Tuesday, 25th March, 2008

Breakfast Show Interview

Before he left for the wilds of the Arctic north, Sam popped into the studio to chat with the Breakfast crew, and launch ‘KISS the Planet’ to the nation!

You can listen to the interview here…

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MELVIN: Right so your involved in our ‘Kiss the Planet Project’, so your basically trying to make people aware of global warming- so what are you doing for this?

SAM: Basically there’s a group of six of us, all young explorers, going up to Ales island, which is in the high arctic, it’s the northen most island in the arctic circle, to look at the effect global warming’s having on the ice shelves up there and its going to be an interactive expedition with the internet on www.globalwarming101.com where you can follow our progress; where you can send some questions- its interactive in that sense.

MELVIN: Alright, so you’ve done something like this before- we’ve got your book here “Surviving on thin ice”, now you’ve been to the arctic, what was that like?

SAM: Amazing, yeah. It’s a beautiful place, fascinating- learnt quite a bit about the Inuet culture and sort got the bug obviously cos I’m going back this year!

MELVIN: And how long where you out there?

SAM: Er, the last trip was 3 weeks…and this trip is 3 months

MELVIN: So a big jump then sam! A big jump…

SAM: It’s a big jump but I think it’s a full on expedition, the last one I joined at the end, whereas this one we’re doing the whole thing.

MELVIN: Did you have to do any training before you went out there?

SAM: For the last one or this one?

MELVIN: For the last one.

SAM: Erm, yeah did a bit of training, went to the gym, tried to fit.

MELVIN: Just like a normal gym, do a few weights?

SAM: Yea, do a few weights, stop drinking, don’t go out too much, and this one the same really, except with this one I’ve been training for two months

CHARLIE: What would you say is the shocking experience you’ve seen, since doing this? We’ve was looking in your book and some of the photos, Well they’re quite disturbing really…

SAM: Disturbing in what sense?

CHARLIE: As in shocking, it actually really opens your eyes at to what the world is becoming, so what would you say is the most shocking thing you’ve seen?

SAM: Well the thing is, when you go out there- I mean I haven’t been out there in a while but people like the Inuet who live there, see the changes over time, when we go out there it looks normal but when they explain, you know, what things used to be like in size of the glaciers, which are now disappearing- all that stuff, that’s quite drastic.

MELVIN: Do you think before you went out there you were really conscious the environment or did that change your perspective on the earth after your trip?

SAM: I was definitely conscious of the environment I think, cos you know, I’ve been lucky enough to travael to loads of places and I’ve seen slight changes myself- brought up in the Caribbean like the reef slowly dying by the sea’s hiting and stuff, but being like that, but being like that of course, warps your perspective and gives you a reality check, and from myself being inspired and being able to take that home and giving it to other people who don’t get to go the arctic, you know, I think is a really lucky experience. I’m going to show them my experiences first hand.

ADAM: Sam, you said you’ve seen first hand, the deterioration of the Caribbean and stuff, describe it for us, what do you mean, what have you seen?

SAM: Well I wouldn’t say deterioration, you know- it’s an awesome place! (LAUGHS). Well it’s just, I’ve been living there since I was 20- since I was born so its been 23 years coming up 4 and the reefs used to be absolutely beautiful, rife with fish, colour and I know a lot of it’s due to the hurricanes but I think now a third of the great biar reef is now bleached dead erm.. from global warming and the sea level rising and its one of the biggest ecosystems in the world and that helps to absorb a lot of carbon dioxide and its sort of a vicious circle. And the food supply of fish, you know, its all linked up.

RICKY: All intertwined right?

SAM: Yeah exactly, exactly. You don’t really think of that when you think of global warming though.

RICKY: So what are you hoping to achieve from your expedition, what is the main purpose of you actually doing this?

SAM: Well the main goals are a) to highlite the effect it’s having on elesmar island; the ice shelves that are collapsing and that’s gonna have a knock-on effect on us. But mainly, like I said earlier is that it’s an interactive expedition and it’s all young explorers, there’s a guy called Will Steager who’s a renowned arctiv and antartic explorer, he’s gonna lead us and then theres 5 young explorers- they’re all pretty experienced, I’m a bit of a rookie (ALL LAUGH) which I wont be by the end. But yeah to inspire the younger audience about global warming- to get people out and being proactive and I think you can relate a bit more as a young person if you’ve got a 22 year old going out to the arctic than the old bearded explorer-

CHARLIE:-Telling you what to do..

