Research on the effect of anthropogenic noise on aquatic life impacts many stakeholder interests; we communicate with other scientists, policymakers, military personnel, business entities, boat captains, and more. As scientists, it’s critical that we effectively communicate with these diverse interest groups, engaging in two-way dialog, instead of one-way information transfer, and seeking to understand the issues and concerns of key stakeholders. This review addresses strategic science communication with public audiences. I first address the issue of public trust in science and ways to enhance trust. I then introduce tools and tactics for effective messaging and show that providing more information is often counterproductive. The goal of this review is to provide a starting point for marine scientists to use evidence-based practices to engage in effective public dialog.