The Coldest Shift
Top 20 podcast of 2025 - 'The Atlantic' Start with Episode 1. Complete series out now. In 2020 at the height of the pandemic, only one continent remained Covid free - Antarctica. And it was the job of the British Antarctic Survey, and Dr. Rachel Varnam, to keep it that way. 'The Coldest Shift' follows Dr. Rachel Varnam, the ships Doctor on board the Royal Research Ship James Clarke Ross on her final voyage to the Antarctic before being replaced by the RRS Sir David Attenborough. This series casts a unique ear on the oft-unseen realities of Antarctic medicine and life at sea on an polar vessel: from the engineers who deal with rodents to prevent environmental contamination to the electricians maintaining the systems that predict space weather to keep the satellites above us flying. And of course, the scientists aboard the ship that has found multiple new species and undersea volcanoes as well as supporting research essential to humanity’s survival.
Episodes
Determined to restart their essential scientific work, and relieve their isolated staff south of the line, for the first time in decades the Royal Research Ship James Clarke Ross sailed the whole dramatic voyage from the UK to Antarc...
When Dr. Rachel Varnam asked her boss in A & E where her colleague had vanished to, she didn’t expect to be told ‘The Antarctic’. From that moment she knew she had to do the same.
Working for BASMU as ship’s doctor onboard the British Antarctic Survey’s research ship ‘The James Clarke Ross’ her dream comes true.
Yet, its 2020 and with the world in the grips o...
While there she finds out more about the incredible history of Polar Medicine, from unlikely drugs, to operating on your own body, and the exceptional work Polar science has done for our world.
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Presented by Dr. Rachel Varnam and Dr. Jenna Pl...
The James Clark Ross begins her final voyage. With all of the staff having to travel by ship Rachel is thrown into the world of the scientists going down south, or FIDS (The Falkland Island Dependents) and the ship's crew.
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Presented by Dr. Rachel Varnam and Dr. Jenna Plank.
The series is produced by Rachel Varnam and John Wakefield.
The Executive...
As the J.C.R. crosses the equator on its final voyage down south old sea faring traditions take hold. We meet Mandy, the Third engineer about the J.C.R. who teaches us more about how the ship works below decks. And Rachel adds another meteorological string to her bow and yet another responsibility on her shoulders!
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Presented by Dr. Rachel Varnam and Dr. Je...
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Presented by Dr. Rachel Varnam and Dr. Jenna Plank.
The series is produced by Rachel Varnam and John Wakefield.
The Executive Producers are Claire Broughton and Laura Varnam.
The Stu...
Of course all this is shot through with Secret Santa plans and emergency crafting with medical items from the onboard hospital before we celebrate Christmas in the most remote region of the world.
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But with British Antarctic Survey bases safe and isolated the crew of the Rachel and the crew of the James Clark Ross can ring in the New Year together.
Not only that they can bring relief to others stranded and isolated in some of the most remote places in the world.
But not everything goes to plan for Rachel.
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Presented by Dr. Rachel Varnam and Dr. ...
In the final episode - Rachel finds herself unexpectedly the G.P. to one of the most beautiful places in the world with only penguins, and multitudes of seals (and a small team) for company.
As the pandemic's days seem numbered we learn about day to day life on South Georgia for its human and wildlife populations. Life, death and cooking.
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Presented by Dr. Rachel Varnam and Dr. Jenna Plank.
The series is produced by Rachel Va...
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