Partners of Commercial Fishermen

How to Gain Public Interest in Commercial Fishing

Enter to Win Scholarships from Guy Cotten & Partners of Commercial Fishermen!
We're giving $500 scholarships to 4 students and 1-year memberships to the Partners of Commercial Fishermen Forum to 4 POCFs. POCF winners will also receive access to private group chat, a one-year access to private podcasts (launching 2025), a one-year access to the private newsletter (launching 2025), 1 POCF Survival Guide, and 1 POCF Pride T-shirt.      
Just fill out this form, and you will be automatically entered to win! Winners will be announced on 10/10/24 through Instagram stories and emails. Thanks for your interest, and good luck!
>>> Enter to win here! https://forms.gle/UPKHmZEPdtw5JPKt9
 
In this episode, we discuss your major influential power that can be harnessed in the commercial fishing industry and how to do it!
Since starting this community in 2019, speaking to others about our community has been a big highlight for me. Today, I share the biggest takeaways from the recent Ocean Innovation Conference and NC EcoTech summit in Wilmington, NC, our most significant influence as POCFs and fishermen, and why sharing about our lives is essential to preserving the industry. Let's dive in!
 
EXCLUSIVE OFFERS FOR POCFS!
 > *[eBOOK]* The ultimate guide for being a POCF - the book I wish existed when I began dating my fisherman! Partners of Commercial Fishermen Survival Guide 101: How To Go From WTF? To F*ck Yeah!
> [FREE]  Visit the Lifestyle Blog where it all started. Our blog is a go-to resource for all things related to the Partners of Commercial Fishermen lifestyle! If you're unsure where to start, consider this your home port. Join us at pocfpride.com
> [FREE] Don't forget to follow and check in with us on IG! I post daily in Stories and share funny, relatable, and informative Reels to connect us to our unique and beautiful lifestyle. Join me at @megan.waldrep
> [JOIN] The POCF Private Forum delivers valuable and helpful resources essential to our unique lifestyle monthly. You can also connect with other like-minded POCFs worldwide to learn about their experience, ask questions, and get personalized support. It's a treasure box curated just for you. Click here to join the private forum!
> [JOIN] If you're seeking real-time support from people who understand what you're going through, we've got you! Our lively group text chat allows you to connect immediately and anytime you need us. Sound fun? Click here to learn more about the private chat!

Working Aboard with your Fisherman Might be a Great Idea & Here's Why

While in California recently to spend extra time with Chris and help him prep for spiny lobster season, I seriously considered fishing with him this season for about 5.5 hours.
In this episode, I share:
Advice from POCFs in our community about why working alongside their fisherman was a great decision for them (and reasons to consider doing it, too).
The POV of a female fisherman who is co-captaining with her partner and the challenges she recently experienced.
And the importance of every POCF, whether you're a co-captain, "shoreside" captain, stay-at-home parent, or in a new long-distance relationship. 
Let's Dive In!
Show Resources:
Private Group Chat: If you're seeking real-time support from people who understand what you're going through, we’ve got you! Our lively group text chat is a space you can connect immediately and anytime you need us. Sound fun? Click here to learn more about the private chat!
MORE EXCLUSIVE OFFERS FOR POCFS!
> *[eBOOK]* The ultimate guide for being a POCF - the book I wish existed when I began dating my fisherman! Partners of Commercial Fishermen Survival Guide 101: How To Go From WTF? To F*ck Yeah!
> [FREE]  Visit the Lifestyle Blog where it all started. Our blog is a go-to resource for all things related to the Partners of Commercial Fishermen lifestyle! If you’re unsure where to start, consider this your home port. Join us at pocfpride.com
> [JOIN] The POCF Private Forum delivers valuable and helpful resources important to our unique lifestyle monthly. You can also connect with other like-minded POCFs worldwide to learn about their experience, ask questions, and get personalized support. It's a treasure box curated just for you. Click here to join the private forum!
Check out all of our offers here!

