South Pole | Antarctic Science & Polar Exploration
Published by Pine Forest Media | Environmental Science Podcasts
Science
Nature
Earth Sciences
South Pole is an Antarctica podcast exploring the science, wildlife, history, and human stories of the world’s southernmost continent. Hosted by science communicator Clark Marchese, each episode features conversations with the researchers, historians, explorers, policymakers, artists, and conservation practitioners working to understand Antarctica and its global importance. Travel from ice shelves, glaciers, and Southern Ocean ecosystems to Antarctic wildlife, climate change, sea level rise, and the remarkable research made possible at the South Pole. The series also examines polar exploration, overlooked histories, literature, tourism, environmental law, and the Antarctic Treaty System that governs the continent. Whether you are an Antarctica enthusiast, a science-curious listener, or an exploration and history fan, South Pole offers accessible expert knowledge, firsthand polar perspectives, and clear context for why this distant place matters to everyone. South Pole is a Pine Forest Media podcast. Learn more at pineforestpods.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Antarctic seafloor life stores carbon for centuries. Marine ecologist Dr. Narissa Bax explains Antarctic blue carbon, the carbon captured and stored by marine organisms and ocean habitats. The episode follows carbon from phytoplankton through cold-water coral gardens, sponge fields, kelp, and other seafloor ecosystems, where some of it can eventually be buried in sediment for hundreds or thousands of years. Bax examines the growing scientific effort to measure this seafloor carbon storage, its relationship with biodiversity, and how blue carbon could support marine protected areas and conservation policy. The discussion also considers bottom trawling, carbon credits, and the limits of presenting Antarctic blue carbon as a simple climate solution. Support our science communication by joining us on Patreon or sending us a gift on PayPal Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese Find Dr. Narissa Bax website here. Read Dr Bax’s publication: The Growing Potential of Antarctic Blue Carbon Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong . Theme music by Nela Ruiz Find some more Pine Forest Media podcasts below Listen to Oceanography on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Elephant seals collect data beneath the Southern Ocean. Dr. Clive McMahon explains how researchers equip southern elephant seals with miniature conductivity, temperature, and depth sensors. As the seals dive and travel through remote waters that are difficult to observe, especially during winter, the animal-borne sensors collect information about temperature, salinity, depth, and ocean productivity before transmitting observations by satellite. The data help scientists study elephant seal tracking, foraging, body condition, and population change while improving Southern Ocean monitoring. They also reveal physical processes connected to Antarctic dense water, global ocean circulation, weather, and climate. Episode Guest : Dr. Clive McMahon Review the research publication discussed in the episode here Visit Dr. McMahon’s publications on Google Scholar Visit the website of the Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong . Theme music by Nela Ruiz Find some more Pine Forest Media podcasts below Listen to Oceanography on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jackie Ronne changed who could explore Antarctica. Polar historian Dr. Joanna Kafarowski recounts how Ronne joined the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition in 1947 as a full expedition member and became one of the first two women to overwinter on the continent. The episode follows her journey from the National Geographic Society to Antarctica, where male expedition members initially signed a petition opposing the women’s participation. Learn how Ronne contributed to expedition operations and scientific objectives while facing isolation, sexism, and extraordinary pressure. Her story reveals the institutional barriers that kept qualified women out of polar exploration for decades. Episode Guest : Dr. Joanna Kafarowski Visit Dr. Kafarowski’s website here Connect with Dr. Kafarowski on LinkedIn Find: Antarctic Pioneer: the Trailblazing Life of Jackie Ronne Find: The Polar Adventures of a Rich American Dame: The Life of Lousie Arner Boyd Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong . Theme music by Nela Ruiz Find some more Pine Forest Media podcasts below Listen to Oceanography on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Antarctic Treaty turned rivalry into cooperation. Political and environmental philosopher Dr. Alejandra Mancilla traces how overlapping territorial claims, international tensions, and the Cold War led twelve countries to sign the Antarctic Treaty in 1959. The resulting Antarctic Treaty System set the continent aside for peaceful purposes and international scientific cooperation while effectively freezing competing territorial claims. The episode explores environmental protection, membership and decision-making, questions of political legitimacy, and the pressures climate change could place on polar governance. It also asks what the treaty’s model of shared guardianship might teach the rest of the world. Episode Guest : Dr. Alejandra Mancilla Visit Dr. Mancilla’s website Find Dr. Mancilla’s article here Browse Dr. Mancilla’s publications on Google Scholar