Podcasts are one of the fastest growing mediums for sharing stories on the go. However, with so many options to choose from, it can be a challenge to find compelling yet informative episodes to listen to. That’s why Hayley Santos Fier compiled a listening list to help you pick the perfect one!
Whether you’re interested in hearing about wildlife biology, polar history, life on the ice, or the work of your fellow Antarctic Ambassadors, her 10 Podcast Episodes for Antarctic Enthusiasts is bound to have something to quench your thirst for knowledge of the white desert.
1) Penguinology (PENGUINS) with Tom Hart | Ologies with Alie Ward
Are penguins your favorite Antarctic animals? Well, this is the interview for you. Hear from Tom Hart, self-proclaimed “penguinologist” and researcher at Oxford University’s Department of Zoology, about all things penguin from the serious to the silly, including topics such as “what is a penguin”, how scientists study them in some of the most remote locations, whether they smell more “fishy” or “birdy”, and even where their knees are! For our most fervent Antarctic Ambassadors, Hart even includes action steps for helping to protect penguins from home.
2) 129: Icefish and Wombat | Just the Zoo of Us
Just the Zoo of Us, hosted by Ellen and Christian Weatherford, is a humorous and informative production, typically reviewing one land animal and one marine animal each week based on their effectiveness, ingenuity, and aesthetics. In her segment, Ellen describes the little-known taxonomic family Channichthyidae, the crocodile icefishes, which live in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. These unique species survive in icy Antarctic waters without freezing, breathe without hemoglobin (oxygen-carrying blood proteins), and care for their young, unlike many other species of fish. In addition to sharing fun facts, the Weatherfords delve into the scientific research; citing the papers consulted in the creation of the show and empowering listeners to further their understanding of the featured species.
3) Pinnipedology (SEALS & WALRUSES) with Dr. Luis A. Hückstädt | Ologies with Alie Ward
While penguins are a fan favorite in the Antarctic Ambassadors community, it’s the seals that really capture my heart. If you too are partial to pinnipeds, (there must be at least one of you out there…), this is the recording for us! Featuring Luis Hückstädt, a seal scientist that has been to Antarctica 10 times, (likely a few more since the podcast was taped in 2021) to study southern elephant, crabeater, Antarctic fur, and leopard seals, it contains fascinating anecdotes from the field, like “booping” seal noses to confirm that they are breathing under anesthesia, and an exploration into the basic anatomy and physiology of pinnipeds, including sea lions and walruses. In short, this program is a well-rounded introduction to the world of “pinnipedology”.
4) S1Ep04 Allison Cusick – Changing the data-gathering game through citizen science | AntArctic Stories
Are you an Antarctic Ambassador? Have you ever wondered what other members of your community do to protect Antarctica? Host Heather Thorkelson chats to Antarctic Ambassador, biologist, oceanographer, and cofounder of FjordPhyto Allison Cusick about her fascinating journey to becoming a polar scientist. Allison shares how FjordPhyto connects Antarctic travelers with scientific research, what phytoplankton are, and why it’s important to study these microscopic organisms. Learn even more about this exciting citizen science project by checking out FjordPhyto’s website.
Allison also talks about her website, Woman Scientist, created to highlight “women working in science in ‘unconventional’ ways” and inspire others do to the same.
5) Rare Old Weddell Seal SuperMom Sets New Record with 23rd Pup! | Weddell Seal Science
This episode is recommended for Antarctic enthusiasts that want to learn more about wildlife on the frozen continent but are in a time crunch. In just six minutes, you will hear from Dr. Jay Rotella, Montana State University’s principal investigator of Weddell seal research, all about the exceptional life history of an individual female seal called 0550 Charlie. Not only has 0550 Charlie tied the record for longest known life span of a Weddell seal since the project began in 1968, but she has also broken the record for most births, with 2022’s pup being her 23rd! If Dr. Rotella’s introduction to these adorable marine mammals piques your interest, check out Weddell Seal Science’s website for more information on his team’s decades-long research.
