Season 2 of Thin Ice begins by revisiting the past to gain a new perspective on the future. 

Forty years after one of the most defining and disruptive moments of his life, polar explorer Robert Swan returns to the Ross Sea region of Antarctica. This time, not as a young man chasing history, but as a witness revisiting Cape Evans, the site of his original South Pole expedition, and the waters where his ship, Southern Quest, was lost beneath the ice. 

In this powerful and reflective conversation with filmmaker Oli Wheeldon, Robert shares what it means to finally close a deeply emotional chapter, and how that closure is fueling a new phase of purposeful exploration and adventure. 

You’ll hear: 

• What it felt like to return to Capt. Robert Scott’s Hut at Cape Evans after 40 years
• The emotional impact of revisiting the site where Southern Quest sank and the pristine site where the “In the Footsteps of Scott” base camp once stood.
• Why the Footsteps expedition’s hardships now evoke a sense of pride
• How Robert’s motivation evolved from adventure and history to a life mission of protecting Antarctica
• The role of his son, Barney Swan, and the next generation of climate leadership
• What’s next, including the final Antarctic voyage Robert himself will lead, a trans-Australia cycling expedition and more.

In a follow-up conversation with co-host Dan Smith, Robert reflects on how the loss of the ship reshaped his life’s direction, and why, now more than ever, we must “turn into the storm” if we want a sustainable future.
 
This episode also marks a turning point for Thin Ice itself. What began as a podcast is evolving into something bigger: a platform for exploring “The Next Great Adventure—learning to live sustainably on Earth.”

Key Themes
 

• Closure, resilience, and earned perspective
• Exploration as a path to meaning
• Stewardship of Antarctica as a shared human responsibility
• The shift from personal ambition to collective purpose
• Turning toward the challenge, not away from it

Get Involved

We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment, share your thoughts, or reach out directly: [email protected]. And visit our website — ThinIce.earth — to see pictures and learn more.

Credits

Thin Ice is a production of Robert Swan and Dan Smith.
Special thanks to Jason Fletcher and Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours for enabling Robert’s return to the Ross Sea, and to Bernadette Desiato for making the impossible scheduling possible.
 
As always: Keep Earth wild. Be Kind. And chill out.