104 min listen
“On the Ice”: What it’s like to live and work at Antarctica’s McMurdo Station
FromDeviate
ratings:
Length:
69 minutes
Released:
Aug 2, 2022
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
“One thing we like to say [in Antarctica] is that nothing on the continent can kill you, except for the entire continent.” –Karen Pszonka
In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Karen talk about how Karen first got a job in Antarctica (1:40); what weather is like during the Antarctic winter, the research being done at McMurdo, and a penguin named "Buddy" (8:00); what the landscape working conditions, and living conditions are like in Antartica (24:00); what community life is like among the people who live and work in Antarctica (42:15); and the best and worst aspects of working in Antarctica, and how one might go about applying for a job there (1:02:00).
Karen Pszonka (@zonks) works as support staff for the United States Antarctic Program's science research at McMurdo Station.
Notable Links:
Ice Bound, by Dr. Jerri Nielsen (book)
Terra Incognita: Travels in Antarctica, by Sara Wheeler (book)
Doomsday Glacier (Antarctic glacier)
Europa (moon of the planet Jupiter)
IceCube (neutrino observatory at the South Pole)
Sea spider (marine arthropod)
Ob tube (research instrument)
Sea angel (type of sea slug)
Royal Society Range (mountain range in Antarctica)
Hut Point (peninsula in Antarctica)
Medevac (medical evacuation)
Manhauling (human-powered sledges)
The Nutcracker (ballet)
Skua (type of bird)
U.S. Antarctic Program job opportunities
The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.
Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.
In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Karen talk about how Karen first got a job in Antarctica (1:40); what weather is like during the Antarctic winter, the research being done at McMurdo, and a penguin named "Buddy" (8:00); what the landscape working conditions, and living conditions are like in Antartica (24:00); what community life is like among the people who live and work in Antarctica (42:15); and the best and worst aspects of working in Antarctica, and how one might go about applying for a job there (1:02:00).
Karen Pszonka (@zonks) works as support staff for the United States Antarctic Program's science research at McMurdo Station.
Notable Links:
Ice Bound, by Dr. Jerri Nielsen (book)
Terra Incognita: Travels in Antarctica, by Sara Wheeler (book)
Doomsday Glacier (Antarctic glacier)
Europa (moon of the planet Jupiter)
IceCube (neutrino observatory at the South Pole)
Sea spider (marine arthropod)
Ob tube (research instrument)
Sea angel (type of sea slug)
Royal Society Range (mountain range in Antarctica)
Hut Point (peninsula in Antarctica)
Medevac (medical evacuation)
Manhauling (human-powered sledges)
The Nutcracker (ballet)
Skua (type of bird)
U.S. Antarctic Program job opportunities
The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.
Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.
Released:
Aug 2, 2022
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
Comedian Ari Shaffir on ‘shrooms, hugging, and quitting smartphones: “These travel podcasts are great because you just drive around talking, and people feel like theyre sitting in the back seat.” – Ari Shaffir Ari Shaffir (@AriShaffir) is a comedian whose standup special Double Negative recently debuted on Netflix. He by Deviate