Jackie Ronne changed who could explore Antarctica. Polar historian Dr. Joanna Kafarowski recounts how Ronne joined the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition in 1947 as a full expedition member and became one of the first two women to overwinter on the continent. The episode follows her journey from the National Geographic Society to Antarctica, where male expedition members initially signed a petition opposing the women’s participation. Learn how Ronne contributed to expedition operations and scientific objectives while facing isolation, sexism, and extraordinary pressure. Her story reveals the institutional barriers that kept qualified women out of polar exploration for decades.
Episode Guest: Dr. Joanna Kafarowski
Visit Dr. Kafarowski’s website here
Connect with Dr. Kafarowski on LinkedIn
Find: Antarctic Pioneer: the Trailblazing Life of Jackie Ronne
Find: The Polar Adventures of a Rich American Dame: The Life of Lousie Arner Boyd
Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media Website
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Hosted, produced, written, and edited by Clark Marchese
Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong.
Theme music by Nela Ruiz
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Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
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