SAM: Yeah

CHARLIE:- Its True…

MELVIN: So what made you want to do this, cos you don’t have to do it, you coulda just sat at home- watched a bit of trisha, deal or no deal, what made you wake up in the morning and say ‘I’m gonna go to the cold today!’

CHARLIE: Cold?

(ALL LAUGH)

CHARLIE: Yeah that place…

SAM: Well I think I got the lucky opportunity to be invited on the last trip and I love being outdoors, wilderness- you know, the extreme environments and sport and stuff and I think this incorporates a lot of what I love. And to go up to the arctic and see what that was like you know, to get the opportunity to do it and learn about global warming first and find out really what’s going on- it was great, and then I got the bug and got invited on this trip and you know, I couldn’t say no, I think a lot of my mates would do it themselves if they got the opportunity.

MELVIN: What do your friends think you, when you say “I’m going away” Have you ever tried to drag anyone out, to go out there with you?

SAM: If it was possible I’m sure I would, I mean its all planned out so you bring anyone up there but yeah my mates think I’m a little bit nuts-

CHARLIE: I was gonna say! (ALL LAUGH) I think your mental!

MELVIN: Yeah you cant be down there- I don’t like going to south London without my scarf! So going to the arctic or Greenland I dont think I would be able to do. But have you had any scary moments where you’ve been like “You know what-I don’t really wanna to be here” Did you ever have that when you went on your first journey?

SAM: I didn’t ever feel like “I don’t wanna be here” But I had one day and the accumulative of being cold, really tired you know, you’re run down- you’re out in the middle of no where, isolated; I had one day where I felt really low and you know cant shrug it off you try to be positive but I never not wanted to be there you know, that’s all part of the experience and I know on this trip I’m gonna have that quite a lot.

RICKY: I’ve heard a little rumour sam, that last time you came across some polar bears

SAM: Yeah we came across one on the-

MELVIN: That’s not scary to you?!! (ALL LAUGH)

SAM: Yeah that’s scary! Amazing though, I tell you, you go the arctic and the one thing you wanna do is see a polar bear

RICKY: Definitely

SAM: Yeah I was really happy

RICKY: But maybe not up close… (LAUGH)

SAM: Well not too close- bit of a distance (ALL LAUGH) But we were lucky enough to see it and enough away so we weren’t freaking out you know

RICKY: But on a more serious note though, creatures like polar bears are really suffering.

SAM: Yeah they are, there’s loadsa things; well firstly theres pollution in the air which is causing a big problem for polar bears but due to global warming, sea ice is retreating inland and initially the Inuet thought there was an increase in polar bear numbers but that’s because they didn’t realise that they were becoming more concentrated. It’s a fact that the animals, the seals; there starving out some of the places they go to get their food in the summer…

RICKY: Cos I saw a documentary once with like a polar bear just swimming like endlessly because…

SAM: Yeah its quite a famous shot, yeah I don’t think people realised before they saw the shot of a polar bear just floating out to sea on a slab of ice. And you know, they swim for miles and they can’t find their food and yeah the polar bear we’re pushing up as the hero of global warming cos people you know… but its affecting all the ecosystems up there with the animals up there aswell.

CHARLIE: Did you not cross paths aswell with the guys from top gear-

SAM: Yeah we did, it was mad- I was on my way out of the plane and the last person you expect to bump into is Jeremy Clarkson and James May.

CHARLIE: Cos I’ve actually seen that- I think it’s wicked. Really good, really good.

ADAM: Wasn’t he polluting…

SAM: Yeah its kinda contrasting…(ALL LAUGH) but no, he seemed like a really nice guy and I think he’s found it really harsh in there in a 20ft pickup truck.

RICKY: Now Sam, I can just about stomach going out camping, let alone going to the arctic and ruffing it up there. What was the most uncomfortable thing you’ve had to do..going to the toilet maybe?

SAM: Yeah I think I said that in the last program, that’s probably the main thing I’m not looking forward to doing. As I said you’ve got to go far enough away from camp that no one sees you but then you don’t wanna go to far away- I remember on the last trip, funny, I’d have my you know, my cacks down, squatting and legs getting tired and I had a shotgun (ALL LAUGH) and I had the loo roll on top of the shotgun shell and I was just thinking this picture of me-classic!

MELVIN: So what you gonna eat this time when you go out there?

SAM: Ermm I think we’ve got a mix of stuff you know you’ve gotta have a big fat intake I think 500 calories- per day just to break even, otherwise you lose weight pretty quick. In the morning you have porridge and oats, granola-

MELVIN: Delicious!

