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Here's a wild idea: What if the thing holding you back isn't your bank account, your age, or your circumstances—it's just the story you've been telling yourself? Joe Saul-Sehy and OG sit down with Colin O'Brady, four-time world record holder and endurance athlete who's done things most people would call impossible: solo trek across Antarctica, row across the Drake Passage, and yes, take a 12-hour walk that changed his entire perspective on what humans are capable of. Colin's not just here to tell adventure stories (though those are incredible). He's here to talk about the mental game—the part where you convince yourself to take the first step even when the finish line seems impossibly far away. Sound familiar? Whether you're staring down a cross-country expedition or trying to figure out if you'll have enough saved for retirement, the challenge is the same: push past the voice that says "I can't" and prove to yourself that you can. Then Joe and OG bring it back to the basement with a listener question about Roth vs. Traditional 401(k) contributions—because financial endurance is just as important as physical stamina. They break down how to think long-term about taxes, flexibility, and building a retirement plan that actually fits your life. Plus: Neighbor Doug delivers trivia that proves even world record holders have to earn their laughs in the basement. What You'll Walk Away With: • What Colin O'Brady's 12-Hour Walk reveals about breaking through your mental limits (and how it applies to money decisions too) • The mindset shift that separates people who attempt big goals from people who actually achieve them • Smart strategies for balancing Roth and Traditional 401(k) contributions based on your timeline and tax situation • Why flexibility matters as much as discipline—whether you're planning an expedition or planning retirement • Permission to set goals that scare you a little (because that's usually where the good stuff happens) This Episode Is For You If: • You've been telling yourself you "can't" do something but wonder if that's actually true • You want inspiration that comes with actual tactics (not just motivational fluff) • You're trying to figure out the Roth vs. Traditional 401(k) question and want a clear answer • You believe your best life is out there, but you're not sure how to build toward it • You need a reminder that big transformations start with small, intentional steps FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/conquer-your-mount-everest-greatest-hits-week-1759 Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Ruddy Turnstone stands out among sandpipers. On taking flight, the turnstone flashes a vivid and unmistakable pattern of dark and light striping across its wings and tail. And that comical chatter is one of a kind too. Unlike most sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones favor rocky beaches and jetties rather than tidal sand or mud. They breed in the Arctic all across North America, Europe, and Asia, and winter along the coastlines of all the continents except Antarctica. And about that curious name? Turnstones do indeed use their stout bills to flip over stones, shells, and mats of seaweed, exposing small crustaceans and other food.¡Escuche este episodio en español!More info and transcript at BirdNote.org.Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Budgets are shrinking, patience is thinner and the CMO seat is a revolving door. Keep playing the old playbook and you're next.What if the path forward isn't “more content, faster”, but a hard reset on power, process and what we even call “brand”?In this episode, Drew Neisser, Founder of CMO Huddles, drops a reality check on B2B: CMOs are operating in Antarctica—hostile, short-term, and PE-pressured and it's still the most exciting moment in marketing. We get blunt about the “do more with less” lie, why “brand” is a budget-killing word (start saying “reputation”), and how AI should first nuke your workflows and org chart before you let it ghostwrite your strategy.). This is the insider's guide to surviving the freeze and shipping work that closes.We also cover:CMO power plays: why owning Partnerships/Rev levers earns a real seat at the table.Short-termism judo: aligning with CFOs on “metrics that matter” and fixing attribution theater.What actually converts now: late-stage, face-to-face moments (small dinners > giant trade shows).Direct mail's comeback: high-impact, targeted sends that unblock stalled deals.
Dr. Daina Parent, ND sits down with Dr. Karma James-Dulin to discuss managing blood sugar with a diet that includes complete proteins and important fibers. Dr. James-Dulin shares her personal journey with managing her own blood sugar during pregnancy, and her passion for developing foods that are healthy and taste great. Drs. Daina and Karma discuss a small clinical study that confirms the ability of complete plant-based proteins to balance blood sugar, and how ancient varieties of seeds provide higher protein and lower carbohydrates. They wrap the episode with clinical takeaways to help patients navigate the many high protein options in the marketplace. Dr. Karma James-Dulin is a food scientist with over 9 years of experience in the food and dietary supplements industry. She has a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Grambling State University and completed her Ph.D. in food science at Penn State University, where she investigated the effects of green tea on the liver. Dr. James-Dulin is passionate about food, flavor and nutrition, believing that healthy food should taste good. She enjoys cooking, dancing and spending time with family. She is currently a product development manager at Standard Process, Inc, having joined the company to establish the Food Science Team and Lab. In this capacity she oversees many aspects of the development of products from ideation, formulation and prototype development through to commercialization. During her tenure at Standard Process, Inc, she has led the development of serval products, most notably a one-of-a-kind nutrition bar for an adventure athlete on his quest to cross Antarctica. Additionally, she has led the development of the company's first food line comprising of protein powders and whole food nutrition bars. Blood Sugar Regulation 3:03 Dr. James-Dulin's personal connection to blood sugar management 4:51 Insulin resistance state in pregnancy 5:20 Why proteins and fats fare important for blood sugar regulation 7:02 Dressing up your carbs with proteins and fats 7:44 Developing a high-quality protein blend 11:08 Animal protein versus plant-based protein 12:58 Significance of ancient oats – phytonutrient and macronutrient profile 14:59 Nutrition in ancient seeds versus modern varieties 15:49 Ways to consume protein blends 16:36 Resistance starch fiber's ability to slow blood glucose release 17:12 Golden chlorella as a vegetarian source of B12, plant-based folate and protein 18:07 Small clinical study measures success of protein blend to minimize glucose spikes 20:02 Dr. James-Dulin's passion for Food Science and her focus on nutrition and flavor 22:35 Advice for practitioners to help patients find products to balance blood sugar levels 23:56 Types of fibers and how they affect blood sugar regulation 25:55 Complete protein blend plus fiber gives optimal blood sugar regulation
In this episode, a conversation with Bri Lee, the acclaimed and bestselling author of Eggshell Skull and The Work, and of a new novel, Seed. Mitchell is a brilliant biologist, committed to the environment and the growing global antinatalist movement. For one month each year he lives with his colleague Frances in a utopia of radical equality and scientific dedication in Antarctica. They are concluding the Anarctos Project: a seed vault in an isolated, secret location. It is a biodiversity insurance policy against humanity's devastating effects on the rapidly warming planet. But when their helicopter doesn't pick them up, and strange things begin to happen, their faith in science is suddenly not enough. Mitchell has been keeping big secrets - from Frances and from himself. The ice haunts him with memories of a devastating betrayal and questions of legacy and fairness crowd his mind. If they don't get back to McMurdo Station before the last flight home they face a long dark polar winter together. Alone. As the days get shorter, these two people of firm logic and reason begin finding fault lines in their perfect social experiment. Thrilling, original and almost unbearably suspenseful, Seed offers an uneasy glimpse into isolation, love and our worst fears.
That cruise for under $100 a day? That week in Cancun for $500? They're real—but they're not the whole story. In this eye-opening episode, travel advisors Ryan and Julie pull back the curtain on the "hidden" costs of travel that can turn your dream vacation budget into a financial surprise.The hosts emphasize they're not talking about scams—these are legitimate expenses that travelers simply forget to factor in. From ground transportation (how ARE you getting from the airport to your resort?) to travel insurance (especially crucial after hurricanes like the one that just devastated Jamaica), parking fees that can double your hotel costs in major cities, and those resort fees you don't see until checkout—it all adds up.Julie shares how checked baggage fees, seat selection charges, and clothing purchases for specific climates (hello, Antarctica coats!) can quietly inflate your budget. The episode includes Ryan's real-time experience rebooking his honeymoon from Jamaica to the Dominican Republic due to hurricane damage, demonstrating how travel insurance and working with an advisor can save the day.Beyond logistics, they dive into experience costs: drink packages, specialty dining, shore excursions (which can cost as much as the cruise itself), WiFi on ships, and international cell coverage. Julie confesses her weakness for Disney merchandise, while Ryan offers his son's wisdom: "Does it look cool at home, or just here?"The truly forgotten costs? Pre and post-travel food, laundry services on longer trips, visa fees, passport renewals, overweight luggage charges, and Ryan's pet peeve—constantly buying bottled water. Julie's tip: bring your own water bottle (just don't fill it before the plane pressurizes!).This episode arms you with a comprehensive checklist so you can budget accurately from the start and avoid that sinking feeling when unexpected charges appear.Support the showLove the podcast? Help us continue to create great travel content by supporting the show. You can do that here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1197029/supporters/new Ready to plan your vacation? Most families are confused and overwhelmed when planning a vacation. We work with you to plan a trip perfect for your family. Saving you time, money, and stress! Visit our website www.allthingstravelpodcast.com and click on "Plan Your Next Vacation" Join the travel conversations and the fun in our Facebook Page and Instagram Page! Please share the show with your travel buddies!! Click this link and share the show! Never miss an episode and help us take you to the top with us by following and leaving a 5-Star review on your favorite podcasting app!
Jenny Lee is a high-level multidimensional seer and medium. As a child, she followed a higher frequency and from the get-go was able to see deeper into the human world. In our show, we discuss NPCs, Antarctica, XRP, quantum system with consciousness, AI and of major importance/truth of the children from child trafficking to Child Protective Services.At close, Jenny Lee leads the "Just Be Practice" speaking of the importance of confronting the truth.References:Truth teller, David Straight (search more - this is a start): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVhalyoCUDghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN7R2fUTctMContact Jenny Lee:Website: https://www.jennyssight.netFaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/JennysSight1X: https://x.com/jennyssightPhone: (406) 850-0613*Host Eden Koz is a soul realignment specialist utilizing psychological empathy, intuition, psychic ability, mediumship, meditation, mindset shift, Reiki, dimensional and galactic healing, to name a few. She also performs spiritual Co#id Vac+ Healing as well as remote & face-to-face sessions with individuals and groups. **Additionally, in spreading the word... If you are questioning your Gold IRA because of potential scams (see EP188) or want to invest in a precious metals company with integrity...email: info@milesfranklin.com and put "Eden" in the subject line (they know me personally, so the best of attention and heart will come your way.)Miles Franklin website: https://milesfranklin.com Contact info for Eden Koz / Just Be®, LLC:Website: EdenJustBe.com Socials: TikTok, FB, FB (Just Be), X, Insta, LinkedInJust Be~Spiritual BOOM Podcast - Video Directories: BitChute, Rumble, ...
On today's Geezers of Gear, we're joined by Allen Branton, Emmy-winning lighting designer with a 50-year career spanning tours, TV, and live events. From MTV Unplugged and the Super Bowl Halftime Show to tours with U2, Diana Ross, and The Rolling Stones, Allen has lit some of the most iconic stages in entertainment history.Allen's work has earned multiple Primetime Emmy Awards and nominations, and he is co-author of Lighting Design Beyond Theatre: A Process for the Evolving Entertainment Industry. From tours to television specials and global events, Allen has shaped the visual language of modern live entertainment across every continent except Antarctica.In this episode, lighting designer Alan Branton shares insights from his 50-year career in the entertainment industry, discussing his transition from touring to television lighting, the evolution of technology in lighting design, and the importance of layering light for televised performances. He reflects on the industry's changes, the need for collaboration, and his philosophy of authenticity in music performances. Branton's experiences with iconic artists and his thoughts on the future of live performances provide a comprehensive look at the art and science of lighting design. In this conversation, Allen Branton discusses the evolution of lighting design, particularly in live events and television. He reflects on his experiences with MTV Unplugged, the impact of technology on the industry, and the importance of audience engagement. Branton shares insights on mentorship, the future of live entertainment, and the significance of preparation in achieving successful lighting design. He emphasizes the need for more skilled professionals in the field and the value of passing knowledge to the next generation.This Episode is brought to you by ACME Lighting and Delicate Productions
What if the legends were true? Dive into the icy depths of Antarctica, where scientists just uncovered a creature so bizarre it's being called a "real-life Loch Ness Monster." Is it a long-lost relic of the past, a new species, or just nature being weird? Either way, you won't believe your eyes. Discover the facts, the mystery, and the stunning visuals behind this jaw-dropping find. Watch now and decide for yourself — is the legend alive? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our nearest evolutionary ancestors, the Neanderthals, existed for 400,000 years, during which time they successfully inhabited less than 10% of Earth's landmass. They lived primarily in Europe, Western and Central Asia, extending into southern Siberia. Their highest densities were in France, Spain, and Italy. Homo Sapiens, our species, has existed for 300,000 years. In that time, we have managed to inhabit 90-95% of Earth's land surface. The only areas safe from us are Antarctica and other harsh, high-elevation regions. Antarctica is kept pristine with the help of international treaties. The highest elevations are by practicality. It is hard to survive in brutal cold, especially when ensuring access to food and water.
