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

Antarctic Stories

S2 EP09 Jerome Viard - Bon appétit: Tales from the French Pastry Chef that Helped Feed South Georgia's Rat Team

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

S2 EP08 Dr Lesley Cadzow - The Unusual Adventures of a Ship-based Expedition Doctor

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. 

S2 EP07 Five Reasons to Avoid Crowdsourcing your Trip To Antarctica (and what to do instead) with Heather Thorkelson

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 

S2 EP06 Theo Crutchley-Mack - Being an Artist in Residence on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia

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

S2 EP05 Alexia Spencer - Growing Greens 650 miles from the North Pole

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

S2 EP04 Howard Whelan - Part 2 - Tales from three decades of polar expeditioning

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

S2 EP03 Howard Whelan - Tales from three decades of polar expeditioning

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

S2 EP02 Crimes in Antarctica - The cold, cruel, and desperate happenings on earth's most remote continent

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   

S2 EP01 Caitlyn Webster - Exploring the icy underworld through the eyes of a polar expedition diver

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

EP 14 Tami Harris + Dave Weisman - How to choose the right adventure once you've caught the 'polar bug'

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

EP13 Stephen Eastaugh - A landscape artist that overwintered in Antarctica

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

EP12 Sarah Lurcock - Six months a year, every year: A story of living on South Georgia for love & preservation

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

EP11 Alexander Feldt - The Life of a Park Ranger in Russia's High Arctic

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

EP10 Ted Cheeseman - Photographing whales to tell their story - for fun + science - with happywhale.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

EP09 Michael Andersson - Patrolling Greenland's coast by dogsled as part of Denmark's elite naval unit - the Sirius Patrol

AntArctic Stories is a podcast that takes you behind the scenes into the rich world of people who live, work, and undertake daring expeditions in the polar regions. The podcast is produced by a merry band of career polar guides who primarily work in the expedition cruise industry, and is hosted by Heather Thorkelson. AntArctic Stories is our way of bringing the incredible lives of the people we meet and work with into your homes and headsets, no matter where you are in the world.

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Antarctic Stories

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