Fiasco Introducing SNAFU with Ed Helms - history’s greatest screw-ups
Oct 16, 2025
Nick Kroll, the hilarious comedian known for Big Mouth, joins Ed Helms to explore the wild saga of Ernest Shackleton's doomed Antarctic expedition. They kick off with Kroll's own fishing fiasco, setting a comedic tone. The duo dives into Shackleton’s ambitious journey aboard the Endurance, its icy entrapment, and the crew's incredible survival against all odds. With anecdotes of dog igloos and penguin hunting, they hilariously reflect on leadership and resilience, ultimately celebrating the human spirit in the face of catastrophe.
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Family Fishing Trip Disaster
- Nick Kroll describes a family deep-sea fishing trip where everyone vomited tuna sandwiches amid massive waves.
- His dad turned green while the family puked everywhere, making the trip a chaotic birthday memory.
The Heroic Age Context
- Early 1900s Antarctic exploration was common, dubbed the Heroic Age, with many nations racing for records.
- Shackleton pivoted goals after Amundsen reached the South Pole, aiming to cross the continent instead.
Endurance's Unusual Passengers
- Shackleton's Endurance carried 28 men, 69 sled dogs, and a tomcat named Mrs. Chippy.
- The crew improvised dog igloos and relied on a photographer, Frank Hurley, to document life on the ice.
