Episode 1

Keri Nelson: Life and Work in Antarctica

Published on: 4th June, 2025

After a career first as a journalist and then as a traveling nurse, Keri Nelson chased an even grander adventure and secured a job in Antarctica. Seventeen seasons later, she’s done a lot of different jobs at various research stations, she's experienced both summers and winters on the continent, and even helped with scientific research.

In this episode, Keri shares what it’s really like to live at the bottom of the world, giving insights into the routines, the landscape, the excursions, and the vibrant community that keeps beckoning her back.

(Note: This episode was recorded earlier in the year, near the end of the Antarctic summer season.)

"I guess just kind of knowing my speck of what I am in this universe is something that Antarctic has taught me, among many, many other things."

Hear Keri talk about:

  • What daily life can be like on different Antarctic research bases
  • The difference between summer and winter seasons on the continent
  • What the community on Antarctic bases can be like
  • What life in Antarctica has taught her
  • What it means to transition between life on and off the ice

Mentioned in this episode:

Articles about Keri Nelson’s Antarctic experiences:

Find more from Keri:

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About the Podcast

Tell Me What It's Like
Everyday People. Defining Moments.
Ever wonder what it really feels like to live through something extraordinary?

On Tell Me What It’s Like, host Stacy Raine talks with people who’ve faced defining moments – from running a world marathon to surviving a rare illness to building something entirely new. Hear the real experiences behind extraordinary choices as they discuss how it happened, what it felt like, and the lessons they learned along the way.

About your host

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Stacy Raine

I was 16 when I conducted my first interview. I was a nervous high school kid assigned to interview a WWII veteran. It was an incredibly emotional conversation, and an experience I still think about to this day. I didn’t know it then, but that moment would shape everything that followed.

As a nonprofit communicator and podcast producer, I’ve spent my career thinking about the stories we all have to share. Tell Me What It’s Like unearths the backstory to the small and large moments that changed everything.

One of my biggest beliefs is that sharing stories connects us – as long as we're willing to listen.