From the Arctic to Space: Medicine Without Limits with Luke Apisa
In this episode of the World Extreme Medicine Podcast, host Eoin Walker speaks with Luke Apisa about his extraordinary journey from wilderness medicine to space medicine.Luke shares insights from treating climbers at 14,000 feet in Nepal, supporting ultramarathon runners in the deserts of Arizona and Utah, and helping to develop future medical capabilities for space exploration with NASA and SpaceX.From designing innovative altitude breathing devices to researching pulmonary edema treatment at high altitude, Luke’s career sits at the cutting edge of medicine in extreme environments.Discover how wilderness and space medicine connect, what it’s like to practice in the Himalayas, and the challenges facing long-duration spaceflight.
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Kayaking Greenland on an Inuit Diet: Mike Keen’s 3,000km Arctic Challenge
In this episode of the World Extreme Medicine Podcast, Eoin Walker sits down with chef, explorer, and researcher Mike Keen to unpack an extraordinary Arctic journey.Mike kayaked the entire 3,000km length of Greenland’s rugged west coast, surviving solely on a traditional Inuit diet of seal, whale, dried fish, and wild foraged plants. Working with researchers at King’s College London, he tested how an ancestral, high-fat, low-carb diet impacts health, endurance, and resilience in one of the most extreme environments on Earth.We explore:The science behind ancestral diets and their potential to improve health and performanceThe physical and mental challenges of solo Arctic travelClimate change impacts on Greenland’s ice and wildlifeLessons from indigenous communities on food, sustainability, and survivalFollow Mike’s work: WebsiteInstagram
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Mountain Medicine at 2800m: Ski Rescue, Hypothermia & Innovation in Livigno
In this episode of the World Extreme Medicine Podcast, host Eoin Walker is joined by Luca Carenzo, intensive care consultant, and Federico Emiliano Ghio, critical care nurse and medical lead for high-altitude emergency services in Livigno, Italy, one of the busiest ski resorts in the Alps.From sub-zero slopes and altitude-induced illness to managing cardiac arrests at 2800m with no hospital in sight, Federico and Luca explore the real-time challenges of delivering care in extreme alpine environments.Featuring:Advanced pain relief protocols in –20°C conditionsHow fluids freeze, defibs fail, and ventilators adaptWhy governance matters when you don’t have paramedicsPlanning for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter OlympicsThe future of ski patrol: drones, slope-side diagnostics, and real-time triageThis is high-acuity medicine, on ice.📍 This session was recorded remotely in December 2024.
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Revolutionising Rural Healthcare: Inside Australia’s First Virtual Emergency Centre
In this episode of the World Extreme Medicine Podcast, host Eoin Walker speaks with Mardi Steere, Executive General Manager of Medical and Retrieval Services at the Royal Flying Doctor Service, about a groundbreaking innovation in rural healthcare delivery, the Virtual Emergency Centre (VEC).Operating in one of the most remote regions of Australia, the VEC integrates telehealth, remote diagnostics, and trained layperson intervention to deliver hospital-grade care in areas where no medical staff are physically present. Mardi shares the origins of the project, the role of technology like Starlink and wearables, and how the model is saving lives and reducing retrieval costs.We discuss the governance and logistics behind delivering high-risk medications remotely, the scalability of the model, and how learnings from Africa, India, and Rwanda are being adapted to suit Australia’s unique geographical challenges. Mardi also reflects on the future of healthcare innovation, from drone-delivered AEDs to virtual ultrasonography and beyond.Learn more about the VEC and the work of the Royal Flying Doctor Service: https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au
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Summit & Survival on Kilimanjaro: A Medical Student’s First Taste of Altitude Medicine
What happens when your first major expedition is one of the world’s Seven Summits?In this episode of the World Extreme Medicine Podcast, emergency medicine doctor Ffyon Smith is joined by Kacylia Roy Proulx, a medical student at McGill University and President of her university’s Wilderness Medicine Society. Together, they explore Kacylia’s experience of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, from early trail excitement to summit-day exhaustion, team dynamics, and the real-time challenge of acute mountain sickness.This is an honest, insightful conversation about why we climb, how we build mental resilience, and what expedition medicine means to someone just starting out.You’ll hear about:The reality of altitude acclimatisation and AMS symptomsNavigating ethical dilemmas on the trailHow expedition teamwork makes or breaks the journeyFinding identity, purpose, and introspection at high altitudeAdvice for medical students looking to break into expedition medicine📝 Please note: Due to internet connection issues during recording, there’s a slight delay or glitch in Kacylia’s audio and video at times. Thanks for bearing with us, the conversation is well worth it.Please note that this session was recorded in January 2025.
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