Antarctic Stories

Jerome Viard grew up in France and moved to the UK 13 years ago where he has enjoyed a successful career as a chef, having been head pastry chef at some of the best hotels in Cambridge. In 2015, he was invited to embark on the adventure of a lifetime as a chef and field assistant for the South Georgia Heritage Trust’s habitat restoration field team during the rat eradication project. The team included 20 people from New Zealand, Australia, the UK and France. It was quite an adjustment cooking in such a remote environment, with long hours and minimal fresh food deliveries. Nonetheless, Jerome was blown away by the wildlife and cultural heritage of South Georgia, and appreciated the strong community that was built on base. In this episode, Jerome details the ups and downs of working on such a time-sensitive, high-stakes project in one of the most remote islands in the world. HIGHLIGHTS 2:23        The journey from making desserts in a 4-star hotel to feeding a team of 20 on one of the most remote islands in the world 3:11        The job responsibilities of a “rat team” chef as well as helping bait as a field assistant 4:54        What was it like to cook in such a remote environment? 8:22        Making the most of versatile ingredients like powdered milk 10:07     What is Jerome most proud of cooking during his time in South Georgia? Beware those with weak stomachs! 13:20     Why was the rat eradication project necessary and what were the required logistics? 22:11     Keeping busy on base when the project was halted due to bad weather 24:20     The privilege of experiencing South Georgia’s hostile yet stunningly beautiful landscapes, including following in the footsteps of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton 27:55     Jerome returns to South Georgia to support the work of the Heritage Trust 31:44     The difference between working as a chef 7-days-a-week for the rat eradication team and being a Museum Assistant with time off to explore the “travel zone” 33:32     A breathtaking memory - Jerome’s first impressions from the day he arrived in South Georgia in 2015 35:09     A jaw-dropping experience in Gold Harbour in the southeast coast of South Georgia 40:15     Jerome’s advice to those considering a trip to South Georgia

Expedition Doctor Lesley Cadzow was born in Scotland and spent her formative years pouring over medical books, with a keen interest in tropical diseases. She trained as a general practitioner before following an opportunity to New Zealand where she found herself working as a pediatric registrar flying premature babies around the North Island.  She then settled in Australia and began her work with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, providing treatment to indigenous communities all over the country.  Through a connection from her time at Glasgow University, she was introduced to expedition cruising and became an onboard doctor with Aurora Expeditions, a tour operator based in Sydney. This opportunity has taken her to the Arctic and Antarctic, and everywhere in between including Papua New Guinea and the Kamchatka Peninsula.  In this episode, Lesley shares with us her fascinating journey from general practice work in Scotland to warming up an unconscious hypothermic scuba diver in Antarctica, with plenty of weird and wonderful tales along the way.    HIGHLIGHTS 4:20 Early childhood interest in becoming a doctor pouring through medical books as a young girl 5:24 Flying premature babies as a pediatric registrar in New Zealand 6:58 Working with the Royal Flying Doctors Service bringing care to Australia’s most remote communities 10:23 Lesley’s introduction to expedition cruising with a trip to the remote islands off the coast of Scotland 13:07 Crossing the infamous Drake Passage on her first trip to the Antarctic Peninsula 15:09 A “beautiful and spooky” orca encounter while Zodiac cruising through the Lemaire Channel 20:53 Lesley recounts treating a hypothermic scuba diver during an Antarctic expedition 27:15 Practicing medicine in Antarctica is getting “back to basics” 28:25 The difficulty of stitching someone back up during rough seas 32:00 Acupuncture treatment in the Drake Passage and searching for contraception in the Orkney Islands of Scotland 38:23 What happens when the doctor is the one who gets sick? 43:40 A new sense of appreciation gained from guests who come on board with disabilities 47:38 Lesley’s special memory of being “land sick” amongst the penguins 49:31 Future plans including an upcoming expedition by camel to the “red center” of Australia

With an overwhelming amount of information about travelling to Antarctica on the internet, it seems like an easy way to narrow down your options is to ask other people on the internet (in FB groups or Lonely Planet travel forums, etc) what they recommend based on their experience when travelling there. Today on the podcast we run through five reasons to avoid crowdsourcing your trip to Antarctica and what to do instead. 

Theo Crutchley-Mack is a contemporary British artist whose work appears globally in private and public collections. He strives to record the obscure landscape, often abandoned and remote, spending many hours outside drawing in sketchbooks that later become a reference for larger studies. His studio paintings start out as deeply textured wooden bases that form the foundation for a sculptural approach to painting. In 2018 he was invited to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia as part of their unofficial Artist in Residency program where he painted and documented the ruined whaling stations to help fundraise for the South Georgia Heritage Trust which works to restore the damaged habitats of wildlife on the island.​ Described as his most ambitious project yet, the artistic documentation of South Georgia's abandoned whaling stations has resulted in numerous ongoing initiatives which include talks, exhibitions, and even a book.  On today's episode, he walks us through his experience discovering, getting to, and being transformed by this jewel of an island.​ HIGHLIGHTS 3:15 How Theo first came to learn about the Artist in Residence program in South Georgia 4:00 Theo describes the lengthy process by which he heard about South Georgia's abandoned whaling stations and then proceeded to try to get funding to get to the Falkland Islands and hopefully, eventually make his way even further south 6:45 What happened when all of Theo's art materials ended up on the wrong military plane and went to Cyprus instead of South Georgia with him 8:45 Theo describes the process by which he was able to logistically get to and obtain government permission to access certain abandoned whaling stations in order to culturally document them 13:20 Theo describes his process for capturing the essence of these remote places and then turning them into works of art 15:30 The most unexpected element of Theo's time on South Georgia 17:05 Why Theo was worried about taking on this project in South Georgia 19:30 What has happened with the work that was produced as a result of Theo's time on the island 22:35 A bit about the book that Theo has put together on the South Georgia project 

