SNAFU with Ed Helms S4E2: Nick Kroll and Shackleton's Failed Expedition
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Oct 15, 2025 Nick Kroll, a comedian known for his sharp wit and hilarious characters, joins for a deep dive into the extraordinary failures of Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition. He shares a personal fishing trip disaster, adding humor to crisis moments. They discuss wild details like the crew's unusual companions—69 sled dogs and a cat named Mrs. Chippy. The remarkable survival of the crew despite dire circumstances leads to reflections on leadership and resilience. Plus, they touch on the 2022 discovery of Shackleton's shipwreck and the artifacts unearthed from its preservation.
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Family Fishing Trip Disaster
- Nick Kroll recounts a family deep-sea fishing trip in Puerto Rico where everybody got violently seasick except his dad.
- The trip ruined his mom's birthday and left the family covered in regurgitated tuna sandwiches.
Context Of The Heroic Age
- The Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration sent many expeditions and made polar feats a national obsession.
- Shackleton shifted goals after Amundsen beat him to the South Pole and aimed to cross the continent.
Shackleton's Early Bold Years
- Ed Helms introduces Ernest Shackleton and explains his early life leaving school at 16 to go to sea.
- Shackleton rose through early Antarctic expeditions and earned a knighthood before his later ill-fated voyage.
