Legendary Legends: The Greatest Adventurer and the Voyage of the Nautilus
From Today I Found Out
The narrative explores the groundbreaking voyage of the USS Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine to reach the North Pole in 1958, highlighting its significance in demonstrating nuclear power in naval operations and restoring American pride during the Cold War. It also recounts the earlier, lesser-known yet ambitious Arctic expedition of Sir Hubert Wilkins, an adventurous Australian explorer, whose bold endeavors paved the way for future polar exploration despite his eventual failure.
Key Takeaways
- Wilkins’ Antarctic dreams foreshadowed today's climate science; the poles aren't just icy, they’re essential.
- From sheep farms to combat zones, Wilkins lived a 'third act' adventure—who needs a peaceful retirement?
- Eisenhower's Nautilus triumph? A nuclear show-off moment, born from a late-night radio 'I did it!' thrill.
- Wilkins taught us resilience: his unyielding spirit in icy purgatories is the real heroism we need today.
- Forget the polar bear; Wilkins is the true North—navigating between madness and genius in harsh terrains.
Who is mentioned in this episode?
17 people come up, including Sir Hubert Wilkins, William Randolph Hearst, Rald Amundsen.
- Sir Hubert Wilkins (Person)
- William Randolph Hearst (Person)
- Rald Amundsen (Person)
- Lincoln Ellsworth (Person)
- Richard E. Byrd (Person)
- Sloan Danhower (Person)
- Carl Benson (Person)
- Harold Furdrip (Person)
- Simon Lake (Person)
- Bob Bennett (Person)
- Jules Verne (Person)
- Ernest Shackleton (Person)
- Charles Kingsford Smith (Person)
- Charles Edward Bean (Person)
- Manfred von Richthofen (Person)
- Luis Wilkins (Person)
- Henry Wilkins (Person)
Sponsors of this episode
- William Randolph Hearst (Person)
- Lincoln Ellsworth (Person)
- North American Newspaper Alliance (Company)
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (Company)
- Detroit Aviation Society (Company)
Mentioned in this episode
- USS Nautilus (Product)
- Nautilus (Product)
- Oclass submarine USS-2 (Product)
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Book)
- Lockheed Aircraft Limited (Company)
- USS Wyoming (Product)
- Adelaide School of Mines (Company)