Alexia Spencer is Chief Operating Officer running day-to-day operations of Polar Permaculture, founded by visionary chef Benjamin Vidmar. They are based in Longyearbyen, Svalbard and their mission is to improve accessibility to fresh and nutritious food through sustainable and resilient systems. Polar Permaculture currently produces and distributes microgreens, culinary herbs and ornamental flowers to local restaurants and grocers, and their new hydroponic equipment will allow them to grow more leafy greens like kale and arugula. In this episode, Alexia discusses the company’s vision for reducing waste, as well as current challenges they face such as complicated logistics in receiving shipments to their remote location and pre-existing government regulations, which are in the process of being adjusted to better support their mission. This spring, Polar Permaculture hopes to expand their portfolio and offer locals the chance to grow their own strawberries and cucumbers at home. Long term, they are focused on “scaling with intention” as they develop exciting new projects. To learn more about Polar Permaculture, visit https://www.polarpermaculture.com/   HIGHLIGHTS 2:20 Alexia’s interest in food security in extreme environments led her to Svalbard 4:02 What Polar Permaculture currently grows and is hoping to grow in the near future 5:35 The infrastructure required for their production systems to meet their potential 7:10 Where do they get their seeds, where is the produce grown and what grows best? 8:50 Local partners in Longyearbyen which support Polar Permaculture’s operation 10:15 How they manage any surplus of produce 11:22 The reintroduction of a “circular economy” 13:00 The composting pilot project aimed at minimizing waste 17:10 Current challenges to the growth of Polar Permaculture 19:25 What has the local reception been to the idea of growing produce in Longyearbyen? 21:30 What new produce will be grown with the new hydroponic system? 24:25 Their future vision for raising awareness and providing tools for building resilient food systems

We are joined once again by expeditioner Howard Whelan for Part 2 of his life story from the polar regions. In this episode, we continue Howard’s winding polar journey, including his involvement in the award-winning film Happy Feet, using laser scanners from a “bubble helicopter” to map grounded icebergs and sea ice. We also discuss the challenges of organizing single-day climbs on the Antarctic Peninsula, and Howard remembers climbing a new route on Mount Demaria which sits across the Penola Strait from Vernadsky Station. Howard also reflects on changes in the tourism industry. Notably, the increase in the number of vessels and the coordination provided by IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators), and how experiences can vary greatly depending on the flexibility and timing of the operation. Finally, we take a moment to appreciate that sometimes the truest of connections to Antarctica can be experienced in the simplest of moments. HIGHLIGHTS 1:30  Being on the leading edge of tourism-based mountaineering excursions on the Peninsula 3:42  Observations of changes in the glacial landscape of South Georgia 7:45  Howard becomes involved in the production of the award-winning film, Happy Feet 12:25  Months spent collecting data to create the animated world of Happy Feet 15:30  Howard’s mentorship by successful businessmen and adventurer Dick Smith 17:37  Reflections on the tourism industry then and now 22:00  The challenge for today’s expedition leaders 25:04  A lesson learned about celebrating true connection with Antarctica

Howard Whelan is a polar expedition treasure having worked in the industry for three decades. But his story begins long before, starting with working in the dangerous environs of the Alaskan fishing industry as a teen, working at ski resorts and eventually becoming a journalist who moved to Australia and started up Australian Geographic. Not to mention he was part of the team that made the first Australian ascent of Mount Everest. And this was all before he ever set foot in Antarctica. Howard later became part of the initial expedition team for Aurora Expeditions and was a part of introducing mountaineering as an activity for visitors to the peninsula. He has visited both the east and west sides of Antarctica extensively and was a critical part of the production of the award-winning film, Happy Feet.  In today's episode, Part 1 of 2, we'll get a front-row seat for Howard's fascinating stories.   HIGHLIGHTS 2:25 Howard talks about his induction into the more cold, remote parts of our world starting with working on a fishing vessel in Alaska as a teen 7:30 Howard makes his first connection with Antarctica when he's invited to design a brochure for an Antarctic expedition in the early '80s 9:00 Next comes an invitation to be a part of the first Australian ascent of Mt Everest 9:35 Howard gets invited to spearhead Australian Geographic 10:40 Howard walks us through the experience of being on the team for the first Australian ascent of Mt Everest 13:40 The early days with Aurora Expeditions in Antarctica going into little-travelled territory, and the influx of ice-strengthened Russian vessels that made it possible 16:20 The effects of their early presence in Antarctica on governments establishing environmental guidelines 18:10 The millennium New Year in Antarctica 21:35 Some of Howard's unforgettable Antarctic moments 28:35 Some of the moments he'd rather not relive 36:40 A tale or two from the cold north that may involve some polar bears

