Co-hosts Tom Hill and Eleanor O’Rangers had the opportunity to interview Rich Overbeck, who is currently wintering over at South Pole Station!

As many of our listeners may know, expeditions to our planet’s polar regions are considered to be an extreme environmental analog not unlike what would be encountered on the surface of Mars, for example. Indeed, as Rich will tell us, part of his motivation for wintering over “on the ice” was because it’s the closest he can come to traveling to Mars in this lifetime.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Rich Overbeck, we’ll explore more insights regarding life on the Ice, including the number of showers one is permitted to take weekly and what Rich likes to do during downtime. Then, we’ll explore some broader aspects of Ice Life, including whether there are animals at the South Pole, what storms are like, how COVID was prevented at the Pole, and the duration of time one is permitted to serve down there. We’ll also delve into what Rich looks most forward to when his time at the South Pole draws to a close.

This episode was recorded via Zoom on February 12, 2022. Rich will remain in Antarctica until November, 2022.