's a good feeling.
00:26:41:16 - 00:27:02:17
Luke Tipple
Well, I can tell you one thing. If you think of yourself as not being patient, then that must be a different side to you. Because for somebody who loves going out into the wilderness so much and seeing animals and stuff, you have to have an inherent patience because you do, you know, the animals don't come to you. There's, you know, they said there's nothing worse than working with the kids and animals, right?
00:27:02:19 - 00:27:03:05
Kesha
Yeah, totally.
00:27:03:05 - 00:27:18:12
Luke Tipple
Because I think they never do what you want them to do. And when they finally show up, then you have to soak in that moment. So you do have that patience. You are a patient person. So maybe it's just an it exhibits itself in different ways for you.
00:27:18:14 - 00:27:40:08
Kesha
You might be right, because I do think that almost like having a hit song is a little bit like when you're going out and looking for animals. Like you never know if to take your shot, though. You have to put yourself out there. You go into the ocean and you put yourself out there and you hope if you just keep doing it that one day you're going to see, you know, whatever animal it is, you're very lucky.
00:27:40:08 - 00:27:50:09
Kesha
Also, there is luck involved, but it's kind of like that with putting out songs. It's like you just keep putting them out and hopefully one of them really connects well.
00:27:50:11 - 00:28:00:18
Luke Tipple
I wish you all the best for this one and hope they all connect just to increase your audience and the ears that are out there. But for now, you've got the entire Shark Week audience here. What do you have to say to them?
00:28:00:20 - 00:28:27:16
Kesha
Thanks for letting a silly pop singer come on and talk to you guys about sharks. It's like genuinely, my brother was the one that, like, hooked us up and he was like Shark Week. And I remember screaming and I was like, Please get me on Shark Week. Like, it's such a passion of mine. I'm such a fan. I truly, it comes from a really genuine place.
00:28:27:16 - 00:28:33:20
Kesha
So thanks for letting me be a part of this shark community. I'm in here with you guys.
00:28:33:22 - 00:28:36:23
Luke Tipple
Yeah, We'll have to get you out on the water, get you on a shark Week show in the future.
00:28:36:23 - 00:28:57:18
Kesha
So it's like, honestly, 12 years ago, I tried to sell a TV show where I got to go out and, I don't know, just talk about animal conservation, but also have adventures. And people at the time were like, What? You’re the chick that brushes your teeth with whiskey? And I'm like, No, no, no, I do that. But I also love spending time with animals.
00:28:58:18 - 00:28:59:00
Luke Tipple
I do that, but.
00:28:59:00 - 00:29:07:12
Kesha
But so that's like my true fantasy is doing Shark Week would be a dream.
00:29:07:14 - 00:29:10:14
Luke Tipple
Do you think you'll ever do a Shark song?
00:29:10:16 - 00:29:17:19
Kesha
I could probably figure that out on my new album. I do have a song about wanting to be a house cat, which is my other favorite animal.
00:29:17:21 - 00:29:30:06
Luke Tipple
Okay, well, maybe if a cat week, but maybe that's the shark. What shall we do? But here you go. Kesha’s going to compose a song in the field when we go out and see what species? Name the species. Where are we going?
00:29:30:08 - 00:29:40:06
Kesha
For me, I mean, my favorite. My favorite is a hammerhead, but I also love like a leopard shark I saw recently. And they're so beautiful.
00:29:40:08 - 00:29:43:03
Luke Tipple
They are very cool. But Hammerhead sounds more Shark week.
00:29:43:05 - 00:29:54:01
Kesha
Okay, let's do Hammerhead then. Let's go to the Galapagos, see some hammerheads. And then I'll sing you a song right there on the boat. If you find me a hammerhead, I’ll sing you a song about them.
00:29:54:05 - 00:30:00:01
Luke Tipple
That sounds amazing. All right, we'll run that up the flagpole. Thank you so much, Kesha. We really appreciate the time today.
00:30:00:03 - 00:30:04:06
Kesha
Thanks.
00:30:04:08 - 00:30:10:07
Luke Tipple
All right. It's time for today's shark bite, where Sierra leaves us with the cool ocean fact to end the show. What have you got for us today, Sierra?
00:30:10:09 - 00:30:14:19
Sierra Kehoe
All right. Today I'm going to tell you about how whale sharks have a sharp eye.
00:30:14:21 - 00:30:16:06
Luke Tipple
Okay. Like eyesight?
00:30:16:08 - 00:30:28:09
Sierra Kehoe
This is not quite so. Whale sharks actually have this pretty uncommon feature and they have these tiny modified teeth called dermal denticles that cover their whole eyeball.
00:30:28:11 - 00:30:29:22
Luke Tipple
Why would they have that?
00:30:30:00 - 00:30:36:21
Sierra Kehoe
So since they don't have any eyelids, these eyeball teeth probably serve as a protective armor against the elements.
00:30:36:23 - 00:30:49:00
Luke Tipple
Yeah, I guess that makes sense. When I used to work with whale sharks, you see them brushing up against stuff all the time because they're a filter feeder, so they come into the surface. You got to imagine that they've got to be rubbing all over things. Yeah, that's really cool.
00:30:49:06 - 00:30:55:15
Sierra Kehoe
Yeah, it's pretty sweet actually. Each eyeball probably has more than 3000 of these teeny, tiny teeth.
00:30:55:17 - 00:31:02:16
Luke Tipple
That's crazy. For such a gentle giant. They're certainly well armed. Thanks for that. See, Appreciate it.
00:31:02:16 - 00:31:07:23
Sierra Kehoe
Anytime.
00:31:08:01 - 00:31:25:02
Luke Tipple
Okay. That's it for today's podcast. I want to thank you all for listening and I hope you learned something. And Kesha, I want to thank you for your time and not only for your time, but for your activism, using your voice to save sharks and to protect animals. I mean, I couldn't ask for more than that. Make sure you check out Kesha's new album. It’s called Gag Order.
00:31:25:02 - 00:31:31:08
Luke Tipple
It's absolutely amazing. And we'll catch you on the next Shark Week podcast. Thanks again, guys, chat to you soon.
00:31:31:10 - 00:31:33:18
Unknown
You’re listening to the shark week podcast.
00:31:33:20 - 00:32:11:17
Shark Week. The podcast is produced by Delve Media for Warner Brothers Discovery. Luke Tipple is the executive producer and our writer and producer is Yael Rice, our researcher and associate producer is Sierra Kehoe. For Warner Brothers Discovery. The executive producer is Christina Bavetta and the coordinating producer is Corin Wilson. You can follow our show wherever you get your podcasts, and we'd love it if you could take a second to leave us a five star review and subscribe to help our mission to give sharks a voice.