This episode is a slight departure from our usual programming. Buckle up for a deep dive into a truly fascinating topic...Antarctic crime. Crimes which occur in Antarctica may be rare, but they are rife with drama and intrigue. In this episode, Heather Thorkelson and Lauren Farmer discuss the complicated legal background of investigating and prosecuting a crime on the white continent, where multiple countries can claim jurisdiction based on where the crime occurred and who was involved. Several psychological factors also contribute to these criminal acts, including isolation and boredom. Paired with alcoholism, which is a known problem on the continent, trouble ensues. Lauren and Heather take us on a wild journey through the most infamous cases, starting with an ice axe attack over a chess game in 1952 and finishing up in 2018 with an ongoing feud ending in a violent stabbing. HIGHLIGHTS 1:05 Heather offers an overview of crime in Antarctica including what types of crimes have been committed over time 2:15 The legal background is incredibly complicated when it comes to which country has jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute crimes 7:23 Several psychological factors contribute to crimes in Antarctica, including isolation and boredom 9:55 The first Antarctic crime reported in any detail was a fight over a chess game at Russia’s Vostok Station in 1959 12:55 The infamous arson case at Almirante Brown Station on the Antarctic Peninsula in 1984 16:36 In 1996, a chef at the USA’s McMurdo Station attacked a coworker with the claw end of a hammer. 21:10 The case of Rodney Marks, an astrophysicist at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station who died in 2000 under mysterious circumstances. 32:02 As recent as 2018, an ongoing feud results in a stabbing at Russia’s Bellingshausen Station on King George Island. 39:25 Lauren discusses the various types of crimes that may be committed during ship-based operations and the jurisdictional issues that arise

Southern California-based Caitlyn Webster is an “Undersea Specialist” who interprets the natural history of everything and anything under the sea. Through stunning videography, she’s able to bring the underworld to the surface and share it with others. As an experienced dry suit diver, she is simply blown away by being able to breathe underwater and has been able to develop a truly unique career in marine biology and ocean exploration. Her background as a kelp forest monitor recording ecological aspects and key species in places like Africa and the South Pacific led her to her current position with Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic. In this episode, she regals us with stories of coming eye to eye with a Leopard seal underwater and exploring kelp beds amongst diving guillemots at Alkefjellet in Svalbard, while emphasizing the importance of keeping calm, being present and trusting in your dive partner. HIGHLIGHTS 4:00 Caitlyn details how she got her start in dry suit diving and was offered her first job diving in the polar regions 9:05 What is an “Undersea Specialist?” 12:40 The extensive precautions and preparations you have to take when diving in really cold water 19:25 The “sheer bliss” of the first 6 minutes and mentally how to manage the remainder of the dive as the freeze sets in 26:35 A “surreal” and harrowing first polar dive at Alkefjellet in Svalbard 45:30 The key differences between diving in the Arctic and Antarctic 51:20 A breathtaking encounter with a Leopard seal underwater in Antarctica 1:03:07 What Caitlyn wants everyone to understand about our world’s coldest seas 1:06:35 Why the “sea angel” is Caitlyn’s favourite creature she’s encountered in the polar oceans Caitlyn on Instagram: @sea_webster Caitlyn's website: caitlynwebster.com  

Today on AntArctic Stories we have a different kind of guest. In fact, there are two: Tami Harris and Dave Weisman.   We've received a number of requests to feature "regular travellers" who have been to the polar regions so we invited Tami and Dave on the program to share their experiences.   Since retiring in 2012/2013, Tami and Dave have been spending about 75% of their time travelling, mostly internationally.   Listen to today's episode to hear about how the pair decided on which trip to take to the Antarctic, what they found was most unexpected about the trip, as well as what wowed them the most, before we switch to the Arctic where they share the contrast between their experiences in the North and South.   This is a must-listen for anyone in the planning stages of a polar expedition. Let us know what you think in the comments!   HIGHLIGHTS   2:40 - First things first: how Tami + Dave avoided booking the wrong trip to Antarctica!   7:10 - What they found most unexpected about the cold south.   8:40 - The duo share their most powerful memories from their Antarctic expedition.   10:45 - What specific advice do Tami + Dave have for someone planning a trip to Antarctica?   14:00 - What was it that gave them the idea to travel to the Arctic?   16:45 - They share their feelings about the difference between sailing on a 100 passenger ship in the Antarctic versus a 12 passenger ship in the Arctic   19:40 - Same as in the south, Tami + Dave share their most memorable moments from the Arctic.   21:45 - If people were looking for travel advice to the polar regions, what would Tami + Dave have to say?        AntArctic Stories is brought to you by Twin Tracks Expeditions - your experts in small-ship expedition cruises and unique adventures to the Arctic and Antarctica. We love sharing our insider knowledge to help you find your next polar adventure.   Find us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/twintracks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/twintracksexpeditions Our website - http://twintracksexpeditions.com

