Key Moments
A Rare Podcast at 30 Below Zero — Sue Flood on Antarctica and Much More! | The Tim Ferriss Show
Tim FerrissKey Moments
Photographer Sue explores Antarctica, ethical filmmaking, and life's unexpected adventures.
Key Insights
Sue Flood's journey into wildlife filmmaking began with a passion for nature and a persistent approach to opportunities.
Her career highlights include groundbreaking work on BBC's 'Blue Planet' and 'Planet Earth,' capturing rare wildlife behaviors.
Emperor penguins and orcas are subjects she has extensively studied and photographed, revealing fascinating life cycles and hunting strategies.
Making one's own luck involves preparation, seizing opportunities, and a tenacious pursuit of dreams, even against odds.
Ethical considerations in wildlife filmmaking and photography, such as minimizing impact and respecting animals' natural behaviors, are crucial.
Perseverance and a 'carpe diem' attitude, combined with a deep love for the natural world, are key to a fulfilling career in nature documentation.
EARLY LIFE AND OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
Sue Flood recounts her challenging birth, born late on Friday the 13th, with doctors predicting she might never walk due to hip deformities. Despite this, her parents pursued a revolutionary treatment, allowing her to eventually walk. This experience instilled a deep sense of gratitude and a reminder to never take life for granted. She later found the physical brace used during her childhood, a tangible memento of her early struggles and remarkable recovery, which now serves as a constant reminder of her fortunate life.
INSPIRATION AND THE PATH TO WILDLIFE FILMMAKING
Flood's inspiration stemmed from watching David Attenborough's documentaries and hearing her father's adventurous tales from his time in the merchant navy. These influences fueled a childhood dream of becoming a wildlife filmmaker. Realizing there was no direct path, she proactively sent a letter to the BBC Natural History Unit, which ultimately led to an internship. Her zoology degree from Durham University provided a foundation, but her determination to gain practical experience, including expeditions to Australia and volunteering in Bermuda, was crucial in building a resume that would catch industry attention.
BREAKTHROUGHS AND WORKING WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
After persistent applications and gaining valuable experience, Sue secured an initial three-day contract with the BBC on 'Wildlife on One.' This unexpectedly led to opportunities, including contributing research for 'Blue Planet.' Working under producers like Michael Bright and Alistair Fothergill, she gradually moved into directing and photography. The chance to work with David Attenborough, whom she deeply admired, was a significant milestone. Attenborough's passion, knowledge, and role in shaping iconic series like 'Blue Planet' left a profound impact on her.
CAPSTONE PROJECTS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC FIRSTS
Flood's career is marked by significant photographic achievements. For 'Blue Planet,' she filmed rare events like orcas hunting gray whales in Monterey Bay and polar bears hunting belugas in the Canadian Arctic. The orca hunt involved a unique mother-calf dynamic and a rare observation of their feeding strategy—consuming only the tongue. Her book, 'Emperor: The Perfect Penguin,' showcases 14 years of intimate photography of these majestic birds, highlighting their survival in extreme conditions and their unique breeding cycle.
THE EMPEROR PENGUIN'S EXTRAORDINARY LIFE
Sue Flood describes the incredible adaptations of Emperor penguins, detailing their arduous journey across ice to breed and incubate eggs. She explains the males' role in incubating the egg using a brood pouch to maintain critical warmth in sub-zero temperatures, enduring months without food. Their unique 'tobogganing' method of rapid travel on their bellies and the complex vocalizations used to locate chicks among thousands further illustrate their remarkable survival strategies in the harsh Antarctic environment.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND CAREER SHIFT
Transitioning from filmmaking to full-time photography, Flood embraced a more sustainable approach, including reduced flying and exploring hybrid-electric ships for Arctic expeditions. She emphasizes the importance of observing and capturing animals' natural behaviors without interference. Her frequent interaction with aspiring photographers involves teaching them to 'see' behavior and tell a story through their images, focusing on capturing those 'little moments' that elevate a photograph beyond a simple depiction, fostering a deeper connection with the natural world.
