Buddy Levy | Dying in the Arctic and the Humanity of Exploration

Buddy Levy | Dying in the Arctic and the Humanity of Exploration

From Overcrest by Kris Clewell / Overcrest

May 14, 2026 · 1h 8m

About this episode

The episode features Buddy Levy discussing the harrowing survival story of the Greely Expedition in the Arctic.

Buddy Levy is the author of Labyrinth of Ice, the definitive account of the Greely Expedition. In 1881, 25 men were sent to the Arctic. The government forgot about them. Only six came home. What happened at Camp Clay is one of the most harrowing survival stories in American history. Part 3 of The Forgotten Ones. We talk about what drove men into the unknown, what happens to the mind in 137 days of darkness, and whether anything like this is still possible. Check out Buddy's work: buddylevy.com Support Overcrest: patreon.com/overcrest

People in this episode

Host: Kris Clewell

Guest: Buddy Levy

Topics covered

  • Arctic exploration
  • survival stories
  • historical expeditions
  • psychology of exploration
  • human resilience

Keywords

  • Greely Expedition
  • Buddy Levy
  • survival
  • Arctic
  • Labyrinth of Ice
  • exploration
  • history

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Labyrinth of Ice

Places: Arctic, Camp Clay

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