The truth is that the world we live in is not as cut and dry as we or "they" want us to believe. With modern advancements in technology, like drones, we now have access to this "hidden world". A world that is vastly different from the one that has been presented to us from early on. New evidence of "Forgotten" or "hidden civilizations" from coast to coast in the United States of America is now coming out. From hidden Egyptian hieroglyphics in the Grand Canyon, to Hebrew inscriptions in Kentucky, there is more buried in the dirt and tucked away in the halls of the Smithsonian than we'll ever know. Also, let's not forget Admiral Byrd and his journey to the land beyond Antarctica. Join us on this fascinating journey into "Hidden History”. @NatGeo @SmithsonianChannel @DonaldJTrumpforPresident @TuckerCarlson @turningpointusa @RealCharlieKirk @JoeBiden @joerogan @TedCruzChannel https://www.thesoultrap.com/Podcast: https://thesoultrap.buzzsprout.com/Support the show
with Brad Friedman & Desi Doyen
Welcome to Building Brand You™, the podcast that helps you accelerate your success by unlocking your greatest asset – you. KEY TAKEAWAYS Your personal brand is how you show up for people. It's how they experience you, not what you think of yourself. Core values it's like the bedrock and the stable backbone to everything you do as a business. You've got to just keep evolving who you are, and being okay to be authentic with, what and who that is, What and where do I want to go as an individual, and where's that best used? There are three components to driving successful change in business - your level of readiness, your level of capability, and beliefs that can drive change successfully around that initiative. ABOUT OUR GUEST: James Mason has over twenty years' experience supporting leading consultants and professional service firms around the world in growing successful advisory businesses. As managing director of the global advisory network Mindshop, he oversees the advisory training, coaching, resource development, innovation, and growth needs of over 4,000 business leaders and advisors in 12 countries who are part of the Mindshop community. His experience provides him with unique insight into what works and what does not in the delivery of advisory services. CONNECT WITH JAMES MASON: LinkedIn - https://au.linkedin.com/company/mindshop LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmason8888/ Email - jmason@mindshop.com Website - https://www.mindshop.com/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/MindshopOnline Twitter - https://twitter.com/JamesMason888 ABOUT KYM HAMER: Kym is an international leadership and personal branding thought leader, an executive coach, and a programme design and facilitation practitioner. She is also the creator of Building Brand You™ - a methodology helping organisations, teams, and individuals to build reputation, presence, and gravitas. Kym works with leaders - both individually and in organisational development initiatives - to inspire and engage thinking styles and behaviour that achieve results and leave legacy. In 2020, just one year after launching her business, she was nominated by Thinkers360 as one of the Top 100 Women B2B Leadership influencers and is currently in the Top 15 Personal Branding and Top 10 Marketing Influencers in the world. For 5 years running Kym has also been one of Thinkers360's Top 10 Thought Leaders on Entrepreneurship and in 2023, 2024 and 2025, was recognised as one of their Top Voices globally. She has been part of Homeward Bound Projects faculty since 2020, a global initiative reaching 1.8 billion people, equipping women and non-binary people with a STEMM background to lead conversations for a sustainable future. She is currently the Program Design and Faculty Lead for the 10th on-line cohort and was part of the on-board faculty who voyaged to Antarctica in 2023 and 2025, to deliver the initiative's immersive component. In between all of these things, you'll find her curled up in a corner with her nose in a book. Building Brand You™: JOIN the BBY Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildingbrandyou SUBSCRIBE to the BBY Podcast on: (Apple) - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/building-brand-you/id1567407273 (Spotify) - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Ho26pAQ5uJ9h0dGNicCIq CONNECT WITH KYM HAMER: LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/kymhamer/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kymhamerartemis/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kymhamer Thinkers360 - https://bit.ly/thinkers360-kymhamer-BBY Find out about BBY Coaching - https://calendly.com/kymhamer/bbychat/ HOSTED BY: Kym Hamer DISCLAIMER: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Building Brand You™ podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved. They do not necessarily represent any other entities, agencies, organisations, or companies. Building Brand You™ is not responsible and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information in the podcast available for listening on this site. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast does not constitute legal advice or services
This week, we discuss the role Australians played in the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration. We also discuss the Sunshine rail disaster, Andrew Fisher becoming prime minister, the choice of Canberra over Dalgety for the national capital, and much more! This is the podcast's 100th episode, thank you all so much for listening to 100 episodes of australian history, and here's to atleast 100 more! G. Sherington's PhD Thesis on Dalgety and Canberra: https://web.archive.org/web/20200620152620/https://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/fapi/datastream/unsworks:42439/SOURCE01?view=true
The ozone layer is healing—and that means good news for life on Earth!
Send us a text"I increased my awareness to the point of saturation. If you will, I am the Ground Zero in Consciousness. I perceived everything in an instant. I saw the structure of everything as a single drop of water."www.facebook.com/don.parkinson.14/Resources:www.SoulAwakeningStore.comwww.claudiumurgan.comclaudiu@claudiumurgan.comhttps://spirituallyinspired.buzzsprout.comSubscribe for more videos! youtube.com/channel/UC6RlLkzUK_LdyRSV7DE6obQSupport the show
It's a small sailing world. A beautiful aluminium world grinder, which I had been druling over, docked just a few berts away from mine, was sold to Martin Hartland and Svetlana Baraniuk. Now they have signed up for Jimmy Cornell's High Latitude Challenge 2026-27. So I had to make a podcast with Martin as they were preparing for their first transatlantic in Moonraker - and then the quest to sail to Antarctica and through the North West passage in the same season. Check out Cornell Sailing for more information about the High Latitude Challenge, and please also check out all the books he has written. No onboard bookshelf is complete with at least three books from Jimmy Cornell. If you are interested in High Latitude Sailing, I have written a book by the same title together with Bob Shepton. You can buy High Latitude Sailing on Amazon. I am also holding two High Latitude Sailing Courses in 2026. Keen on sailing the Norwegian coast? You should be. Read Sail the Norwegian Coast: How and Why you should sail the most beautiful coast in the world – Kindle edition.
This week, in honor of Halloween, we're presenting two classic stories about facing fears for science.Part 1: As a newly minted PhD student in geology, Erik Klemetti starts to question his decisions when Aucanquilcha, a 20,000-foot volcano in Chile, proves difficult to tame. Part 2: Explorer George Kourounis finds himself growing increasingly anxious as he prepares to enter a fiery sinkhole known as the “Doorway to Hell.” Erik Klemetti is an associate professor of Geosciences and volcanologist at Denison University. He works on volcanoes all over the planet, from Chile to New Zealand to the Cascades of Oregon and California. His research focuses on how crystals record the events inside a volcano before and between eruptions. For the past 9 years, he's been teaching all the “hard rock” classes at Denison. He also writes for Discover Magazine. His blog, Rocky Planet, have been running since Fall 2017. Before that, he wrote Eruptions, a blog about volcanoes, for Wired Science for 9 years. You can also find him on Twitter (@eruptionsblog), variously tweeting about volcanoes, baseball (mostly Red Sox and Mariners) and his love of punk. George Kourounis is a renowned global explorer and storm chaser who specializes in documenting extreme forces of nature including: tornadoes, hurricanes, volcanoes, deserts, caves, avalanches and more. He is an Explorer In Residence for The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, served as the Chairman of the Explorers Club Canadian Chapter, and has received several awards and medals for his efforts. He frequently finds himself driving into the eye of fierce storms, or descending ropes into actively erupting volcanic craters, often while hosting television programs including “Angry Planet” and others. He has given five TEDx talks, and has addressed the United Nations Environmental Emergencies Forum. George's expeditions have taken him to over 80 countries on all seven continents to such far-flung places as: Madagascar, Turkmenistan, Vanuatu, Greenland, North Korea, Myanmar, and Antarctica.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
These guys, as far as we know, are the largest, terrestrial year-round inhabitants of Antarctica but being smaller than a grain of rice. Also, their genetics are helping us study the ebbs and flows of the Antarctic ice sheet. Thank you, BK, for the suggestion! Have it your way!
Scientists in Australia just discovered a huge Megaraptor, and it's a total game-changer. This dinosaur had massive claws and was way bigger than anyone thought lived there during that time. Before, most people believed Australia didn't have giant predatory dinosaurs like the ones found in other parts of the world. But this Megaraptor proves that ferocious, massive hunters were roaming the ancient Aussie landscape too. It also hints that Australia's dinosaur history is way more connected to South America and Antarctica than we realized. Basically, everything we thought we knew about dinosaurs Down Under just got flipped! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Akshay Nanavati is not your typical adventurer — he's a former Marine, a survivor of war-induced PTSD, and a seeker of what he calls the “crucible of suffering.” In this deeply introspective and intensely raw conversation, Akshay explores how pain, guilt, and darkness became vehicles for transcendence in his life. From confronting suicidal despair and alcoholism to dragging sleds across frozen wastelands in Antarctica, Akshay shares why he deliberately ventures into physical and psychological extremes. He talks about the paradox of finding peace in chaos, the value of darkness retreats, the necessity of knowing when to quit, and how pushing to the edge can awaken a deeper meaning in life. This is a conversation about discipline, purpose, and the pursuit of inner freedom through radical self-mastery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The United Terran Guard launches a high-stakes mission to Echo 7 in Antarctica to rescue Dr. Piers and prevent an all out war with the machines. bit.ly/4mFi3cy Credit: Mainframe Logo by Tony Stephens Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/anuch/alert
Why were Nazi scientists obsessed with Antarctica? What was Operation Sunshine—and why is it still classified? In this chilling episode of Conspiracy Files with Paige Carter, we uncover rumors of underground bases, flying saucers, and post-war Nazi survival in the most remote place on Earth. Was Antarctica a final redoubt for the Third Reich... or something even darker? Buckle up—this is the conspiracy they really tried to bury.
