South Pole

About South Pole

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 (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Pine Forest Media | Environmental Science Podcasts

Category

science · science · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 May 2024

Latest episode

28 May 2026

Latest episodes

26 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 May 2026

   24. What is Antarctic Blue Carbon?

   Blue carbon may help slow climate change. Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are storing far more carbon than scientists once realized. In this episode, marine ecologist Dr. Narissa Bax explains how deep-sea corals, sponges, algae, and microscopic marine life help remove carbon from the atmosphere and lock it away in ocean sediments for centuries. The conversation explores Antarctic blue carbon, climate change, carbon sequestration, deep-sea ecosystems, marine protected areas, ocean governance, and the growing scientific effort to understand the Southern Ocean’s role in regulating Earth’s climate. The episode also examines how Antarctic conservation policy, biodiversity protection, and climate-smart marine spatial planning could shape the future of one of the planet’s most important and least understood ecosystems. Support our science communication by joining us on Patreon (https://patreon.com/PineForestMedia?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink) or sending us a gift on PayPal (https://www.paypal.biz/pineforestmedia) Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media (http://pineforestpods.com)website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia (https://www.instagram.com/pineforestmedia/) Hosted, produced, and edited by Clark Marchese Find Dr. Narissa Bax website here. (https://nbaxresearch.weebly.com/) Read Dr Bax’s publication: The Growing Potential of Antarctic Blue Carbon (https://www.jstor.org/stable/27217366?seq=1) Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media (http://pineforestpods.com)Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia (https://www.instagram.com/pineforestmedia/) Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong (https://laurelawong.com/). Theme music by Nela Ruiz (http://nelaruizcomposer.com) Find some more Pine Forest Media podcasts below Listen to Oceanography on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6cg6LgAEvCP32rj24KixpP) or Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1826543626?mt=2) Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4Iv20PynWeNKEZtq5O5UOj?si=MW-ZYI8zS0mUroec9T_lfA) or Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plastic-podcast/id1737963995) Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/5HGQytPxV6FfcX03OUBXYf?si=YszhS8C4ToafplCEsEErAQ) or Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/something-in-the-water/id1740586381) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   9 Apr 2026

   23. Elephant Seals Can Be Scientists Too with Dr. Clive McMahon

   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 (https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=s8Fg-CcAAAAJ&sortby=pubdate&citation_for_view=s8Fg-CcAAAAJ:vDZJ-YLwNdEC) Visit Dr. McMahon’s publications on Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=s8Fg-CcAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao) Visit the website (https://sims.org.au/)of the Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media (http://pineforestpods.com)Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia (https://www.instagram.com/pineforestmedia/) Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong (https://laurelawong.com/). Theme music by Nela Ruiz (http://nelaruizcomposer.com) Find some more Pine Forest Media podcasts below Listen to Oceanography on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6cg6LgAEvCP32rj24KixpP) or Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1826543626?mt=2) Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4Iv20PynWeNKEZtq5O5UOj?si=MW-ZYI8zS0mUroec9T_lfA) or Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plastic-podcast/id1737963995) Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/5HGQytPxV6FfcX03OUBXYf?si=YszhS8C4ToafplCEsEErAQ) or Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/something-in-the-water/id1740586381) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   19 Mar 2026

   22. Breaking the Ice Ceiling: Jackie Ronne’s Antarctic Expedition

   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 (mailto:joannakafarowski@gmail.com) Visit Dr. Kafarowski’s website here (https://joannakafarowski.com/) Connect with Dr. Kafarowski on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-kafarowski-342758141/) Find: Antarctic Pioneer: the Trailblazing Life of Jackie Ronne (https://joannakafarowski.com/home/books/) Find: The Polar Adventures of a Rich American Dame: The Life of Lousie Arner Boyd (https://joannakafarowski.com/home/books/) Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media (http://pineforestpods.com)Website Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmedia (https://www.instagram.com/pineforestmedia/) Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong (https://laurelawong.com/). Theme music by Nela Ruiz (http://nelaruizcomposer.com) Find some more Pine Forest Media podcasts below Listen to Oceanography on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/6cg6LgAEvCP32rj24KixpP) or Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1826543626?mt=2) Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4Iv20PynWeNKEZtq5O5UOj?si=MW-ZYI8zS0mUroec9T_lfA) or Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plastic-podcast/id1737963995) Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/5HGQytPxV6FfcX03OUBXYf?si=YszhS8C4ToafplCEsEErAQ) or Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/something-in-the-water/id1740586381) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 31 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

23

Social presence

90

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

Contact South Pole

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.