SAM: Yummy! Um… soups, and nuts and cheeses throughout the day you know just keep munching it down. Even then you have cheesy rice, cheesy pasta and if it’s really cold, which it will be, you’ve gotta eat about a block of butter a day!

CHARLIE: Uh! Oh no…

SAM: because its got a high fat content, you don’t actually digest it, I mean it doesn’t get into your system it just keeps the fight in your stomach so you can burn it off to stay warm.

ADAM: But no toast?

SAM: Errr… I think we’vegot one loaf of bread for 2 months.

CHARLIE: Ah lets hope so!

MELVIN: And who’s the cook, do you cook when you’re out there?

SAM: Yeah you cook, everyone’s got their little stoves in their tents

CHARLIE: Didn’t you do a cooking course?

SAM: I did a cor d’un blur but I don’t know how you can spice up cheesey pasta..(ALL LAUGH)

CHARLIE: I was gonna say

MELVIN: You ain’t gonna spice up butter mate! (ALL LAUGH) So when you come back from the Greenlands this time around, you’re come back around to kiss to do a show for us and you’re gonna do some reports, so what do you want people to take away from your reports when you get back to England?

SAM: I think take away what they want, I mean I’m gonna basically go up there and get the lucky experience to be there first hand and I’m gonna document what I see and try and give people an idea of what it’s like up there and for them to be inspired you know, young people getting out and doing stuff and realising its quite an important issue and it’s something that’s going to be shaping our lives in the next, how many years we’re gonna live and just educate themselves about it I don’t mean change your life completely but I mean educate enough, and it is gonna effect you so you might as well know whats going on

RICKY: So what should young people be doing now to kinda bring climate into their lives or climate awareness into their lives?

SAM: I think, like I said, educate yourselves and understand it then you can sorta work out, you can get a passion for it when things start changing and then you’ll know what’s going on, I mean small things like unplugging your phone charger when your not using it, turning off your lights and only drive if you need to, not stop driving that’s just..(ALL LAUGH) And be proactive and not wait for someone to tell you what to do-

CHARLIE: Not being ignorant probably

SAM: Yeah not being ignorant and getting on the internet and type in “what can I do to stop global warming”

MELVIN: I wanted to know, I’m quite cheap so I always turn off the lights at home

SAM: Good sh*t yeah exactly (ALL LAUGH) So efficient

MELVIN: And my car, cos I’ve got a brand new car, stops at the traffic lights you put your foot up and it stops itself, saves on fuel consumption-

SAM: Oh really?

MELVIN: Just to let you know, so you think I’m a good guy- just tryna help those polar bears out you know (ALL LAUGH)

SAM: That’s why I’m doing the radio show! (ALL LAUGH)

RICKY: So Sam when you’re travelling what is the one thing that you can’t be without like the comfort thing that you have to take with you?

SAM: Well, Ive sorta worked out a couple of comfort things, bring my hot-water bottle-

RICKY: Right

SAM: I spoil myself with a pair of cashmere socks to sleep in

CHARLIE, RICKY,MELVIN: Ooo, cashmere- Nice!

SAM: Yeah its warm, and it keeps you comfy

MELVIN: That’s what princes wear

SAM: …Yeah- in the arctic…erm a book you know, I got my ipod with a solar powered charger

MELVIN: Right, and what’s your top three tunes on your ipod while you’re out there?

SAM: Ermmm…

ADAM: Ice Ice Baby!!

ALL: Oh Adam….turn him off! Stay in the background! (ALL LAUGH)

SAM: Theres a song called maggot brain by a band called Funkadelic which is an old like 12-minute guitar solo..which I always go to sleep to and that’s a classic tune but I don’t know if anyone would have heard it.

CHARLIE: I actually do know it…The, erm..The album cover is interesting its got a face with all maggots hanging out of its head

SAM: I haven’t seen it but it sounds cool

CHARLIE: yeah yeah

MELVIN: See she’s a connoisseur…

CHARLIE: See, I’m up there

RICKY: So Sam what does your dad think of this trip?

SAM: Er, well he thinks its, its awesome I think he did 6 days the last trip, he thinks I’m a bit nuts.

RICKY: Cos your dad’s done some crazy things himself..some ground-breaking stuff…

SAM: Yeah he has, the balloon across the atlantic, pacific- attempts around the world you know, I couldn’t do that sort of stuff.

CHARLIE: You know what I think’s cool though is, I read a little bit of your last book, you said like now is a chance for you to show your dad something cos it’s normally the opposite way round. I think that’s really cool.

