What does it take to ski alone for 51 days across one of the most unforgiving yet breathtaking terrains on Earth?
In this powerful episode, we sit down with Mr. Satish Gogineni, the first Indian to ski unguided and unassisted to the South Pole. Over 51 solitary days on the Antarctic ice, Satish pulled his sled through freezing winds, cooked every meal himself, and found companionship in the strangest places—his harness, his socks, even the silence.
As he opens up about the surreal beauty, the solitude that he often enjoyed, and the mental resilience required for such a feat, Satish takes us deep into what it means to embrace true stillness. He describes the surprising sadness he felt on reaching the South Pole—the goal he had chased for years—because it also meant the end of an experience that felt absolutely perfect.
Beyond Antarctica, Satish is a mountaineering legend, having summited Everest, Lhotse, Annapurna, and more—often as the fastest Indian to do so. But it’s his reflective honesty and quiet strength that makes this conversation unforgettable.
Tune in for stories of survival, triumph, and the kind of adventure that changes you forever.
A trigger warning: This episode contains discussions around mental health, anxiety and suicide. So I suggest that you - my gentle listener is mindful of your own mental health and that you take breaks if needed. Alternately, if you’re not in a good mental space, you might consider skipping between the timestamps of:
01:00:03 to 01:02:40 and 01:43:00 to 01:55:00 minute. We've also listed a few trusted mental wellbeing resources below. Never hesitate to ask for help, you're not alone.
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00:00:00 Trailer
00:02:00 Intro
00:06:52 Most excited about on completion
00:08:58 Fastest Indian to double-summit Everest and Lhotse
00:10:46 Most special expedition
00:14:54 South Pole expedition categories
00:17:15 Beginnings of the adventurer
00:29:12 Early Training – Denali/Everest/Lhotse
00:34:57 Inspiration from Polar Preet
00:40:44 Planning the South Pole expedition – phase1
00:43:40 Training in Baffin islands and Greenland.
00:46:28 Qualifying for the expedition
00:51:06 Sponsorship
00:52:17 Training Schedule
00:54:00 Acquiring funds for the expedition
00:57:14 Mental prep for the 51 day expedition
01:00:03 Mental health journey
01:02:40 The expedition story
01:22:12 About South Pole
01:22:43 Highlights from Iran
01:25:53 Food, Snacks & Chill
01:33:12 Touchdown South Pole
01:37:55 Future plans & Project Malli Mastan babu
01:43:31: Mental Health & Project Spandana
01:55:07: Concluding thoughts