Buddy Levy

Adventure, Exploration, Historical, Non Fiction, Writers on Writing

Feb 19: Outdoor Adventure Author Buddy Levy with Realm of Ice & Sky

February 19, 2025

Triumph, Tragedy, and History’s Greatest Arctic Rescue

Realm of Ice and Sky with author Buddy Levy

Winner of 2023’s National Outdoor Book Award, Buddy Levy, returns to Conversations Live with Vicki St. Clair, this time to talk about his latest Arctic survival book, Realm of Ice and Sky: Triumph, Tragedy, and History’s Greatest Arctic Rescue.

“The gripping account of a fatal polar adventure. Hair-raising suffering and heroism in the Arctic.” ~ Kirkus Reviews

Levy says it’s not the history of one voyage. It’s the history of one TYPE of voyage – trying to reach the north pole airborne, in an airship. If successful, it would signal a changing of the guard – from dog and sled travel, to the new technology of airborne travel.

We explore “the greatest Arctic rescue” – a dramatic, nearly forgotten 19th-century mission that tested human resilience, ingenuity, and survival in one of the most unforgiving environments on Earth. We also discuss the journeys of the three key explorers; their challenges, failures, and successes. And Buddy shares how he pieced together these 19th century adventures to make a riveting story.

Meet Buddy Levy

Buddy Levy is the author of nine books including Realm of Ice and Sky, and Empire of Ice and Stone: The True Story of the Canadian Arctic Expedition That Went Horribly Wrong. [Hear that PODCAST.] His work has been featured or reviewed in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, USA Today, The Washington Post, and many other outlets. He was the co-star, for 25 episodes, on HISTORY Channel’s hit docuseries Brad Meltzer’s DECODED. In 2018 he was an on-camera expert on the 4-part TV Series THE FRONTIERSMEN: The Men Who Built America (HISTORY, Executive Producer Leonardo Di Caprio).

History, Non Fiction, Writers on Writing

Dec 21: Empire of Ice and Stone with Award-winning Author Buddy Levy

December 21, 2022

The True Story of the Canadian Arctic Expedition That Went Horribly Wrong

In his latest narrative nonfiction, Buddy Levy weaves the compelling story of the struggle to survive in extremely harsh conditions. He brings to life two very different characters–Captain Bob Bartlett and expedition leader Vilhjalmur Stefansson–showing how both men made decisions with profound implications for the fate of the ship and its members.

While history is divided on who’s to blame for the expedition’s tragedies, readers are left decide: What would YOU have done under the circumstances? Buddy also discusses some of his research for Empire of Ice & Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Voyage of the Karluk, and how he approached telling this harrowing journey.

About Buddy Levy

Buddy Levy is the author of eight books—his latest, Empire of Ice & Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Voyage of the Karluk. Levy’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, and more. He was the co-star, for 25 episodes, on HISTORY Channel’s docuseries, Brad Meltzer’s DECODED. And was a featured expert in Leonardo Di Caprio’s TV Series THE FRONTIERSMEN: The Men Who Built America. More about Buddy Levy.