Well, there's no way around it: the very first feature is about Black activism, written by a white author (Kim) who gets no help from her editor on how not to sound tone-deaf as she describes being judged by the color of her skin or feeling unwelcome in Black spaces. So let's quickly dispense with it and move on to the rest. Karen finds three couples to talk about their couplehood. Amy Turner -- who checks in from the present day, because she's Pam's friend IRL -- visits Antarctica. Everyone on staff shares their stress relief tips. Plus: foods that trigger headaches, Danielle from Niagara Falls quoting J.D. Salinger at Stuff You Wrote, Ian Ziering on dating girls his parents didn't like, how atheism Happened to this month's Me, and more! Draw a soothing bath and listen! QUICK LINKS
News of Australia's "humpback comeback" is making waves globally. Numbers of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) on the nation's east coast have rebounded to an estimated 50,000 from a historic low of just a few hundred before commercial whaling was outlawed in the 1970s. And wildlife scientist and whale expert Vanessa Pirotta joins the podcast to discuss this inspiring conservation achievement. Pirotta emphasizes this is a good news story that deserves to be celebrated, and that it could also bolster action for other whale species that are struggling, including the southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) and blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus). However, she stresses that vigilant protection for all whale species remains necessary. This good news is tempered by the fact that the key food source for humpbacks in this part of the world is Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), which is now being heavily harvested by industrial fishing fleets after protections for the species recently lapsed. Pirotta notes that krill are a keystone species for both humpbacks and a much broader array of marine life, including penguins and seals. Pirotta also discusses her cetacean health research based on the collection of "whale snot" (see Mongabay's explainer video about this method, which involves the use of drones, here) and whale monitoring work conducted with Indigenous conservation group Gamay Bay Rangers. Listeners can learn more about her work at vanessapirotta.com and find her book, Humpback Highway, here. Find the Mongabay Newscast wherever you listen to podcasts, from Apple to Spotify. All past episodes are also listed here at the Mongabay website. Image credit: A humpback whale. Image by ArtTower via Pixabay (Public domain). ----- Timecodes (00:00) The 'humpback comeback' (14:50) Why krill need protection (19:29) The Gamay Rangers sharing Indigenous knowledge (28:05) Antarctica and whale snot (32:12) Migaloo the white whale (36:16) How whale populations impact all of us
Welcome to Building Brand You™, the podcast that helps you accelerate your success by unlocking your greatest asset – you. KEY TAKEAWAYS Nutrition and inner health are the keys to staying in our best shape, mentally and physically. Our body is the engine of who we are and what we produce. The most obvious symptom of being unhealthy is gaining weight. Your physical health has a profound impact on your mental health and mood. Health underpins the quality of our life. Your brand is how you show up. Giving your mind a bit of space and allowing time for exercise, the more organized you can be. RESOURCES MENTIONED: Donna's Blog about Routine https://astonrx.com/blog/59 ABOUT OUR GUEST: For over 25 years, Melbourne-born nutritionist and author, Donna Aston, has earned the reputation as an expert in the field of weight loss, health and fitness. Starting out as an overweight teenager, Donna has dramatically transformed her own body and continues to help countless others achieve their personal goals through her online platform, private consultation, public speaking and numerous publications. Having studied Human Nutrition at Deakin University and with six best-selling books to her credit, Donna has worked in Australia, Europe and the USA as a private coach and advisor. Donna is also a Genos Emotional Intelligence (EI) Certified Practitioner, for which she credits much of her success in coaching and inspiring countless clients. CONNECT WITH DONNA ASTON: Email - support@astonrx.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/aston_rx/ https://www.instagram.com/donna.aston/ Website - www.AstonRX.com ABOUT KYM HAMER: Kym is an international leadership and personal branding thought leader, an executive coach, and a programme design and facilitation practitioner. She is also the creator of Building Brand You™ - a methodology helping organisations, teams, and individuals to build reputation, presence, and gravitas. Kym works with leaders - both individually and in organisational development initiatives - to inspire and engage thinking styles and behaviour that achieve results and leave legacy. In 2020, just one year after launching her business, she was nominated by Thinkers360 as one of the Top 100 Women B2B Leadership influencers and is currently in the Top 15 Personal Branding and Top 10 Marketing Influencers in the world. For 5 years running Kym has also been one of Thinkers360's Top 10 Thought Leaders on Entrepreneurship and in 2023, 2024 and 2025, was recognised as one of their Top Voices globally. She has been part of Homeward Bound Projects faculty since 2020, a global initiative reaching 1.8 billion people, equipping women and non-binary people with a STEMM background to lead conversations for a sustainable future. She is currently the Program Design and Faculty Lead for the 10th on-line cohort and was part of the on-board faculty who voyaged to Antarctica in 2023 and 2025, to deliver the initiative's immersive component. In between all of these things, you'll find her curled up in a corner with her nose in a book. Building Brand You™: JOIN the BBY Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildingbrandyou SUBSCRIBE to the BBY Podcast on: (Apple) - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/building-brand-you/id1567407273 (Spotify) - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Ho26pAQ5uJ9h0dGNicCIq CONNECT WITH KYM HAMER: LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/kymhamer/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kymhamerartemis/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kymhamer Thinkers360 - https://bit.ly/thinkers360-kymhamer-BBY Find out about BBY Coaching - https://calendly.com/kymhamer/bbychat/ HOSTED BY: Kym Hamer DISCLAIMER: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Building Brand You™ podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved. They do not necessarily represent any other entities, agencies, organisations, or companies. Building Brand You™ is not responsible and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information in the podcast available for listening on this site. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast does not constitute legal advice or services
Aluu! Today, travel medicine specialists Drs. Paul Pottinger & Chris Sanford answer your travel health questions, including:I've got a bat in a cooler… what should I do?How to prep for a wedding in India?Can I depend on internet in Italy & Germany?Acetaminophen: what are the real risks of taking it?Detoxing on vacation: How to do it right?Will swimming with manatees rot my brain?How can I avoid riptides, and what to do if I get caught in one?Will the ozone hole be dangerous on my upcoming trip to Antarctica?We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please visit our website: germandworm.com where you can find all our content and send us your questions and travel health anecdotes. Or, just send us an email: germandworm@gmail.com.Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford's & Dr. Pottinger's alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.
Jane Middleton from The Authentic Travel Company talks about her journey from Aviation into the cruise industry. Hear how she discovered CLIA and how one webinar changed her life as she fell in love with expedition and Antarctica. Jane also shares her tips for other agents looking to sell Expedition cruises and also what she thought when she visited Svalbard during CLIA's expedition showcase in 2025.
Learn how to coordinate your travel plans with friends, exchange recommendations & connect around the world with Pangea. _____________________________ Subscribe to The Maverick Show's Monday Minute Newsletter where I email you 3 short items of value to start each week that you can consume in 60 seconds (all personal recommendations like the latest travel gear I'm using, my favorite destinations, discounts for special events, etc.). Follow The Maverick Show on Instagram ____________________________________ Matt Gray starts off describing what he loves about Cape Town and tells the story of taking the world's highest bungee jump off a bridge there. He then reflects on growing up outside NYC, studying abroad in Vienna, and traveling the world for a decade as part of his corporate job. Matt tells stories from visiting Reunion Island, Madagascar, Lapland, Greenland, Antarctica, Armenia and Uzbekistan. He then talks about organizing a group safari to Botswana, building community in the digital nomad lifestyle, and his plans for co-hosting Nomad Week 2026 in Cape Town. Next, Matt talks about founding the Pangea App which enables you to coordinate your travel plans with friends, exchange recommendations & connect around the world. He opens up about his own transition into full-time entrepreneurship, his journey building and scaling Pangea, his recent acquisition of the Overlap app, and is 5-year vision for Pangea. Finally, Matt explains how he designs his digital nomad lifestyle, why he wants to travel to every country in the world, and what impact all this travel has had on him as a person. FULL SHOW NOTES INCLUDING DIRECT LINKS TO EVERYTHING DISCUSSED ARE AVAILABLE HERE. ____________________________________ See my Top 10 Apps For Digital Nomads See my Top 10 Books For Digital Nomads See my 7 Keys For Building A Remote Business (Even in a space that's not traditionally virtual) Watch my Video Training on Stylish Minimalist Packing so you can join #TeamCarryOn See the Travel Gear I Use and Recommend See How I Produce The Maverick Show Podcast (The equipment, services & vendors I use) ____________________________________ ENJOYING THE SHOW? Please Leave a Rating and Review. It really helps the show and I read each one personally. You Can Buy Me a Coffee. Espressos help me produce significantly better podcast episodes! :)
In the dead of Antarctica's frozen wastelands, a rescue mission turns into a survival nightmare. A research team responds to a distress signal from a far-off outpost and discovers a strange infection, a paranoid station chief, and a frightened crew. One by one, as the crew's sanity unravels, they start to transform, and the line between man and monster vanishes. From Paul E Cooley, author of The Black, Kill Shelter will make you fear what's beneath the ice. Available now from Amazon.com
From Oymyakon to Antarctica to Mount Everest, Amy seems to fixate on the coldest places on the planet. Listen to as she describes her latest obsession. How does Tim get out of a sticky conversation? Just bring on some beer (or would that make things worse?) It's another Friday on Tap with Beer and Banter between Amy and Tim. Note: A few corrections for this episode: 1. The correct name is Ernest Henry Shakleton - not Shakleford.2. The sitcom John Lithgow starred in was "Third Rock from the Sun" not "Third Planet."
As the Arctic ice melts, a new Cold War is heating up. Russia and China are rewriting the rules of global power, testing missiles, flexing muscles, and pushing into the world's last frontiers. A 294-metre container ship has just blazed through the Arctic route from China to Europe in record time. If trade can flow through, what's to stop warships? Are we watching the start of a polar power grab? Should NATO be bracing for a Chinese fleet in the North Atlantic, or even Antarctica next? Military historian Caroline Kennedy-Pipe and Arctic expert Dr Elizabeth Buchanan plunge into the freezing front line to expose what's really happening beneath the ice.► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorCredit: Anthony Upton/Telegraphhttps://linktr.ee/BattleLinesContact us with feedback or ideas:battlelines@telegraph.co.uk @venetiarainey@RolandOliphant Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
New Zealand's marine search and rescue region stretches from Antarctica to north of Samoa. If someone goes missing without any means of communication, that's a lot of ocean to search. Now researchers and the New Zealand Defence Force have teamed up to develop and test a low-tech, no-battery device that can be picked up by radar – including that beamed down by satellites orbiting Earth. Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.In this episode:01:30 At Mission Bay Beach Dr Tom Dowling demonstrates the device03:40 In the University of Auckland's Space Institute lab the team explain the device design, and how it works.10:00 Dr Tom Dowling talks about the radar reflector trials in Campbell Island and Omaha beach13:00 Dr David Galligan, director of Defence Science and Technology on why DST is interested in the device19:00 The satellites are the second side of the equation. Dr Tom Dowling explains how that works.20:50 Back at Mission Bay Beach Dr Tom Dowling explains how the radar reflector would be an additional part of a kit on a boat and how it would work to narrow down the search area…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Support the sponsor! ► Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/mrcreeps for 15% off your next gift. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00:00 "I Took a $10,000 Cash Job in the Desert. My Crew Never Made It Home." 0:41:24 "My Job Is Watching People Sleep. I Pray They Don't Wake Up." 1:28:30 "There's Been A Storm Warning For Five Days." 2:11:17 "My Team and I Explored the Pyramids of Antarctica."
He Died… But Didn't Stay Dead – The Mission ContinuesGraceExplorations.com Justin sits down with explorer, filmmaker, and survivor Kevin DeVries, a man who literally died — and lived to tell about it. From his cardiac arrest on a running trail to a miraculous near-death encounter he believes was with the risen Christ, Kevin shares what he saw on “the other side” and how it reshaped his life's mission.They also dive into his new docuseries “The Naked Soul,” an awe-inspiring expedition to Antarctica following in the footsteps of legendary explorer Ernest Shackleton. Kevin's team hopes to capture what happens when faith meets the edge of the earth — and the edge of human endurance.This is a conversation about second chances, calling, courage, and the God who meets us in impossible places.00:00 – Justin opens the show: “Get ready to strap in—it's going to be a heck of a ride.”01:00 – Introducing Kevin DeVries: explorer, survivor, and friend who literally died and came back.02:30 – Kevin recalls his near-death experience and hearing the words: “Your time is not up. Your mission is not complete.”04:00 – The moment he encountered “light that darkness had never touched.”07:00 – Why Kevin believes he met the risen Christ and what that encounter revealed about eternity.10:00 – His miraculous rescue — and how God “played cosmic chess” to save his life.13:00 – From death to mission: how the experience led him to help others share their stories through Grace Explorations.15:00 – The birth of Base Camp at Founders Brewery — a raw, real space for men to tell their stories.18:00 – Kevin's Everest journey and the award-winning film True Summit: The Greatest Journey Is Within.19:00 – Introducing The Naked Soul docuseries: Shackleton, survival, and the “Third Man” encounters of divine rescue.27:00 – Finding peace in the chaos — the heartbeat of God in the middle of the storm.29:00 – Reflecting on Charlie Kirk's martyrdom and what it may signal for America's spiritual awakening.33:00 – Kevin prepares to set sail for Antarctica — and invites listeners to help make the mission possible.37:00 – How to support or connect: GraceExplorations.com | Email: kevin@graceexplorations.com40:00 – Justin wraps with a challenge: Don't miss your own “God-sized mission.” Get the stories from today's show in THE STACK: https://justinbarclay.comJoin Justin in the MAHA revolution - http://HealthWithJustin.comProTech Heating and Cooling - http://ProTechGR.com New gear is here! Check out the latest in the Justin Store: https://justinbarclay.com/storeKirk Elliott PHD - FREE consultation on wealth conservation - http://GoldWithJustin.comTry Cue Streaming for just $2 / day and help support the good guys https://justinbarclay.com/cueUp to 80% OFF! Use promo code JUSTIN http://MyPillow.com/JustinPatriots are making the Switch! What if we could start voting with our dollars too? http://SwitchWithJustin.com
In the future, some wars are so expensive that they can only be paid for with money. When an ancient money deposit is discovered under Antarctica, the forces of The World Banker's Alliance, the United Money Emirates, and Battle Island declare all-out war as they vie for world domination. E1 on Patreon: www.patreon.com/e1podcast
In this jaw-dropping episode, Michael Jaco and renowned author-researcher Brad Olsen unravel the deep secrets buried beneath the icy veil of Antarctica — a land shrouded in mystery and speculation. Brad, known for his acclaimed Esoteric Series and upcoming book Secrets of Antarctica, shares stunning revelations about Nazi bases, ancient alien settlements, underground pyramids, and the geothermal regions said to hide advanced technology and lost civilizations. The conversation journeys through Admiral Byrd's expeditions, Valiant Thor's strange appearances, and the growing evidence connecting Antarctica to UFO activity and secret global operations. Michael and Brad also discuss the deeper implications for global disclosure, spiritual evolution, and what humanity must prepare for as these long-buried truths begin to surface.
