{"id":551,"date":"2026-01-09T15:11:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T20:11:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/?p=551"},"modified":"2026-02-09T15:33:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T20:33:10","slug":"life-outside-the-comfort-zone-lessons-from-the-vermillion-sea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/dragonfly\/2026\/01\/life-outside-the-comfort-zone-lessons-from-the-vermillion-sea\/","title":{"rendered":"Life Outside the Comfort Zone: Lessons from the Vermilion Sea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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VSI Executive Director Meghann McDonald facilitating class on the field station porch in Bah\u00eda de los \u00c1ngeles, where the “classroom” opens directly onto the desert and sea.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Meghann McDonald <\/strong>is more than just the Executive Director of the Vermilion Sea Institute (VSI)<\/a><\/strong> in Baja California; for those who have seen her in her element in Baja, California, she is a mermaid who seems more comfortable underwater than on land. As a long-time partner for Project Dragonfly\u2019s Earth Expeditions, Meghann has mastered the art of facilitating life-changing field experiences by embracing the messy, unpredictable nature of being human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this episode, host Kevin Matteson talks with Meghann to discuss how VSI bridges the gap between international researchers and the Bah\u00eda de los \u00c1ngeles community. They explore why feeling “safe” isn’t always the goal of a field course, how to manage imposter syndrome, and the neuroscience of our connection to water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Meghann McDonald,  with Chino Camacho, an Aventurero with VSI<\/a>, exploring beneath the surface of the Vermilion Sea.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

3 Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n