You don't just throw a Trans-Antarctic Expedition or an International Geophysical Year together. These things take planning. Here's some background on the planners and introductions to some of the doers.

154_Macquarie_Island_catch_up

Dec 17th, 2023 39m 17s

Several years of Macquarie Island winters receive attention as I chill out under a Casuarina after several fraught months.

153_A_furtive_summiting_And_The_Frontier_Below

Dec 15th, 2023 39m 15s

I give voice to another almost but not quite lost snippet from "Big Dead Place" and I give the microphone to Adam Fitzgerald who voices the introduction to Jeff Maynard's new book, "The Frontier Below."

152_Vodka_in_a_Vegemite_Jar

Dec 1st, 2023 1h

In 1983 Australian glaciologist Trevor Hamley joined a Soviet traverse from the Russian coastal station, Mirny, to Dome Charlie, high atop the Antarctic plateau. Bouncing about in the back of a T-55 tank converted into a living quarters/galley/

151_Jeff_Wilson_interview

Nov 27th, 2023 1h 11m

Australian Antarctic Division alumnus, Jeff Wilson, recounts his experiences at Australian stations and in the Ross Sea. Road trip with our eldest. Good company at Anglesea. Good food. Good audio. One of the best days 2023 offered up.

150_Shepherds_of_Heard_Island

Nov 20th, 2023 52m 1s

The ANARE presence at Heard Island runs to 1955 and switches focus to continental Antarctica. The Island taught Australians to work on glaciers and to run dog teams, saw John Bechervaise cut his Antarctic teeth and lead the first ascent of Big

149_Heard_Island_Appendices

Nov 9th, 2023 1h 2m

ANARE occupation at Heard Island ran short but intense, and sometimes in tents. In addition to large quantities of wind and sleet the island provided a training ground for Antarctic travelers and their dogs. Challenging maritime approaches le

148_The_Hope_Bay_Hype

Aug 12th, 2023 1h 50m

Argentina and Britain needle each other over what huts go where around the Antarctica Peninsula and notes of protest change hands at a fevered pace. Hot heads at low temperatures lead to a low ebb in high latitudes camaraderie ashore at Hope Ba

147_Dr_Hillary_Sebeny

May 20th, 2023 1h 26m

Yet another amazing interview through which to inform you and by which to relieve myself of the burden to write and record a chronological narrative episode this month. "Ice Coffee": where me goofing off and being lazy still results in audio g

146 An interview with Professor Nash, another with Marsh, and an important update about the series

Apr 1st, 2023 1h 43m

Professor Meredith Nash spent two years studying and reporting on the culture within the Australian Antarctic Division. Their findings, released late in 2022, may prove a turning point in the history of Australia's presence in Antarctica. Pro

145_Josh_Jensen_Hercules_Maintainer

Mar 13th, 2023 31m 17s

Josh Jensen spent an austral summer keeping LC-130 Ski Hercules operational out of McMurdo. I spoke to him about the challenges that throws up and found out the days of boiling a pot of oil over the stove and pouring it into the sump ended wit

144_Russia_has_re-entered_the_chat

Mar 12th, 2023 51m 27s

Some historical and political context for the Russian return south in Soviet Union form. Bolsheviks: form soviets and roll out.

143_Samantha_Hodder_This_Is_Our_Time

Feb 1st, 2023 44m 24s

I haven't interviewed other Antarctic podcasters because that would make for dull content. "Do you press record? Wow! I do, too! Hey, how good is Audacity? Antarctica's cold, huh?" This episode I interview Samantha Hodder about her Antarcti

142_Port_Martin_on_the_continent_and_on_fire

Feb 1st, 2023 1h 5m

Paul Emile-Victor's charges are ashore and charging. But wait, there's more. Call now and get this free base fire valued at over five buildings.

141_France_returns_south

Jan 8th, 2023 28m 59s

Port Martin. Port Au Francaise. Port Malloy. Port Jean d'Arc. You'd think the French would switch up it with some cognac or cointreau.

140_Dave_Donnelly_and_really_big_whales

Jan 6th, 2023 31m 58s

If you set an AI process in motion to build a hard as nails nineteenth century seadog you'd likely arrive at Dave Donnelly in ninety-nine percent of your iterations. Dave looks and moves through the world as though he just stepped out of the p

139_Interview_with_Professor_McCahey_regarding_sexism_in_Antarctica

Jan 3rd, 2023 39m 26s

Professor Daniella McCahey of Texas Tech discusses sexism at Antarctic stations. * Except by HamiltonSuites, who should lie on their left side, raise their right knee to their chest, lubricate this episode and stick it up their arse.

138_Ice_Breakers

Jan 2nd, 2023 16m 49s

Ice'll kill ya' That's what I said Ice'll kill ya' And then you'll be dead

137_Interviews_about_an_air_crash_long_distance_Antarctic_engagement_and_a_ripper_of_a_new_book_about_Sir_Hubert_Wilkins

Aug 3rd, 2022 1h 49m

Thomas Walkington speaks about the wreck of the Pegasus and his time on the ice as part of VXE-6. Jim Butler showers praise on me and my output after discussing how he engages with Antarctica from half a world away. Jeff Maynard maps how he cho

136_Post_war_post_war_whaling

Jul 5th, 2022 1h 1m

I wasn't expecting the Greek shipping magnate.

135_NBSAE_part_2

Jun 2nd, 2022 1h 25m

Three members of the NBSAE drown in an accident on the barrier edge. Every other member of the NBSAE does their bit in making the project one of the most productive and smooth running examples of its type and of its time. Besides kicking off

134_NBSAE_Part_1

May 22nd, 2022 1h 2m

John Giaever storms it in as a high latitudes can-do-mo-fo with an international team of scientists. No matter how many committees got involved and put their bureaucratic handbrake on the NBSAE, the residents of Maudheim got south and got on w

133_Would_anyone_like_some_ham

Apr 14th, 2022 26m 44s

The role of ham radio operators in keeping Antarcticans sane through the long dark is given some attention. Additional audio of Vivian Fuchs speaking to Donald Milner at the BBC was made available by Thomas Henderson of Graceful Willow Product