What happens when a scientific expedition in the Red Sea is suddenly boarded by an unidentified, armed group?In this episode, adventurer, photographer and documentary producer Ulrika Larsson shares her experience working on a marine science expedition near the Yemeni coast. She relives the moment the encounter escalated into a tense, hours-long ordeal, with passports confiscated and crew members taken away for questioning.Ulrika has built a career that spans outdoor guiding, adventure leadership, documentary production, and underwater photography — and more recently, firefighting in Sweden.We explore what drives that kind of career path, what it’s really like working in remote and high-risk environments, and why staying calm under pressure is often the most important skill you can have.We then dive into her Red Sea expedition in 2023, documenting coral reef research near Djibouti and the Seven Brothers Islands.With regional tensions rising, the situation quickly escalated when an unidentified group boarded the vessel.Ulrika shares what happened in real time — the uncertainty, the decisions she had to make under pressure, and what it taught her about risk, responsibility, and working in unpredictable environments.The same trip also led to a breakthrough moment in her photography — with one of her images later selected for a major ocean photography competition and displayed in Piccadilly Circus.If you’re interested in documentary filmmaking, underwater photography, scientific expeditions, or careers in extreme environments, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at what the work is really like.Links: https://www.lwimages.com/Socials:https://www.instagram.com/lwimages_studio/https://www.instagram.com/greenulrika/Credits: Produced, Hosted and Edited by - Chris BaronImages and Video Clips - Ulrika Larsson & Lukasz Larsson WarzechaIntro Music - Music_UnlimitedOutro Music - VibeHornTopics covered:Underwater photography, documentary filmmaking, Red Sea expedition, Djibouti, Yemen coast, armed boarding at sea, conflict zones, high-risk environments, interrogation, passports confiscated, firefighting.Send us Fan MailSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at www.noordinarymonday.com, or email us at [email protected].

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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