Explore: A Canadian Geographic podcast

In this episode of Explore, host David McGuffin sits down with lawyer, conservationist, former senior aide to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, and one of Canada's most accomplished Arctic paddlers, Ted Johnson.For more than two decades, Johnson and a remarkable group of friends, including diplomats, journalists, cabinet ministers, and occasionally Pierre Trudeau himself, set out each summer to canoe some of the most remote rivers in northern Canada. From the Hood and Coppermine rivers to little-known rivers on Banks Island and Ellesmere Island, Johnson shares stories of first descents, close calls, vast caribou migrations, and landscapes few Canadians will ever see. Along the way, he reflects on a changing Arctic, the evolution of wilderness travel, and what it was like to paddle and camp alongside one of Canada's most transformational Prime Ministers. This captivating episode explores a remarkable era of northern exploration and the enduring pull of Canada's wild rivers.Ted Johnson is a lawyer, conservationist, pilot, and former senior advisor to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. An Officer of the Order of Canada and Fellow of both the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the Royal Geographical Society, he has spent decades exploring Canada's North by canoe, helping document and promote some of the country's most remote wilderness rivers.To learn more about the paddling adventures of Johnson and his friends, Sing Louder, Paddle Harder, edited by his colleague Robert Fowler, contains hundreds of images and stories from across the Arctic. CreditsExplore: A Canadian Geographic Podcast is hosted by David McGuffin.Produced by David McGuffin and ExploreProductions.ca in partnership with Canadian Geographic. Editor-in-chief: Alexandra Pope Digital and travel editor: Madigan Cotterill Digital marketing manager: Caroline WorkmanFor more stories of adventure, science, history, and exploration, visit CanadianGeographic.caFollow Explore wherever you get your podcasts and leave a rating or review if you enjoy the show.

"There's a humility in this kind of travel. You don't pretend to adapt the world to you. You adapt to the world." — Bruno ForestIn the summer of 2025, Bruno Forest and his team of five others pushed their canoes into the waters of the Saguenay Fjord, setting out on an extraordinary 1,200-kilometre journey, paddling from Tadoussac on the St. Lawrence River to Waskaganish on James Bay.But this wasn't simply a wilderness expedition.Travelling in hand-built cedar canvas canoes by Forest and veteran artisans, he and his crew retraced a route that stretches deep into North American history — following waterways used by Indigenous traders for centuries before becoming part of the European fur trade networks.The journey demanded weeks of hauling canoes upstream through powerful rivers, reopening forgotten portages swallowed by the forest, and crossing some of Quebec's most remote landscapes. Along the way, the expedition connected with Innu and Cree communities whose histories remain deeply intertwined with these waterways.In this episode, Forest shares stories of building the expedition's canoes alongside some of Quebec's last traditional canoe builders, encountering woodland caribou and wolves in the north, and discovering what happens when travel slows to the pace of a paddle.More than an adventure story, this is a conversation about memory, place, and why the canoe remains one of Canada's most powerful symbols.In This EpisodeA 1,200-kilometre canoe journey from Tadoussac to James BayBuilding traditional cedar canvas canoes for the expeditionFollowing ancient Indigenous trade routes and fur trade corridorsReopening long-forgotten portages in Quebec's interiorEncounters with Cree and Innu communities along the routeWildlife, wilderness, and life on the waterThe philosophy of canoe travel and adapting to the landAbout Bruno ForestBruno Forest is a Quebec-based canoe and kayak guide, filmmaker, author, and expedition leader. In 2025, he led the Royal Canadian Geographical Society's Expedition of the Year, retracing a historic route across Quebec from the St. Lawrence River to James Bay in traditional cedar canvas canoes. Based in Tadoussac, he is also documenting the expedition in an upcoming feature-length film. For updates on the documentary, follow Bruno on Facebook @alamerdunord.2025