RELATIONSHIPS AND MAKING YOUR OWN LUCK
Flood discusses the balance between a demanding career and personal relationships, noting that her current marriage works well because her husband enjoys domestic life while she pursues adventures, often in extreme cold. She contrasts this with her previous marriage, ending partly due to the extreme conditions of her work. She attributes much of her success to a 'carpe diem' mentality—seizing opportunities when they arise, believing that luck is created through preparedness and tenacious action, a philosophy that allowed her to pursue her childhood dreams against significant odds.
ADVICE FOR ASPIRING WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHERS
For novices, Flood stresses the need for immense passion, viewing the job as all-consuming. She advises developing determination without being pushy and being observant of animal behavior to capture authentic moments. She highlights the importance of continuous learning, perseverance, and refining one's eye for detail. Her own career trajectory, from a determined student to an award-winning photographer and filmmaker, serves as proof that pursuing a passion tenaciously, despite initial doubt from others, can lead to extraordinary achievements.
Mentioned in This Episode
●Supplements
●Products
●Companies
●Organizations
●Books
●Concepts
●People Referenced
Common Questions
This special episode was recorded in a tent in the Weddell Sea at the most remote camp in the Antarctic, amidst snow and ice with emperor penguins and a Twin Otter aircraft visible outside.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
A company producing AG1, an all-in-one nutritional supplement. Tim Ferriss has recommended it since 2010.
A company that provides foods for metabolic fitness, using super starch to provide steady energy release without spiking blood sugar levels.
A company that produces the Pod Pro Cover, a device for sleeping at a perfect temperature by pairing dynamic cooling and heating with biometric tracking.
A book written by Tim Ferriss, which came out around 2010, where he first recommended Athletic Greens.
A magical book by Barry Lopez, gifted by Sue Flood to a friend, highly recommended for its insights into the Arctic environment.
One of Tim Ferriss's favorite non-fiction books by Barry Lopez.
Sue Flood's most recent book, featuring her spectacular photographs of emperor penguins, published in September 2018 with a foreword by Sir Michael Palin.
A book written by Michael Palin, which Sue Flood mentions she attended the launch for.
A photographer and former BBC filmmaker with a passion for Antarctica's wildlife and icy beauty, known for her work on 'The Blue Planet' and 'Planet Earth'.
The author of 'Arctic Dreams' and 'Of Wolves and Men', a favorite non-fiction author of Tim Ferriss.
A British comedian, actor, writer, and television presenter, who wrote the foreword for Sue Flood's book 'Emperor, the Perfect Penguin' and authored 'Erebus'.
A kind and generous BBC producer who replied to Sue Flood's letter as a child and offered career advice, working on big Attenborough series like Life of Birds.
Former King of England, whose flagship, the Mary Rose, was excavated by a team of UK specialists.
Co-founder of 'Operation Rally' with Prince Charles, designed to provide young people with character-building experiences.
A doctor who introduced Tim Ferriss to Ucan, touting its unique carbohydrate properties.
A biologist who runs a whale watch business in California, with whom Sue Flood worked to film orcas hunting gray whales, based on Nancy's theory about immature mothers taking shortcuts.
Judith Owen's husband, with whom Sue Flood stayed in Santa Monica.
The former monarch of the United Kingdom, whom Sue Flood met at a special event for adventurers and explorers at Buckingham Palace.
The head of the BBC Natural History Unit and Sue Flood's boss, who gave her the job on 'The Blue Planet'.
The world's leading polar bear biologist and author of the book 'Polar Bears', with whom Sue Flood has had amazing experiences tagging bears.
A fabulous singer-songwriter and dear friend of Sue Flood, whose album photography reconnected Sue with her husband Chris.
An iconic British naturalist and broadcaster who inspired Sue Flood and with whom she worked on numerous BBC wildlife documentaries.
A producer at the BBC who, after meeting Sue for coffee, offered her an immediate three-day contract when another researcher failed to show up.
The kind producer for 'The Really Wild Show' who, despite Sue not getting the job, invited her to spend a day in the studio.
A friend of Sue Flood who trains mountain rescuers in Scotland and worked with her at the North Pole. Sue gifted him the book 'Arctic Dreams'.
