South Pole | Antarctic Science & Polar Exploration

Plastic pollution has reached every part of Antarctica. British Antarctic Survey marine ecologist Dr. Clara Manno explains how macroplastics and microplastics travel to the polar region through human activity, ocean currents, and other transport pathways. Plastic has been found in snow, freshwater, sea ice, the water column, and seafloor sediments. The conversation examines how it interacts with Antarctic wildlife and marine ecosystems, including processes that help the ocean absorb carbon dioxide. Learn why Antarctica’s remoteness cannot shield it from global consumption and waste, and why reducing polar plastic pollution requires both local safeguards and coordinated international action.

Episode Guest: Dr. Clara Manno

More information about Dr. Clara Manno here. 

Browse Dr. Clara Manno’s’ publications on Google Scholar

More information about Plastic-AG here

Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

For More information about the United Nations Treaty on Plastic follow the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty on Linkedin

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.

Warm ocean water is melting Antarctic ice shelves. Physical oceanographer Dr. Elin Darelius explains how the Southern Ocean carries heat beneath floating ice shelves and why that interaction matters for the future of Antarctica’s land-based ice. Learn the differences between ice sheets, ice shelves, sea ice, and icebergs, how oceanographic moorings collect data in extreme conditions, and what scientists discovered by drilling through the Fimbul Ice Shelf. The episode also explores how ice shelves slow the movement of glaciers and why their weakening can contribute indirectly to sea level rise. A clear guide to ice shelf melt, physical oceanography, and the ocean processes shaping Antarctica under climate change.

Episode Guest: Dr. Elin Darelius

More information about Dr. Elin Darelius here. 

Browse Dr. Elin Darelius’ publications on Google Scholar

Follow Dr. Elin Darelius’ blog 

More information on polar research at the University of Bergen

More information on the Bjerknes Center for Climate Research

Find. Dr. Elin Darelius on Twitter/X: @DareliusElin

Read a photo novel about on of Dr. Darelius' Antarctic adventures.

More information on the research group FRISP

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.

Seabirds reveal the health of the Southern Ocean. British Antarctic Survey seabird ecologist Dr. Richard Phillips introduces the albatrosses and petrels that travel across Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters. He explains their roles in marine ecosystems, what long-term monitoring of their populations and behavior can reveal, and why scientists use seabirds as environmental indicators. The conversation also examines major threats, including fisheries bycatch, invasive species, disease, and climate change, along with conservation measures that have produced real improvements. Discover why protecting Antarctic seabirds requires action both on remote islands and far beyond the polar region.

Episode Guest: Dr. Richard Phillips

Browse Dr. Phillip’s publications on Research Gate

Dr. Phillip’s projects at the BAS 

Giant Petrels: Heroes or Villains on YouTube

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 history reaches far beyond heroic explorers. Polar historian Dr. Ursula Rack joins Clark Marchese to build a historical backdrop for the series, from possible early Indigenous voyaging and European mapping to sealing, whaling, colonial ambition, scientific expeditions, and international collaboration. Rather than presenting a single neat timeline, the conversation examines overlapping eras and the economic, political, and social forces that brought people south. Dr. Rack also shares what diaries, archives, and her own time in Antarctica reveal about daily life on past expeditions. A wide-ranging introduction to Antarctic exploration history and the complicated human motives behind it.

Episode Guest: Dr. Ursula Rack

More information about Dr. Ursula Rack here

Access Dr. Ursula Rack’s website

Connect with Dr. Ursula Rack via email

Browse Dr. Ursula Rack’s publications on Research Gate

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 can inspire connection from anywhere. In the first episode of South Pole, Antarctic social scientist and expedition guide Dr. Katie Marx explores how people build relationships with a continent most will never visit. From Hobart and other Antarctic gateway cities to tourism, research, and public engagement, she explains how proximity, community, and storytelling shape what Antarctica means to people. Host Clark Marchese also asks who gets to participate in Antarctic conversations and why caring for the continent is not limited to scientists or explorers. An accessible introduction to the human connections that can influence engagement, behavior, and Antarctica’s future.

Episode Guest: Dr. Katie Marx

More information about Dr. Katie Marx Here

Connect with Dr. Katie Marx on LinkedIn

Article about Penguins…. 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.

South Pole is the Podcast that explores all things Antarctica. Whether you’re a polar enthusiast or simply curious about the icy expanse, South Pole has something for you. 

Throughout the series, frozen landscapes are brought to life by discussing a broad range of topics. From the towering glaciers and sprawling ice sheets to the unique wildlife like elephant seals and penguins, each episode unpacks the science behind this frigid frontier. But that's not all—prepare to dive into episodes dedicated to Antarctica's impact on global climate, conservation efforts, and the complex phenomena of ice melt and sea level rise.

South Pole isn't just about the natural world; it also covers human interactions with the icy continent. Listen for episodes covering  historic expeditions, the role of female explorers, indigenous connections, and the geopolitical intrigue of the Cold War era. The podcast also explores modern human activities such as the global treaty system that governs the continent, tourism, and even extreme sports.

From scientific research to storytelling, South Pole is your go-to source for all things Antarctic. So, make sure to follow and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and join us on this chilly but fascinating adventure.

South Pole is part of the Pine Forest Media network and you can find more information at pineforestpods.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.