77 Degrees South Podcast – Listen Now
77 Degrees South: A journey to the Ice and back again
A group of young explorers set out for Antarctica carrying a fragile piece of history, but reaching its final destination would be anything but certain.
That real-life mission sits at the heart of 77 Degrees South, a new six-part podcast series from the Antarctic Heritage Trust, now available.
Following eight rangatahi (young people) selected for the Trust’s Inspiring Explorers Expedition™, the series captures their journey south aboard Heritage Expeditions’ Heritage Adventurer, bound for the Ross Sea and one of Antarctica’s most significant historic sites.
But in Antarctica, nothing is guaranteed.
Battling thick sea ice and a rapidly narrowing window of time, the team faced the very real possibility they may not succeed in returning a historic artefact to its original home – a worn copy of The Count of Monte-Cristo that young heritage professionals on the team had carefully restored.
Along the way, listeners are taken deep inside the conserved huts of Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton, where everyday objects remain almost exactly as they were left more than 100 years ago. Through these spaces, the team came face to face with the human stories of the heroic era of Antarctic exploration, and their own place within that legacy.
The series also offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the Antarctic Heritage Trust’s world-leading conservation work, protecting these fragile sites in one of the harshest environments on Earth.
Written and produced by journalist Maia Ingoe, the podcast weaves together intimate field recordings, personal reflections, and the raw soundscape of Antarctica.
“Creating 77 Degrees South was central to my experience in Antarctica, and it’s an absolute privilege to finally welcome listeners into our journey to the Ross Sea,” says Ingoe.
“In many ways, we are just like any other young person in New Zealand, suddenly thrust into an exciting and challenging adventure. I hope this project speaks to them.”
Audio engineer Calum Turner used inventive techniques to bring Antarctica to life for listeners – from a home-made parabolic dish to capture distant whales, seals and penguins, to contact microphones recording the groan and crack of pack ice against the ship’s hull.
“Aiming to transport listeners into our expedition through recorded sound was a massively challenging but entirely rewarding experience,” says Turner.
“Antarctica can be both stunningly silent and at other times, wildly noisy,” he says.
Narrator Jake Bailey says the journey was transformative.
“Travelling to some of the most isolated parts of the planet alongside AHT was a life-changing privilege, and it’s now an incredible honour to get to share that experience with listeners.”
As the series unfolds, what began as a logistical mission becomes something much deeper – a story about endurance, responsibility, and what it means to become kaitiaki (guardians) of a shared human history.
77 Degrees South has been created as part of Antarctic Heritage Trust’s outreach programme, empowering participants to share their experiences with communities across Aotearoa and the world, on their return.
The Antarctic Heritage Trust acknowledges the donors to the Inspiring Explorers™ Fund, expedition partner Heritage Expeditions, and supporter Cheshire Architects for making the journey and podcast possible.
