World Extreme Medicine Podcast

Lock Down Rock Up - A conversation with climber and Paramedic Jerome Mowat. This week Eoin Walker joins Jerome Mowat for a conversation about the making and narrative of the film 'Lock Down Rock Up'. The film which is directed, produced and shot by Nico Hambleton has been designed to appeal to both health workers and adventure lovers. It showcases the beneficial and healing transition from high-st...

If you're fed up with the same old expedition and camp food then this podcast is for you. In this episode,  Dr Emma Figures is joined by Captain Sophie Hollingsworth, who discusses her passion for exploring, the environment and adventure cooking. Literally, if Indiana Jones and Martha Stewart had a baby, the result would be Captain Sophie Hollingsworth. In this episode, she shares some of her insp...

In this second episode of 'Stone Cold Truths', we’re joined by ENP Ben Cooper and Dr Sean Hudson. Alongside WEM Trauma Lead Eoin Walker, Ben and Sean delve deeper into #hypothermia. The trio discuss when hypothermia is actually a benefit to the individual, how alcohol affects hypothermia and some of the misconceptions around how people see hypothermia.  Grab a hat and listen in to this #extreme di...

  In this conversation between Dr Will Duffin and Dr Lizzie Thorne we learn about some of Lizzie’s highlights of working out in Fiji with Bear Grylls and examples of some of the medical care she’s delivered in extreme environments. Lizzie and Will also discuss what the key attributes are of a good expedition medic?, how and why lizzie escaped the London medical career treadmill and her top tips fo...

An interview 35 years in the making    WEM Founder, Mark Hannaford was destined for a life based on the expeditions, but he stumbled across the remarkable book by newly minted photojournalist Nick Danziger; 'Danziger's Travels'.    It was a book that influenced his and many others' lives, and it has taken him 35 years to track Nick down and convince him to be interviewed, his perseverance wasn't w...

In this podcast, Dr Emma Figures is joined by Dr Flora Burns and Dr Rose Brennan, who discuss their experiences as medical volunteers in Moria Refugee camp last year.     Every day, more refugees are fleeing Afghanistan, Syria, the DRC, Somalia, Iraq and other countries, escaping awful situations and hoping for a better, safer life for themselves and their families in Europe. Sadly, many end up st...

In this podcast, clinician Dr Jen Sherman, is joined by Stu Skinner, expedition leader and founder of charity Changing Horizons. Having survived a previous suicide attempt, Stu has made it his personal mission to reduce the stigma associated with mental health. He is passionate about raising awareness of suicide prevention and normalising conversations about mental health. Stu discusses the vital...

In this special January episode  Dr Hinemoa Elder , Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist based in New Zealand and WEM Host  Dr Will Duffin  explore 10 Māori proverbs (whakataukī) from her recent book  Aroha  and reflect on how this ancient wisdom can be applied to our daily lives during the pandemic. This episode is about personal growth and wellbeing. In the session they explore the follo...

“We imagine that people are out skiing and climbing, when actually the majority of people that get caught out in these really could environments is simply because they’re vehicle breaks down, or they have another concurrent illness, or they’re drunk” – Sean Hudson In this *NEW* podcast episode, we’re joined by ENP Ben Cooper and Dr Sean Hudson. Alongside WEM Trauma Lead Eoin Walker, Ben and Sean d...

In this episode, WEM Trauma Lead Eoin Walker is joined by Khalil Sayyad Hilario, a security risk management consultant and SAHCO Consulting General Director.  In the last six years as SAHCO Consulting, Khalil has supported NGOs and aid agencies in South Sudan, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Niger, Mali, Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and the Balkans, providing st...

Everyday People Living Inspirational Lives is a podcast that shares the inspirational stories of some amazing people who live in the communities that we are all part of. We were super lucky to be approached by host Ian Pitchford, who sat down (remotely, of course!) with WEM Founder Mark Hannaford to discuss the who, what and why of WEM.  ** The abstract below is taken from the Everyday People Livi...

In this episode, WEM Founder Mark Hannaford, Trauma Lead Eoin Walker and Education Lead Will Duffin come together to discuss their favourite episodes from the podcasts and live sessions they've hosted over the last few months.  From NASA physicians to remarkable athletes, trauma survivors and medical mavericks breaking the mould, Mark, Eoin and Will reflect on how these interviews have helped them...

