World Extreme Medicine Podcast

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 ...

Join Sarah Spelsberg as she interviews pioneering wildlife veterinary surgeon Romain Pizzi, who has performed groundbreaking surgeries in nearly 50 countries across six continents.

From conducting the world's first keyhole appendectomy on a wild orangutan to performing brain surgery on a bear in the jungles of Laos, Romain shares incredible stories of improvising surgical equipment and pushing the boundaries of veterinary medicine...

Explorer and BBC presenter Will Millard takes us deep into the jungles of Papua New Guinea, sharing his extraordinary experiences living with the Korowai tribe.

From debunking myths about 50-meter-high tree houses to nearly starving during the rainy season, Will reveals the raw reality of jungle survival and indigenous life.

He discusses how a near-death experience in 2012 transformed his approach to exploration, and shares intim...

Join Sarah Spelsberg as she interviews emergency physician Faye Lee, who has created an extraordinary medical career spanning from Antarctic research stations to expedition ships.

From performing emergency surgeries in remote locations to providing care on Indian reservations, Faye shares how embracing unconventional opportunities led her to practice medicine in some of the world's most extreme environments.

Learn how her "work h...

In this episode host Eoin Walker delves into the remarkable humanitarian aeromedical retrieval mission carried out during the Russia-Ukraine conflict in April 2022. Guests Federico Ghio and Andrea Tomaselli share their firsthand experiences of using a long-range commercial Airbus A320 to evacuate vulnerable refugees from the war zone.

Join us as we explore the innovative adaptation of a commercial airliner for medical purposes, th...

Join Sarah Spelsberg as she interviews Kevin Grange, firefighter paramedic and award-winning author, about his latest book "Grizzly Confidential."

Dive into the fascinating world of North America's most fearsome predator, exploring the challenges of human-bear coexistence, the importance of conservation, and the surprising intelligence of these magnificent creatures.

From Yellowstone to Alaska, Grange shares his experiences and i...

In this second part of our conversation with Tim Harvey, we delve into his journey through clinical education and his transition to medicine.

Tim shares invaluable insights on teaching philosophy, managing change in healthcare settings, and the challenges of introducing new roles like nursing associates. He discusses the importance of balancing work and life, especially during intense humanitarian deployments.

Tim also opens up a...