World Extreme Medicine Podcast

What does it take to finish one of the most extreme endurance races on the planet?

In this episode of the World Extreme Medicine Podcast, host Eoin Walker is joined by ultra-endurance athlete Sébastien Marlier, who recently completed the Bretzel Ultra Triathlon — a continuous event five times longer than a standard Ironman.

With 19km of swimming, 900km of cycling, and 211km of running, this race demands everything from the human body...

In the final part of our 3-part series marking the anniversary of the 7/7 London bombings, we hear from paramedic Sam Sinclair, who was deployed to Tavistock Square, the site of the fourth and final explosion.

Sam shares his experience of arriving on scene, witnessing the scale of the devastation, and making impossible decisions under pressure.

In this conversation with WEM’s Eoin Walker, he reflects on the lessons 7/7 taught him ab...

In Part 2 of our 20 year anniversary series on the 7/7 London bombings, paramedic Adam Desmond shares his deeply personal and unflinchingly honest account of responding to the attacks at King's Cross.

Speaking with WEM’s Eoin Walker, Adam reflects on the chaos, the human cost, and the enduring psychological impact of working at the heart of one of the UK’s worst terrorist attacks. From navigating trauma in the underground tunnel...

In this special 3-part podcast series marking 20 years since the 7/7 London bombings, we begin with a personal testimony from paramedic & WEM podcast host Eoin Walker, who was just one year out of training when he found himself responding to the worst terrorist attack in UK history.

In Part 1 hosted by Will Duffin, Eoin shares what it was like to arrive at the scene, navigate confusion and risk, and deliver care in an environmen...

In this episode of the World Extreme Medicine podcast, Eoin Walker speaks with humanitarian health leader Hareen De Silva about his recent deployments in Gaza, Syria, and beyond.

From mass casualty incidents and waterborne disease outbreaks to the psychological toll on healthcare workers, Hareen shares vital insights into what it takes to deliver medical care in conflict zones.

We explore:

• The worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaz...

What do helicopters, humanitarian crises, and high-pressure hospital wards have in common?

In this episode, we sit down with Jan Becker, CEO, helicopter pilot, midwife, and international educator, to explore the vital role of non-technical skills in high-stakes environments.

From aviation to midwifery to emergency medicine, Jan unpacks Crew Resource Management (CRM), situational awareness, closed-loop communication, and how to lead ...

In this episode of the World Extreme Medicine Podcast, WEM's Sarah Spelsberg is joined by emergency physician and seasoned kayaker Robert Knopp to explore what happens when outdoor adventure meets unexpected injury.

Together, they dive into shoulder dislocations in the wilderness; from real-life field reductions to improvised rescue gear, and what every paddler or outdoor leader should know before they head out.

Whether you'r...

Cara Sheppard is the Senior Medical Officer at Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service (PAMS), an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service in Western Australia's East Pilbara. In this episode, Marcus chats with Cara about what it really means to deliver healthcare in remote desert communities, where cultural safety, chronic disease, and deep-rooted systemic challenges intersect.

From the realities of diabetes in young people...

In this powerful episode, Eoin sits down with Ryan Ahlgren — a wilderness and humanitarian medicine practitioner whose career spans some of the most challenging environments on the planet.

From frontline trauma care during the ISIL occupation in Iraq, to medevac operations in Ukraine, to six-week stints deep in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, Ryan shares what it's really like to provide medical care in the face of heat, hardshi...

Meet Shawna Pandya, Physician, Neuroscientist, and now Canada’s First Female Commercial Astronaut.

In this inspiring episode of the World Extreme Medicine Podcast, we sit down with Shawna to unpack her journey from childhood dreams of space to preparing for her Virgin Galactic mission.

We explore:

• Her selection as part of the Virgin Galactic research crew

• The science behind her mission, including microgravity, diabetes research &a...

In this episode, we explore the deeply rooted and culturally rich world of First Nations healthcare in Australia with Dr Sarah Chalmers; Rural Generalist, former President of the Australian College of Remote and Rural Medicine (ACRRM), and President-Elect of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia.

With over 15 years of experience working in East Arnhem Land and North Queensland, Sarah shares a powerful and personal insight into ...

🎧 A quick note on audio quality: Due to remote recording, some parts of this episode may not be as clear as usual. We appreciate your patience and promise the insights are well worth the listen!

What happens when critical care leaves the hospital and takes to the skies?

In this episode of the World Extreme Medicine Podcast, we sit down with Mina Arsanious, an expedition doctor and anaesthetic registrar working in aeromedical retriev...

In this episode, we dive into the fast-paced world of event medicine in remote Australia with Prashan Kuruppu, a rural generalist anaesthetist and Member of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) Assessment Committee, with extensive experience in Outback and retrieval medicine.

From high-speed trauma and medical crises in extreme weather conditions to the unique challenges of remote evacuations and resource-limi...

53 Days. 700 Miles. Alone in Antarctica.

What does it take to survive completely alone in one of the most extreme environments on Earth?

In this episode of the World Extreme Medicine Podcast, we sit down with Cat Burford, also known as The Molar Explorer. A dentist by profession and an adventurer at heart, Cat took on a solo, unsupported ski expedition to the South Pole, covering over 700 miles in -40°C temperatures while pulling a...

In this episode we explore the evolution of remote and rural healthcare in Australia with Claire Arundell, a Rural Generalist Anaesthetist from country Victoria and Chair of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) Council.

Claire shares her journey from completing her medical degree at Monash University to becoming an ACRRM medical educator, course facilitator, and passionate advocate for the next generation of ...

Note: We apologise for any varying audio quality in this episode. As Faye joined us from Tonga with breaching whales in the background (how cool is that?!), there are some moments where the sound fluctuates.

We believe the incredible content and unique perspective from (literally) the other side of the world was worth preserving, even if the audio isn't perfect.

Thanks for understanding - sometimes catching our guests between adv...

In this inaugural episode of our partnership with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), we journey into the heart of Australia's remote healthcare system with Marian Dover, ACRRM's 2024 Rural Registrar of the Year. 

From performing emergency caesarean sections to building deep community bonds, discover how rural generalists are revolutionising healthcare in some of the most isolated parts of the world.

Ma...

Join primatologist Elodie Freymann as she reveals fascinating discoveries about how wild chimpanzees self-medicate using forest plant Alstonia boonei. Through nine months of field research, Elodie observed chimps selecting specific barks, leaves, and other plant materials to treat wounds and infections - practices that often overlap with traditional human medicine. She discusses groundbreaking findings in zoopharmacognosy (anima...

Join Sarah Spelsberg as she speaks with NASA experts John Haynes and Helena Chapman about how NASA's unique vantage point from space helps monitor and address global health challenges.

Discover how satellite data is being used to track everything from air pollution and urban heat islands to disease outbreaks and extreme weather events. Learn about NASA's free resources for healthcare professionals and scientists, and hear about ...