Adapted from the hugely popular WEM Academy Live Session #23, this episode revisits the Military Medicine Careers Panel hosted by WEM Education Lead Will Duffin. Will was joined by three medics each representing a different branch of the military; Major Nat Taylor (Army), Alex Bamford (Royal Navy) and Cat Davison (Royal Air Force).  The panellists take us through each of their hugely rich and vari...

"Going into hospital to work was no longer just a job, it had become the perfect place to hone the skills that I might need on expedition, in the desert or on the side of a mountain. Expedition medicine gives me a renewed sense of purpose, and it has helped me to become a far better, and, more importantly, a far happier doctor".   In this episode, WEM Founder Mark Hannaford chats to Nathan Hudson-...

‘The good thing with adventure racing is you’re often not too far after a low moment, from a high… finding that waterfall… it was by far and away the best experience I’ve ever had on a race’.    Joe Selby is a UK-based adventure seeker who is passionate about the outdoors and has raced all over the world, most recently competing in The World‘s Toughest Race: Eco Challenge in Fiji with Team UK Adve...

‘After I got second in Kona, I looked over and… I felt really empty’. In the latest episode of WEMCast, we’re joined by the Iron Cowboy Captain from the latest series of the World’s Toughest Race: Eco Challenge, elite ultra-marathon fanatic and Ironman veteran, Sonja Wieck.  Alongside WEM Education Lead Will Duffin, Sonja reflects candidly on her career as an elite triathlete, including her traini...

Originally recorded as a video interview the full visual broadcast can be viewed at the WEM Academy . Please be aware that this a short drop off about 16 minutes in.  UK-Med CEO David Wightwick talks to Dr Will Duffin, WEM’s Education Lead about his experience leading the #UKaid funded medical needs assessment team in Lebanon, following the devastating explosion at Beirut Port on August 4th and ho...

"Just when we think we've reached the limit of human endurance, someone shatters the records" (Lewis Hugh).    Super-human Sarah Thomas joins us this week to discuss her incredible career as an open-water swimmer.  Alongside WEM Education Lead Will Duffin, Sarah explores how she transitioned from competitive pool-based racing to the freedom of open-water swimming, and the unique challenges this pr...

For this week's episode, we are going global once again to visit remote medic Lucille Chauveau on the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia.  Alongside WEM Founder Mark Hannaford, Lucille talks us through her career as a GP working on a remote island. She considers how working, at times almost in isolation, presents it's own challenges. Lucille explores how her instincts have become a central pilla...

‘We are never entirely lost, but we can always know where we are better’.  Tristan Gooley, a.k.a. 'The Natural Navigator' joins WEM Education Lead Will Duffin in this latest WEMCast episode.  Natural navigation is the process of finding your way using the clues and signs in the world around you, including the sun, stars, water, plants and even satellite dishes on the side of your house!  Tristan e...

In this episode, WEM Founder Mark Hannaford is joined by WEM Conference Speaker, HEMS Doctor and former Paramedic Mike Christian.    Mike tells us how he took the leap from working as a Paramedic in Canada, and fuelled by curiosity, decided to go back to University to train as a Doctor. Following his graduation, his interest in infectious diseases and the emerging SARS outbreak led him to further...

‘If one has support, drive and determination, a debilitating injury should not stop you from reaching your goals'.   In this episode, Will chats to Martin Hewitt about his journey from surviving a serious bullet wound with catastrophic arterial bleeding on the battlefield in Afghanistan, to waking up in a hospital in Birmingham the next day, faced with having to rebuild his life.    Martin refocus...

Thriving Vs Surviving Join us to hear from Dan Richards an ex-soldier and cyclist Victoria Lebrec and WEM Trauma Lead & London HEMS Paramedic Eion Walker who attended their life-threatening crashes. . In May 2009 everything changed for Dan. Tune in to hear his story of losing his right arm and shoulder in a near-fatal motorcycle incident. Most importantly hear how Dan turned his life around from a...

Hello. I’m Anna, an adventurer, speaker and mischief-maker. I get my kicks from exploring the world through long human-powered journeys. On a mission to find the limit of my own potential, I’m hoping to help you unlock yours too. Let’s dance. . WEM speaks to a fellow maverick adventurer Anna McNuff . Anna, a British born adventurer, motivational speaker, influencer and author. She was recently nam...

Don’t wait. Start right now.” – Sean Conway . Sean was born in Zimbabwe, grew up in South Africa, but has English and Irish families. Sean believes that to stop yourself from failing; you need to prepare for it. For him, the adage “if you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail” holds true. . WEM interviews Sean Conway the first man to cycle, run and swim the length of GB (Lands End to John O'Groats)...