Stephen Eastaugh is an Australian contemporary artist from Melbourne, Australia. He is known for producing semi-abstract, mixed media art, and his work is informed by his decades of experiences travelling. He has made nine trips to Antarctica: three trips as the official Australian Antarctic Arts fellow (2000, 2002–3, 2009), and six times as an artist-in-residence on tourist ships. On Eastaugh's third official trip to Antarctica, he over-wintered at Mawson station. In fact, he was the first Australian to overwinter in Antarctica as an artist since Frank Hurley. Today on the podcast we talk to Stephen about his multiple experiences as an Arts Fellow on Antarctic bases.   For more great stories and photos of his overwintering on the great white continent, see his blog: http://www.stepheneastaugh.com.au/2009   All photos courtesy of Stephen Eastaugh    HIGHLIGHTS 4:00 – How Stephen’s first Fellowship in Antarctica came about   5:30 – Stephen shares that most of the English-speaking Antarctic programs have Artists Fellowships – good news for creatives!   6:20 – What stood out to him the most upon arrival in Antarctica   8:30 – The (surprising) primary role of taking artists down to Antarctica   9:20 – Stephen takes us through a day in the life of an artist in Antarctica   10:30 – How the artist’s role is perceived by the rest of the team   12:20 – The biggest challenges he faced as an artist working in a remote environment   13:30 – Stephen shares whether being in that remote environment changed his perceptions or skills as an artist   15:25 – What prompted Stephen to decide to overwinter in Antarctica after two stints down there in the summer season?   17:05 – What was different about overwintering in comparison to being there with more people during the summer months?   18:50 – The thing that affects people the most in an isolated place…   20:10 – The most unique thing Stephen experienced while in Antarctica   22:10 – A possible cunning plan to get to the dry valleys near McMurdo, which is one place on the continent Stephen hasn’t seen but would really like to   23:30 – Stephen’s advice for any artists who are keen to do a residency in Antarctica   LINKS Stephen's website - http://www.stepheneastaugh.com.au/  The Australian Antarctic Division Artists Fellowship -http://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/antarctic-arts-fellowship Video: Winterover - https://vimeo.com/20476025 Video: Beard growing - https://vimeo.com/16277406 Video: Blizz-lines - https://vimeo.com/20473735      AntArctic Stories is brought to you by Twin Tracks Expeditions - your experts in small-ship expedition cruises and unique adventures to the Arctic and Antarctica. We love sharing our insider knowledge to help you find your next polar adventure.   Find us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/twintracks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/twintracksexpeditions Our website - http://twintracksexpeditions.com

Few faces in the sub-Antarctic world are as familiar as that of Sarah Lurcock, South Georgia Heritage Trust's Director on South Georgia. Tireless in her management of the annual team that heads to Gryviken to manage the museum, the post office, and various goings-on in this remote outpost, Sarah is one of the strongest ambassadors for an island that so many love so dearly.   Photo by Heather Thorkelson   Many travellers recognize Sarah as the first local face they see upon arrival in South Georgia as she has spent years boarding expedition vessels and prepping visitors for their day visit to Grytviken.   Photo by Kerstin Langenberger   However, Sarah and her annually-rotating team are also largely responsible for the fundraising initiatives - largely from tourism vessels - that have paved the way for some groundbreaking projects to be completed in South Georgia.   Spending six months a year on South Georgia for over two decades, Sarah has truly dedicated her life to a place that many people only visit once in a lifetime and many more only dream of.   Listen to today's episode to hear Sarah's story and learn more about the future of South Georgia, the "pearl of the Antarctic".   HIGHLIGHTS 2:45 – The story of what drew Sarah to South Georgia in the first place about two decades ago   4:00 – Not too long ago, women weren’t allowed on the island   5:20 – How Sarah ended up as the Director of the South Georgia Heritage Trust on the island   8:50 – Good news! South Georgia now has a full-time curator at the museum   9:30 – Ever wanted to work on a remote, wildlife-packed island? Sarah spills the beans on how other seasonal positions on South Georgia get filled   11:35 – What day-to-day life is like in Grytviken when they're dealing with roughly 80 cruise ships per season (and growing)   15:40 – Is there anything that Sarah misses when she’s living off provisions during her 6 months on the island?   17:15 – What life was like on South Georgia in the pre-internet age   19:45 – How dependency on the internet is changing things, even in our most remote regions   21:00 – Sarah talks about the epic planning and execution involved in the Habitat Restoration Project which successfully eradicated rodents - invasive species - from the island   27:00 – All involved in the South Georgia Habitat Restoration project are now a resource for other similar, logistically challenging initiatives being attempted worldwide   29:00 – Sarah takes us through some of the different groundbreaking projects being undertaken on SG in order to preserve both her nature and her unique place in history   40:00 - The centenary of Shackleton's death is coming up soon and there are plans for a commemoration...   43:00 - What Sarah and her on-island team do with their precious little time off in this wild wonderland   LINKS The South Georgia Heritage Trust - https://www.sght.org/ Friends of South Georgia - http://www.fosgi.org/ Government of South Georgia - https://www.gov.gs/ South Georgia Heritage Trust Museum website - http://sgmuseum.gs/ UKAHT - https://www.ukaht.org/     AntArctic Stories is brought to you by Twin Tracks Expeditions - your experts in small-ship expedition cruises and unique adventures to the Arctic and Antarctica. We love sharing our insider knowledge to help you find your next polar adventure.   Find us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/twintracks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/twintracksexpeditions Our website - http://twintracksexpeditions.com