6) World Krill Day | Whale Tales Podcast
Celebrated each year on August 11, World Krill Day raises awareness of the important role these miniscule but mighty creatures play in Antarctic ecosystems. To mark this special day, Whale Tales Podcast interviews Drs. Kim Bernard and Jen Walsh (krill scientists that have worked in Antarctica), Nikki Bransom (Pew Charitable Trust advocate for marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean), and Phillippe and Ashlan Cousteau (nature filmmaker and journalist). Learn how krill survive harsh polar winters, why they are the target of Antarctica’s largest fishery, and actions you can take to protect them. Whether you are a superb(a) krill enthusiast or you have never heard of these crustaceans before, you will learn something new about the keystone of Antarctica’s ecosystems!
7) Dinosaurs in Antarctica | A Voyage to Antarctica
Today, we think of Antarctica as an icy, inhospitable wilderness, but it was not always this way. In fact, it was not permanently frozen until 30 million years ago. But what did Antarctica look like before? In this installment of A Voyage to Antarctica, Alok Jha interviews Dr. Susannah Maidment, principal researcher in fossil reptiles at the Natural History Museum in London, UK, about the Mesozoic era fossil record on the frozen continent. Perhaps even more fascinating than Dr. Maidment’s explanation of what we do know about Antarctica, is her description of what remains a mystery.
8) Tracey Rogers on leopard seals and Antarctica | The Life Scientific
Long time leopard seal scientist Tracey Rogers shares the origins of her research, frightening field stories from her trips to Antarctica, and her latest findings. Did you know that leopard seals sing chilling songs like alien sound effects from a science fiction movie, or that the fittest males sing in the highest frequencies? Have you ever wondered if the best way to estimate seal populations is to lookfor them or to listen? Why do leopard seals have teeth that can filter krill if they can eat seal pups and penguins? The Life Scientific expertly describes one of Antarctica’s most fearsome yet charismatic apex predators.
9) Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic Expeditions, Pt 1. | Stuff You Missed in History Class
Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance expedition is one of the most famous in the history of the continent – the subject of numerous books and movies, and, yes podcasts too! Stuff You Missed in History Class’ hosts Tracy V. Wilson and Holly Fry share a well-researched and holistic rendition of the story. Wilson and Fry’s retelling of Shackleton’s tale begins with his early life in Ireland, continues to his first two Antarctic expeditions, first with Captain Robert F. Scott and then on the Nimrod with hopes at reaching the South Pole, and through when he commands the Endurance crew to abandon ship. Even if you know how Shackleton’s story ends, you may learn something new about his incredible journey!
10) What do people eat in Antarctica? | Everything Antarctica
Have you ever wondered what a day in the life in Antarctica is like? Check out Everything Antarctica, hosted by Matty Jordan and Jonny Harrison who have the combined experience of three Antarctic winters, 13 expeditions to Antarctica, and over 1,200 days “on ice”. What can you eat on a continent with no arable land that is too cold for livestock? This conversation will tell you everything you need to know about food on the frozen continent. Can vegans stay vegan at Scott Base? Who cleans the dirty dishes? What is a “smoko”? Listen to learn how even the necessities like food become a challenge solved by standardized procedures in Antarctica.
Bonus: Would you like to experience an Antarctic expedition from the comfort of your couch? Listen to Episode 141: Introduction to the Kingdom of Penguins of The Whalenerd’s Podcast. Marine biologist, naturalist, and expedition guide Katlyn Taylor tells the tale of an air-cruise with one of IAATO’s operators from a guide’s perspective. If you are curious about how IAATO’s Visitor Guidelines are implemented on trips to Antarctica, then this is a must-listen. Katlyn explains how operators implement biosecurity protocols to guard against invasive species, describes how expedition leaders decide whether to land at a site, and recounts the precautions taken to maintain appropriate distances from wildlife.
Have you listened to any of these podcasts? Do you have any of your own recommendations? Let us know on Instagram or Facebook!
Happy listening!
*** This list is based on the author’s research and is not formally endorsed by Antarctic Ambassadors
Hayley is a recent graduate of Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences where she completed her Master’s degree in Marine Conservation and Policy.
She joined the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) as an intern in January 2023, mapping Voluntary Cetacean and Pinniped Sightings (V-CaPS) Program data to visualize whale and seal presence along the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Her passion for this project inspired her to become an Antarctic Ambassador.