Reflections of an Expedition Medic: The Power of Journaling and Unpacking with Klara Weaver

World Extreme Medicine Podcast

On this episode, our guest Klara Weaver talks about Wedel seals farting in her face in Antarctica, peeing in a Nalgene in the middle of the night (and the need to practice in the shower), sexism in expedition medicine, the role of social media in expedition medicine self promotion and keeping it grounded, the importance of ‘mentally’ unpacking after expedition, shout out to our supportive family friends and partners who put up with us! And her love affair with grass post Antarctica.

We also discuss the allure of buying new kit for hobbies and how it has inspired her side hustles. Klara shares her passion for arts and crafts, being outdoors, and her interest in business and small businesses. Klara also talks about her foray into carpentry and making things with power tools when converting a campervan. During her time in Antarctica, Klara learned crochet as a distraction and a way to quiet her mind. She emphasises the importance of having something outside of medicine, whether it's a hobby, sport, or other skill. Klara believes that having a side hustle can bring valuable skills back into medicine and make it more interesting. She mentions the potential for quality improvement projects in medicine inspired by business practices. Having diverse interests makes one a more well-rounded doctor and makes the less exciting aspects of medicine more enjoyable. Klara shares that her family and friends have a short attention span when it comes to her experiences in Antarctica. She highlights that people often want her 20-month expedition to be condensed into a few sentences, not fully understanding the challenges and intensity of the experience. She warns that social media can give a misleading perception of expeditions, emphasizing the behind-the-scenes work, anxiety, and potential risks involved.