South Pole

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

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.
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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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