Fisherman's Gone for 6 mo. + Tips On How I Make It Work

Returning to my solo POCF life after traveling with my fisherman to his fishery in California wasn’t as easy as it had been in the past, and it almost felt daunting. How did I do it before? How will I get through this long season? I felt the inklings of depression coming on, if I’m being honest.
Thankfully, I remembered the advice I’d gotten from POCFs and personal experience, and I went through each tip like a mental checklist to recalibrate myself back to life. In this episode, I share those exact tips that helped me so that it may help you get back to your independent POCF life, too! We got this. 
Let’s Dive In!
Show Resources:
Rom-com books about Commercial Fishing Couples by Tessa Bailey:
It Happened One Summer
Hook, Line, and Sinker
Private Group Chat for POCFs: If you're seeking real-time support from people who understand what you're going through, we’ve got you! Our lively group text chat is a space you can connect immediately and anytime you need us. Sound fun? Click here to learn more about the private chat!
 
MORE EXCLUSIVE OFFERS FOR POCFS!
> *[eBOOK]* The ultimate guide for being a POCF - the book I wish existed when I began dating my fisherman! Partners of Commercial Fishermen Survival Guide 101: How To Go From WTF? To F*ck Yeah!
> [FREE]  Visit the Lifestyle Blog where it all started. Our blog is a go-to resource for all things related to the Partners of Commercial Fishermen lifestyle! If you’re unsure where to start, consider this your home port. Join us at pocfpride.com
> [JOIN] The POCF Private Forum delivers valuable and helpful resources important to our unique lifestyle monthly. You can also connect with other like-minded POCFs worldwide to learn about their experience, ask questions, and get personalized support. It's a treasure box curated just for you. Click here to join the private forum!
Check out all of our offers here!

Story Time: When Your Fisherman is Married to the Sea

Does this title trigger you? You’re not alone! I know many Partners of Commercial Fishermen in our community can feel disconnected from their fishermen during the fishing season and even in the off-season. In this episode, I share a story about what it's like when I start to feel less like a priority during a season. I also share ways we can productively communicate our needs to our partners so that we can be heard, and the secret to feeling less alone even when we are alone (and you don’t have to connect with others to do it).
Let’s Dive In!
Link to Diary of a POCF: https://meganwaldrep.com/priorities-change/
5 Love Languages: https://5lovelanguages.com/
 
Private Communities For POCFs:
 > If you're seeking real-time support from people who understand what you're going through, we’ve got you! Our lively group text chat is a space you can connect immediately and anytime you need us. Sound fun? Click here to learn more about the private chat!
>The POCF Private Forum delivers valuable and helpful resources important to our unique lifestyle monthly. You can also connect with other like-minded POCFs worldwide to learn about their experience, ask questions, and get personalized support. It's a treasure box curated just for you. Click here to join the private forum!
 
EXCLUSIVE OFFERS!
> *[eBOOK]* The ultimate guide for being a POCF - the book I wish existed when I began dating my fisherman! Partners of Commercial Fishermen Survival Guide 101: How To Go From WTF? To F*ck Yeah!
> [FREE]  Visit the Lifestyle Blog where it all started. Our blog is a go-to resource for all things related to the Partners of Commercial Fishermen lifestyle! If you’re unsure where to start, consider this your home port. Join us at pocfpride.com
Check out all of our offers here!
 

Pt. 2: Maintaining Good Mental Health and Relationships For Commercial Couples with Psychiatrist Douglas Waldrep M.D.

We are back with part two of a uniquely special episode to me because today we are continuing our conversation with retired Army officer Dr. Douglas Waldrep, who is a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist—also known as my dad! As you probably know by now, my upbringing as a military kid sparked the idea of creating Partners of Commercial Fishermen in the first place. My ultimate goal is to learn ways to best support us through fishing seasons and beyond. This begins with learning how to nurture our mental health. 
In this episode, we touch on which mental health professionals may be best for you and how to choose, how to communicate and express to your partner if you’re feeling unappreciated or a lack of connection, and the common thread that has helped his patients in his 30+ year career, and it’s something we can offer to each other starting today. 
Let’s dive in!
 
