Undaunted, with Robert Swan and NTT DATA Dan Smith

Robert Swan and company successfully completed the Undaunted: South Pole 2023 expedition on January 10, achieving Robert's long-time goal of walking across the Antarctic landmass. Each evening on the 16-day journey, Robert or his son, Barney, would send a report by satellite phone. This episode compiles those brief audio reports to give listeners a look at life on the march on the Antarctic Plateau. 

In pursuing his now-completed walk across the Antarctic landmass, Robert Swan has advocated for the preservation of Antarctica and promoted sustainability. In this episode, we'll explore a business-oriented viewpoint about the journey to sustainability, including the dual importance of actions to mitigate climate change and innovations that can enable sustainable economic progress. How about batteries you can compost at the end of their useful life? Robots that efficiently plant carbon-absorbing seagrass? And computing chips that use light instead of electricity to process information? These innovations being developed within NTT Group are among many promising developments led by businesses around the world. The challenges are real and become more urgent each day. Even so, there are solid grounds for hope. 

Host Dan Smith speaks with three members of the Undaunted expedition team at their Antarctic base camp on Union Glacier. Conversations range from why adventurers do what they do, and what it's like walking on the Antarctic Plateau, to how it feels just before they board the plane to fly to Undaunted's starting point, just under 100 miles from the South Pole. The interviews were recorded at Union Glacier Camp in late December. The expedition formally began on Christmas Day. As of publication date, Robert Swan and team had 30 nautical miles left to reach the South Pole on foot.

The time has come, and the Undaunted: South Pole 2023 expedition team has gathered at the southern tip of Chile for final preparations before venturing off to the South Pole. Host Dan Smith shares some perspective on visiting Punta Arenas, and Robert Swan shares his thoughts now that the expedition's gear is all packed and loaded at the local airport, waiting for good weather to take off for Union Glacier Camp in Antarctica.

28-year-old Barney Swan has accompanied his father, Robert, on multiple expeditions, including a 600-mile walk to the South Pole that his father was unable to finish in 2017. While the son will join his father on the "Undaunted: South Pole 2023" expedition, scheduled to conclude in January 2023, Barney is cutting his own distinctive path to sustainability and pulling the world along with him. From growing up as a London boy transplanted into rural Australia, to his current effort to regenerate a section of the world's oldest rainforest, Barney has a unique perspective and plenty to say.

Polar pioneer and advocate Robert Swan shares what it's like to be in Antarctica and how the continent has changed over decades due to climate change. He talks about rising from failures and how the achievement of big objectives can lead to feelings of emptiness.  Thanks to his friends and polar experiences, Robert found a new life goal of preserving Antarctica and combating climate change.