Samantha Berg

Samantha Berg spent more than three years as a marine mammal trainer at SeaWorld Orlando, where she worked with killer whales and other dolphins, along with sea lions and otters. She is one of the founders of the advocacy organization Voice of the Orcas (VOTO), which monitors news and current events related to marine mammals in captivity and is managed  by other former SeaWorld trainers.

She was featured in the documentary Blackfish, and in the book Death at SeaWorld, following which she has traveled extensively, speaking with live audiences and on numerous TV and radio programs about her experience at SeaWorld. She participated in WhaleFest 2014 in the UK and in the 2014 Dophinaria Free Europe conference that joined participants from 16 NGO’s across Europe to further the discussion about ending captivity in the European Union.

Sam holds a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science (pre-vet) from Cornell University and a Master’s degree in Acupuncture from the Maryland University of Integrative Health, and is the co-owner of the Alaska Center for Acupuncture and of Meditate Alaska in Palmer, AK.