Show Resources: 
International Assn. for Suicide Prevention: https://www.iasp.info/
National Alliance on Mental Health: https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/research/
 
AA - https://www.aa.org/ and worldwide at https://www.aa.org/aa-around-the-world
NA - https://www.na.org/
AL-ANON - https://al-anon.org/
SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Assn -  https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
 
> FOR POCFs: If you're seeking real-time support from people who understand what you're going through, we’ve got you! Our lively group text chat is a space you can connect immediately and anytime you need us. Sound fun? Click here to learn more about the private chat!
 
EXCLUSIVE OFFERS! 
> *[eBOOK]* The ultimate guide for being a POCF - the book I wish existed when I began dating my fisherman! Partners of Commercial Fishermen Survival Guide 101: How To Go From WTF? To F*ck Yeah!
> [FREE]  Visit the Lifestyle Blog where it all started. Our blog is a go-to resource for all things related to the Partners of Commercial Fishermen lifestyle! If you’re unsure where to start, consider this your home port. Join us at pocfpride.com
> [JOIN] The POCF Private Forum delivers valuable and helpful resources important to our unique lifestyle monthly. You can also connect with other like-minded POCFs worldwide to learn about their experience, ask questions, and get personalized support. It's a treasure box curated just for you. Click here to join the private forum!
 
Check out all of our offers here!

Pt. 1 Maintaining Good Mental Health and Relationships For Commercial Couples with Psychiatrist Douglas Waldrep M.D.

This episode is particularly special to me because today we have retired Army officer Dr. Douglas Waldrep, who is a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist—also known as my dad! As you probably know by now, my upbringing as a military kid sparked the idea of creating Partners of Commercial Fishermen in the first place. My ultimate goal is to learn ways to best support us through fishing seasons and beyond. This begins with learning how to nurture our mental health. 
In this episode, we discuss the similarities between military and fishing families, the importance of family cohesion and communities, and how to deal with trauma and challenges. We touch on the importance of communication and how commercial fishing couples can approach it during the season and in the off-season. We also talk about what it means to take mental health breaks, what that may look like, and its benefits. 
 
Let’s Dive in! 
 
Show Resources: 
International Assn. for Suicide Prevention: https://www.iasp.info/
National Alliance on Mental Health: https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/research/
AA - https://www.aa.org/ and worldwide at https://www.aa.org/aa-around-the-world
NA - https://www.na.org/
AL-ANON - https://al-anon.org/
SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Assn -  https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
> FOR POCFs: If you're seeking real-time support from people who understand what you're going through, we’ve got you! Our lively group text chat is a space you can connect immediately and anytime you need us. Sound fun? Click here to learn more about the private chat!
EXCLUSIVE OFFERS FOR POCFS!
 > *[eBOOK]* The ultimate guide for being a POCF - the book I wish existed when I began dating my fisherman! Partners of Commercial Fishermen Survival Guide 101: How To Go From WTF? To F*ck Yeah!
> [FREE]  Visit the Lifestyle Blog where it all started. Our blog is a go-to resource for all things related to the Partners of Commercial Fishermen lifestyle! If you’re unsure where to start, consider this your home port. Join us at pocfpride.com
> [JOIN] The POCF Private Forum delivers valuable and helpful resources important to our unique lifestyle monthly. You can also connect with other like-minded POCFs worldwide to learn about their experience, ask questions, and get personalized support. It's a treasure box curated just for you. Click here to join the private forum!
Check out all of our offers here!

