Welcome!
Thin Ice exists to explore one essential question:
How do we learn to live sustainably on Earth?
Exploration
What works?
What endures?
How can people, wildlife, and natural places thrive together?
Witness
Observe honestly
Speak truthfully
Carry stories — our own and others’ —
with integrity
Belief
The most important thing isn’t where you are. It’s where you’re headed.
We invite you to join us on this journey.
Thin Ice co-hosts
‘The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.’
— Robert Swan
Robert Swan, OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire), is the first person to walk to both the South and North Poles. In the decades since, he has continued exploring and has led dozens of expeditions and voyages around the world. His work has focused on protecting Antarctica, demonstrating practical technologies for sustainability, and advancing more sustainable ways of living and working.
Dan Smith, OAJ (Ordinary American Joe), is a journalist turned speechwriter and corporate communications leader. He’s spent most of his business career helping responsible organizations explain complex ideas in ways that actually make sense to people. His work has focused on the evolution of digital technology — and what it means to real people in the real world.
Together, they bring different perspectives to the same question — how can we live sustainably on Earth? — and they continue to learn alongside the people they meet along the way.
Disclaimer
Thin Ice.earth LLC is a private project of Robert Swan and Dan Smith. They both have a connection to NTT DATA, a global business and technology services provider. Dan is a direct employee. Robert is the company’s Sustainability Ambassador. In that role, Robert helps create awareness of sustainability solutions. In announcing this role, NTT DATA said, “Robert’s mission aligns perfectly with NTT DATA’s own commitment to sustainability (and) recognizes Robert’s unique ability to encourage, inspire and engage our employees, clients and partners.”
On Thin Ice, Robert and Dan’s opinions are their own.
Undaunted podcast
Thin Ice picks up where Robert and Dan left off with Undaunted, with Robert Swan and NTT DATA, which still ranks among the Best Antarctica Podcasts (Feedspot, May 2026).
NTT DATA sponsored the Undaunted: South Pole 2023 expedition. That’s how Robert and Dan met. Dan documented the effort as a member of the support team at Union Glacier basecamp, bringing listeners inside the 100 nautical-mile trek. In completing Undaunted, Robert fulfilled his longtime commitment to walk across the entire Antarctic landmass. The seven-episode podcast is a production of NTT DATA.