Alexander Feldt has spent the last decade working as an Arctic guide both on land and on expedition cruise ships in Russia’s Far North and Northern Norway, as well as serving as a Park Ranger for the Russian Arctic National Park.   Originally from Arkhangelsk on Russia’s northern coast, he's spent his entire career focused on learning about and sharing his love for the history of this region. Along with his insight into the recent history of the area, hear his stories of when he was on the world's strongest icebreaker and they hit an iceberg larger than the ship itself, and of being stranded with 40 guests on land - in dense fog - right in the thick of polar bear country.  Photo: stranded in the fog at Cape Fligely Queue up today's podcast to get the inside scoop on this little known, and less-traveled part of our world.   HIGHLIGHTS   3:10 – How Alexander got started in his career as a Park Ranger  5:00 – The background of recently-developed tourism in the Russian High Arctic 8:00 – The only ways you can reach Franz Josef Land, one of the most remote archipelagos in the world 10:40 – There are only a handful of people who actually get to the Russian High Arctic each year - a truly exclusive and remote travel experience 13:30 – What it was like during the early days of tourism development (1990’s) and then the advent of the Russian Arctic National Park in 2011, with the first rangers starting to manage the human presence and maintain historical buildings 16:30 - The huge task of cleaning the Russian Arctic National Park from the leftovers of the military presence 18:50 – How the Park Rangers hitch a ride on the Icebreaker to “get to work” in this remote area 21:00 – On the development of guidelines to manage wildlife (polar bear) encounters based on AECO rules developed for Svalbard 23:00 – The critical importance of having park rangers with you in this remote and wild region 25:45 – How rangers deter polar bears when they are doing their conservation work on-site in the Park 30:00 – The challenges of managing a National Park that’s so huge and hard to monitor 32:00 – Alex shares a story of when the Russian Icebreaker 50 Years of Victory hit an iceberg that was higher than the icebreaker itself 36:00 – When Alex was stranded on land at the northernmost tip of Europe, Eurasia, and Russia at Cape Fligely in the fog with 40 passengers right in the thick of polar bear country 42:00 – Alexander’s “hobby” of protesting a landfill in Shies in the Russian North 50:00 – On the success of protests against landfills and the growing swell of support   LINKS The Russian North is Not A Dump (Facebook Group) - https://www.facebook.com/poligonamnet/ Appeal to Leaders and Organizations in the Barents Region - https://www.facebook.com/poligonamnet/posts/492523018195851    AntArctic Stories is brought to you by Twin Tracks Expeditions - your experts in small-ship expedition cruises and unique adventures to the Arctic and Antarctica. We love sharing our insider knowledge to help you find your next polar adventure.   Find us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/twintracks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/twintracksexpeditions Our website - http://twintracksexpeditions.com

Ted Cheeseman is the founder of happywhale.com, a project that aims to photo identify the world's whales through Citizen Science and as such, better understand these mysterious creatures, both for fun and scientific purposes.      In just a few short years happywhale.com has become one of the greatest contributors to whale science both in the volume of whale identification images but also, in understanding their migration patterns.      Furthermore, Ted is one of the founding members of the Polar Citizen Science Collective - an organization that facilitates meaningful data contributions of regular travelers when they visit the polar regions. This includes submissions to happywhale.com through hobby photography, but also collecting sea samples that look at ocean salinity, phytoplankton density, and much more.   Check out this episode to learn more about how one man's passion for animals and nature led to his involvement in the inception of these truly groundbreaking programs that are changing the landscape of polar scientific research. Photos courtesy of happywhale on Instagram   HIGHLIGHTS   3:10 – Why whales? 4:30 – How we hunted whales down to near biological extinction and now they’re recovering 6:15 – Ted’s most memorable whale encounter, when he was actually lifted by a whale 12:25 – The process by which individual whales are identified by their fluke 15:00 - How a photo of a whale Ted took outside of Deception Island and a visit to Palmer Station sparked an idea that turned into a movement 17:10 – happywhale.com is born with a combo of a scrappy passion for animals and Silicon valley smarts 17:50 – New image recognition technology allows happywhale.com to accurately match most whale photos 19: 30 – What happywhale.com does to get regular people on board to help identify whales (make it easy, make it rewarding) 23:45 – The importance of how feeling connected to individual animals motivates us to take care of them better 25:20 – The biggest threat to whales right now 26:10 – Happywhale.com as a tool for lifetime awareness 26:45 – Ted tells us about the inception of the Polar Citizen Science Collective 34:00 – Where Ted sees the Citizen Science program in the polar regions 5 years from now 37:00 – The world’s whale population has never been fully assessed and happywhale.com is the single largest data contributor to scientific organizations 38:10 – How a greater understanding of whales and migration patterns helps inform policies for things like vessel speeds in certain high-density areas 39:40 – Houston, we have a Citizen Science app! 46:10 – The potential (massive) impacts of happywhale.com and the Citizen Science Collective, proving that individuals can make a difference   LINKS Happywhale.com - https://happywhale.com Happywhale on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/happywhales Happywhale on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/happyhumpback The Polar Citizen Science Collective - http://www.polarcollective.org   AntArctic Stories is brought to you by Twin Tracks Expeditions - your experts in small ship expedition cruises and unique adventures to the Arctic and Antarctica. We love sharing our insider knowledge to help you find your next polar adventure.   Find us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/twintracks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/twintracksexpeditions Our website - http://twintracksexpeditions.com

