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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 explai