Fishy Money Pt. 4: Private Community Members Share Financial Game Plans for Tough Seasons

After speaking to POCFs in our community, I’ve learned that the most helpful way to figure out the best financial plan for you is to learn what has successfully (and unsuccessfully) worked for others in our unique lifestyle, connect with financial professionals to ask questions, then create a financial plan that reflects your goals. That’s what this “Fishy Money” series is all about! 
Continuing our conversation about handling financials during tough seasons, I share what two members of our private chat community have done in the past and what they do now to stay afloat. I also share one huge financial mistake my fisherman, and I made in the past and how we got out of it. 
Disclaimer: I am presenting personal viewpoints of POCFS that do not directly reflect the opinions or positions of the POCF community. (I’m learning along with you and sharing advice and ways people in our community handle finances!) I’m not endorsing or taking responsibility for the accuracy or implications of this episode, so listeners are encouraged to form their own informed opinions based on a range of sources and perspectives and what works best for them. You got this!
 
Show Resources: 
> If you're seeking real-time support from people who understand what you're going through, we've got you! Our lively group text chat is a space where you can connect immediately and ask questions anytime you need us. Sound fun? Click here to learn more about the private chat!
> BC Young Fishermen’s Network - https://www.bcyoungfishermen.ca/resources
> Fishing Partnership - https://fishingpartnership.org/economic-security
​​
EXCLUSIVE OFFERS FOR POCFS!
> *[eBOOK]* The ultimate guide for being a POCF - the book I wish existed when I began dating my fisherman! Partners of Commercial Fishermen Survival Guide 101: How To Go From WTF? To F*ck Yeah!
 
> [FREE]  Visit the Lifestyle Blog where it all started. Our blog is a go-to resource for all things related to the Partners of Commercial Fishermen lifestyle! If you’re unsure where to start, consider this your home port. Join us at pocfpride.com
 
> [JOIN] The POCF Private Forum delivers valuable and helpful resources important to our unique lifestyle monthly. You can also connect with other like-minded POCFs worldwide to learn about their experience, ask questions, and get personalized support. It's a treasure box curated just for you. Click here to join the private forum!
 
Check out all of our offers here!

Fishy Money Pt. 3: Deadliest Catch’s Jenny Gore Dwyer on the Decision to Buy a Third Boat and Working with the ALS Therapy Development Institute

Our chat with Jenny continues with so much heart. In this episode, we discuss her husband Pat and his diagnosis of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a rare degenerative disease also known as Lou Gherigs Disease. Jenny shares how ALS affected not only the family but also the fishing business, including financial management, and how the family came together to support each other during difficult times. Jenny also shares strategies for preparing for low or no seasons and the decision to expand their family's involvement in the fishing industry by adding a third boat to the fleet. She also gives us an update on her children and closing advice to all POCFs in our community. Let’s Dive In!
 
Show Resources: 
 
> Visit Jenny’s blog: www.crabbymama.net
> ALS Therapy Development Institute - www.als.net 
> Read Jenny’s essays she wrote for US on POCFPride.com!
Part 1 
Part 2 
Part 3 
 
EXCLUSIVE OFFERS FOR POCFS!
> *[eBOOK]* The ultimate guide for being a POCF - the book I wish existed when I began dating my fisherman! Partners of Commercial Fishermen Survival Guide 101: How To Go From WTF? To F*ck Yeah!
 
> [FREE]  Visit the Lifestyle Blog where it all started. Our blog is a go-to resource for all things related to the Partners of Commercial Fishermen lifestyle! If you’re unsure where to start, consider this your home port. Join us at pocfpride.com
 
> [JOIN] If you're seeking real-time support from people who understand what you're going through, we've got you! Our lively group text chat is a space you can connect immediately and anytime you need us. Sound fun? Click here to learn more about the private chat!
 
> [JOIN] The POCF Private Forum delivers valuable and helpful resources important to our unique lifestyle monthly. You can also connect with other like-minded POCFs worldwide to learn about their experience, ask questions, and get personalized support. It's a treasure box curated just for you. Click here to join the private forum!
 