“There’s something really profound in being in such a vast landscape with nobody else around… You feel like such a diminutive thing in the landscape, really insignificant. Putting you in your place in the world.” - Louise K. BlightIn this episode of Explore, host David McGuffin sits down with Louise K. Blight for a live conversation recorded at the Ottawa International Writers Festival about her new book, Where the Earth Meets the Sky. Drawing on her time studying Adélie penguins in Antarctica in the early 2000s, Blight reflects on life at the edge of the world, where she lived among hundreds of thousands of penguins and endured brutal storms and isolation in this remote corner of the planet. Working alongside legendary penguin researcher David Ainley at Cape Royds on Ross Island, Blight spent months immersed in one of the harshest and most surreal environments on Earth. The conversation explores the rhythms of penguin colonies, the eccentric culture of Antarctic research stations, the psychological realities of isolation, and the growing impacts of climate change on polar ecosystems.Blight also shares stories of hurricane-force winds, skua attacks (predatory seabirds), the unforgettable smell of penguin colonies, and the profound sense of perspective that comes from living in a vast frozen landscape with almost no other humans around.In this episode:What it’s like living and working in Antarctica for months at a timeStudying Adélie penguins at the world’s southernmost colonyThe remarkable resilience and behaviour of penguins in extreme environmentsLife at McMurdo Station and the unique culture of Antarctic research communitiesIsolation, endurance, and the psychological challenges of remote fieldworkHow climate change is threatening emperor penguins and Antarctic ecosystemsThe strange beauty of Antarctica’s landscapes, wildlife, and silenceWhy Antarctica continues to inspire scientists, explorers, and conservationistsLouise K. Blight is a conservation scientist, seabird researcher, and professor in the Environmental Studies Department at the University of Victoria. Her work focuses on seabirds, marine ecosystems, and conservation biology. She also serves as co-chair of the Bird Specialist Subcommittee on the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Her new book, Where the Earth Meets the Sky, chronicles her experiences studying Adélie penguins in Antarctica and explores the intersection of science, solitude, and environmental change.

“Even in the most peaceful village, you’re surrounded by fresh graves… and you know the war is still there.”What does it mean to explore a country at war?In this episode of Explore, host David McGuffin speaks with Laval St. Germain, a Canadian explorer who has just returned from a journey deep into the Carpathian Mountains of western Ukraine. Travelling overland into the country, St. Germain set out to ski the Chornohora Ridge and climb Ukraine’s six highest peaks — what he found was a place of striking contrasts. In the high mountains, wildlife is rebounding due to a wartime hunting ban, with wolves, bears and lynx returning in surprising numbers. But elsewhere, the war continues to devastate landscapes, with some calling it an “ecocide” as forests burn, infrastructure collapses, and ecosystems are destroyed.The Carpathians themselves are among Europe’s last wild regions — home to ancient cultures like the Hutsul people and layered with history, from World War I trenches to long-forgotten border markers that once divided empires. But even in these remote and peaceful settings, the war is never far away. In village cemeteries, fresh graves of young soldiers serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict.From skiing windswept ridgelines to navigating military checkpoints, and from quiet conversations with locals to witnessing the surreal normalcy of life in Kyiv, St. Germain offers a rare, ground-level perspective on Ukraine today — one that goes beyond headlines to reveal resilience, complexity and humanity.In this episode:Skiing across Ukraine’s highest peaks in the Carpathian MountainsA landscape shaped by shifting borders, empires and conflictWildlife is rebounding in some regions while war devastates othersLife in remote Ukrainian villages and the impact of war on communitiesTravelling through Ukraine during wartime — from trains to checkpointsKyiv today: a vibrant city adapting to ongoing conflictHow modern warfare, including drones, is changing life on the groundLaval St. Germain is a Canadian explorer, commercial pilot in the Arctic and Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. He is the only Canadian to have summited Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. His expeditions have taken him to some of the world’s most remote and politically complex regions, including Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. He has also rowed solo across the North Atlantic from mainland Canada to mainland Europe and skied to the South Pole.More with Laval St. Germain: Explore podcast episode 95: Laval St. Germain's journey to Afghanistan's highest mountainExplore podcast episode 78: Laval St. Germain: Mountains, oceans and the ArcticJan 19, 2019 — Meet the Canadian explorer who just completed the Seven Summits

