Blair Braverman recently revisited the life of Ada Blackjack on the debut episode of her podcast, What to Carry, What to Burn. In her introduction, Braverman framed the subject as a figure defined by survival, noting, "I will be telling her the true story of Ada Blackjack." She further cautioned listeners regarding the heavy nature of the biography, adding that "This story does have some difficult topics, including abuse and attempted suicide."
The discussion highlights the logistical and psychological pressures Ada Blackjack faced during the Wrangel Island Expedition. Braverman detailed how the expedition team recruited her, stating, "They pick up some sled dogs. Uh, they, they hire Ada Blackjack." The show contrasts the reality of these conditions against the narrative presented by expedition leader Vilhjalmur Stefansson, who allegedly kept families "getting pretty worried" while sending "elaborate correspondence" to reassure them.
Beyond the logistical record, the podcast touches upon historical interpretations of Blackjack's mental health. Braverman explicitly referenced the work of author Jennifer Niven, mentioning, "There's a journalist named Jennifer Niven who's written a book called Ada Blackjack-" This ongoing re-examination suggests that future episodes will likely continue to parse the intersection of gender, race, and survivalism in polar history.
