Podcasts about twin tracks expeditions

In this episode, I'm really excited to have as my guest, Heather Thorkelson, a Canadian dual business owner based in rural Sweden. She's spent the majority of her life living abroad since her family moved to Costa Rica when she was 14, which contributed to a wanderlust that lasts to this day. After working in corporate throughout her 20's, Heather took the leap into entrepreneurship. She's been a business consultant for incurable entrepreneurs since 2011, helping hundreds of small business owners grow livelihoods that honour their strengths and feed their bank accounts in equal measure. Heather is the owner of Twin Tracks Expeditions, a polar expedition company, where she also is a polar guide who has been in the Antarctic over 30 times. On top of that, she co-owns a polar ship management company. She's excited to share her expertise and experience to support a new wave of values-based entrepreneurs with her first book, No Plan B: A Handbook for Incurable Entrepreneurs and Other Rebellious Souls. In our conversation, Heather talked to me about: Why working on yourself first gives you clarity and purpose Treating ideas to try as a scientific project How entrepreneurship is a vehicle for change Listen to the podcast to learn more. https://innovabiz.co/heatherthorkelson (Show Notes and Blog) https://innovabiz.com.au/innovabuzz/ (The Podcasts)

My guest today, Heather Thorkelson, is an entrepreneur through and through. There's no going back to a 9-5 job for her. But, she's also been through a few failures and she's here to talk about what she's learned through her journey. Heather Thorkelson is a Canadian business coach and consultant living in rural Sweden. She has been living internationally for almost three decades and working as a coach for incurable entrepreneurs since 2010. She also owns a boutique polar travel agency - Twin Tracks Expeditions - as well as co-owns an arctic ship management company. Her first book, "No Plan B: A Handbook for Incurable Entrepreneurs and other Rebellious Souls" was published in October 2020 and is quickly becoming a go-to resource for business owners who can never go back to the 9-5. On this episode, you'll learn about why failure is essential for growth as well as... Heather's own relationship to failure How to deal with the negative voice in your head Heather's take on 'getting outside the comfort zone to succeed' Heather's ethical approach to marketing and much more... Heather's Resources Heather's Website Heather's Podcast Read the First Chapter of Heather's Book for Free Follow Heather On: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Sarah's Resources (FREE) Sarah's One Page Marketing Plan (FREE) Sarah Suggests Newsletter (FREE) The Gentle Business Manifesto (FREE) Gentle Confidence Mini-Course The Gentle Marketing Revolution Kickstarter Campaign The Gentle Business Circle The Gentle Business Revolution Authentic & Fair Pricing Mini-Course Podcast Show Notes Email Sarah at sarah@sarahsantacroce.com Thanks for listening! After you listen, check out The Gentle Business Manifesto, an invitation to belong to a movement of people who do business the gentle way and disrupt the current marketing paradigm. You can download it for free at thegentlebusinessrevolution.com. There's no opt-in. Just an instant download. Are you enjoying the podcast?  The Gentle Business Revolution show is listener-supported—I'd love for you to become an active supporter of the show and join the Gentle Business Circle. You will be invited to a private monthly Q&A call with me and fellow Gentle Marketers -  a safe zone to hang out with like-minded conscious entrepreneurs and help each other build our business and grow our impact.  — I'd love for you to join us! Learn more at sarahsantacroce.com/circle Don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes or on Android to get notified for all my future shows and why not sign up for my weekly(ish) "Sarah Suggests Saturdays", a round-up of best practices, tools I use, books I read, podcasts, and other resources. Raise your hand and join the Gentle Business Revolution. Warmly, Sarah

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mikolaj Golachowski, a biologist by training, lived and worked at Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station off-and-on over the course of several years, including taking on the role of base commander in his final season. He shares stories of lessons learned about human nature, his self-rescue after falling down a crevasse while alone, and the unusual opportunities presented while living in one of the most remote places on earth.   HIGHLIGHTS 3:05 - How Miko’s study of elephant seals led him to apply for a year-long contract in Antarctica, which ultimately led to living there on and off for multiple seasons 15:30 - Miko tells us of the challenges and growth opportunities in human relationships when you’re living on a remote polar base in a cramped environment, and the realities of communication with the rest of the world  20:54 - We hear what it's like to over-winter in Antarctica with a skeleton crew manning the base 24:01 - In Antarctica, your life is simplified: "Your main challenge is: don’t die today. Otherwise, it’s easy." 39:07 - Miko shares random facts about living on an Antarctic base that the average person would never guess   LINKS TED talk by Greta Thunberg - https://www.ted.com/talks/greta_thunberg_the_disarming_case_to_act_right_now_on_climate Greta Thunberg addressing the UN - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFkQSGyeCWg      AntArctic Stories is brought to you by Twin Tracks Expeditions - your experts in small ship expedition cruises and unique adventures to the Arctic and Antarctica. We love sharing our insider knowledge to help you find your next polar adventure. Find us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/twintracks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/twintracksexpeditions Our website - http://twintracksexpeditions.com