What’s happening beneath the ice of Canada’s lakes?Home to roughly two million lakes and covering nearly nine per cent of the country’s surface, Canada boasts a great reputation, holding more than half of the world’s freshwater lakes. But until recently, what goes on beneath Canada’s frozen surfaces has been largely unexplored. In this episode of Explore, podcast host David McGuffin dives into this hidden world with scientist Andy Bramburger and filmmaker Andrew Budziak.From cutting massive holes in lake ice to sending divers into a surreal, cathedral-like underwater world, this is exploration at its most extreme. But the real story lies in what they’re exploring: diatoms — microscopic algae living on the underside of ice that help power aquatic food webs, produce oxygen and may play a critical role in carbon cycling during winter.As ice cover shrinks with climate change, this little-known ecosystem could be disappearing before we fully understand it. Through a mix of science, storytelling and citizen-led exploration, Bramburger and Budziak are racing to uncover what’s beneath the ice—and why it matters to all of us.A research scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, Bramburger is one of the world's leading experts on inland aquatic ecosystems. He is based at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters in Burlington, Ontario. Budziak is an award-winning wildlife photographer and documentary filmmaker. He continues to lead dive teams under the ice to collect samples while documenting the expedition. Together, they are part of an initiative led by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the Trebek Initiative that advances our understanding of freshwater systems in winter. Budziak has also been recognized as a member of the prestigious Explorers Club 50 for his leadership on the project. His documentary Under the Ice captures the story behind the science. It is touring film festivals this year and will air on PBS.In this episode:Why more than half the world’s lakes are in Canada, and why we know so little about them in winterWhat it’s like to dive beneath frozen lakes in extreme conditionsThe surprising role of diatoms in producing oxygen and supporting aquatic lifeHow shrinking ice cover could disrupt entire freshwater ecosystemsThe power of citizen science and storytelling in modern explorationFavourite explorer movieThe Life Aquatic with Steve ZissouLearn more:Project and documentary: freezethefuture.comMore conversations with explorer and diver Jill HeinerthIf you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, leave a rating and share the link with a fellow explorer.

What if life isn’t just “out there”, but closer than we think?For the first time in more than 50 years, humans have left Earth's orbit, marking a significant point in history. And as NASA’s Artemis II mission makes its historic journey around the moon, we explore the thought-provoking question driving this return to space: are we alone?  From pioneering techniques to study distant worlds to leading bold robot missions to Venus, Toronto-born Sara Seager is helping redefine how (and where) we look for life in the universe. Alongside podcast host David McGuffin, this episode featuring Seager is all about space: exoplanets, phosphine gas, future space missions and, of course, life beyond Earth.  As a global leader in exoplanet science, Seager shares the story behind the controversial detection of phosphine gas in Venus’s clouds, a potential biosignature (a substance or phenomenon that provides evidence of past or present life) that sparked global debate, and why our neighbouring planet may hold surprising clues to alien life.A Canadian astronomer and professor at MIT, Seager is widely recognized for her work on exoplanets and planetary atmospheres. She is a recipient of a MacArthur Genius Grant, is a Companion of the Order of Canada and a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Her research has helped transform exoplanets into one of the most dynamic fields in astronomy. More recently, she has led innovative efforts to explore Venus’s clouds for possible signs of microbial life. Her award-winning memoir, published in 2020, is called The Smallest Lights in the Universe.In this episode: What exoplanets reveal about the potential for life beyond our solar systemWhy Venus, once overlooked, may be a key target in the search for lifeThe mystery of phosphine gas and the scientific controversy that followedHow future missions could directly sample Venus’s atmosphereHow exploration, from Canadian wilderness to deep space, shapes discoveryBooks on exploration recommended by Seager:Sleeping Island: The Story of One Man's Travels in the Great Barren Lands of the Canadian NorthCoppermine Journey: An Account of Great Adventure Selected from the Journals of Samuel Hearne 