Danish national Michael Andersson let his military training and certified carpenter skills lead him from Europe to Canada, Zanzibar to  Greenland and Svalbard, and then back Greenland where his growing interest and skills led him to fulfill a childhood dream by being accepted into Denmark’s Sirius Patrol - an elite unit of the Danish Navy that enforces sovereignty in the Arctic wilderness of eastern and northern Greenland. Today on the podcast we get a peek behind the door of what it's like to be in the Sirius Patrol - out with only one colleague, a sledge and 13 dogs for months at a time, eating dried food and sleeping with a weapon on your chest in the event of a polar bear approach. Download the episode and listen to Michael's incredible tales from some of our earth's most remote Arctic environs.   HIGHLIGHTS   2:48 - What exactly is the Sirius Patrol and how was it developed?  4:00 - Michael shares what the requirements are for men and women to apply to be a Sirius patrol person 7:37 - How does the application process happen - how do they narrow down to the few that are accepted? Plus, intensive Sirius Patrol training... 9:43 - Dentistry in the Arctic when it’s you and one other person, weeks away from help. 12:50 - It’s official - you’re starting your two years of service. What happens then? 15:11 - Michael tells us about what a day looks like when it's just you, one colleague, and 13 dogs on those multiple-month patrols 18:13 - What to do when there’s an issue with one of the dogs 20:04 - What do you feed this many dogs and how do you manage supplies? 21:40 - Michael talks sledge maintenance, and the challenge of packing heavy and light at the same time 24:05 - Nature is king and the weather is your boss 25:02 - Navigating in polar bear country 28:09 - Being out for four months at a time…lots of time to get to know your work buddies 30:45 - What did Michael miss the most? 32:12 - Michael talks food and meals out in this environment 35:12 - What is it like out there in the polar isolation? What did Michael learn about himself? 36:43 - Lessons from solitude - The heart holds certain things dear after this type of experience. 39:20 - Michael just finished his master’s in nature-based tourism. What’s next?   LINKS The Sirius Patrol recruitment video - https://youtu.be/iCTw6WNx_-4   AntArctic Stories is brought to you by Twin Tracks Expeditions - your experts in small ship expedition cruises and unique adventures to the Arctic and Antarctica. We love sharing our insider knowledge to help you find your next polar adventure.   Find us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/twintracks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/twintracksexpeditions Our website - http://twintracksexpeditions.com

What happens when you thought your destiny would take you closer to the equator to a Spanish-speaking country, and then discover that your heart is actually in remote, chilly, and wild Greenland? Our guest on the podcast today is Sarah Woodall, a Paraguayan-born naturalized US citizen who was raised in Washington DC and found her way to Greenland on an internship.   As it turns out, Sarah would not be returning to the US. Rather she has settled in the southern Greenland town of Qaqortoq - population 3000 - and learned the local language, taking a job at the tourism board. Sarah shares her wildly interesting and unusual life in this remote Arctic outpost through visual storytelling on her Instagram feed, but today we're getting to the story behind her stories.  Check out episode 8 of AntArctic stories and let us know what you think!   HIGHLIGHTS 3:00 - How Sarah ended up in Greenland to begin with when she always imagined she'd end up in a Spanish-speaking country close to the equator 6:40 - Sarah tells us why she moved from a town of 18,000 to a town of 3,000 8:25 - On choosing what to share about her life in Greenland on Instagram 10:15 - How Sarah prepares amazing cuisine in such a remote town where the supply is limited 11:45 - What being a sea-ice free town means and what happens when you have a food emergency in Greenland 13:30 - Sarah talks about using three languages in her day-to-day life - English, Danish, and the incredibly tough Greenlandic 18:20 - The challenges Sarah faces by living remotely & her "only in Greenland" experiences 20:45 - What makes the experience of living in Southern Greenland so magical 25:00 - What's next for Sarah in her remote home   LINKS Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polarphile/   AntArctic Stories is brought to you by Twin Tracks Expeditions - your experts in small ship expedition cruises and unique adventures to the Arctic and Antarctica. We love sharing our insider knowledge to help you find your next polar adventure.   Find us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/twintracks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/twintracksexpeditions Our website - http://twintracksexpeditions.com