Learn more about the Antarctic Treaty here South Pole: What if Antarctica had Legal Personhood? Read Antarctic journalist Tiara Walter’s work Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong . Theme music by Nela Ruiz Find some more Pine Forest Media podcasts below Listen to Oceanography on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pine Forest Media is proud to present Oceanography , a new podcast hosted by South Pole creator Clark Marchese. This weekly series explores the science and global cooperation needed to protect our oceans. With guests ranging from marine biologists and oceanographers to UN policymakers and community organizers, the show connects science with society—diving into topics like whale communication, bioluminescent species, deep-sea ecosystems, and the future of conservation policy. Oceanography isn’t just about marine life—it’s about the role oceans play in global climate, biodiversity, and justice. The first season includes interviews with the Deputy Global Coordinator at UNESCO and the Tribal Liaison for the Marine Protected Area Collaborative Network. 🎧 Listen to the trailer now and follow Oceanography wherever you get your podcasts. First episode drops July 29. Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Or stream wherever you stream best! 📌 South Pole Season 3 arrives this fall. 🌐 Learn more: pineforestpods.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Women are written across the map of Antarctica. Researcher and writer Carol Devine connects two projects exploring polar history and environmental stewardship. Mapping Antarctic Women traces place names honoring queens, sponsors, family members, scientists, explorers, and other women whose stories are embedded in the continent’s geography. Devine also recounts Cleanup Project Antarctica, a 1990s initiative in which volunteer teams worked with Polish and Russian research stations to remove legacy waste and raise awareness of the Antarctic Treaty’s environmental protections. Together, the projects reveal how maps, historical recognition, activism, and hands-on conservation shape Antarctica’s human story. Episode Guest : Carol Devine Learn more about Carol Devine here Follow Carol Devine on Instagram Follow Carol Devine on X Find The Antarctic Book of Cooking and Cleaning on Good Reads and Harper Collins Read about the Mapping Antarctic Women project here Find the Map of Antarctic Women here Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong . Theme music by Nela Ruiz hf8G6WG2xCPX0XYyU5e0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Antarctic soil offers a preview of a warmer continent. Geomorphologist and planetary scientist Dr. Joe Levy takes listeners into the McMurdo Dry Valleys, where water, ice, salt, microbes, and sediment interact in one of Earth’s coldest deserts. Learn how Antarctic soil forms, why seasonal water tracks resemble miniature wetlands, and what permafrost thaw and summer melting could mean for a greening Antarctica. Levy also explains how these Mars-like landscapes preserve evidence of past climates and serve as a valuable Mars analog for planetary science. More Antarctic life may emerge as conditions warm, but that transformation is not necessarily good news for existing ecosystems. Episode Guest : Dr. Joe Levy Learn more about Dr. Levy here Browse Dr. Levy’s publications here Follow Dr. Levy on X Learn more about the Cold Dirt Lab here Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong . Theme music by Nela Ruiz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Antarctica is not as silent as it first appears. Musicologist and Antarctic studies scholar Dr. Carolyn Philpott explores how sound, silence, and music shape the ways people experience and imagine the continent. From songs performed during early polar expeditions and Vaughan Williams’s Antarctic film music to field recordings, iceberg cracks, wildlife, and modern soundscape compositions, the episode reveals Antarctica’s rich acoustic identity. Philpott also introduces ecomusicology and explains how Antarctic soundscapes, tourism, and sensory experience can build emotional connections with a place most people will never visit. Episode Guest : Dr. Carolyn Philpott Learn more about Dr. Philpott here Browse Dr. Philpott’s Publications here Connect with Dr. Philpott on LinkedIn Listen to Vaughn Williams’ Scott of the Antarctic on Youtube Listen to Penguin Ballet by Nigel Westlake on Spotify Listen to Seals (Underwater) by Douglass Quinn on YouTube Listen to Antarctic Sound Recordings by Phillip Samartzis on YouTube Iceberg Crash by Almaz Khakimov Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong . Theme music by Nela Ruiz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A legal movement wants Antarctica to have rights. Environmental lawyer Cormac Cullinan introduces Earth jurisprudence, the rights of nature, and the Antarctic Rights initiative. What would change if Antarctica could be represented in legal and political decisions, and if governments were required to consider the continent’s own interests? The conversation examines potential representatives, enforcement, examples from other rights-of-nature movements, and perceived gaps in the Antarctic Treaty System. This is an exploration of Antarctic governance and environmental law, presenting legal rights for Antarctica as an active proposal rather than established law. Episode Guest : Cormac Cullinan Learn more about Cormac Cullinan here Learn more about Antarctic Rights here Get involved with Antarctic Rights here Learn more about Wild