Ep 193 w/ Amanda Kendle - Should You Travel to Antarctica? Ethical Travel & The Cruel Reality of Wildlife Tourism
In this thought-provoking episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I’m joined by Amanda Kendle from The Thoughtful Travel Podcast to unpack two of the most controversial topics in modern travel: Antarctica tourism and wildlife experiences.
We dive deep into the ethical dilemma of visiting one of the most fragile places on Earth. With Antarctica losing billions of tons of ice every year and tourism numbers rising fast, is it still justifiable to go? Or are we contributing to the very destruction we claim to care about?
Then we shift to wildlife tourism—an industry many travellers engage with without fully understanding the consequences. From elephant riding in Thailand to tiger encounters and zoo ethics, we explore what’s really happening behind the scenes and how travel has evolved over the years.
This isn’t about guilt—it’s about awareness. We both reflect honestly on our own past travel experiences, mistakes included, and discuss how travellers can make better, more responsible choices moving forward.
If you’ve ever questioned the impact of your travels, this episode will challenge your perspective and help you think more critically about how you explore the world.
Amanda Kendle/The Thoughtful Travel Podcast
Website - https://www.notaballerina.com
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-thoughtful-travel-podcast/id1269489189
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3AwRGIPRytKa9Txnz1cGBK?si=644319aec60f4f92
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⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Intro & welcome to Amanda Kendle
02:15 – Perth vs Vancouver: travel memories & lifestyle chat
06:45 – Topic 1: Should we travel to Antarctica?
09:50 – Shocking facts about Antarctica’s ice loss
11:15 – Tourism boom & rising visitor numbers
12:30 – The real cost of visiting Antarctica
14:30 – Carbon footprint & environmental impact explained
17:05 – Why even scientists are choosing not to return
20:00 – Can tourism ever be justified in Antarctica?
23:00 – The problem with regulation & greenwashing
25:20 – Final thoughts: would we go?
26:10 – Topic 2: Wildlife tourism ethics
26:30 – Personal stories: elephant rides & tiger encounters
31:00 – The brutal reality behind elephant tourism
34:50 – How wildlife tourism has evolved (and still needs to change)
36:00 – Seeing animals in the wild vs captivity
38:00 – Cultural differences & lack of awareness globally
39:30 – Elephant riding bans & progress in Southeast Asia
41:00 – Sanctuaries vs exploitation: what’s real?
43:00 – Are zoos ethical? The grey areas explained
46:10 – Can wildlife tourism ever be responsible?
49:30 – Safari tourism vs trophy hunting debate
51:20 – What should be banned immediately?
54:00 – Final reflections on ethical travel choices
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Produced by Winging It Productions - https://www.wingingitproductions.com
Voyascape: Travel Podcast Network - https://voyascape.com/
Winging It Travel Podcast - Website
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Winging It Travel Podcast Credits
Host/Producer/Creator/Composer/Editor - James Hammond
Contact me - jameshammondtravel@gmail.com or james@wingingitproductions.com
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