Unfolding Maps

Al Mennie is one of the best big-wave surfers of all time — but it wasn't the giant waves that had the biggest impact on him. When the world shut down in 2020, the Northern Irish surfer began swimming alone at night in the freezing Atlantic, and discovered something profound: darkness can be a gift. In his book "Night Swimming" (for our German listeners: "Schwimmen im Mondlicht"), he shares how the sea, the night, and the moon showed him the way through grief, fear, and inner turmoil. We met him at his home beach in Northern Ireland. A conversation about finding light in the darkest places.https://www.almennie.me/swimthroughdarkness.com

What happens when you consciously leave behind the fast pace of life and devote ten years to wonder? Patrick Bringley once worked at The New Yorker, one of the world's most prestigious magazines. But after his brother Tom died of cancer at a young age, he left his career behind and became a museum guard at the legendary Metropolitan Museum of Art.In his international bestseller “All the Beauty in the World,” Patrick recounts how he found solace amid the artworks of the MET—and rediscovered himself in the silence, beauty, and sheer humanity of this special place. In this episode, he talks about:his journey from everyday office life in a skyscraper to life in the halls of one of the world's largest art museumsthe deep connection between grief, happiness, and arthis favorite works at the MET—and why Peter Bruegel's “The Harvest” in particular radiates an existential calmthe diversity and humanity behind the scenes: stories of his colleagues from all over the worldthe magic of slowness, observation – and art that doesn't lecture, but touchesA moving conversation about loss, hope, courage, beauty – and how art can enrich all our lives.

Imagine standing on a mountain, right at the edge of a cliff. Below you, the ground drops steeply. Then you take a step forward— and let yourself fall. You spread your arms and – after a few seconds – begin to fly. This feeling of flight is what many base jumpers and wingsuit flyers yearn for. They risk their lives for these moments of complete freedom, as base jumping and wingsuit flying are among the most dangerous sports in the world. What drives athletes to voluntarily plunge into the depths under such life-threatening conditions? Is it a reckless, selfish pursuit of adrenaline, or a profound desire to feel alive? What fascinates them about this sport? And how do couples cope with the fear for each other’s lives? These questions are explored in the new National Geographic documentary "FLY"—and in this episode of Unfolding Maps. We talk with the Emmy-award-winning directors Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau, who spent seven years documenting three couples immersed in the world of base jumping and wingsuit flying. We also speak with wingsuit athletes Amber Forte and Espen Fadnes. Amber Forte is currently the No. 1 female wingsuit flyer in the world and holds the world record for the fastest woman in a wingsuit. Espen Fadnes is a pioneer in wingsuit base jumping and has won numerous competitions. If you're interested in watching the documentary after this episode and live in the USA, you can find it on Disney+ and Hulu.Production: Miriam Menz

A giant whale shark gracefully swims beneath a fishing boat, its massive form capable of capsizing the small vessel with a single movement. This captivating moment was captured by the renowned Mexican environmental photographer and marine biologist Cristina Mittermeier. Whether it's majestic whales, gigantic icebergs, or indigenous people – Cristina has traveled the world for decades to capture the beauty and fragility of Earth's biodiversity and the wisdom of those who honor and respect nature. Her photography serves as a compelling call to action, illustrating the transformative power of photography in raising awareness and inspiring change. Her work has established her as one of the most influential conservation photographers of our time. Together with her husband Paul Nicklen, she co-founded the non-profit organization "SeaLegacy," dedicated to promoting climate action and sustainable solutions by supporting scientific endeavors and conservation strategies. Cristina's photographs have been featured in numerous prestigious publications, including National Geographic Magazine, McLean’s, and TIME. With her new book "Hope", she aims to convey hope, which she herself finds in the deep connection between humanity and nature. Support Cristina’s project „Hope“: https://crowdfunding.hemeria.com/fr/project/hope-cristina-mittermeier/Support Sealegacy: https://www.sealegacy.orgCristina’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitty/?hl=de Production: Miriam Menz

Steep rock faces, surrounded by vast glaciers and massive icebergs floating far below on the ocean - Greenland's nature is truly unique. Not only in terms of the landscape but also because Greenland’s glaciers and ice caps play a crucial role in climate change. However, exploring their condition can be extremely difficult as they are almost inaccessible due to their remote location. Our two guests in this episode faced this challenge. French glaciologist Dr. Heïdi Sevestre researched the effects of climate change in remote regions of Greenland, supported by a team of scientists and three of the world's best climbers. One of these climbers is Alex Honnold. He gained worldwide fame through the Oscar-winning documentary "Free Solo," which is about his free solo climb of El Capitan in California's Yosemite National Park. His goal in Greenland was to make the first ascent of one of the highest unclimbed rock walls of the world while also contributing to science. Thus, he embarked on a memorable expedition with Heïdi and a team of climbers and local experts. The expedition was documented in the three-part series "Arctic Ascent with Alex Honnold" by National Geographic. In this episode, Alex and Heïdi give us insights into the challenges of a first ascent in Greenland’s rugged nature, the on-site research work, and the impact of climate change on a wilderness which is crucial for the future of the planet.Heïdi's website: https://www.heidisevestre.comAlex's website: http://www.alexhonnold.comThe Three-Part Series premiered on National Geographic and is available for streaming on Hulu and Disney+.Production: Miriam Menz

Powerful, loving, and wise – elephants hold a great fascination for people worldwide. And yet they are threatened with extinction. Due to ivory trade and loss of habitat through humans, populations have been decreasing drastically in recent centuries. Kenyan conservationist Dr. Paula Kahumbu has made it her life’s work to prevent this. She is CEO of the organization WildlifeDirect and won numerous awards for her work to protect endangered species in Africa. She has received international recognition for her efforts to stop the illegal trade in ivory and for her campaigns to protect Africa’s natural heritage. Kahumbu is National Geographic Explorer of the Year, winner of the Whitley Gold Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to conservation, and was named as one of the 25 Most Influential Women of 2022 by the Financial Times. She has appeared in many documentaries on wildlife and the environment and has produced her own television series “Wildlife Warriors”. Currently, she is a part of the new documentary series “The Secrets of the Elephants” (National Geographic WILD) produced by Academy Award® winner James Cameron, which shows the life and behavior of elephants and what far-reaching consequences their extinction would have – not only on humanity, but also on the ecosystem. You can watch the series on Disney+. In this episode, Paula Kahumbu gives us insights into her work with elephants, her successful fight against poaching and the ivory trade, and shows us how we can protect elephants.