Today we bring you the story of Bob Gilmore, a former McMurdo base staff member and longtime polar expedition guide who supported both the on-the-ground research projects on the continent and then went on to spearhead polar citizen science programs on tourism expedition vessels. In this episode, Bob tells his story of how he came to work in Antarctica to begin with in charge of fuel which allowed him the amazing opportunity of going deep into the continent and learn first hand about glacial science. He returned to the US after a few seasons to become a 7th-grade teacher, but the polar bug had bitten him hard and it was only a matter of time, a bit of luck, and the right person giving him the chance that brought him back to the Great White Continent as an expedition guide. And while guiding and teaching guests about the things he was passionate about was great, Bob saw an opportunity to really leverage the regular tourist ship presence in Antarctica to directly support scientists in institutions back in North America by gathering data on their behalf, and thus, the Polar Citizen Science program was born. Have a listen to his incredibly fascinating and engaging story, and leave us a review on iTunes, Stitcher, PocketCasts, or wherever you listen to episodes.   HIGHLIGHTS 3:17 - How Bob got a job in fuel management at McMurdo Station in Antarctica 4:45 - The role of fuel in the US Antarctic program (it's everything!) 5:30 - How his job allowed him to go out into the field, into the dry valleys and assist in ice core drilling projects, learning about polar science 6:35 - Bob goes back to the US to teach 7th grade 7:20 - Susan Adie gives Bob a break which allows him to get back to Antarctica, but this time on an expedition ship 9:15 - the genesis of the citizen science work that Bob spearheaded on expedition ships 11:05 - Bob proposes bringing science onto the ship that passengers can participate in and management says yes (PL - JM and Brandon) 11:30 - Bob starts cold calling scientists - old school! - to see who needs the data he would be able to collect 13:40 - Citizen Science in the polar regions is exploding in popularity 15:15 - Citizen Science doesn't just help scientists, it changes the travelers who are involved in collecting the data forever 16:30 - Bob tells us about his biggest challenges in developing the Citizen Science program in Antarctica 19:15 - The Arctic is changing even faster than the Antarctic and more resources are needed to help scientists get a better understanding of what's unfolding year over year 21:00 - What's next for Citizen Science? 24:00 - How individuals and organizations can learn more about getting involved in polar citizen science   LINKS Polar Citizen Science Collective: http://www.polarcollective.org/ Polar Latitudes: https://polar-latitudes.com/     AntArctic Stories is brought to you by Twin Tracks Expeditions - your experts in small ship expedition cruises and unique adventures to the Arctic and Antarctica. We love sharing our insider knowledge to help you find your next polar adventure.   Find us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/twintracks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/twintracksexpeditions Our website - http://twintracksexpeditions.com

Felicity Aston's story is absolutely incredible - going from someone who didn't particularly like Phys Ed class in school to being the first woman to ever cross the Antarctic continent alone over the course of two months, she has shown that courage, tenacity, and mindset are more important in achieving massive goals than pure physical capability. In this episode, Felicity shares how she first fell in love with Antarctica while working as a meteorologist on a research base, what made her go back time and again, and also the inspiration behind taking a group of women - many of whom had never seen snow prior to signing up for the expedition - to the South Pole on skis. She also takes us into the unique experience of being alone in Antarctica for two months during her 2012 crossing of the continent, battling horrendous weather, and her own mind, to achieve what no woman had ever done before, landing her in the Guinness Book of World Records among other accolades. Felicity has since taken a group of women to the North Pole as well, among other notable expeditions and adventures. Have a listen to her story and let us know what you'd like us to ask her on future episodes by emailing contact {at} twintracksexpeditions.com HIGHLIGHTS 4:20 - On skiing to the North Pole with a team of women from Europe and the Middle East 6:30 - What led up to the 2009 expedition when Felicity took 7 women with almost no experience to ski to the South Pole 10:10 - Felicity talks about how living on an Antarctic research base, and the training that came along with it from the British Antarctic Survey prepared her for her future ski crossings 11:15 - Next phase: Felicity tries to hold a 'regular job' in London 11:45 - Then she takes on the Adventure Race to the North Magnetic Pole and talks about how that differed from her BAS training in terms of pushing oneself physically and mentally, traveling light and fast, with help close at hand if needed 13:50 - Crossing the Greenland ice sheet with 3 other British women, marrying the best of her different types of expeditionary training to find the best combo that worked 15:15 - Felicity slowly begins to realize through training a variety of different people for expeditions that in fact, she can help anyone who has the will complete a polar expedition because in the end, it's all about mindset 15:40 - Tired of seeing a bunch of middle-aged, middle-class white men from Northern Europe and North America get all the glory for their tales of polar achievement, Felicity decides to put her theory to the test and take a bunch of women from all over the globe to the South Pole 17:00 - On the challenges of leadership when you have a team with a variety of different needs that are so out of their element, as well as increasingly tired both mentally and physically 20:00 - How even being an experienced leader doesn't immunize you from second-guessing yourself and what happens when you don't perform as best as you'd like 24:10 - Felicity's solo crossing of Antarctica in 2012 and what it was like to be unutterably alone on the earth's most inhospitable continent 26:30 - On realizing she hadn't prepared at all for being solo for so long and how she managed to live with a constant level of fear throughout the expedition 33:30 - What it's like having a little devil on your shoulder all the time telling you to take it easy because no one will ever know 35:51 - On finding out that who you think you are in your core isn't necessarily who you truly are, and that being alone for so long makes you reassess what you're actually made of 36:55 - Not being a person who was into physical fitness to begin with, Felicity talks about what made her want to take on these incredible feats of endurance and become the explorer that she is 42:50 - On the challenge of trying to figure out what to do next with your life or your plans 45:00 - The importance of taking the time to spread the message of each expedition in order to create the results you wanted to achieve 48:20 - The challenges of raising funds and getting sponsorship for expeditions - does gaining credibility make things any easier? 53:30 - On the importance of making choices intentionally with regards to polar exploration as well as life outside of expeditions 59:00 - On being stuck in a line of work because you feel like you have to, and making sure that you are where you want to be 1:01:00 - What it's like fitting in to life in Reykjavik 1:05:50 - What's next? Editing is underway for the film about her North Pole Euro-Arabian expedition AND there's a book coming out as well   LINKS Felicity Aston's website: http://www.felicityaston.co.uk/  Felicity on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/felicity.aston.5 Felicity on Twitter: https://twitter.com/felicity_aston Felicity on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicityaston/    AntArctic Stories is brought to you by Twin Tracks Expeditions - your experts in small ship expedition cruises and unique adventures to the Arctic and Antarctica. We love sharing our insider knowledge to help you find your next polar adventure.   Find us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/twintracks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/twintracksexpeditions Our website - http://twintracksexpeditions.com

