25 Antarctic tour guides walked away from careers they'd spent years earning, and a place they loved. Not because the work dried up. Not because they changed their minds. Because of what they witnessed on the ice.

My guest today, Dr. Elizabeth Cooper, set out to find out why people were choosing to leave the industry. What she uncovered is an inconvenient truth about Antarctic tourism - one that directly undercuts the ambassadorship narrative the industry relies on, exposes the self-governance, and reveals the realities of life for the species that call it home since tourism moved in.

Here's what stayed with me after this conversation...

🌍 The tipping points that made 25 Antarctic guides leave the tourism industry for good

🌍 The real cost of a trip to Antarctica & why the sustainability narrative doesn't hold up

🌍 What happened next when a guide flagged an endangered fish on the ship's menu

🌍 What Liz says real care looks like - and why it has nothing to do with visiting at all

Liz's book recommendation - 'Slow down or die' by Timothée Parrique.

To find out more about the research mentioned in this episode visit Science Direct - search 'Mind the gaps: The moral journey of tour guides who quit' or click here.

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