"The thing about desert expeditions that really takes you by surprise is how quickly things can go off the rails. It goes from good to bad almost instantly. In those moments, I remind myself: I chose to do this."We’re excited to be joined again by Ray Zahab, an ultra-endurance athlete, public speaker, author, and RCGS Explorer-in-Residence, among other things. In this thrilling episode of Explore, Zahab takes us through his latest expedition across the driest desert on the planet: Chile’s Atacama. Running a marathon a day over 200 kilometres in extreme heat, Zahab traversed over brutal terrain with constant risk. Carrying minimal gear and relying on cached water, he and his teammate, Stephano Gregoretti, pushed through deep sand, steep climbs, and temperatures that regularly topped 45°C. Along the way, their journey took an unexpected turn when they took part in a real-life rescue in the Andes.This episode also touches on one of Zahab’s favourite endurance films, Running on the Sun, a cult-classic documentary from 2000 about the Badwater ultramarathon that captures the mindset behind pushing human limits.This is a powerful conversation about resilience, decision-making under pressure, and the mindset required to endure when things go wrong. And a special thanks to long-time listener and friend of the podcast, Aran O'Carroll, who sent in a very thoughtful question for this episode. Zahab has a great answer towards the end.If you enjoyed this, check out Episode 104 with Zahab and RCGS Fellow Kevin Vallely on their self-supported winter ski expedition across Ellesmere Island, Canada's most northerly Arctic island. About Ray: Ray Zahab (@rayzahab) is a Canadian explorer and ultra-endurance athlete known for completing some of the world’s toughest expeditions, including running across the Sahara desert and a record-setting expedition by ski to the South Pole. As an RCGS Explorer-in-Residence, he is dedicated to education and inspiring the next generation through global expeditions.

Raised on Newfoundland’s west coast, Jenn Thornhill Verma grew up immersed in the life and lore of fishing communities and the rhythms of the North Atlantic. She is the author of the bestselling book Cod Collapse: The Rise and Fall of Newfoundland’s Saltwater Cowboys, a contributor to Canadian Geographic, and a fellow with the Pulitzer Center’s Ocean Reporting Network, where she recently reported a series for the Globe and Mail on the endangered North Atlantic right whale.In this episode of Explore, Thornhill Verma and podcast host David McGuffin discuss the legacy of the cod fishery collapse in the early 1990's, the politics of fisheries management, and the urgent effort to protect one of the world’s most endangered whales: the North Atlantic right whale. With fewer than 400 individuals remaining, these whales face a variety of threats, including ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and, of course, the climate crisis.Want to learn more?Visit Thornhill Verma’s favourite place in Canada: Nain, Labrador Watch the documentary, Angry Inuk (National Film Board of Canada)Discover more about whales in Explore episode 99 with Canadian sperm whale researcher Shane Gero – a fascinating conversation about the attempts to decode the sperm whale's click language using AI.*North Atlantic Right Whale sounds in this episode are courtesy of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Ahead of her the new documentary The Berg, underwater explorer and RCGS Explorer-in-Residence Jill Heinerth reflects on diving beneath icebergs, working with James Cameron, and the science of exploration

The renowned English comedian reminds us why travel, humility, humour, and listening matter now more than ever

For the first time in more than 50 years, humans are returning to the moon, and Canada is playing a central role

How one explorer is using film to connect people with place, history, and culture — plus, one-of-a-kind insight into the world of underwater archaeology and more

