What does it take to be a carpenter in Antarctica – when the nearest hardware store is thousands of miles away, and the weather can turn a sheet of plywood into a sail?

In this episode of Iceworld, Nadia speaks to Phill and Henry, two carpenters keeping British Antarctic Survey stations in tip-top shape in some of the most extreme conditions on Earth. They discuss the unique challenges of their jobs – from rebuilding a jetty knee-deep in icy water, to dealing with unexpected building requests from scientists.

With deliveries of supplies coming only once every two years, careful planning, creativity, and teamwork are as essential as screws and timber...

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Welcome to Antarctica. What's it like living and working in one of the most extreme environments in the world? From polar scientists to plumbers, ICEWORLD is a series of interviews with ordinary people who are doing extraordinary jobs in Antarctica. The team talk climate science, extreme living, expeditions and becoming a community.

A podcast from British Antarctic Survey, hosted and recorded by marine biologist Nadia Frontier.

Produced in partnership with Boffin Media.

Episode ID: 1000766275028

GUID: audioboom-019df8d9-4038-7818-927f-96b4e438b56f

Release Date: 05/05/2026, 16:54:40