A colossal iceberg known as A-23A broke off from the Filchner Iceshelf in Antarctica in 1986. At that time, it was 1,418 square miles in area, slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island, or roughly twice the size of greater London. It weighed about a trillion tons. It was the largest iceberg ever observed. […]
Are you satisfied with the descriptions of our world? You know, the ones that are well-ordered on places like Wikipedia? After all, it is the current standard for mainstream information and exists as the Encyclopedia Britannica of our time. Do you feel like the descriptions there describing things like space, the Apollo missions, and Antarctica (more...)
Questions on books turned movies. LOVE TRIVIA WITH BUDDS? CHECK OUT THE MNEMONIC MEMORY PODCAST! "Forget forgetting—The Mnemonic Memory Podcast makes learning unforgettable.” http://www.themnemonictreepodcast.com/ Fact of the Day: There are eight churches in Antarctica. Triple Connections: Purple, Beat, Attack THE FIRST TRIVIA QUESTION STARTS AT 01:31 SUPPORT THE SHOW MONTHLY, LISTEN AD-FREE FOR JUST $1 A MONTH: www.Patreon.com/TriviaWithBudds INSTANT DOWNLOAD DIGITAL TRIVIA GAMES ON ETSY, GRAB ONE NOW! GET A CUSTOM EPISODE FOR YOUR LOVED ONES: Email ryanbudds@gmail.com Theme song by www.soundcloud.com/Frawsty Bed Music: "EDM Detection Mode" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ http://TriviaWithBudds.com http://Facebook.com/TriviaWithBudds http://Instagram.com/ryanbudds Book a party, corporate event, or fundraiser anytime by emailing ryanbudds@gmail.com or use the contact form here: https://www.triviawithbudds.com/contact SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL MY AMAZING PATREON SUBSCRIBERS INCLUDING: Mollie Dominic Vernon Heagy Brian Clough Nathalie Avelar Becky and Joe Heiman Natasha raina Waqas Ali leslie gerhardt Skilletbrew Bringeka Brooks Martin Yves Bouyssounouse Sam Diane White Youngblood Evan Lemons Trophy Husband Trivia Rye Josloff Lynnette Keel Nathan Stenstrom Lillian Campbell Jerry Loven Ansley Bennett Gee Jamie Greig Jeremy Yoder Adam Jacoby rondell Adam Suzan Chelsea Walker Tiffany Poplin Bill Bavar Sarah Dan Katelyn Turner Keiva Brannigan Keith Martin Sue First Steve Hoeker Jessica Allen Michael Anthony White Lauren Glassman Brian Williams Henry Wagner Brett Livaudais Linda Elswick Carter A. Fourqurean KC Khoury Tonya Charles Justly Maya Brandon Lavin Kathy McHale Chuck Nealen Courtney French Nikki Long Mark Zarate Laura Palmer JT Dean Bratton Kristy Erin Burgess Chris Arneson Trenton Sullivan Jen and Nic Michele Lindemann Ben Stitzel Michael Redman Timothy Heavner Jeff Foust Richard Lefdal Myles Bagby Jenna Leatherman Albert Thomas Kimberly Brown Tracy Oldaker Sara Zimmerman Madeleine Garvey Jenni Yetter JohnB Patrick Leahy Dillon Enderby James Brown Christy Shipley Alexander Calder Ricky Carney Paul McLaughlin Casey OConnor Willy Powell Robert Casey Rich Hyjack Matthew Frost Brian Salyer Greg Bristow Megan Donnelly Jim Fields Mo Martinez Luke Mckay Simon Time Feana Nevel
Annie was lucky enough to catch Bri Lee on her book tour for her second novel, Seed. Set in Antarctica, Seed follows two scientists, Mitch and Frances, as they spend a month at the seed vault that they have been creating and protecting. But as strange things keep happening to the facility, culminating in their helicopter failing to pick them up, they both have to grapple with their life choices and the secrets they have been keeping from each other and themselves. We chat about Bri's research trip to McMurdo Sound, interrogating the Antarctic literary tradition, visions of utopia and Bri's ongoing project News & Reviews. Bri's latest book crush is Plain Life by Antonia Pont - an essay collection she describes as life changing. Follow us! Email: Booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @mr_annie / @brilee Substack: Books On The Go Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz
In this episode of Teacher Show Me the World, I sit down with Wells Jones — adventurer, storyteller, and co-author of A Line in the Sand — for an unforgettable conversation about what it truly means to explore the world.From Navy Pararescue missions in Antarctica to mountaintop reflections and cultural crossroads around the globe, Wells has lived a life defined by curiosity and connection. We talk about how travel can become a bridge between people, a classroom for understanding, and a mirror for our own growth.You'll hear:How Wells's time in the Navy shaped his perspective on courage and compassionThe story behind A Line in the Sand and how friendship, history, and travel intersectWhy the most meaningful souvenirs aren't the ones we bring home, but the insights we gain along the wayHow educators (and their students!) can use travel to deepen empathy and global awarenessWhether you're a teacher dreaming of leading your first student trip or a lifelong learner seeking new ways to connect across cultures, this episode will inspire you to see travel as more than movement — but as transformation.
273. Wise Living: Why to Get Outside and Travel and Read Aloud with Amber O'Neal Johnston “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 NIV *Transcription Below* Amber O'Neal Johnston is an author, speaker, and Charlotte Mason homeschooling mom who blends life-giving books and a culturally rich environment for her four children and others seeking to do the same. She recommends we offer children opportunities to see themselves and others reflected in their lessons, especially throughout their books, and she's known for sharing literary “mirrors and windows” on HeritageMom.com and @heritagemomblog. Amber is also the author of Soul School: Taking Kids on a Joy-Filled Journey Through the Heart of Black American Culture and A Place to Belong, a guide for families of all backgrounds on raising kids to celebrate their heritage, community, and the world. www.HeritageMom.com www.SoulSchoolBook.com www.APlaceToBelongBook.com www.instagram.com/heritagemomblog www.facebook.com/heritagemomblog Thank You to Our Sponsor: Sam Leman Eureka Questions that We Discussed: Looking back, what would you say has helped to shape your children's character the most? What have you learned about the importance of getting our kids (and ourselves) out into nature? How do you actually make time to be a content creator and to also homeschool and travel and host? Other Related Episodes from The Savvy Sauce: 53 Practical Life Tips with Blogger, Rach Kincaid 57 Implementing Bite-Size Habits That Will Change Your Life with Author, Blogger, Podcaster, and Speaker, Kat Lee 82 Traveling with Your Family with Katie Mueller 84 Ordering Your Priorities with Kat Lee 103 Making Family Memories with Jessica Smartt 200 Planting Seeds of Faith in Our Children with Courtney DeFeo 204 Charlotte Mason Inspired Mini-Series: A Delectable Education with Emily Kiser 207 Cultivating Character in Our Children with Cynthia Yanof 212 School Series: Benefits of Homeschooling with Jodi Mockabee 253 Low Tech Parenting with Erin Loechner Connect with The Savvy Sauce Our Website, Instagram or Facebook Please help us out by sharing this episode with a friend, leaving a 5-star rating and review, and subscribing to this podcast! Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.” Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“ Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“ Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” *Transcription* Music: (0:00 – 0:09) Laura Dugger: (0:11 - 2:01) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here. The principles of honesty and integrity that Sam Leman founded his business on continue today over 55 years later at Sam Leman Chevrolet Inc. in Eureka. Owned and operated by the Burchie family, Sam Leman's in Eureka appreciates the support they've received from their customers all over central Illinois and beyond. Visit them today at LehmanGM.com. Amber O'Neal Johnston is my fascinating guest for today. She's an author and speaker and coach and she's just chosen to live a very wise life as a wife and mother, and I think you're going to enjoy gleaning practical tips such as the benefits of getting our children out in nature regardless of their age. She has teens and makes this super practical for things that they would enjoy too, and she shares these incredible benefits of what happens when we simply step outdoors. She's also going to share approachable ways to introduce our family to great art and other cultures, and she gives us a fabulous book list, so, make sure you stay tuned through the end of the episode so that you can see some of the top books that she recommends. Finally, if you don't have a copy of her own latest release entitled Soul School, I highly recommend you purchase that today. Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Amber. Amber O'Neal Johnston: (2:02 - 2:04) Thank you so much. I'm so happy to be here. Laura Dugger: (2:04 - 2:14) Well, I'd love for you just to start us off and introduce us to your family, and will you just share a glimpse of your values and lifestyle? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (2:15 - 3:48) Absolutely. So, I live outside of Atlanta, Georgia with my husband Scott and our four children. We are just entering birthday season, but shortly they will be 16, 14, 12, and 10. The girls are the two oldest. The boys are the two youngest, and they've been homeschooled from the beginning, so, we're a homeschooling family. I'm originally from Illinois. My husband's originally from Ohio, but we met here in Atlanta at the High Museum of Art, which is really special. We are art loving, you know, fine arts loving, liberal arts loving family, and so, the idea that we met at the museum, I will just cherish that forever. I came to, before homeschooling, I was a stay-at-home mom, and prior to having children, I have an MBA, and I worked in corporate America in like marketing and advertising, and Scott comes from a similar background with the MBA, and he was doing work in that area too, so, we had that as a connection point, but I have always stayed home with the kids, and you know, our values are rooted in our Christian faith, and we're an African-American family, and so, we have values and cultural aspects that enter our home through that avenue as well. We are world travelers, so, we enjoy that as part of who we are, and I'm an author and a speaker, and I'm just a very happy homeschooler. Laura Dugger: (3:48 - 4:12) I love that, and it sounds like such a rich and abundant life, and there's two little connections that I have to go back to. My husband and I had a date at that same museum. I love that you met your husband there. Oh wow, that's wild! And so, we met when we were in Atlanta, but live in Illinois now, so, which part of Illinois were you originally from? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (4:12 - 4:33) I'm from Elgin, Illinois. It's out past O'Hare Airport, and I was born and raised there. My parents were both public school principals there. My dad was principal of Elgin High, and there's actually an elementary school, Ron O'Neal Elementary School in Elgin, named after my father, so, that is where I'm from. Laura Dugger: (4:33 - 4:46) Wow, okay, so, then even with that piece, your father being a principal, and then you said you've homeschooled since the beginning. Did you always anticipate you would homeschool, or what was your journey into that? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (4:47 - 7:15) Oh my gosh, never, and it's both of my parents were principals, so, that's wild. My grandfather was an elected school board official. My sister was an elected school board official, so, public school is just, you know, in my blood from the very beginning, and that's what I assumed I would do for my kids at first. Once Scott and I got married, and we had discussed it, we decided that I would stay home when they were little, and when they were old enough to go to school, I would go back to work, and my salary would pay for private Christian school tuition, and as the years, you know, months really came to fruition for my oldest, my husband started backpedaling, and he started talking this crazy talk about homeschooling. I'm like, that's a switcheroo for you. What are you talking about? I was like, that's weird. I don't want to do that. I don't feel called to do that. That does not seem like a comfortable space for me. I don't want my kids to endure that, and ultimately, I lacked confidence in that. I couldn't even articulate it. It felt scary, terrifying. Why would I take something so weighty into my own hands, and Scott was very persistent, and I can't even explain why he was so persistent about it, but I think to me, I feel like it was planted in him by the Lord, and he felt that this was the way he wanted to lead his family, and he did it so graciously because I was very resistant. He asked, would you please try it for one year, and if you are unhappy, you don't think it's right. I'll never ask you about it again, and that gave me a softer place to land where I felt like it wasn't signing up for a long-term commitment because I knew I was going to hate it, and I said, sure. I will do that, and oh, my gosh. It was the most amazing year, and I laugh now because my daughter was four, so, she's like four and turned five during that year, and so, she was so young, and people were like, well, what were you really doing, but I took it so seriously. I was doing all things, and I joined a homeschool support group, and I was reading about it, and I realized on Friday, I'm a stay-at-home mom, and on Monday, I took on this identity of a homeschooling mom, and it's just been a beautiful journey for us. I'm so thankful that the Lord led Scott in that way. He knew what was right, not just for our children, but for me, too, when I had no vision for it, and so, I'm just, you know, very grateful. Laura Dugger: (7:16 - 7:30) I love that story. That's such an encouragement, and, okay, your oldest is turning 16, so, when you look back, what would you say has helped shape your children's character the most? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (7:32 - 9:29) Well, I think the time that we've all had to spend together, like intense amounts of time, so, not just quality time or quantity time, but both, and I think that there's nothing else I could have done that could replace that, so, I think that's one of the things. I think my own acceptance of the divine nature of me being their mother and those being my children, and really that leading me to embrace my mother's intuition, which is something that I was hesitant for at first because there are so many experts, and surely they know so much more than me, and that's not to say that that's not important. I read so widely. I'm always reading expert ideas and views, but what I realized is that those things can help me as tools. They can mentor me, but they can't master me because the master has already appointed me as the perfect mom for these children, and nobody knows them, the little tiny details of them that nobody knows more than me, and so, when I leaned into that and I'm like, yeah, this says this online, this book said that, this thing says that, I can take what I can from those, but ultimately I feel the spirit telling me and leading me in this way with these children, and when I really leaned into that, I have a right to do that. I am their mother. That revolutionized things, and I think that's what's helped shape my children's character the most is my willingness to lean into how I'm led to lead them, and so, that's been a motherhood journey for me, and I hope that it's a legacy that I leave with my children. Laura Dugger: (9:31 - 9:53) And do you have any specific stories that come to mind that were examples of that mother's intuition, something that really I think it is such a gift from the Lord and that the Holy Spirit speaks to us in some unique way as mothers to be in tune with our kids, so, is there a time that it really benefited them when you exercised your mother's intuition? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (9:53 - 12:42) Well, there was one time with my third, my son, my oldest son, his name is Beckett, and he was in the high chair eating while I was braiding my daughter's hair, and I heard him start making like these really weird noises, and I looked over and it was like he was choking and gagging, and I run over, and but he seemed fine, but then he would do it again, and he started sweating, and you know today I really would say, you should call 9-1-1, but I didn't, I threw all the kids in the car, and I rushed to the ER, and when we got there he wasn't choking anymore, he wasn't sweating, they did his vitals and everything, and they said, well mom, whatever happened passed, he's fine, and you guys can go home, and I was like, no, he's not fine, I'm looking at him, he's not my little boy, his vitals are checking out, but he's not looking at me the way he normally looks at me, he's not interacting with me, the little funny things that I can make him smile all the time, he's not responding to them, and so, like, I know you have your tests, but like my, I'm telling you something's wrong with my little boy, so, they have a doctor, he comes in to tell me everything's fine, and he's sending me home, and so, I was like, well I'm not leaving, I'll just spend the night in the ER then with all my kids, because I know something's wrong, and the doctor, who's this older man, he turns to me, he looks me in my eyes, and he says, you know, in all my years of medical training, there's something that they never told us, but something I've learned throughout my career, never doubt a mother's intuition, and he said, we'll take him and run more tests, and they took Beckett back to run more tests, and they came back and said, you were right, he has swallowed a coin, and it's like just teetering on the precipice, and so, at times it was blocking his airway, and at times it was shifted a little bit, and we have to go in immediately and get it, and that could have choked him, if you had just gone home and put him down to bed, and so, in that story, I took away two things, one, that I am his mother, and I don't care what the test says, or what the data says, or what the news, or a book, at the end of the day, I knew that something was wrong with my boy, the other thing is the graciousness of that doctor, to see my humanity and my personhood beyond just the insurance payment, or protocol, or whatever, it let me know that like there's something powerful about letting other people know that you see them, and that you are connected to them, as another part of God's creation, like he respected me on that level, so. Laura Dugger: (12:43 - 13:35) That is incredible, I'm so grateful that that story has a happy ending, and that you were assertive to say that, I think sometimes as women, probably especially as Christian women, we can think, oh I want to be nice, or not push back on somebody, but I love that you were assertive, it was what was in your child's best interest, and like you highlighted, that doctor's humility is admirable, but Amber, you mentioned too that you're a writer, and you contribute a lot to things like the Wild and Free bundles, and I was always struck by the way that you would be out in nature, and there's so much to learn, so, if you had to boil it down, what wisdom would you have to share from what you've learned about the importance of getting our kids and ourselves outdoors into nature? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (13:36 - 16:49) Yeah, that's so funny, I love that you asked me that, because I like to tell people I was raised in the air conditioning, and so, there is no one who began motherhood further away from nature and being outdoors than me, like, and I can look back at those early days of like, I knew you could take your kids to the playground, and I did do that, but like what else would you do outside, you know, and people would be like, oh we went hiking on this trail, and I was like, where did you get on it, like where do you find a trailhead, like I mean this is back, like this is where I was coming from, and I was just like, and then what would we do, like we just walk, and do we talk about trees, I don't know any trees, I know Christmas trees are evergreens, you know, so, it was just like coming from this very like foundational place where I didn't know anything, but I believed, right, I believed, I somehow inherently believed when I read that being outdoors was important for children, so, I'm reading Charlotte Mason's work, and she's talking about nature study, I'm reading Last Child in the Woods by Louvre, and I'm hearing about this, he calls it a nature deficit disorder, and I'm reading all of these different kind of people who really respected childhood, and personhood, and really wanted the best for children, I'm reading a Christian perspective of the joy in connecting with God's creation, first and foremost, but also this idea of encouraging natural and authentic physical activity, running, climbing, balancing, exploring, developing coordination, and confidence, and the mental health components, you know, reducing stress, and improving mood, and not just for the kids, but my friend from A Thousand Hours Outside, she talks about how the first time she like took her kids out for the whole day, it was for her, because she was going crazy with these all these little kids, and the house, and the bags, and the diaper bag, and the snacks, and she didn't know what else to do, so, she just went outside, and how healing that was, and therapeutic that was for all of them, the idea of curiosity, of fueling curiosity, and creativity, I've never seen my kids come up with the most, I mean, they come up with imaginative things in our house, but outside, the, oh my goodness, the things they come up with, the things they create, and make, and the storytelling that comes out of that, and I think the family bonds, our experiences, it's another way of memory making, I mean, we make memories when we go see plays, and musicals, and travel as well, so, it's not the only way, but it's a strong way of that shared outdoor adventures, so, like a couple weeks ago, we were all whitewater rafting, it's funny, like a lot of funny things happen when you're out there doing crazy stuff, and so, we have a lot of laughter, and we have a lot of inside jokes that come from our time together, so, I think that all of those, it's not just one thing, it's one of those rare things where there are all the pros, and there really are no cons, and so, I intentionally embrace that for my family, even though it's everything that I didn't have growing up. Laura Dugger: (16:50 - 17:41) Wow, that is so interesting, I love how books have really inspired you to make changes that have benefited your entire family, and I'm thinking back years ago when I was in grad school, studying marriage and family therapy, there was this book that we read, Letters to a Young Therapist, I believe the author is Mary Pipher, and she said something that I found to be very true in my life, she said, from childhood when we all look back, our memories typically boil down to three categories, one is family dinners around the table, the second is traveling with our family, and the third is anytime we were outdoors, and so, I'm wondering that legacy that you're giving your kids, they're going to have an abundance of memories in all three of those buckets. Amber O'Neal Johnston: (17:42 - 18:29) Yeah, I love that, and I had never read that, it's making me want to go and read her work, but I can't agree more, I mean that's what I've seen anecdotally, at least in my family, and it's definitely been the case for us, I can totally see that, the other thing I love about outdoors too is it's free, you know, so, there have, we've had times of plenty and times of not quite enough financially throughout our journey, due to layoffs, and you know, recessions, and all these different things, but that has been one thing that the travel hasn't always been as consistent as we wanted, but the nature, the time outside has always been accessible, even during COVID, that was accessible to us, so, I love it for that too, but yeah, that's really cool. Laura Dugger: (18:29 - 18:41) Absolutely, okay, so, you started with, you were getting some inspiration from different books and speakers, but then when did you actually implement this? Do you remember how old your kids were? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (18:42 - 20:11) Right away, so, my oldest was like four, five years old, and we started going outside, now again, we had always been going to the park, so, they had been spending a lot of time outside, but I will say like that's like a very, you know, man-made structures, and you know, I can't think of it, like very cultivated space, so, we weren't spending time in uncultivated space until around there, so, maybe a four-year-old, two-year-old, and infant, and I know they started growing up in that way, and I had kids in an ergo on the back, and I remember hiking with a kid in an ergo on the front, and then snapped another one on the back, and you know, these are memories I have of being outdoors thoroughly by the time the boys were coming along, and I remember the story where we were at a creek, and I looked up for a moment, and just sheer panic that my little boy was gone, he wasn't in my eyesight anymore, and the girls were playing there, and I'm like, you know, and I look, and look, and look, and there's nothing, and no one, and all I can think you sees in the water, and I wasn't paying attention, and my heart's racing, and I'm like, girls, where's your brother? And my daughter says, mommy, he's sleeping on your back. And I'm like, oh my gosh, I just think, like, I was so tired during those years, and I just remember, I would just think, let's just go outside, and some days that's just the most I could come up with, but yeah, I was freaking out, and the little boy was sleeping on my back. Laura Dugger: (20:12 - 21:50) And now a brief message from our sponsor. Sam Leman Chevrolet in Eureka has been owned and operated by the Burchie family for over 25 years. A lot has changed in the car business since Sam and Stephen's grandfather, Sam Leman, opened his first Chevrolet dealership over 55 years ago. If you visit their dealership today though, you'll find that not everything has changed. They still operate their dealership like their grandfather did, with honesty and integrity. Sam and Stephen understand that you have many different choices in where you buy or service your vehicle. This is why they do everything they can to make the car buying process as easy and hassle-free as possible. They are thankful for the many lasting friendships that began with a simple welcome to Sam Leman's. Their customers keep coming back because they experience something different. I've known Sam and Stephen and their wives my entire life, and I can vouch for their character and integrity, which makes it easy to highly recommend you check them out today. Your car buying process doesn't have to be something you dread, so, come see for yourself at Sam Leman Chevrolet in Eureka. Sam and Stephen would love to see you, and they appreciate your business. Learn more at their website, LehmanEureka.com, or visit them on Facebook by searching for Sam Leman Eureka. You can also call them at 309-467-2351. Thanks for your sponsorship. I'm wondering too, so, when you began, what did you start with? What did you do outside? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (21:51 - 24:13) So, we started with walking, and I also was very verbal about my, what I felt were my inadequacies with friends, and that's why, you know, I can't overemphasize the, I haven't brought that up yet, but the idea of community. You don't need a hundred friends, just a few people who either are doing the same thing as you, have done it, or know you personally so well. But I had a friend who was like this outdoor enthusiast, and I always admired her for that, and she'd be like, oh, I went to the hydrangeas, they're coming out today, and they're gonna bloom for four days, and you know, like, and she would be like, oh, do you want some wild blueberries? And I'd be looking at her with side eye, like, girl, I only eat blueberries from Publix, because how do I know that you know what you're doing? You know, those could be poisonous berries you identified wrong. So, we had this kind of ongoing thing, I just asked her, I was like, hey, could we go outside with you guys sometimes? And she was like, of course. So, our first hike was with her and her kids, and she showed me how to go outside and do nothing. Like, we didn't do anything, we just walked. And the kids let us, you know, they would stop and ponder things and ask questions, which she knew the answers to, but wouldn't answer. So, she was like, well, what do you think? Or that's something cool we can investigate, or whatever. So, I realized, wow, here's this expert naturalist who's not even using her expertise. I don't have any expertise, so I could do the same thing. Well, what do you think about that? So, the kids let us, we stopped when they stopped, we kept going when they kept going. We had plenty of water and snacks, which she had told me, which was important. And that was my first thing. It was a hike. And after that, I only went back to that place by myself with my kids without her, because that was the only trail I knew. I knew where to park and where to go, and I felt confident. And then lo and behold, I run into Charlotte Mason's work, where she talks about returning to the same place throughout the year, and having your kids compare what's happening their season to season. And so, different rationale for why I was doing that. But then I was like, look, there's beauty, even in the simplicity of me not knowing what else to do. So, that's kind of how we got into it. And then I started having more experience and going out and being more adventurous further away from home with my kids. Laura Dugger: (24:14 - 24:24) Okay, so, then what other ways has it evolved? You mentioned whitewater rafting. So, you've got teens now. What does your time outdoors look like in this phase? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (24:25 - 26:02) So, lots of camping. So, you know, Memorial Day weekend, you know, we were camping in yurts with friends. This past weekend, we camped, we had a big Juneteenth celebration, and then we went camping for Juneteenth weekend. And so, I would say that kayaking, paddle boards, we have paddle boards, we take out fishing, I hate fishing personally, don't like it at all. But two of my kids enjoy fishing. So, I'm there for that. I'll just bring a book or whatever, because it's quite boring to me, but they love it. So, we moved. I mean, how much of a commitment is that we moved to a different house, when we were able to have our whole property is forest floor. So, it's completely shaded and intertwined with trees and plants and a kind of wild scape. And across the road is a lake where the boys can fish and I can call their names for lunch and they can hear me now. I have to yell it loud. It's kind of country. Other people probably like what is going on? I'm like, you know, but they can hear me right there. And so, the creek and just really everything. A lot, a lot of hiking, I will say we live near a mountain and we're in Georgia. So, the North Georgia mountains are not far from us. We have Appalachia or Appalachia, as my friend said, I mispronounce it. And yeah, there's nothing that isn't my one of my first dates with Scott was whitewater rafting. So, we've always kind of embraced that. Laura Dugger: (26:03 - 26:37) Oh, that's a special way to tie in a married couple memory with your kids and get to pass that along. And water and mountains, those things are, they never get old. But I've heard others even say like, you don't have to take stuff other than water and snacks, like you mentioned, to go outside. But I like the practical tips that sometimes people take art supplies, and they can nature journal or a book to read aloud. Do you have any other practical tips like that, that you would encourage if somebody wanted to get started with this lifestyle? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (26:38 - 28:47) Yeah, I would say, um, we, okay, the best thing I can say is to just try it like I think that oftentimes I know my I'm like this, you want to try to be an expert at something before you actually put it into practice. And the point is, like, we're looking at someone's work or something that they're doing after years that they've been in practice. And then we're expecting to do that from the very beginning. And until we get there, we don't want to do it. So, for example, nature study, nature journaling, I always admired nature journaling. But when you look at people's nature journals that they people who are willing to share, there's usually a reason they're willing to share theirs because it looks beautiful. And mine didn't also look beautiful. But I was still willing to give it a try. And I love that. And I love my kids, what they've worked on. And I cherish all of our early beginning sketches. And quite honestly, I'm still not great. But I think having tools like watercolor pens and water pens where we can do watercolor on the go. And we've done many pictures out by the side of the creek on picnic blankets, especially like my older children while younger people are like, What do I do with these little ones like water, you know, like they love that splashing, making sandcastles and things while I'm painting or doing things watercolors with the with the older ones. And were they museum worthy? No. But there was a lot of enjoyment involved in a skill-based learning. So, I think asking questions and inquiry, using pictures, sure and painting, but also keeping track of things the the date that our cherry blossoms bloom, and our white cherry blossom blooms before the pink one every year and keeping track of that or paying trying to map all of the vegetation in our yard like we are, you know, know which trees what they're called where they come from that takes time. And those are things we've done. It's not like we're only just sitting there barefoot grounding ourselves and forest bathing. You know, we're out there learning as well. And I think that, you know, both are beautiful ways to enter into that. Laura Dugger: (28:48 - 29:34) I love it. There's so many benefits. And you even mention grounding that helps so much going barefoot with inflammation and different body systems that are reset even by getting out and getting early morning light and the serotonin that's produced that turns into melatonin at night. So, we're happier in the day and sleepier at night, resetting systems in our eyes and like healing our body in different ways to an even how much better outdoor air is for us than indoor air. The benefits just go on and on. So, would you have any to add that either your family has experienced personally, or you've learned about just benefits of getting outdoors? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (29:34 - 31:29) Yeah, I think that one, even, you know, all the things you said, yes, and also the mental clarity. And that's why I don't like being time outdoors, being tied to a negative consequence for academic related behavior. So, the house across the road from ours, you know, I could say ironically, or just be like, God chose to gift us. It's a homeschooling family. They moved in a couple years ago, and they have some kids are some of our kids are similar ages. And our boys are just outside all the time together hours and hours and hours every single day. And I see the difference on days where the weather doesn't permit it or where one family or the other, you know, isn't available. There's a difference in terms of clarity and the work that's happening at the lesson table as well. And this came up, you know, my nephew, you know, they're not homeschooled, and his parents took him on a trip, which caused him to miss a day of school. And he missed an assignment that day, he didn't turn it in. And so, the school then when he got back to school punished him by keeping him indoors for recess. And I was helping, you know, my family craft a note that talks about two things. One, they punished a child for a decision the parents made. And that is grossly unfair, they should be talking to the parents about not missing school, if that's the important thing. And the second thing is, you took away the very thing that allows these children to have what they need to sit quietly and take in, you know, that that's not, that's not how you that's not an appropriate consequence. So, anyway, I feel that the mental clarity beyond the things I would have named the same things you already said, it would be the only other thing that I would bring in and why time outside actually helps us to achieve deeper and broader and more expansive learning when we are inside. Laura Dugger: (31:29 - 31:54) That's good. And I love how you keep mentioning the piece of community that that's the best way to do this. So, regardless of somebody homeschools, or they don't, how can all of us actually prioritize this? And what's a good, healthy goal for getting started, even as specific as how much time outdoors, how many outdoors or how many days a week should we be outdoors? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (31:55 - 33:01) Yeah, that's, it's so different for every family, I think that you should go just past the point of comfort, you know, for most of us. So, if the point of comfort for you is like 30 minutes a week, then you would start out like aim for an hour a week, you know, 20 minutes, three days, if you're already outside for, you know, 10 hours, a couple hours each day, you know, I would say, maybe shake it up with what you're doing and see what would it be like to go on a really long outdoor excursion on a Saturday, or to take a day off or something like that. So, I don't want to say an exact number, because we're all entering in at a different place. For me, if someone had told me to spend eight hours outside with my kids, when I was first starting, and I'm used to going to playground for 20 minutes, that would have been overwhelming. And I would have been like; there's no way I'm ever gonna do it. So, I think like, just taking it, like, where do I feel most comfortable? And how can I push myself just past that point would be a great place to start and kind of a nice place to always stay? Like, what's the next thing that we can do to lean further into this? Laura Dugger: (33:02 - 33:15) That's really good, very wise counsel. And Amber, you've mentioned that your family loves to travel. So, will you share any adventures that you've had as a family with world schooling? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (33:16 - 36:20) So, our goal, and it's just a fun thing, you know, I don't know if we'll totally do it, but I think we will, is to have children. So, for us, world schooling is where we're not on vacation, but we're actually deeply immersed in a learning stance in another country, another part of the world. And we're trying to do that on every continent, except Antarctica, before my oldest graduates. So, we have two continents left, we are going to be going to Asia in the fall. So, we'll be taking that one off of our list and for that particular feat. And then her senior year, we'll do Australia and hop over to New Zealand. That's the plan, if it's God's will for us to do that, that's what we would like to do, and that will complete our journey. And then we'll keep traveling, but that was just kind of a fun thing to help lead us, because there are so many places in the world to go, like how do you know? And so, that kind of helped us know, well, let's do this continent, let's do that continent. So, we took our first trip, we spent three months in South America, most of it spent in Bolivia. And I can tell you exactly the kids' ages, because my youngest turned two in Bolivia. So, they were two, four, six, and then one turned eight there. And so, that was, you know, diapers, I had a baby in diapers, a little one in diapers and still nursing when we went on our first trip. And I've never regretted that. People have said, why would you take kids so young? You know, they're not going to remember. And I think a couple thoughts. One, you'd be surprised, they do remember. They may not remember this artifact in some museum, but that's not what we spend most of our time doing. But they remember the people. And we've kept in touch with a lot of the people that we've met in these different countries. And we've even had visitors in our home, staying in our basement apartment that we met abroad. So, they do remember. They remember how things feel and taste more than they remember exactly, like historical markers and things like that. Also, I kind of compare it to like breastfeeding and nursing, like my kids, except for one little boy who held on way too long, but they don't remember that. But I believed that it was something good for them that was forming. It was helping to form who they were, not so much who they were personality wise, but their bodies as they were growing. And so, sometimes we do things that are foundational to our children's development, even if they don't have a conscious and direct memory of that thing. And that's how I see world travel. So, we've been to Europe, and we were in Greece when COVID hit. We were in the middle of a big trip there. So, we had the whole struggle to get back to the United States. We've been to West Africa, most spent in Ghana, England, France. We're going to Ethiopia this year. So, yeah, that's kind of, that's our thing. Laura Dugger: (36:20 - 37:04) Wow. And those memories are incredible. Even let's say your children forget some of this, or if they're too young to remember all of it, you remember this and you get to share those stories with them and pass that along. I can't even imagine all of the learning that takes place from being immersed in those other cultures. But you also mentioned welcoming people into your basement apartment. So, you sound hospitable as a family. What does that actually look like? And I'm kind of going to throw two questions at you. What does that actually look like? And then both for world schooling and hospitality, what are tips for ways we can replicate that as well? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (37:06 - 39:52) So, one thing that's important to me to always share about world schooling, I have a whole chapter about our world schooling adventures in my first book, but one important thing that I call out there is Eli Gerzen. He's the guy who came up with the word world schooling. And he says, you know, we don't even need a passport to do it. That world schooling is really learning from the world around you. It could be your local library. It could be the internet. It could be your neighbors. And so, while I use this more global term of world schooling, because that's just what we call it in our family, the truth of the matter is it's a way of seeing the world and seeing all the opportunity to make connections right where you're sitting. And people are like, oh, you guys have so much money. I can't do that. First of all, we don't have so much money. Like, for instance, we have one car, right? So, there are sacrifices that we make that other people may choose to spend their money in a different way. So, we definitely don't have a ton of money. But more importantly, I'm thinking, yeah, you're saying that you don't have money, but how much have you explored your county? Like, what do you know about the history of your county? And have you been to your local historical society? And have you really, you know, got in? Have you been to an old the oldest cemetery within driving distance of your home? Have you gotten a tour of it to hear the stories of who's there? Like, you can have that same inquiry and curiosity without ever leaving. So, I'll say that first. And in terms of the hospitality part, it's like an it's an intention, right? You have to like, decide that you're going to do that, because it's so much easier not to have people at first view, like, oh, my house is not clean, and blah, blah, blah. And people don't just stop by the way they used to stop by, like my grandparents' house, it was so fun staying there in the summer, because people just folks just came in and out all day, just they come calling is what they call it, they come calling. And even when we read Jane Austin, people leaving the call guard, you know, when they came to visit, and you weren't there, like, there was this idea that you didn't have to have an appointment. And now you do, you have to let someone know before you're coming. So, it's a choice to be vulnerable, if you want to be hospitable in that way that people will see your, you know, dirty bones of your house. And you know that you're not always presenting this, like really sanitized version of your family and your family life. And so, I think that's intentional decision to say it's more important to us to be with other people and let them in than it is for us to always sanitize everything before they get here. And I don't mean sanitizes and clean the house that too, but I mean sanitizes and everyone's behaving the way that I want them to behave in front of people and all of that as well. Laura Dugger: (39:53 - 41:05) When was the first time you listened to an episode of The Savvy Sauce? How did you hear about our podcast? Did a friend share it with you? Will you be willing to be that friend now and text five other friends or post on your socials anything about The Savvy Sauce that you love? If you share your favorite episodes, that is how we continue to expand our reach and get the good news of Jesus Christ in more ears across the world. So, we need your help. Another way to help us grow is to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts. Each of these suggestions will cost you less than a minute, but it will be a great benefit to us. Thank you so much for being willing to be generous with your time and share. We appreciate you. Well, and I think it is a biblical command for all of us and it does bless the person or the people that we are hosting, but there are also rewards for us in the process. So, if you even just could think of one reward of a way that this hospitality has blessed your family, what would you say? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (41:07 - 41:55) Well, I would say John chapter five, it says, you know, this verse we've all heard, "I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit apart from me, you can do nothing." So, you know, when we talk about hospitality, we spend a lot of time talking about what my family is doing for other people. But also, that means that my family is constantly in contact with other believers and other people who are helping us with our faith to helping us to remain connected to Jesus. And without that connection, we know that there's nothing that we can do, nothing of any spiritual significance. So, while I'm inviting those people into our lives, it also ensures that my family is not alone in what we're trying to do in our faith. So, like, that's one of a very easy benefit, I can say right off the top. Laura Dugger: (41:56 - 42:18) Then that one is truly invaluable for our children to get to witness the way other people live out their faith, and it impacts each of us. But I'm also curious, how do you manage your time so that you can be a content creator, and you can homeschool and travel and cultivate these relationships? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (42:20 - 46:08) So, first, let me say that it's not always easy. And there are seasons where I feel like I'm doing a really good job with that. And there are seasons where I feel like I'm not doing a good job. I always prioritize my family first. And so, during the seasons where I feel like I'm not doing a good job, it's very public. People can see I did not post on Instagram for a month, or I'm not speaking as much. They're finding it harder to find opportunities to hear me speak, or I have a long lull before books are published. Those are times where I've turned inward towards my family, where I felt like I didn't have the bandwidth for everything. And so, that's something I have to deal with on a constant basis, because I know that my business or my ministry is not as rich and robust as it could be. I have ideas for days. I have ideas and the ability to bring them to fruition. But I'm not willing to sacrifice the time that it takes to do those things in this season. Because even though I don't have little kids, I definitely have more time than I did when I had little kids. It's not even just time; it's more mind clarity as well. But I don't have as much time as people with little kids would think, because I want to be fully present, even for my teens. When they want to talk to me, I want to be talkable too. I want to be available to them. And we're going to places. We're doing things. They're busy. I'm busy. And I'm trying to prepare them for young adulthood. And that's just as time-consuming as trying to prepare my young children for the next stage of their development. So, I guess it's so messy. Oh my gosh, it's messy. It's chaotic. It's a little bit crazy. But in the center of it all, I really appreciate the opportunities I do have to do the things that help refuel, help me refuel. So, I'm a writer. So, writing isn't just about creating a book. It's that I get to create a book, but really it's about the process and how cathartic it is for me to sit in silence and wonder about things and be able to write them out. And oh, lo and behold, there's a publisher who is interested in publishing those things. But the real work for me is in the process of writing. Then when I come home from a coffee shop or I emerge from my room, I come back more enthusiastic about what it is we're working on and what we're doing. The other thing that I would share is that I don't do all of that stuff by myself. So, things that people don't, just like I say, I have one car and we travel the world, people are like, oh, okay, this is not what I thought. My husband does all the laundry, every piece of laundry in this house that the teens do their own, but all the laundry that's done, he does and has done for over a decade. So, that's a thing I have to say, because you might be picturing that I'm doing all of those things. Or when I wrote one of my books, I was struggling and Scott was like, how can I help you? And he was like, what if we get help to come in with the kids like a nanny or something a few hours a week? I'm like, no, that's the last thing I want somebody to touch. So, he's like, well, what is it? So, we hired a chef, and she would prepare all of our dinners according to like what I, how I like my family to eat and lots of whole foods and good things. And she would drop them off at our house. It was very expensive, but I used part of the money from the advance from the publisher to pay for that so that I could write the book. So, I think those are things that a lot of times people don't talk about, but I have support in place. I'm not super woman any more than anyone else. Laura Dugger: (46:08 - 46:49) Oh, I appreciate that real picture and those creative ideas because as mothers, we don't just make goals for ourselves. Like you said, we have these dreams and ideas that we could put into practice, but we consider our relationships as well and how it will impact everyone. So, I love hearing practically how that plays out for you and the trade-offs that you've chosen to make. And I know that you and I also share a passion for reading aloud. So, if we could get really practical for a moment, what are some of your most recommended read aloud for families from a variety of age groups? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (46:50 - 53:05) Well, I'm always ready for that question, but I have to say, it's almost asking me, which of my children are my favorite? It's so hard in so many ways, but for younger elementary, I picked three books that I think kind of help show how expansive I feel like I want my children's reading life to be. So, this book is called Indigo Dreaming, and it's a book about two girls, one's in North America and another one we can believe is off the coast of Africa. And they're both doing what they do in their own homes. And it's beautifully illustrated also, but they're both doing what they do in their own homes while wondering, is there another little girl in this world doing what I do, liking what I like? Well, indeed there is. And it's poetic and it has soft paintings. It's just stunning. And then another one is called The Magic Doll. It's a children's book inspired by African art. And in this book, the mother desperately wants to have a child, but she's dealing with infertility, and she turns to the use of an infertility doll. And what would I say about that? My family doesn't believe that, but it's a book that I read with my children because we were going to visit this culture. And I wanted to explain to them how we can respect something and learn about it even without adopting it. And that you can understand the yearning of a mother's heart to hold a child in her hand and the desperation that that could bring about. And I wanted them to know that we would see fertility dolls there and what they meant and things like that. And it's also beautifully illustrated, which is important to me. And then this one's just a fun book. It's called I Had a Favorite Dress, but as the dress starts getting too small, she cuts it and turns it into a skirt. And then it gets turned into this. And then the little, small piece gets turned into some socks. And then it's just a little scarf and snip, snip, sew, sew, pretty hair bow. And so, the same piece of fabric, this favorite dress she had, every time she can't use it in that way anymore, it gets moved and shifted. Into something else. And this book reminds me to just, you know, sometimes we share heavier topics with our children, even beautiful topics, but sometimes it's just joy. Like that's the whole purpose of the book is to smile and have fun. And I'll move more quickly for the older elementary books. I have this book called Schomburg. It's a nonfiction book about Arturo Schomburg and the man who built a library, which is now housed. His home library is now housed as part of the collection of the public library system in New York. And he collected books about all types of black and brown people. And it was considered one of the foremost library collections. So, as a book lover, I love that story. This one's called Heart and Soul. It's the story of America and African Americans with stunning illustrations by Kadir Nelson. So, I love visual art. I always say my family, we can't afford to buy the most exquisite art for our walls, but we have an exquisite art collection through our picture books that I've collected. And then the last one is for that group is John Henry by Julius Lester and Jerry Pinkney illustrations. So, those are two powerhouses of African American author and illustrator. Both have passed. And it is the tall tale of John Henry told in a way that you've never seen before. For older kids, like middle schoolers, I love this one Big Open Sky because it's about some black exodusters who are moving west. And it goes so well for families who love Little House on the Prairie. But, you know, Little House on the Prairie, in some ways, there's some instances that are a little disrespectful to Native Americans and black people. And this is like a redemptive story, not instead of but alongside of it to say that there were black people that were also moving westward and what was their journey. And it's written in verse, like, oh, my gosh, I can't even tell you enough about that. This book, The Angel Orphan, my friend Leah Bowden wrote this book, and it's the story of Charlotte Mason. So, in chapter book form. So, there's also a picture book that someone wrote, but this is a beautiful story about Charlotte Mason. And my family's all-time favorite on my kids read aloud is The Winged Feather Saga by Andrew Peterson. And that whole series, oh, my goodness, that cemented so much of our family lexicon, because it's filled with like made up words. And it I mean, we have jokes and talks and sayings for days coming out of that series. For our older teenagers, um, or even early elementary, early middle school and early teenage years, the Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is just like a such a classic, Mildred D. Taylor that many of us read. But she also wrote a young adult version where Cassie is entering young adulthood. So, different age audiences, but same author. And a lot of people haven't heard of the other book All the Days Past, All the Days to Come. So, for high school, I love that. And then I threw a couple things in for mama. I'm an epic story of called Homegoing about two sisters and the different paths their lives take during a time I'm part of it is told in Africa and part of its told in the United States. And the last book I have is this memoir, A Black Mother's Garden. It's called Soil. And she uses her actual real garden at her home to kind of give us this idea of life. And it's, it's, you know, it's, it's hard to explain, but it's her it's part memoir, part gardening, like learning and talking about the plants, but also how all of that can turn into kind of like the soil of your life and the people being plants, and she really focuses on wildflowers. So, it's a stunningly, like poignant and beautiful memoir. So, those are my favorite, you know, and now if you ask me tomorrow, you're going to get a different stack. Laura Dugger: (53:07 - 53:27) I love it. What a gift to get to see all of those you and I share some of those favorites, and you've introduced me to some new ones. So, I'm very grateful and hope everybody listening feels the same. But speaking of books, you've authored more than one. But will you tell us about your most recent release entitled Soul School? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (53:28 - 55:58) Yeah, so, Soul School is it's Soul School: Taking Kids on a Joy Filled Journey Through the Heart of Black American Culture. And I know it's so hard with those. But it is a book of books. So, people who have enjoyed Honey for a Child's Heart, or The Read-Aloud Family, those types of books, which I have adored, and I have all of them, and I've highlighted them or, or Give Your Child the World is another one, highlighted them and dog eared them and have used them to check out books for the library for my children for many, many years. And, and at the same time, I was always very, you know, on my heart that the books that I spend a lot of time reading with my children that I choose and I select are never really included in most of those books. And there was the season, you know, I'm like, frustrated, you know, I'm mad. I'm like, why? Why are they putting these books in here? And then the more I thought about it, I was like, the most you can ask for a mother to do when she's sharing these books, when it's coming from that is what she read with her children. So, am I going to be mad at her that she didn't read what I think she should read? No, do I wish that it had been more expansive? Sure, I do. But how many of us wouldn't go back and do something differently if knowing what we know today or whatever. So, I wrote a companion like the I see not to replace those books. But this book is filled with African American and black diasporic children's literature starting from preschool all the way through high school. The first part of the book, I talk about what I'm looking for specifically in books about black American culture, and why those things are important. So, the first few chapters, first five chapters are really teaching the teacher. And then the rest of the book, which makes up most of the book are really rich annotated book lists with descriptions why I chose the book discussion questions, project ideas, and something called second helpings. Like when you think of a big soul food dinner, you go through the line the first time and you fill your plate, but then you go back for second helpings of the things that taste the very best. So, if your child likes this book, then here are two second helpings that they also would probably enjoy. And you know, the book was years in the making, I read all 300 plus books in there from cover to cover. And that's kind of my contribution to raising our children. Laura Dugger: (56:00 - 56:40) Wow, I mean, it is a stunning piece of work. And there's so much for your family, but also for all of us. So, I think of being one of your kids, what a treasure that their mom read 300 books and put this together. But for all of us, I love books on books. And like you said, we can use it to go to the library or then once we read those and find which other ones we love, we can add it to our home collection. So, thank you for that powerhouse of work. And Amber, there's still so much more that you could share with us. Where can we go after this conversation to connect with you or to learn more? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (56:42 - 56:56) Go to heritagemom.com. And there you'll find all of my books and years' worth of blog posts and book recommendations and other things. My Instagram is @heritagemomblog and the same at Facebook. Laura Dugger: (56:56 - 57:12) Wonderful. Okay, we will add those links to the show notes for today's episode. And you may be familiar that we're called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for you today, Amber, what is your savvy sauce? Amber O'Neal Johnston: (57:12 - 57:50) Oh, this is such a great question. I love this part of your podcast. I would say that my savvy sauce is learning to be a really great listener. Like if there's nothing else, then that's listening to my husband and the things of his heart and listening to my children and my neighbors and my friends. But also, people I don't know, people in other places. And also, people I disagree with and being willing to be quiet and listen and take what I can from what they're sharing as well. So, that is, I think my savvy sauce is being an introspective listener. Laura Dugger: (57:50 – 58:13) That is well said. You are such an inspiring and creative soul. And I have thoroughly enjoyed this chat. And I know I've been hearing you speak on other podcasts and reading your work for years. So, this was such a treat to get to connect with you today. And I just want to say thank you for being my guest. Amber O'Neal Johnston: (58:14 - 58:16) Thank you so much for having me. Laura Dugger: (58:16 - 1:01:59) One more thing before you go. Have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you. But it starts with the bad news. Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there is absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved. We need a Savior. But God loved us so much, he made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him. That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live and died in our place for our sin. This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished if we choose to receive what He has done for us. Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” So, would you pray with me now? Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you. Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me, so me for him. You get the opportunity to live your life for him. And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you ready to get started? First, tell someone. Say it out loud. Get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes & Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible, and I love it. You can start by reading the book of John. Also, get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps, such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you. We want to celebrate with you too, so feel free to leave a comment for us here if you did make a decision to follow Christ. We also have show notes including where you can read scripture that describes this process. And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “In the same way I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today. And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.
