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Ever wondered what happens when a young geologist, told she'd only ever be the "token female," decides to prove everyone gloriously wrong? Here's Helen Degeling, whose journey has careened from academia, to surviving a decidedly un-gentlemanly welcome at a Pilbara gold mine, to doing fieldwork seven months pregnant in 38-degree heat. Helen's is a tale of resilience, career pivots, and finding purpose in surprising places: a triumph of grit, gumption, and the good sense to know when to chase what truly matters.

Teaching resources (questions prompts) for 12-16 year olds can be found here: https://www.tes.com/resource-detail/resource-13276404

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Kristopher Szilas's geological journey began by abseiling down a 500-meter cliff face. In this episode, we hear how his rock-climbing prowess landed him a dream job sampling for gold in Greenland – an experience he'll tell you felt more dangerous than climbing the infamous North Face of the Eiger! Kris's is a thrilling glimpse into the wild, outdoor life of a hard-rock geologist, exploring ancient Earth while living in a summer camp dream.

Teaching resources (questions prompts) for 12-16 year olds can be found here: https://www.tes.com/resource-detail/resource-13276404

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Richard White is a man whose PhD involved spending weeks utterly alone in Australia's central desert. In this episode, he recounts tales of encountering herds of camels (while in bed!), carrying half a ton of rocks in an overloaded 4WD, and exploring remote terrain by following his dream... Richard's story is one of the glorious independence and a little eccentricity that makes a remarkable geologist.

Teaching resources (questions prompts) for 12-16 year olds can be found here: https://www.tes.com/resource-detail/resource-13276404

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Alina, with stunning grace and grit, transformed herself from a village girl tending cattle to an indomitable spirit, working for her nation's water security. From stumbling upon geology, to drilling for water in the driest corners of the Namib Desert, while battling unimaginable financial hardship, Alina's story isn't just about rocks and water: it's a testament to the transformative power of education, opportunity, and sheer human resilience.

Teaching resources (questions prompts) for 12-16 year olds can be found here: https://www.tes.com/resource-detail/resource-13276404

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Chris is a geologist whose passion for the planet was ignited by a trekking trip to K2. Prepare for an absorbing tale of Antarctic fieldwork, traveling by icebreaker (much better than flying), battling katabatic winds strong enough to launch 200kg (400 pound) fuel drums, and the glorious, rule-breaking, solitary climb of a remote Antarctic peak. Chris's story is a reminder that sometimes, getting lost is the best way to find yourself.

Teaching resources (questions prompts) for 12-16 year olds can be found here: https://www.tes.com/resource-detail/resource-13276404

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This episode introduces the Emily, who quite literally found love (and some really interesting rocks) while running a Pentagon-backed mineral exploration program in Afghanistan. Prepare for "free-range geologists" navigating perilous terrain in body armor, battling bubbling lithium lakes in repurposed dune buggies, and the logistical chaos of getting radioactive samples into the Pentagon. It's a love story, a post-war story, and a thrilling, hilarious testament to the unexpected adventures of geologists.

Teaching resources (questions prompts) for 12-16 year olds can be found here: https://www.tes.com/resource-detail/resource-13276404

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Meet Tim Ivanic, a British-Australian geologist who started life as an artist. Tim fused his passions for rocks and art in the 'Aeon Sounds Project', turning geological data into music and sound: imagine volcanoes as instruments, geological time transformed into sound, the synesthetic transformation of crystals into music. It's a wild, unexpected, and brilliant dive into how science and art can, and should, sing in harmony.

Teaching resources (questions prompts) for 12-16 year olds can be found here: https://www.tes.com/resource-detail/resource-13276404

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David Schofield never really planned on being a geologist. But sometimes, life (and an outbreak of foot and mouth disease) throws you a curveball. David recounts his adventures mapping vast stretches of the Saharan desert, learning to survive on newly-learned resilience and sheer geological grit, and becoming the leader he hadn't realised he was.

Teaching resources (questions prompts) for 12-16 year olds can be found here: https://www.tes.com/resource-detail/resource-13276404