Law here Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong . Theme music by Nela Ruiz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ancient air survives inside Antarctic ice cores. Antarctic climate scientist Dr. Tas van Ommen explains how compacted layers of snow preserve atmospheric gases, dust, volcanic sulphur, and water isotopes, creating a continuous climate record reaching back about 800,000 years. Hear what it takes to drill ice cores kilometres below the Antarctic surface, why researchers are searching for a continuous million-year ice core, and how ancient air bubbles help test modern climate models. The episode also reveals how an Antarctic snowfall record helped researchers understand long-term drought and rainfall changes in Western Australia. Episode Guest : Dr. Tas van Ommen Find more on Dr. van Ommen here. Follow Dr. van Ommen on X Find Dr. van Ommen’s publications here. Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong . Theme music by Nela Ruiz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Antarctic krill connects wildlife, fishing, and policy. Marine biologist Dr. Javier Arata explains how a tiny crustacean supports penguins, seals, whales, and entire Southern Ocean ecosystems while also sustaining a commercial fishery. Drawing on his experience with scientific observation, fisheries management, CCAMLR, and the Association of Responsible Krill Harvesting Companies, Arata shows where science, industry, and international governance meet. The episode examines sustainable krill harvesting, scientific observers, current abundance estimates, and the future pressures that climate change and ocean acidification may place on Antarctic krill and the wildlife that depends on it. Episode Guest : Dr. Javier Arata Find more on Dr. Arata here. Find Dr. Arata’s publications here. More on the Association of Responsible Krill harvesting companies (ARK) here Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong . Theme music by Nela Ruiz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Squid beaks can reveal an entire Antarctic food web. Marine ecologist Dr. José Xavier explains how researchers use squid beak identification and predator diets to trace the relationships connecting penguins, squid, krill, and other Antarctic wildlife. The conversation explores Southern Ocean biodiversity, the identification of ecological hotspots, and how climate change could alter the length and stability of Antarctic food webs. It also examines what scientists still do not know and why marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, and long-term monitoring are essential for protecting these interconnected ocean ecosystems. Episode Guest : Dr. Jose Xavier Find more on Dr. Xavier here. Read Dr. Xavier’s Blog here. Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong . Theme music by Nela Ruiz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Satellites found fewer Weddell seals than expected. Dr. Michelle LaRue explains how satellite wildlife monitoring is transforming the study of Antarctic wildlife, including Weddell seals and emperor penguins. Through the Satellites Over Seals citizen science project, roughly 300,000 volunteers helped researchers estimate about 202,000 female Weddell seals, substantially fewer than an earlier estimate. Importantly, that difference does not by itself prove a population decline. The episode explores the seals’ patchy distribution, their relationships with nearby penguin colonies, and how satellite imagery of Antarctica can establish better baselines for future conservation research. Episode Guest : Dr. Michelle LaRue Find more on Dr. LaRue at the University of Canterbury Visit Dr. LaRue’s website Find Dr. LaRue’s children’s book, Emperor Penguin (Young Zoologist) Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong . Theme music by Nela Ruiz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Antarctic ice holds 57 metres of sea level rise potential. That figure represents the theoretical effect of melting the entire Antarctic ice sheet, not a near-term prediction. Ice sheet modeler Dr. Heiko Goelzer explains the differences between ice sheets, ice shelves, sea ice, and icebergs before unpacking how researchers model ice sheet dynamics. Learn how field observations, satellite data, mass balance, climate scenarios, and tipping points shape sea level projections, and why uncertainty does not mean scientists know nothing. A clear introduction to Antarctic ice sheets and what their changing behavior could mean for coastlines around the world. Episode Guest : Dr. Heiko Goelzer Find more on Dr. Goelzer here . Browse Dr. Goelzer’s publications on Google Scholar. Sea Level Rise Projection Reports: Climate.gov NOAA Sea Level Rise Projection Tools NASA NOAA YouTube video explaining total Antarctic ice sheet melt Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong . Theme music by Nela Ruiz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Lincoln Ellsworth crossed Antarctica by air in 1935. Yet the explorer behind this landmark achievement nearly disappeared from polar history. Jeff Maynard, author of Antarctica’s Lost Aviator , reconstructs Ellsworth’s repeated failed attempts, his successful flight with Canadian pilot Herbert Hollick-Kenyon, and the records preserved by fellow explorer Sir Hubert Wilkins. The conversation also examines Ellsworth’s place in queer polar history and why his complicated personal life should not eclipse his contributions to Antarctic aviation. A remarkable chapter of Antarctic exploration history about