What does it take to ski alone for 51 days across one of the most unforgiving yet breathtaking terrains on Earth?

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Mr. Satish Gogineni, the first Indian to ski unguided and unassisted to the South Pole. Over 51 solitary days on the Antarctic ice, Satish pulled his sled through freezing winds, cooked every meal himself, and found companionship in the strangest places—his harness, his socks, even the silence.

As he opens up about the surreal beauty, the solitude that he often enjoyed, and the mental resilience required for such a feat, Satish takes us deep into what it means to embrace true stillness. He describes the surprising sadness he felt on reaching the South Pole—the goal he had chased for years—because it also meant the end of an experience that felt absolutely perfect.

Beyond Antarctica, Satish is a mountaineering legend, having summited Everest, Lhotse, Annapurna, and more—often as the fastest Indian to do so. But it’s his reflective honesty and quiet strength that makes this conversation unforgettable.

Tune in for stories of survival, triumph, and the kind of adventure that changes you forever.

A trigger warning: This episode contains discussions around mental health, anxiety and suicide. So I suggest that you - my gentle listener is mindful of your own mental health and that you take breaks if needed. Alternately, if you’re not in a good mental space, you might consider skipping between the timestamps of:

01:00:03 to 01:02:40 and 01:43:00 to 01:55:00 minute. We've also listed a few trusted mental wellbeing resources below. Never hesitate to ask for help, you're not alone.

1. https://www.helpguide.org/find-help
2. https://www.iasp.info/crisis-centres-helplines/

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00:00:00 Trailer

00:02:00 Intro

00:06:52 Most excited about on completion

00:08:58 Fastest Indian to double-summit Everest and Lhotse     

00:10:46 Most special expedition

00:14:54 South Pole expedition categories

00:17:15 Beginnings of the adventurer

00:29:12 Early Training – Denali/Everest/Lhotse

00:34:57 Inspiration from Polar Preet

00:40:44 Planning the South Pole expedition – phase1

00:43:40 Training in Baffin islands and Greenland.

00:46:28 Qualifying for the expedition

00:51:06 Sponsorship

00:52:17 Training Schedule

00:54:00 Acquiring funds for the expedition

00:57:14 Mental prep for the 51 day expedition

01:00:03 Mental health journey

01:02:40 The expedition story

01:22:12 About South Pole

01:25:53 Food, Snacks & Chill

01:33:12 Touchdown South Pole

01:37:55 Future plans & Project Malli Mastan babu

01:43:31 : Mental Health & Project Spandana

01:55:07 : Concluding thoughts