MELVIN: Do you think he massively influenced you?

SAM: Yeah, I mean he’s a great guy, and the older I get the more I can look objectively on what he’s done and he’s achieved a lot in his life and his a legend, a nice guy

RICKY: What’s it like? Having Richard Branson as a dad? That must be the coolest thing ever!

SAM: It is pretty nuts, I mean he’s a dude- he’s a really down to earth kinda guy you know, Ive been lucky enough to travel around the world and travel to some amazing places and meet some wicked people

MELVIN: Can I ask what do you get him for Christmas? (ALL LAUGH) you’ll be like ‘I’ll get you a TV” he be like “I’ve already got one of those” you’ll say a “A car” and he’ll say “I’ve already got 5 of those”

SAM: I’ve got an excuse- I don’t get him anything (ALL LAUGH)

ADAM: Do you mind if I ask Sam, cos Ive read yyour dad’s book so I feel like I’ve read about you cos he talks extensively about the family experience right? But, and don’t take this the wrong way because your dad’s an inspirational character, there’s no doubt about that… but he has also, kinda contributed to the state the worlds in right now-

SAM: Yeah yeah- for sure…

ADAM: With Virgin Airlines, Virgin Trains and all that kind of stuff, what’s your thoughts on that?

SAM: Well you know, people say how can Richard Branson be so global warming conscious with owning an airline which is polluting everyday but the thing is, we only found out about global warming, what, 10 years ago and people only managed to start hearing about it, about 5 years ago and people travel, people aren’t going to stop travelling and palnes aren’t going to stop flying and if Virgin stop flying then other airlines are just going to take those slots, so what you can do, with all the planes flying with all those profits like with Virgin Atlantic- 100% of profit is put into investing in green technology. And I know, it was just the other week it actually got slated by a few people but with biofuel, virgin just flew the first plane from England to Amsterdam and that proved you can use clean fuels for planes-

RICKY: That’s brilliant man

SAM: And its looking forward, and you know, we’re in a drastic state with the world and you gotta think out of the box and anyone who’s doing that is..good

RICKY: Thinking out of the box, lets talk Virgin Galactic travel

SAM: Yeah mate- nuts

CHARLIE: How mad is this!?!

RICKY: Are you going to be flying to space like next year or something?

SAM: Yeah, I think its at the end of next year I think I might be the first, first man up

MELVIN: You can relax you know, you don’t have to do all these big adventures (ALL LAUGH)

CHARLIE: Send us, we’ll go!

SAM: No, Im a bit nervous about this one but its gonna be a great project so a guy called Bert Return designed a reasonable space craft which one the X prize and Virgin Galactic is a new company that’s going to take people up into space I think 6 passengers per time.

RICKY: That is mad, so what are you kinda gonna go into orbit and circle the earth’s atmosphere or how’s it gonna work?

SAM: Erm, well basically you go up in a mothership (ALL LAUGH)

CHARLIE: Sounds like Startrek! (ALL LAUGH)

SAM: Then you got spaceship 1 or the craft below; 2 pilots, 6 passengers and you fly to about 50,000 feet

CHARLIE: Oh no thankyou…

SAM: Then you free-fall for 10 seconds then you ignite the you go from 0-3500mph in 10 seconds

ALL: wow

CHARLIE: Oh my life…

SAM: And so you’re rocketing at 5G’s out in space then you get out the earth’s atmosphere and turn off the engine then you get about ½ hour to get out your seat and experience weightlessness

MELVIN: That Is gonna be sooo BIG!

ADAM: Aren’t your family, a lot of your family on that first journey.

SAM: Yeah well I think me, my dad and my sister definitely will be my granny and granddad if they pass the medicals will be out… Its my granddad’s birthday today (10.03.08) he’s 90

CHARIE: awwww…(ALL) Happy Birthday Granddad

MELVIN: The average family goes to Scarborough or somewhere but “Lets go to space” (ALL LAUGH) – that’s how the Branson’s do it! (ALL LAUGH)

SAM: But yeah, you know, I think it’s gonna be an amazing experience…fingers crossed come abck down and get to enjoy it..

CHARLIE: And come back here!

SAM: And come back here yeah

RICKY: Yeah let us know, let us know definitely. Well Sam, it’s been amazing talking to you, thanks for passing through

SAM: Yeah mate, cheers for having me

RICKY: Good luck on the expedition

SAM: Take care

RICKY: Nice One

- Sam