Johanna Davidson is a Swedish adventurer and self-described 'cheerful ski bum' who has gone further than most humans in chasing her dreams of a life outdoors in extreme polar conditions, among them skiing alone across Antarctica to the South Pole and then kite-skiing back out to the coast. Listen as she recounts the planning, funding, and endurance challenges on her way to becoming an accidental world record holder for the fastest female to the South Pole, unsupported. She was also the first Swedish solo woman to complete this feat, the first Swede to go to the South Pole and then back again, and completed the fastest return trip to and from the South Pole ever made.  HIGHLIGHTS 5:27 - Johanna's persistence drumming up funding through crowdfunding, sponsorships, and bank loans 10:45 - The mental and emotional management skills and resilience Johanna developed during the expedition 18:14 - Effects on the body and endurance challenges while traversing a variety of terrains and elevations on the way to the South Pole 24:48 - Johanna recounts unexpected experiences and special moments while out alone in the polar environment LINKS Solo Sister (Johanna’s website) - http://solosister.se/ Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions (ALE) - https://antarctic-logistics.com/ Johanna’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/solosisterinsta/     AntArctic Stories is brought to you by Twin Tracks Expeditions - your experts in small ship expedition cruises and unique adventures to the Arctic and Antarctica. We love sharing our insider knowledge to help you find your next polar adventure. Find us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/twintracks Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/twintracksexpeditions Our website - http://twintracksexpeditions.com

Paul Hart, former Army and Royal Navy officer, takes us along on the recounting of his incredible journey across the Antarctic Peninsula by man-haul, a feat that had never been done before. Leading a team of eight, we learn how the original well-planned route had to be abandoned due to inaccessibility, leaving Paul and his team to cross this crevassed and inhospitable mountain range with very little data, relying on their wits and expertise to get them safely to the other side.  HIGHLIGHTS 4:21 - Paul takes us through the 2012 crossing of the Antarctic Peninsula on the 100-year anniversary of Robert Falcon Scott’s crossing. Years of planning and physical preparation for crossing – starting in 2009 and culminating in a real-time crevasse crossing gone wrong. “The backup plan is we were the backup plan.” 23:42 - Paul tells us of the sketchiest moments on the crossing expedition – including being avalanched in once-in-100-years storm conditions, the insights that hindsight provides, and being 100% all in 31:26 - We learn about the educational outreach program to connect with schools and colleges, allowing students to learn unique polar and navigational insights from the expedition team in the field 36:57 - Paul shares what it’s like when you’re truly on your own out in the wilderness with no support mechanism and being somewhere that no other human has laid eyes on, ever 38:43 - We hear about Paul’s plans for future Antarctic adventures such as an expedition commemorating the 200-year anniversary of the sighting of Antarctica, offering polar maritime survival training programs as polar tourism increases, and his Education through Expedition programs for underprivileged youth in the polar environments.   LINKS ETE:Leadership Antarctica Ambassador The Inari Project - Finland Expedition AntArctic Stories is brought to you by Twin Tracks Expeditions - your experts in small ship expedition cruises and unique adventures to the Arctic and Antarctica. We love sharing our insider knowledge to help you find your next polar adventure. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or at twintracksexpeditions.com.