Welcome to Building Brand You™, the podcast that helps you accelerate your success by unlocking your greatest asset – you. KEY TAKEAWAYS Putting yourself out there will not just build a network, but also demonstrate your ability and credibility to deliver a result. People buy on emotion and justify on reason. People are not 100 percent driven about the almighty dollar and getting paid the big dollar. They want a level of flexibility, they want a level of work-life balance. It's not what you know, it's not who you know, it's who knows you. “You get knocked down, you get back up, and you've got to keep doing that until people say yes because the yes will come because of the tenacity and the endeavor, and all those sorts of things and your ability to demonstrate success that you actually can get the results on the board” - Jason Burgess. Be prepared to tell your story. It doesn't happen by osmosis, you have to actually tell your story. If you can't articulate those wins and who you are, and what you stand for, there's no trust, there's no building a foundation between you that could develop either into job offer or a client or whatever that is. ABOUT OUR GUEST: After growing up in a small country, Kilmore about an hour north of Melbourne and attending Assumption College teaching him strong people values, and work ethics Jason went on to successfully complete a Bachelor of Business in Commerce and Finance at Monash University. Jason's career initially commenced in Finance with a major TV network, Network 10 before realising and making a change to a passion of his towards a people-oriented career in Recruitment. For over 25 years, Jason has worked within the Recruitment industry in large corporate environments in end-to-end consulting positions as well as Senior leadership positions managing highly successful teams. It wasn't until having a family and realising the need for work life balance he established his own recruitment business in Max Executive which focuses on mid to senior level Sales and Marketing positions both nationally and internationally across FMCG, Consumer Goods, Hospitality and Retail Franchising as well as Sport and Leisure sectors. Jason has a basic philosophy when it comes to his business is ‘treat others as you want to be treated yourself' and has established a knowledge base and network that is highly regarded and the envy of many in a marketplace that is highly competitive and ever evolving. His and Max Executive's business motto is about Maximising Possibilities. CONNECT WITH JASON BURGESS: Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-burgess-5649774/ Website - www.maxexecutive.com.au Twitter - https://twitter.com/ MaxExecutive Email - jasonb@maxexecutive.com .au ABOUT KYM HAMER: Kym is an international leadership and personal branding thought leader, an executive coach, and a programme design and facilitation practitioner. She is also the creator of Building Brand You™ - a methodology helping organisations, teams, and individuals to build reputation, presence, and gravitas. Kym works with leaders - both individually and in organisational development initiatives - to inspire and engage thinking styles and behaviour that achieve results and leave legacy. In 2020, just one year after launching her business, she was nominated by Thinkers360 as one of the Top 100 Women B2B Leadership influencers and is currently in the Top 15 Personal Branding and Top 10 Marketing Influencers in the world. For 5 years running Kym has also been one of Thinkers360's Top 10 Thought Leaders on Entrepreneurship and in 2023, 2024 and 2025, was recognised as one of their Top Voices globally. She has been part of Homeward Bound Projects faculty since 2020, a global initiative reaching 1.8 billion people, equipping women and non-binary people with a STEMM background to lead conversations for a sustainable future. She is currently the Program Design and Faculty Lead for the 10th on-line cohort and was part of the on-board faculty who voyaged to Antarctica in 2023 and 2025, to deliver the initiative's immersive component. In between all of these things, you'll find her curled up in a corner with her nose in a book. Building Brand You™: JOIN the BBY Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildingbrandyou SUBSCRIBE to the BBY Podcast on: (Apple) - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/building-brand-you/id1567407273 (Spotify) - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Ho26pAQ5uJ9h0dGNicCIq CONNECT WITH KYM HAMER: LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/kymhamer/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kymhamerartemis/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@kymhamer Thinkers360 - https://bit.ly/thinkers360-kymhamer-BBY Find out about BBY Coaching - https://calendly.com/kymhamer/bbychat/ HOSTED BY: Kym Hamer DISCLAIMER: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Building Brand You™ podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved. They do not necessarily represent any other entities, agencies, organisations, or companies. Building Brand You™ is not responsible and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information in the podcast available for listening on this site. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast does not constitute legal advice or services
More than a third of Ukraine's scientific institutions have been damaged or destroyed by Russian bombing. Many scientists have either fled the country or are internally displaced, and that Ukraine's National Academy of Sciences is trying to operate on half its pre-war budget. The funding may be reduced but the science still matters, even in wartime. Perhaps especially in wartime. It is something the country can be proud of. Climate change has no borders and Ukraine is making a key contribution to our understanding of the global warming crisis. We hear from the scientists of Ukraine's National Antarctic Scientific Centre, torn between the frontlines of a prolonged national conflict whilst simultaneously attempting to arm the world with the latest research on a warming climate from the white wilderness of Antarctica.
Captain Preet Chandi MBE is a world record breaking explorer, former British Army officer, and physiotherapist. She served in the Royal Army Medical Corps for 16 years before embarking on groundbreaking polar expeditions. In 2022, Preet became the ninth woman in history to ski solo to the South Pole, and the first woman of colour to complete a solo expedition on the continent. Less than a year later, she set out on her next adventure, breaking two Guinness World Records for the longest solo unsupported one-way ski expedition, both for a woman and overall, covering 922 miles in 70 days. She returned to Antarctica in December 2023 to set her fourth world record: the female speed record to the South Pole, completed in 31 days, 13 hours, and 19 minutes. Preet's expeditions are driven by her mission to inspire others to push boundaries. She champions the message that everyone starts somewhere, and that no matter your background or starting point in life, you are capable of breaking barriers and redefining what's possible. In 2025, she established her Community Interest Company, Adventure is Ours CIC, which supports expeditions that promote education, inspiration, climate awareness, and diversity in exploration. Through the CIC, she also delivers outreach, mentorship, and school visits to empower people of all ages. In 2022, Preet started delivered her school talks across the UK, reaching more than 18,000 students. That same year, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours. Her achievements have been widely recognised: she received the ‘Inspirational' and ‘Woman of the Year' awards at the inaugural Women in Defence event in 2022, was named ‘Explorer of the Year' in 2023, and in 2025 was awarded the prestigious Geographical Award by the Royal Geographical Society. Past TGP episodes July 8th 2021 - Preet Chandi - Army Physiotherapist, Ultra Runner, first solo unsupported expedition to South Pole! Feb 15th 2022 - Preet Chandi - aka Polar Preet - 1st woman of colour to reach the South Pole New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries. Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Your support makes a difference. Thank you x Show notes Who is Preet Originally from Darby, but basically living everywhere Spending 16 years in the Army Chatting to Preet previously on the Tough Girl Podcast Making the decision to leave the Army Coming back in debt Getting straight back into work Starting the next fundraising cycle Trying to get unpaid leave Doing her 3rd expedition without telling anyone Trying to cross the landmass on Antarctica on her 2nd trip Not making it The voice in her head, telling her she had failed Feeling the relief when she finished Getting 2 records from the trip Why it's ok to fail Being slated by an article Feeling worried about what people in the adventure community would think of her Wondering if she could get the female speed record? (Needing to break 33 days) Why you don't need to be the best to succeed Learning as she goes on Why 2023 was a tough year and struggling The impact on weight loss on your brain Burnout Starting to feel recovered Wanting to train for the North Pole Having time off Losing her granddad and hearing the news after the trip Building momentum Getting to sleep 8 hrs per night Talking about failure Making mistakes and being able to pinpoint them Being nervous to get started Needing to get going and hitting some storms at the start The voice in her head - being scared to fail, and being called a failure Using her pain relief before she though she would need to Getting a polar thigh industry Starting to move more slowly towards the end Focusing on the next 2hrs Getting home Traumatic growth? The daily pain cave… Being made to slow down The costs of doing these trips Getting help and support Trip 3 - the women's speed record Dealing with the hunger The next big challenge - the north pole Why there is a high chance of failure You can not fail, unless you try Preparing for the misery and suffering The privilege of being on the start line of adventures Lying to herself Why not Preet! Needing luck on the next adventure Wanting to show show much than you can do anything You go and you try Why her trips are bigger than her Why adventure is for anyone Being very driven and being an encourager How to connect with Preet MBE and what it means What's been achieved in 4 years Why you do belong in every single room The importance of the first step Social Media Website: www.polarpreet.com Instagram: @polarpreet Facebook: @polarpreet
Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica is massive, bigger than the state of Florida. If it collapses, it could reshape every coast on this planet during this century. That's why it's sometimes known as “the Doomsday Glacier.”And yet, until recently, we knew very little about it. Because Thwaites is extremely remote, reachable only by crossing the wildest ocean on the planet, scientists had never observed its calving edge firsthand. In 2019, a ground-breaking international mission set out to change that, and writer Elizabeth Rush was on board to document the voyage. We caught up with her to learn about life on an Antarctic icebreaker, how she grappled with classic Antarctic narratives about exploration (and domination), and how she summons hope even after coming face-to-face with Thwaites. This episode was first published in early 2024. Featuring Elizabeth Rush. SUPPORTOutside/In is made possible with listener support. Click here to become a sustaining member. Follow Outside/In on Instagram or join our private discussion group on Facebook. LINKSIf you're interested in reading more about the journey to Thwaites, check out Elizabeth's book, “The Quickening: Creation and Community at the Ends of the Earth”.A paper published in Nature with some of the findings from Elizabeth's voyage, showing that Thwaites has historically retreated two to three times faster than we've ever observed. Here's the one detailing findings about Thwaites' past extent, extrapolated from their study of ancient penguin bones, and another sharing observations about water currents beneath its ice shelf.The Trump administration has pulled funding for the US's only Antarctic icebreaker dedicated to scientific research. Read about the fate of the RV Nathaniel B. Palmer in Scientific American. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Nick Kroll is not so great in a crisis, especially a family fishing trip. So naturally, Ed wanted to bring NIck back to the sea for the harrowing story of Ernie Shackleton's failed expedition to Antarctica, complete with dogloos, stowaway cats, and a chance to celebrate the explorers who push humanity forward. Subscribe to the SNAFU YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@SNAFUPodBuy the SNAFU book: www.snafu-book.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This episode is sponsored by Magnesium Breakthrough and Sleep Breakthrough — two of my favourite biohacks for deeper sleep and better recovery. Right now you can get 15 % off either one when you use the code TONY15 at bioptimizers.com/tony Meet Akshay Nanavati, the insane endurance athlete who is endorsed by the Dalai Lama. Akshay has dragged a 420-pound sled across 500 miles of Antarctica, spent 17 days in darkness and isolation, and survived 100 days alone in the polar regions. But his greatest journey? Overcoming PTSD, addiction, and depression to build a life of purpose and power. Through neuroscience, spirituality, and lived experience, Akshay now teaches how to master fear, find peace, and achieve peak performance. Follow Akshay Nanavati on Instagram. THIS SHOW IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: BiOptimizers Sleep Breakthrough and Magnesium Breakthrough These are BIOptimizers sleep and magnesium supplements which I take every night. I have also been using the new Magnesium Breakthrough drink - delicious way to get magnesium. I have been putting a scoop in my protein shake after a workout. Just go to BIOptimizers.com/tony and use code TONY15 for at least 15% off (often more). Code works worldwide, and on all their products.
Bedtime History: Inspirational Stories for Kids and Families
Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, and driest place on Earth. It's a frozen continent at the bottom of the world, covered almost entirely by ice. Even though people don't live there permanently, scientists travel to Antarctica to study its wildlife, glaciers, and weather. Penguins, seals, and whales survive in this extreme environment, showing how life can adapt to the harshest conditions. This video explores the icy landscapes of Antarctica, what makes it so important for Earth's climate, and why protecting this frozen world helps scientists understand our planet's future.