On this episode of AntArctic Stories, we speak with Graham Charles, one of New Zealand’s most versatile outdoor professionals, with over thirty years of professional outdoor experience and qualifications to the highest levels. He is also the founder and President of the Polar Tourism Guides Association. Graham shares with us his experiences of being part of the first team to kayak the length of the Antarctic Peninsula in 2001, unsupported and without anything to communicate with other than a handheld VHF radio. He also gives us a glimpse of what it was like to be on the first team to circumnavigate the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia in 2005 by kayak. These "world's first" expeditions along with his long career in guiding and contributing to professional qualification development led to Graham spearheading the first standardizing body for polar guides, which we discuss in the second half of this episode. HIGHLIGHTS 2:30 - Part one: Graham tells us about his record-breaking kayak trip down the length of the Antarctic Peninsula 9:10 - Limited tech for communicating (no satellite phone back in 2001) 10:30 - Graham and team get caught nude sunbathing 12:40 - Part two: South Georgia - Graham shares what it was like to be the first to circumnavigate this remote island 21:00 - What is the PTGA & how did it all start? 25:30 - What spurred Graham to start the PTGA independently 31:45 - Who is behind the PTGA? 32:30 - Graham talks about the difference between company-specific guide training programs and the PTGA's approach to competency measurement 34:40 - The advantage of the PTGA not being mandatory, but rather a program that invites guides to willingly get measured and be proud of the PTGA designation 36:50 - How to become an individual member 38:00 - What about the corporate members?  39:20 - We hear about PTGA performance measurement 40:45 - How many assessors does the PTGA have? 43:10 - How to get assessed & the reason behind a workplace-based assessment model 45:00 - How guides can learn more about PTGA accreditation   LINKS Polar Tourism Guides Association: https://polartourismguides.com/ Graham Charles' website: http://www.grahamcharlesnz.com/     AntArctic Stories is brought to you by Twin Tracks Expeditions - your experts in small ship expedition cruises and unique adventures to the Arctic and Antarctica. We love sharing our insider knowledge to help you find your next polar adventure.   Find us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/twintracks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/twintracksexpeditions Our website - http://twintracksexpeditions.com

Allison Cusick is a wildly interesting 'woman scientist' and key member of the Polar Citizen Science Collective who spent 10 years as a research biologist before taking on PhD studies at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. In this episode, she shares how she turned her passion for science and travel into numerous opportunities to engage with the natural environment in ways most people only dream of, including a 53-day scientific expedition to the Ross Sea Antarctica on board the icebreaker US Nathaniel B Palmer.  She's also the project lead on a groundbreaking Citizen Science program on board tourist ships gathering data about phytoplankton in Antarctic waters.   HIGHLIGHTS 3:45 - What is Citizen Science and why it's cool for the planet 7:35 - Allison's unsuccessful attempt at getting work on an Antarctic research base and what happened next 10:17 - We hear from Allison about the public's fantastic reception to contributing to polar science & studying the effects of climate change 15:44 - We learn about the HappyWhale program: a scientific data collection project that only requires passengers to take photos of whale flukes 17:00 - Allison shares the impact that 5 months of scientific readings from tourism vessels can have on our understanding of some really important biological processes (like phytoplankton blooms) that can only be captured because of the regular presence of vessels, something research vessels don't have the luxury of doing 22:28 - Current representation of women in polar science and the challenges faced in achieving higher level positions 28:38 - How Allison ended up running the Antarctic Marathon dressed as a banana   LINKS FjordPhyto Project - https://scripps.ucsd.edu/programs/fjordphyto/ WomanScientist - http://www.womanscientist.com/ Allison on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/womanscientist/ Allison on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/womanscientist/ The Polar Citizen Science Collective - http://www.polarcollective.org/     AntArctic Stories is brought to you by Twin Tracks Expeditions - your experts in small ship expedition cruises and unique adventures to the Arctic and Antarctica. We love sharing our insider knowledge to help you find your next polar adventure.   Find us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/twintracks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/twintracksexpeditions Our website - http://twintracksexpeditions.com