Meet Heather Heather Thorkelson is a coach who works with entrepreneurs to grow their impact and visibility while growing their bottom line. She has been location independent for 7 years and runs her businesses from all over the world, including, on occasion, Antarctica. Heather is also the owner of Twin Tracks Expeditions, a polar expedition company. BUT THIS CONVERSATION, YOU GUYS. THIS CONVERSATION! TWO VICTORS HAVING COME THROUGH ABUSIVE CHILDHOODS THE BETTER FOR IT. Resilience, determination, a fuck-you attitude to the stuff that just doesn’t matter, learning to survive from an early age, the sweet relief that comes when you realize you’ve healed enough to allow someone else to have your back, and the amazing qualities we inherited from our abusers. Heather has an absolutely heartbreaking and fascinating backstory and I know so many of us can relate to having to literally raise ourselves because of our screwed up parents. So, so good. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts! IN HEATHER’S WORDS on people pleasing “So I, I’ve never been that way. I’m still very much not that way. I am unable to understand. I’m unable to actually properly empathize with people who, who people please, and especially the extreme ones that compromise themselves so much. I don’t get it because for me, life has always been about survival, so I have to put myself first. Sorry for everyone else, but like I have to put myself first because there’s no safety net, you know, there has never been a safety net.” and even more on people pleasing “…it’s not going to be a popular opinion, but whatever. I think we tend to look at people pleasers as sort of a little bit weak and the extreme people pleasers, we look at as a little bit pathetic because it feels like there’s something missing in them. Why do you have to run around making sure that everybody’s better before you are? That’s fucked up! You’ve got to change that narrative.” on putting yourself first for survival “…when you’re in that kind of fight or flight environment from as long as you can possibly remember, quite frankly, you don’t really give that much of a shit about anyone else, you know? I don’t mean to sound really harsh and nasty like I’m not, I’m, you know, I’m capable of nurturing. I have good relationships…” a recent conversation with her mom “I’m not going to say what you want to hear to make you feel better about the choices that you made. And some people might think that that’s really harsh, but I don’t think it’s harsh. My whole life got massively fucked because of the decisions that she made.” finding the silver linings “Most people don’t ever want to give any credit to their abusive parent. I’m totally happy to give him the credit for this. I got his brains and I got his sense of humor and like what the hell would I do without my brains?” And my very fave… The way that you become the victor of your own story is you write that story. It doesn’t matter what happened before. Everyday that you wake up, you are writing your story. It’s a work in progress. It’s not a done deal. You are not a victim.  You are not that person. You’re not! Whatever thing that happened to you, you are who you choose to be. When you wake up today and tomorrow and the next day and a year from now, you might look back on the first 30 years and go – well –  that was a giant cluster fuck but for the past year, God dammit, I have been doing an amazing job and I am super proud of who I am becoming. CONNECT WITH HEATHER Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twin Tracks Expeditions

Polar bears, icebergs, and rough seas are just part of a typical day for this week’s guest. With three businesses and an insatiable drive to work hard and live on her own terms, Heather Thorkelson is living life to the fullest and doing what would make most of us shake in our boots. Heather is the owner of a business consulting firm, a creative collective called the Republic of Freedom, and a polar expedition company called Twin Tracks Expeditions. Along with her dreamy husband (who she calls “The Viking”), and his twin brother, she operates massive expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica, while also running two online businesses. Join us for an exciting, and sometimes frightening, conversation about freedom, pushing boundaries, the beauty of seeing 20,000 penguins at once, and the joys of finding that sexy dream man you’ve imagined in your head. Heather will also recommend:   3 apps for simplifying your life and ensuring that your ideas are shared with the world 5 people to follow for professional motivation and a lot of laughter 3 books to help you push through your doubts and become the badass you are meant to be   Join us at www.girlskill.com/55 P. S. Sign up for the free, exclusive training from me on “The Lie of Female Success: How to Get Unstuck, Release Pressure & Stop Trying to Do It All” to find out: How to overcome the "Superwoman Syndrome" so you can start living in freedom, with ease, and owning your truth True feminine power and what you can do right now to begin feeling supported, stop pushing & controlling your life and men How to rediscover, embrace and cultivate feminine flow and become embodied so you can stop overthinking and start making decisions from the heart The essence of masculine/feminine polarity and how to attract and magnify the relationship you want And much more… Sign up at girlskill.com/webinar  

This Part 2 of our nomad love series! If you haven’t already, make sure you listen to Part 1! This week, we’re interviewing Nicole Abramowski of Queer Women* Digital Nomads on her experience as a queer woman in the nomad space We also chatted to absolute powerhouse Heather Thorkelson of Republic of Freedom and Twin Tracks Expeditions about meeting her husband in Antarctica (!!) and how her location independent lifestyle allowed their relationship to happen. We also share our experiences (which, granted, have limited applicability to those finding love on the road - sorry) The New York Times article on co-living What’s your experience of finding love - or not! - on the road? Get in touch on hello@nomadandspice.com, or say hi on Twitter and Facebook, where you can also be part of our Nomad + Spice group! Don’t forget to send us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts and support our Patreon page to help support feminist critique of the nomad community!! The Nomad + Spice theme tune is Yellow Sea by megababe Madame Gandhi