Recalling a memorable Christmas along the trail to the Klondike in the 19th century with an annual reading of Charles Camsell’s Arctic explorations by podcast host David McGuffin

A look inside the Hudson’s Bay Company Royal Charter, now returning to public spotlight, and its enduring role in Canada’s colonial past and Indigenous displacement

Canada’s former Environment Minister reflects on the personal challenges, political battles and moments of resilience that shaped her journey to the front lines of global climate action

Inspiring the next generation through education, endurance and the power of exploration

The 2025 Nat Gillis Adventure Photography Expedition Grant recipient discusses her journey leading a groundbreaking team in Canada's North

Fifty years after the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, bestselling author John U. Bacon revisits the tragedy that changed Great Lakes history

Through extensive reporting for his new book, RCGS Explorer-in-Residence Adam Shoalts discusses the story of Hubert Darrell, the legendary Arctic explorer who vanished in 1910

From summiting Kilimanjaro 18 times to re-shaping The Explorers Club, Richard Wiese discusses inclusivity, conservation and the next era of global discovery

“On a paddleboard, you‘re vulnerable to tides and winds. You don‘t fight them—you learn to fit into natural rhythms.” Journalist and author Dan Rubinstein joins the Explore Podcast for the second instalment in our annual canoe/paddling series to share the story of his epic three-month, 2,000-kilometre paddleboarding journey, which took him from Ottawa to New York City and back via the Ottawa River, the St. Lawrence River, Lake Champlain, the Hudson River, the Erie Canal and Lake Ontario. Along the way, he explored the idea of blue space—the powerful impact of water on our bodies, minds, and communities. In this conversation, Dan reflects on his new book Waterborne, the physical and spiritual pull of water, and why paddleboarding offered a unique way to connect with people, places, and history. From Mohawk communities reclaiming their relationship with the St. Lawrence River to grassroots activists restoring the Hudson to strangers offering kindness along the Erie Canal, Dan’s journey reveals how water shapes us, heals us, and connects us across boundaries.

The award-winning author shares his thoughts on the importance of rivers, why they deserve legal rights and the deep connection between humans and water

This special live episode of Explore features a thought-provoking conversation about the deep importance of our relationship with water between host David McGuffin and acclaimed Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg scholar, writer, and musician Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, recorded at the Ottawa Writers Festival in May. Leanne discusses her latest book, The Theory of Water: Nishnaabe Maps to the Times Ahead, a genre-defying work that weaves together traditional storytelling, theory, and land-based knowledge. Through various lenses — skiing, eels, beavers, canoes, shorelines — Simpson reflects on the interconnectedness of people, water, and the natural world, and on how we might reimagine our relationships in a time of climate grief and transformation. This live conversation touches on land based learning, Indigenous ethics, and the hopeful possibilities of communal learning, all grounded in Simpson’s unique voice as both an academic and artist. Leanne Betasamosake Simpson is an award winning, best-selling Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg scholar, writer, artist, and musician. She is the author of eight books, including the award-winning Noopiming: The Cure for White Ladies and As We Have Always Done: Indigenous Freedom Through Radical Resistance. Her newest work, The Theory of Water: Nishnaabe Maps to the Times Ahead, continues her powerful exploration of land-based knowledge, community, and hope. Simpson has been widely recognized for her contributions to Indigenous thought, activism, and the arts. She is a member of Alderville First Nation and is based in Peterborough, Ontario.

The Beaverton, Canada's Leading Satircal News site, is turning 15. A conversation with Editor in Chief Luke Gordon Field.

Strombo!

