Helen Spencer – Vet, Polar Explorer & South Pole Ski Adventurer

Meet Helen Spencer, a veterinarian from Kent who swapped clinic life for the extremes of the world. From hiking in Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Yemen to caring for orangutans in Borneo, Helen has chased adventure across the globe. In this episode, she shares her journey to ski the last degree to the South Pole, including: Training, kit prep, and polar skills courses The physical and mental challenges of long polar expeditions Coping with loss, vulnerability, and finding strength on the ice Lessons in perseverance, confidence, and small steps toward big dreams Helen's story is a testament to courage, resilience, and pursuing your goals—even when the journey is long and demanding. ***  New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.  Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.  Your support makes a difference.  Thank you x *** Show notes Who is Helen Being based in Kent Growing up on a farm and having a lot of freedom  Becoming a vet Wanting more adventure  Working for the charity: World Wide Veterinary Service  In her free time loving to travel  Leaving school and travelling with her backpack, and staying in hostels  Starting to do a few solo and group expeditions Hiking in Afganistan, Madagascar, Mongolia, Yemen, Palestine, North Korea Recently skiing the last degree of the South Pole   Building her confidence with travelling  Earning enough money to go f www.interrail.eu/en Having a budget of £10 per day Spending time in Borneo looking after Orangutans Being a shy, farm kid growing up and being better with animals than people  Having 5 years at university  Having a neighbour who had a zoo and spending time helping out at the zoo Knowing what she wanted to do when she was 5 Building internal confidence  Hiking in Afganistan's Wakhan Corridor   Why expedition are about the people you meet as well as where you go Getting the balance right between being social enough but also having time for herself  Needing time out and making sure she has her own tent Having a 10 day tolerance on expeditions  Her goal to ski to the the pole in Antarctica and where the dream came from  Being fascinated by polar history  A week long polar skills course in Finse, Norway  Needing a challenge - being in bad mental and physical health  Taking some time out after selling her veterinarian clinic in London Having a year to get in shape  Training at the Altitude Centre in London  Not being able to test her kit Receiving a lot of help and advice  Heading to Loughborough Elite Sports Centre to have her fitness tested  Dr Amelia Rudd  Heading over to Antarctica and what it was like  Antarctic Logistics Expeditions (ALE) Being out on the ice and why it was like being out on the open ocean  Pulling the pulk at altitude on the ice  Why it was a physical challenge but also a mental challenge  Her way of coping with difficulties  Wanting to feel small  Being there mid summer, when the sun never sets. Rainbows and halos forming around the sun Being able to move forward after the challenge Trying to cope with the loss of her parents in an accident, 2 weeks before she was due to be married  Being in a dark place  Coping by being on her own and doing physical endurance  Wanting to be broken down and feel vulnerable  Getting to the pole and why it was hugely emotional  Why it meant everything to her  Kick on Fundraising £20K in memory of her mum who had Parkinson's Gaining confidence, a bit more self assurance and pride.   Spending 3 weeks in Antarctica, and skiing for 8 days  Tent life… Going to the loo! Code Brown! Pooing in a bag and packing out your poo. The worst bit of the expedition and having to leave your warm sleeping bag How to connect with Helen on Social Media  Final words of advice Some dreams can take time Taking small steps and trying the thing you want to do Her mantras in life…. "Don't be a dick to yourself", "Don't be a dick to others" and Don't be a dick with our environment"    Social Media Instagram: @adventure_vet_spence  Justgiving: www.justgiving.com/page/helen-spencer-1728903029666