Greg Jenner

I love him so. And of course, if you're a fan of giant foam skeletons, guitar solos and double denim, you'll know that Iron Maiden also have a heavy metal song called Stranger in a Strange Land about the Arctic. If you're listening from Canada, you might be familiar with the song Northwest Passage by Stan Rogers. But what is the Northwest Passage? Or what was the Northwest Passage?

I love him so. And of course, if you're a fan of giant foam skeletons, guitar solos and double denim, you'll know that Iron Maiden also have a heavy metal song called Stranger in a Strange Land about the Arctic. If you're listening from Canada, you might be familiar with the song Northwest Passage by Stan Rogers. But what is the Northwest Passage? Or what was the Northwest Passage?

Why did so many explorers risk everything to find it? And how was the humble tin can both blessing and a curse? Let's find out. Right, we've called this episode Arctic Exploration, but really we're talking about the Northwest Passage. Which is what? Or which was what? I mean, is it still a thing?

Why did so many explorers risk everything to find it? And how was the humble tin can both blessing and a curse? Let's find out. Right, we've called this episode Arctic Exploration, but really we're talking about the Northwest Passage. Which is what? Or which was what? I mean, is it still a thing?

Not the official one. So this Northwest Passage is? Yes. Ah, already we're in trouble. And for sort of geography fans, when we say around North America, it's around North America but under Greenland.

Not the official one. So this Northwest Passage is? Yes. Ah, already we're in trouble. And for sort of geography fans, when we say around North America, it's around North America but under Greenland.

And then under Russia, so that whole kind of...

And then under Russia, so that whole kind of...

Gotcha. OK. So you're sort of rounding off. Once you go past Alaska, you're clear. You're out.

Gotcha. OK. So you're sort of rounding off. Once you go past Alaska, you're clear. You're out.

Yeah, and thanks to the climate catastrophe, which you've been trying to mine for jokes. Yes, in a responsible way. And in fairness, it's a very good show. What's quite interesting and perhaps depressing now is you can now comfortably cruise through this Northwest Passage on a lovely luxury liner. Do you know when that was first possible? Which year that became possible?

Yeah, and thanks to the climate catastrophe, which you've been trying to mine for jokes. Yes, in a responsible way. And in fairness, it's a very good show. What's quite interesting and perhaps depressing now is you can now comfortably cruise through this Northwest Passage on a lovely luxury liner. Do you know when that was first possible? Which year that became possible?

That's a good guess. Vanessa?

That's a good guess. Vanessa?

Yes. Given how inhospitable this environment would have been, why do you think European explorers were so keen to go and stick their flag up this back passage?

Yes. Given how inhospitable this environment would have been, why do you think European explorers were so keen to go and stick their flag up this back passage?

I think you did well with the first answer. The second answer started to veer away a bit. I mean, power and war is pretty good.

I think you did well with the first answer. The second answer started to veer away a bit. I mean, power and war is pretty good.

But you're right, money and power and war and the insatiable desire for Chinese porcelain were driving this. And porn as well, that drives everything. Was there any sex in the Arctic? I don't know if there was any sex. Well, maybe.

But you're right, money and power and war and the insatiable desire for Chinese porcelain were driving this. And porn as well, that drives everything. Was there any sex in the Arctic? I don't know if there was any sex. Well, maybe.