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The Coldest Shift

The Coldest Shift

By: Hat Trick Podcasts
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 In 2020 at the height of the pandemic, only one continent remained Covid free - Antarctica. And it was the job of the British Antarctic Survey, and Dr. Rachel Varnam, to keep it that way.

'The Coldest Shift' follows Dr. Rachel Varnam, the ships Doctor on board the Royal Research Ship James Clarke Ross on her final voyage to the Antarctic before being replaced by the RRS Sir David Attenborough.

This series casts a unique ear on the oft-unseen realities of Antarctic medicine and life at sea on an polar vessel: from the engineers who deal with rodents to prevent environmental contamination to the electricians maintaining the systems that predict space weather to keep the satellites above us flying. And of course, the scientists aboard the ship that has found multiple new species and undersea volcanoes as well as supporting research essential to humanity’s survival. Hat Trick Productions Ltd.
Episodes
  • Teaser Trailer - Sails 5th November 2025

    Teaser Trailer - Sails 5th November 2025
    Oct 27 2025
    In 2020 at the height of the pandemic, only one continent remained Covid free - Antarctica. And it was the job of the British Antarctic Survey, and Dr. Rachel Varnam, to keep it that way.

    Determined to restart their essential scientific work, and relieve their isolated staff south of the line, for the first time in decades the Royal Research Ship James Clarke Ross sailed the whole dramatic voyage from the UK to Antarctica with a full team. This would also be her final voyage before retirement and being replaced by the RRS Sir David Attenborough.

    'The Coldest Shift’ follows the events as they transpired, 5 years ago to the week, as Rachel takes us through how she must be her patient's dentist, radiographer, triage nurse and more, all while being incredibly far from their support team back home. She is in effect a singlehanded emergency medical team.

    This series casts a unique ear on the oft-unseen realities of Antarctic medicine and life at sea on an polar vessel: from the engineers who deal with rodents to prevent environmental contamination to the electricians maintaining the systems that predict space weather to keep the satellites above us safe. And of course, the scientists aboard the ship that has found multiple new species and undersea volcanoes as well as supporting research essential to humanity’s survival.

    Follow Rachel as she brings you an uplifting female led series documenting this final voyage of the Royal Research Ship James Clarke Ross.

    Launches 5th Nov with Episodes 1+2 with a fortnightly release thereafter.

    'The Coldest Shift' is a Hat Trick Podcast

    Find out more about the British Antarctic Survey at www.bas.ac.uk
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    1 min
  • 1: The Job

    1: The Job
    Nov 5 2025
    What does is take to be a Polar medic?

    When Dr. Rachel Varnam asked her boss in A & E where her colleague had vanished to, she didn’t expect to be told ‘The Antarctic’. From that moment she knew she had to do the same.

    Working for BASMU as ship’s doctor onboard the British Antarctic Survey’s research ship ‘The James Clarke Ross’ her dream comes true.

    Yet, its 2020 and with the world in the grips of the Covid 19 Pandemic the voyage takes on a new historic dimension to resupply and reenable the essential research of the BAS on the last continent free of the virus...

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    Presented by Dr. Rachel Varnam and Dr. Jenna Plank.

    The series is produced by Rachel Varnam and John Wakefield.

    The Executive Producers are Claire Broughton and Laura Varnam.

    The Studio Engineer was Alex O’Donovan.

    Follow Rachel’s adventure on Instagram @coldestshiftpod

    ---

    With thanks to the British Antarctic Survey and the British Antarctic Survey Medical Unit.

    Learn more about their crucial work at www.bas.ac.uk

    Or learn more about the history of the British Antarctic Survey - https://www.bas.ac.uk/about/about-bas/history/history-of-bas/

    ---

    Excerpts from Boris Johnson’s Statement

    https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-address-to-the-nation-on-coronavirus-23-march-2020

    And Rish Sunak’s Statement on Covid Figures

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKtlFAuqL5g

    Both used under the Open Government Licence - https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

    Extract from Justin Rowlatt’s BBC piece on the paused work of the British Antarctic Survey used with permission – Follow his reporting at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cn5e8npr2l3t

    Image credit - Rachel Varnam.
    ---

    ‘The Coldest Shift’ is a Hat Trick Podcast.

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    24 mins
  • 2: Quarantine

    2: Quarantine
    Nov 5 2025
    Having bid farewell to her family Rachel begins her role making sure Antarctica and the isolated teams down south can remain safe and Covid free in quarantine.

    While there she finds out more about the incredible history of Polar Medicine, from unlikely drugs, too operating on your own body, and the exceptional work Polar science has done for our world.

    ---

    Presented by Dr. Rachel Varnam and Dr. Jenna Plank.

    The series is produced by Rachel Varnam and John Wakefield.

    The Executive Producers are Claire Broughton and Laura Varnam.

    The Studio Engineer was Alex O’Donovan.

    Follow Rachel’s adventure on Instagram @coldestshiftpod

    ---

    With thanks to the British Antarctic Survey and the British Antarctic Survey Medical Unit.

    Learn more about their crucial work at www.bas.ac.uk

    --

    With thanks to Falkland Island Television for their kind permission to use a section of their report on the JCR – Visit them at www.fitv.co.fk

    Thanks to Arone Dyer for organizing the use of her Dronechoir in this podcast, and to PEOPLE Festival and Michelberger Music for enabling its documentation. Thanks as well to Brassland Projects / Duchamp Inc for encouraging the use of the piece. For more information visit aronedyer.com, brassland.org, and michelbergermusic.com.

    Today Programme Audio – credit - BBC Radio 4, presented by Nick Robinson and Martha Kearney - 5th November 2020.

    Image credit - Rachel Varnam.
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    ‘The Coldest Shift’ is a Hat Trick Podcast.

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    28 mins
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