Behind the scenes of an epic Arctic crossing as two explorers conquer the Canadian High Arctic in deep winter

The award-winning filmmaker explores her new documentary and her work examining buffalo restoration, Indigenous knowledge and cultural renewal

A deep dive into the world of beavers as Canada celebrates 50 years of the iconic species as the country’s national animal 

The award-winning journalist explores the intersection of hockey, politics and patriotism, highlighting Canada's 2025 4 Nations Face-Off victory over the U.S. amid tensions from Trump's tariff war

A breathtaking conversation with the world-renowned explorer, from the making of her award-winning documentary and diving in the Antarctic to facing life-threatening situations and the impact of climate change on diving

Canadian whale biologist Shane Gero discusses the ambitious project attempting to communicate with sperm whales and the hope to learn more about these mysterious cetaceans

Searching for clues to a changing climate on a record-breaking expedition to the top of Canada's tallest peak

The award-winning photographer and explorer highlights the importance of connecting with nature as a way to heal from PTSD, trauma and abuse

Julian Brave NoiseCat’s award-winning film Sugarcane follows a very personal investigation into abuse and missing children at St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School that sparks a reckoning on the nearby Sugarcane Reserve

Recalling a memorable Christmas along the trail to the Klondike in the 19th century with an annual reading of Charles Camsell’s Arctic explorations by podcast host David McGuffin

The renowned Canadian adventurer immerses readers in a thought-provoking discussion about the current state of Afghanistan and his experience on Mt. Noshaq

The acclaimed extreme adventurer recounts his gruelling solo run across one of the hottest places on earth: Death Valley, California

Highlighting the new interpretive trail featuring a series of permanent art exhibits and 15 wayfinding markers showcasing traditional place names and the Dawson Trail's historical legacy 

The renowned botanist, biochemist and best-selling author on the wisdom of trees and her new book about the science of forests and the role trees can play in reversing the climate crisis

For more than a decade, meteorologist Jaclyn Whittal has been reporting on extreme weather across North America — learn about how she got into the field and what it takes to be a storm chaser

Julian Brave NoiseCat’s award-winning new film Sugarcane follows a very personal investigation into abuse and missing children at St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School that sparks a reckoning on the nearby Sugarcane Reserve

Remote expeditions are no easy feat, especially by canoe, but this adventurer knows how to plan, execute and be prepared

Musician Sam Polley’s first canoe trip was with his dad, Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy, his mom and siblings. He doesn’t remember much about it, but he clearly got hooked. All these years later, he’s still an avid canoe tripper with a love of the lakes and rivers in northern Ontario. Sam is best known for his rockabilly band Sam Polley and The Old Tomorrows and playing with The Jim Cuddy Band, fronted by his father. When Sam isn’t touring or in the studio or writing songs, he likes to feed his muse by taking off on canoe trips into the wilds north of Toronto. We’re into September now. Summer is drifting away, there’s mist on the water in the morning and a nip in the air, even when the sun is out. One of the things we get into in this conversation is Sam’s love of autumn canoe tripping. The lakes and rivers are largely empty of people and along with all that space and peace — and your pick of campsites — there’s also no bugs. And while Sam is a self-confessed Toronto boy through and through, he is proof that even if you live in the most densely populated city in Canada, amazing canoe tripping adventures are still accessible. We get into his trips in Algonquin Park, Killarney and Temagami. It’s a fun romp spiced with his own music.

With a passion for learning and a love for teaching, the Indigenous northerner talks about her experience guiding canoe trips and paddling through lands that her family has known for generations

The canoeing legend discusses his Canada-wide paddling adventures, connection with First Nations communities and a record-breaking feat 

World-renowned shipwreck hunter David Mearns and lead researcher for the RCGS Shackleton-Quest Expedition Antoine Normandin take us behind the scenes of the search for Quest

The expedition leader and CEO of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society recounts the historic discovery of Quest, found hundreds of metres below the surface off the coast of The Labrador Sea

The actor, playwright and author discusses her upcoming play about the young women who kept Ontario's farms running during the Second World War

Bestselling author Bill Arnott discusses his work as a writer tracing the voyages of Vikings around the world 

The executive director and curator talk about canoes, kayaks and a stunning new location for The Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, Ont.