Elephant seals are helping to map the Southern Ocean. These extraordinary deep-diving animals are helping scientists study the Southern Ocean in places humans can barely reach, especially during the Antarctic winter. In this episode, Dr. Clive McMahon explains how southern elephant seals carry ocean sensors that collect real-time data on temperature, salinity, depth, and ocean productivity. The conversation explores elephant seal behavior, population decline, climate change, Antarctic bottom water, and the role these animals play in improving oceanography, weather forecasting, and climate science. If you’re interested in Antarctica, marine biology, elephant seals, Southern Ocean research, ocean data, or how animals can contribute to science, this episode offers a fascinating look at wildlife as scientific collaborators.

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

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First woman in Antarctica — Jackie Ronne’s story. Who was the first female Antarctic explorer? This episode explores the life of Jackie Ronne, the pioneering woman who joined a U.S. Antarctic expedition and overwintered on the continent in the 1940s. Polar historian Dr. Joanna Kafarowski explains how women were long barred from expeditions, why Ronne’s presence was controversial, and the scientific goals of the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition—from mapping coastlines to geophysics and meteorology. Beyond survival, Ronne handled communications, reporting, and leadership during intense conflict on the ice. We also examine her later influence on Antarctic policy, public awareness, and tourism, and why her contributions were often overlooked in history. A story about exploration, gender barriers, and the human side of Antarctica.

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

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Antarctic Treaty System explained—why it matters today. Season 3 of South Pole begins with a deep, accessible guide to the Antarctic Treaty System: the international agreement that keeps Antarctica demilitarized, dedicated to peace, science, and environmental protection. Political and environmental philosopher Dr. Alejandra Mancilla (University of Oslo) traces how the treaty emerged from overlapping territorial claims and Cold War tensions—and how it evolved into today’s consultative vs. non-consultative membership model, where decision-making is tied to “substantial scientific research” and consensus rules shape outcomes. We unpack the 1991 Environmental Protocol, the ban on mineral extraction through 2048, and the big debates now facing Antarctic governance: tourism, legitimacy, climate change, and who gets to decide Antarctica’s future.

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

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In this season finale, South Pole delves into Carol Devine's impactful projects that connect environmental stewardship with Antarctic history. Carol shares her experiences leading the Antarctic Cleanup Project, where volunteers removed waste left in polar regions, modeling environmental accountability. We also explore her Mapping Antarctic Women project, which celebrates female contributions to Antarctic exploration by identifying place names across the continent named in their honor. Through Carol’s stories, listeners gain insight into the intertwined history of human impact and environmental preservation in Antarctica.

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

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Explore the secrets locked in Antarctica’s permafrost as we dive into soil formation, ecosystem changes, and climate impacts in the world’s coldest desert. Guest Dr. Joe Levy, a geomorphologist and planetary scientist, shares insights from years of fieldwork in Antarctica’s dry valleys and how studying “cold dirt” offers clues about Earth’s past and Mars’ potential. Discover how warming temperatures and permafrost thaw could transform this frozen landscape into a carbon sink—or trigger unforeseen consequences. Join us as we learn about ancient soils, microbial mats, and the surprising parallels between Antarctica and Mars in this fascinating episode of South Pole.

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.

Dive into the fascinating world of Antarctic musicology in this episode of *South Pole*. Explore how music, soundscapes, and even silence shape our understanding of the icy continent. Dr. Carolyn Philpott, a senior lecturer and researcher, shares her journey into the interdisciplinary study of music, place, and environment. Discover the sounds of Antarctica—from cracking icebergs to the lively cacophony of penguin colonies—and learn how composers capture the essence of this remote landscape. Whether you’re a music lover or an Antarctica enthusiast, this episode highlights how sound and art foster deeper connections with the natural world. Grab your headphones for an immersive auditory adventure into the heart of the silent continent.

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.

This episode explores an ambitious initiative to grant Antarctica legal rights as a distinct entity within international law. A representative from Antarctic Rights discusses how the movement aims to secure a unique legal status for Antarctica, allowing it to be represented in global policy spaces. Topics include the philosophical framework of Earth jurisprudence, the shortcomings of the current Antarctic Treaty, and how a rights-based approach could reshape global environmental law. This conversation also dives into proposed protections and explores the challenges of determining what’s truly in Antarctica’s best interest.

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.

In this episode of South Pole, host Clark Marchese dives into the science of paleoclimatology and the fascinating world of ice cores with Dr. Tas van Ommen, an Antarctic climate scientist from the University of Tasmania. Ice cores, described as time capsules, contain some of the oldest Earth system records, revealing invaluable data about past climate conditions, atmospheric composition, and even ancient air trapped within tiny bubbles. Together, Clark and Dr. van Ommen explore how ice cores can help us understand natural climate cycles, inform climate models, and shape current environmental policies, such as drought management in Australia. This episode sheds light on how Antarctic research contributes to our understanding of climate change and highlights the urgency of climate action.

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.

In this episode of South Pole, host Clark Marchese interviews Dr. Javier Arata, a marine biologist specializing in fisheries management in Antarctica. They delve into the sustainable harvesting of Antarctic krill, a crucial species supporting ecosystems for penguins, seals, and whales. Dr. Arata shares his experiences as a scientific observer, his work with CCAMLR, and his role in promoting responsible practices through the Association for Responsible Krill Harvesting Companies. They discuss the impacts of climate change, the importance of monitoring krill populations, and innovative conservation strategies, highlighting the critical role of krill in Antarctica’s food web. Tune in to understand how science, policy, and industry come together to protect this essential marine resource.

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.