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Published by Julie Hollis
Ever wondered what kind of people dedicate their lives to rocks? ‘Geologists from Planet Earth’ might challenge your ideas. In this podcast, geologists tell their stories, a geologist who dodged lions during fieldwork, another who turned ancient rock data into music, and one who found love (and radioactive rocks) working for the Pentagon in Afghanistan. There's a geologist who found working on Greenlandic cliffs more terrifying than the north face of the Eiger and another who navigated a career through mining and motherhood, while proving her father gloriously wrong. ‘Geologists from Planet Earth’ reveals the surprising and inspiring journeys of geologists who - every one of them - are passionate about the planet that we live on. For a teaching resource (question prompts) for 12-16 year olds, find a free download here: https://lnkd.in/e9_ChNPk
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Send a text In this episode, Marit Brommer – once a Dutch teenager enchanted by landscapes charts her career journey from oil and gas super-majors to geothermal diplomacy to her newest venture: transforming geothermal wells into places of wellness, ritual, and regeneration. Marit explains why geology is the beating heart of our clean-energy future. Her is a wonderful reminder that sometimes our journeys bring us right back to where we started.
Send a text A California kid who just wanted to go climbing and dodge the draft ends up in a life spent between the lecture hall and the high Arctic. From Yosemite’s granite walls to magma chambers under the ice, Dennis Bird’s story is one of chance and curiosity — one in which a teacher, a mountain lion, and a storm helped forge a lifetime of discovery and humility.
Send a text Adrian Finch hailed from South London and - in his own words - started out utterly hopeless at fieldwork. His lifelong love of crystal structures led him to research into car catalysts and superconductors, before settling on the Arctic for a love affair with geology that, despite hurricane-force winds on a remote Greenlandic nunatak, proved irresistible. It's a testament to stubbornness, mentorship, and an unyielding passion for understanding the Earth. Teaching resources (questions prompts) for 12-16 year olds can be found here: https://www.tes.com/resource-detail/resource-13276404
Send a text Ever wondered what happens when a young geologist, told she'd only ever be the "token female," decides to prove everyone gloriously wrong? Here's Helen Degeling, whose journey has careened from academia, to surviving a decidedly un-gentlemanly welcome at a Pilbara gold mine, to doing fieldwork seven months pregnant in 38-degree heat. Helen's is a tale of resilience, career pivots, and finding purpose in surprising places: a triumph of grit, gumption, and the good sense to know when to chase what truly matters. Teaching resources (questions prompts) for 12-16 year olds can be found here: https://www.tes.com/resource-detail/resource-13276404
Send a text Kristopher Szilas's geological journey began by abseiling down a 500-meter cliff face. In this episode, we hear how his rock-climbing prowess landed him a dream job sampling for gold in Greenland – an experience he'll tell you felt more dangerous than climbing the infamous North Face of the Eiger! Kris's is a thrilling glimpse into the wild, outdoor life of a hard-rock geologist, exploring ancient Earth while living in a summer camp dream. Teaching resources (questions prompts) for 12-16 year olds can be found here: https://www.tes.com/resource-detail/resource-13276404
Send a text Richard White is a man whose PhD involved spending weeks utterly alone in Australia's central desert. In this episode, he recounts tales of encountering herds of camels (while in bed!), carrying half a ton of rocks in an overloaded 4WD, and exploring remote terrain by following his dream... Richard's story is one of the glorious independence and a little eccentricity that makes a remarkable geologist. Teaching resources (questions prompts) for 12-16 year olds can be found here: https://www.tes.com/resource-detail/resource-13276404
Send a text Alina Khalida, with stunning grace and grit, transformed herself from a village girl tending cattle to an indomitable spirit, working for her nation's water security. From stumbling upon geology, to drilling for water in the driest corners of the Namib Desert, while battling unimaginable financial hardship, Alina's story isn't just about rocks and water: it's a testament to the transformative power of education, opportunity, and sheer human resilience. Teaching resources (questions prompts) for 12-16 year olds can be found here: https://www.tes.com/resource-detail/resource-13276404
Send a text Chris Carson is a geologist whose passion for the planet was ignited by a trekking trip to K2. Prepare for an absorbing tale of Antarctic fieldwork, traveling by icebreaker (much better than flying), battling katabatic winds strong enough to launch 200kg (400 pound) fuel drums, and the glorious, rule-breaking, solitary climb of a remote Antarctic peak. Chris's story is a reminder that sometimes, getting lost is the best way to find yourself. Teaching resources (questions prompts) for 12-16 year olds can be found here: https://www.tes.com/resource-detail/resource-13276404
Send a text This episode introduces Emily King, who quite literally found love (and some really interesting rocks) while running a Pentagon-backed mineral exploration program in Afghanistan. Prepare for "free-range geologists" navigating perilous terrain in body armor, battling bubbling lithium lakes in repurposed dune buggies, and the logistical chaos of getting radioactive samples into the Pentagon. It's a love story, a post-war story, and a thrilling, hilarious testament to the unexpected adventures of geologists. Teaching resources (questions prompts) for 12-16 year olds can be found here: https://www.tes.com/resource-detail/resource-13276404
Send a text Meet Tim Ivanic, a British-Australian geologist who started life as an artist. Tim fused his passions for rocks and art in the 'Aeon Sounds Project', turning geological data into music and sound: imagine volcanoes as instruments, geological time transformed into sound, the synesthetic transformation of crystals into music. It's a wild, unexpected, and brilliant dive into how science and art can, and should, sing in harmony. Teaching resources (questions prompts) for 12-16 year olds can be found here: https://www.tes.com/resource-detail/resource-13276404
Send a text David Schofield never really planned on being a geologist. But sometimes, life (and an outbreak of foot and mouth disease) throws you a curveball. David recounts his adventures mapping vast stretches of the Saharan desert, learning to survive on newly-learned resilience and sheer geological grit, and becoming the leader he hadn't realised he was. Teaching resources (questions prompts) for 12-16 year olds can be found here: https://www.tes.com/resource-detail/resource-13276404
Send a text Gillian Becky is a Nairobi-based geologist who didn't exactly stumble into the field, but rather, geology found her, from a phone call that led her on a new path to discovering her purpose. Gillian's early experiences of fieldwork in a remote Kenyan landscape include a heart-pounding encounter with wildlife. And she shares her insights on overcoming challenges as a woman in a male-dominated field. If you're a woman considering a STEM career, Gillian's honesty about carving out her space is essential listening. Gillian’s story isn't just about rocks, it's about her resilience and passion for understanding our planet. Teaching resources (questions prompts) for 12-16 year olds can be found here: https://lnkd.in/e9_ChNPk
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Apple Podcasts rankings via the Mato Topic Intelligence Platform.
Observed September 20, 2026.
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