Check out all of our offers here!

Fishy Money Pt. 2: Deadliest Catch’s Jenny Gore Dwyer on Money + Building a Legacy Business

Maternal + POCF wisdom in a candid interview with Jenny Gore Dwyer of Deadliest Catch! Jenny has been a huge support to our community since the beginning, and this episode is a perfect example of that. We discuss the challenges and successes of running a fishing business since 1986 and how she and her husband, Pat, managed to grow from one boat to a fleet of three. Jenny shares what they had to do financially at times to make it work while raising two kids. Plus, she shares the one business decision that has kept the business profitable to this day. Let’s Dive In!
 
Show Resources: 
> Visit Jenny’s blog: www.crabbymama.net
> Read Jenny’s essays she wrote for US on POCFPride.com!
Part 1 
Part 2 
Part 3 
 
EXCLUSIVE OFFERS FOR POCFS!
 
> *[eBOOK]* The ultimate guide for being a POCF - the book I wish existed when I began dating my fisherman! Partners of Commercial Fishermen Survival Guide 101: How To Go From WTF? To F*ck Yeah!
 
> [FREE]  Visit the Lifestyle Blog where it all started. Our blog is a go-to resource for all things related to the Partners of Commercial Fishermen lifestyle! If you’re unsure where to start, consider this your home port. Join us at pocfpride.com
 
> [JOIN] If you're seeking real-time support from people who understand what you're going through, we've got you! Our lively group text chat is a space you can connect immediately and anytime you need us. Sound fun? Click here to learn more about the private chat!
 
> [JOIN] The POCF Private Forum delivers valuable and helpful resources important to our unique lifestyle monthly. You can also connect with other like-minded POCFs worldwide to learn about their experience, ask questions, and get personalized support. It's a treasure box curated just for you. Click here to join the private forum!
 
Check out all of our offers here!

Fishy Money Pt. 1: Financial Game Plans for Tough Seasons

MONEY! Something every fishing household thinks about as frequently as the seasons and days come and go. Today, I’m sharing what two POCFs in our community do and have done financially to make money stretch when seasons tanked or were closed. These POCFs have been with their fishermen for over 20 and 40 years, so I'm passing along their knowledge to see if anything inspires you. 
Disclaimer: I am presenting personal viewpoints of POCFS that do not directly reflect the opinions or positions of the POCF community. (I’m learning along with you and sharing advice and ways people in our community handle finances.) I’m not endorsing or taking responsibility for the accuracy or implications of this episode. Listeners are encouraged to form their own informed opinions based on a range of sources and perspectives and what works best for them.
Show Resources: 
Listen to the full interview with Maureen Marinkovich on the Partners of Commercial Fishermen Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and more.
Read the full interview with Jolene Colomy on pocfpride.com here.
eBook Partners of Commercial Fishermen Survival Guide: How to Go from What the F*ck? to F*ck yeah!
 
EXCLUSIVE OFFERS FOR POCFS!
> *[eBOOK]* The ultimate guide for being a POCF - the book I wish existed when I began dating my fisherman! Partners of Commercial Fishermen Survival Guide 101: How To Go From WTF? To F*ck Yeah!
 
> [FREE]  Visit the Lifestyle Blog where it all started. Our blog is a go-to resource for all things related to the Partners of Commercial Fishermen lifestyle! If you’re unsure where to start, consider this your home port. Join us at pocfpride.com
 
> [JOIN] The POCF Private Forum delivers valuable and helpful resources important to our unique lifestyle monthly. You can also connect with other like-minded POCFs worldwide to learn about their experience, ask questions, and get personalized support. It's a treasure box curated just for you. Click here to join the private forum!
 
> [JOIN] If you're seeking real-time support from people who understand what you're going through, we've got you! Our lively group text chat is a space you can connect immediately and anytime you need us. Sound fun? Click here to learn more about the private chat!
 
Check out all of our offers here!