ambition, identity, and the first flight across Antarctica. Episode Guest : Jeff Maynard Visit Jeff Maynard’s website Find Jeff Maynard’s book, Antarctica’s Lost Aviator Find Jeff Maynard’s other books Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong . Theme music by Nela Ruiz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Seal lice survive underwater with their diving hosts. Parasitologist Dr. Soledad Leonardi explores the coevolution of seals, sea lions, and the blood-feeding lice that followed them from land into the ocean. Learn how these rare marine insects endure cold, salinity, low oxygen, and pressure, synchronize reproduction with their hosts, and remain attached during molting and dives. The conversation also examines whether seal lice could transmit disease, why parasites are an important part of biodiversity, and what scientists still do not know about how climate change may alter these relationships. A surprising look at elephant seals, evolutionary biology, and parasite-host interactions in the Southern Ocean. Episode Guest : Dr. Soledad Leonardi Browse Dr. Soledad Leonardi’s publications here Follow Dr. Soledad Leonardi on X More information about the National Research Council Argentina here Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong . Theme music by Nela Ruiz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
IceCube turns Antarctic ice into a cosmic detector. Astrophysicist Dr. Jim Madsen explains how the IceCube Neutrino Observatory uses instruments embedded deep in South Pole ice to study nearly invisible particles arriving from space. Learn the difference between astronomy and astrophysics, what neutrinos and cosmic rays are, and why Antarctica offers conditions for research that cannot be reproduced elsewhere. The conversation also visits the history of particle research at the South Pole and the value of scientific questions without immediate practical applications. An accessible introduction to neutrino detection, particle astrophysics, and one of Antarctica’s most remarkable observatories. Episode Guest : Dr. Jim Madsen More information about Dr. Jim Madsen here Explore the IceCube website. Follow IceCube on X Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong . Theme music by Nela Ruiz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Avian influenza has reached Antarctic wildlife. Wildlife disease specialist Dr. Meagan Dewar explains how highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, spread through wild bird populations and eventually reached Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic. Learn how the virus moves through respiratory droplets, contaminated environments, scavenging, and migration, and why it can also infect mammals. The conversation examines risks to penguins, seabirds, seals, and people, along with wildlife monitoring, field biosecurity, and the limits of controlling disease in wild populations. Climate change can alter disease dynamics, but the episode also traces the outbreak’s connection to animal agriculture and an increasingly interconnected world. Episode Guest : Dr. Meagan Dewar More information about Dr. Meagan Dewar here Browse Dr. Meagan Dewar’s publications on Research Gate Follow Dr. Meagan Dewar on X Read about strategies for controlling Avian Influenza here. Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong . Theme music by Nela Ruiz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Stories have shaped how the world imagines Antarctica. Literature scholar Dr. Elizabeth Leane joins Clark Marchese to explore how novels, poetry, film, and expedition narratives create public ideas about a continent most people will never see. From Gothic fiction and heroic exploration stories to science fiction and contemporary environmental writing, the episode examines portrayals of Antarctica as sublime, hostile, empty, or vulnerable. Discover how literature interacts with Antarctic science and history, influences public perception, and creates emotional connections with environmental change. This conversation shows why understanding Antarctica requires examining not only its physical environment, but also the stories through which people encounter it. Episode Guest : Dr. Elizabeth Leane More information about Dr. Elizabeth Leane here Follow Dr. Elizabeth Leane on X Read Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Sameul Taylor Colridge. Find the Birthday Boys by Beryl Bainbridge Find Toward Antarctica by Elizabeth Bradfield Find Who Goes There? By John W. Campbell Jr. Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong . Theme music by Nela Ruiz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Antarctic fish evolved to survive below freezing. Marine biologist Dr. Jilda Alicia Caccavo introduces the pelagic notothenioids, the fish group that dominates much of the Antarctic continental shelf. Learn how antifreeze proteins keep their blood from freezing, why some icefish have white blood, and how Antarctic and Patagonian toothfish differ. Dr. Caccavo also explains climate genomics, the use of genetic data to study how populations are adapted to their environments and how vulnerable they may be to climate change. The conversation covers Southern Ocean ecosystems, commercial toothfish sampling, and what scientists can and cannot yet predict about adaptation in warming waters. Episode Guest : Dr. Jilda Caccavo More information about Dr. Caccavo on her website Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong . Theme music by Nela Ruiz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
