9 October, 5:30pm
Everything Antarctica Podcast
Between them, Matty Jordan and Jonny Harrison have spent more than 1200 days on the ice in Antarctica. Naturally, they are full of their own stories and those of other Antarcticans. Their podcast aims to share as many of these as possible with the hope that listeners leave every episode with more knowledge, inspiration and ultimately a desire to protect this precious part of our planet.
You’re an engineer who’s nailing storytelling on many platforms. What motivates you?
Antarctica is such a special place, but so few people around the world know what happens there. I saw an opportunity to showcase a bit of what we do there through social media, and people seemed to like it. Seeing young people engage with Antarctica, science, and wildlife drives me to keep telling stories from the ice.
What made you decide to start posting on social media when working in Antarctica?
It started as a way to keep my family and friends updated while I was away and organically grew into something much more.
Where did the podcast stem from and how do you come up with the content?
We (Jonny and Matty) spoke about launching a podcast in 2021 before we started posting things on social media. We love talking to people about Antarctica and wanted to capture other people’s stories. The most efficient way to do that is through audio so the podcast was born. Our inspiration comes from many places including things that we think are of interest, questions from social media, trending news and current affairs.
What’s the main aim of the podcast – is there a real key message you are wanting people to hear or take action on?
We want to raise Antarctica’s profile on a global scale. While many people in Christchurch have a good understanding of what happens on the ice, that isn’t the case in many other places. People relate to places through storytelling, so we really want people to be more aware of what happens down south. We’ll keep talking about Antarctica through as many platforms as possible in the hopes that more people engage with this special place.
Has anyone ever asked you something you can’t answer?
We are the first to admit that we don’t know everything about Antarctica, which is why we get specials guests on the show to answer the tough questions. We can’t be experts in everything, but we love hearing from our guests because it builds our knowledge as well. We’re learning while listeners are too!
How do you deal with hard questions about climate change?
We are not climate change experts, so we typically leave these questions to those who are. There are several good resources that do a great job of answering climate change questions, so we direct people there. Paddy Gower’s recent documentary – Paddy Gower on Ice is a great place to start.
Why is Christchurch’s connection to Antarctica such a valuable one and how does it support you’re work as an engineer on the ice?
Christchurch has a rich connection to Antarctica that extends back to the days of early explorers like Scott and Shackleton. Communicating this connection is critical to helping Cantabrians understand the work that happens on the ice- specifically at New Zealand’s Scott Base. Christchurch’s proximity to Antarctica and its status as a Gateway City are important to help locals connect with the science and work that happens down south.
What does an event like Days of Ice bring to the community?
Days of ice helps the local community connect with Antarctic experts in a way they wouldn’t usually be able to. It allows Antarctica to be the key focus in the city for a short period, which inspires and educates people. My favourite part of Days of Ice is seeing kids get excited about Antarctica through the many activities during the week.