The host of The Tim Ferriss Show, an entrepreneur, author, and investor, who facilitates the conversation with Sue Flood.
Sue Flood's current husband, whom she met at primary school, reconnected with later in life, and who prefers being at home to cold environments.
A magazine that featured one of Sue Flood's great white shark photographs on its cover, contributing to her decision to pursue photography full-time.
The British Broadcasting Corporation, where Sue Flood spent 11 years working on natural history series.
A place where Sue Flood volunteered for an 8-month work-study program, assisting marine biologists and gaining valuable experience.
An organization that awarded Sue Flood a silver medal and later ran the Science Photographer of the Year contest, which she won in 2021.
A UK university where Sue Flood studied zoology, a key step in her path to becoming a wildlife filmmaker.
Marine mammals that Sue Flood filmed being hunted by polar bears in the Canadian High Arctic after being trapped in a sarsat (hole in the ice).
A species of whale whose calves are hunted by orcas in Monterey Bay, migrating up the west coast of the US to feeding grounds in Alaska.
A species of penguin, believed to be the 'white-headed birds' that inspired Welsh sailors to coin the term 'penguin' in Patagonia.
A species of whale that migrates to warm, shallow waters like Tonga to calve during the Antarctic winter. Sue Flood filmed them extensively for 'Planet Earth'.
A species of starfish that damages coral reefs, which Sue Flood surveyed during her expedition to the Great Barrier Reef.
A hole in the ice kept open by animal movement, but which can trap marine mammals like beluga whales if conditions freeze rapidly.
A type of inflatable boat, roughly 15 feet long with an outboard motor, used to get closer to the whale hunting action in Monterey Bay.
Indigenous people of the Canadian High Arctic, with whom Sue Flood has worked and collected books about.
Marine mammals that Sue Flood filmed hunting gray whales and beluga whales, known for their coordinated hunting, intelligence, and matriarchal society.
Large arctic predators that hunt seals, can survive months without food, and are known for their strength in breaking through ice. Sue Flood has filmed them hunting beluga whales and has extensive knowledge about them.
An island nation in the South Pacific, Sue Flood's favorite shoot location with the BBC, where she filmed humpback whales.
The narrow strait separating Spain and Morocco, where killer whales (orcas) have been observed hunting bluefin tuna.
Location of the most southerly population of polar bears, where forest fires impacting tree roots can affect maternity dens.
A location in the Canadian High Arctic where Sue Flood filmed polar bears hunting beluga whales trapped in a sarsat.
The summer feeding grounds for gray whales and a location where Sue Flood has filmed marine mammals.
The official residence and administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom, where Sue Flood was invited to meet Queen Elizabeth II.
A bay in California where Sue Flood filmed killer whales hunting gray whales for 'Blue Planet'.
The BBC's longest-running nature program at the time, presented by David Attenborough, where Sue Flood got her first major break.
A television channel that has featured Sue Flood's work and series.
One of the older key series that Mike Salisbury had worked on.
An animated film that features emperor penguins, making them recognizable to a wider audience.
A BBC natural history series on which Sue Flood worked, focusing on the oceans.
A BBC natural history series featuring Sir David Attenborough, where Sue Flood also worked.
A David Attenborough series that Mike Salisbury worked on, in which Sue mentions her friend Miles was involved.
A David Attenborough series that Mike Salisbury produced.
A children's TV program for which Sue Flood interviewed, narrowly missing a job but leading to a three-day contract at the BBC.
Ucan's patented ingredient that provides a steady release of energy without spiking blood sugar levels, helping maintain focus and performance.
A supplement often deficient in people, produced from sun exposure, and important for immune support, gut health, and energy.
An all-in-one nutritional supplement by Athletic Greens, containing 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole-foods sourced ingredients, including probiotics, prebiotics, digestive enzymes, and adaptogens.
A device by Eight Sleep that provides dynamic cooling and heating for a mattress, allowing users to sleep between 55 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit and tracking biometrics for enhanced recovery.
A strong, canvas-covered metal-hooped structure used as a dining tent at the Antarctic camp, known for being very toasty.
An aircraft visible from the Antarctic camp, part of the working camp setup in the Weddell Sea.
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