Against The Odds

FAN FAVORITE: Crash in a Volcano | Climbing Out | 2

Trapped inside a volcanic crater after a helicopter crash, two men must fight for survival against toxic gas.

FAN FAVORITE: Crash in a Volcano | Into the Crater | 1

A film crew survives a terrifying helicopter crash into a toxic, erupting volcano with no clear way out.

Coast Guard Rescue on Alaska's High Seas | A Pilot Remembers | 4

Coast Guard pilot Steve Torpi recalls the harrowing 1998 mission to rescue fishermen from massive Alaskan seas.

Listen Now: Foul Play

Did the CIA poison legendary goalkeeper Gordon Banks to sabotage England’s 1970 World Cup run?

Coast Guard Rescue on Alaska's High Seas | Hanging On | 3

A Coast Guard crew fights a deadly Alaska storm to rescue the survivors of a sunken fishing vessel in freezing seas.

Coast Guard Rescue on Alaska's High Seas | Rogue Wave | 2

A Coast Guard crew battles 60-foot waves and hurricane-force winds to rescue five fishermen from a sinking vessel.

Coast Guard Rescue on Alaska's High Seas | Black Line | 1

A disgraced ex-Coast Guard officer fights for survival when his fishing boat begins taking on water in an Alaskan storm.

WW II Nurses Turned Prisoners of War | An Act of War | 1

In this episode of Against The Odds, listeners are introduced to the harrowing journey of Dorothy Still, a young woman who joins the U.S. Navy as a nurse during the Great Depression. Seeking stability, she secures a dream assignment in the Philippines in 1941, enjoying a vibrant life stationed in paradise. However, the atmosphere shifts dramatically following the attack on Pearl Harbor, as the Philippines becomes a prime target for the Japanese military. Suddenly thrust into an active war zone, Dorothy and eleven fellow Navy nurses find their lives upended by a rapidly encroaching enemy force. This gripping narrative explores the transition from a peaceful posting to the terrifying reality of life on the front lines, setting the stage for a dramatic story of survival and resilience as these women face the prospect of becoming prisoners of war.

Lightning Strike on Half Dome | Survive the Night | 2

In this harrowing installment of Against the Odds, the narrative picks up in the immediate aftermath of a terrifying lightning strike on the summit of Half Dome. As the injured hikers regain consciousness, they must confront the gravity of their life-threatening situation. The story takes an unexpected turn when a pair of EMTs happens upon the scene, providing critical medical intervention. However, the discovery is only the beginning of a desperate race against time. Listeners are taken through the intense logistical struggle to transport the victims off the treacherous peak and secure an emergency airlift before the window for survival closes. This gripping episode highlights the fragile boundary between adventure and catastrophe, showcasing the grueling physical and mental endurance required to survive an unthinkable encounter with nature in the high mountains.

Lightning Strike on Half Dome | The Storm | 1

In this gripping premiere of The Storm, the podcast explores a harrowing survival story set against the iconic backdrop of Yosemite National Park. On July 27, 1985, a group of friends embarked on a climb to the summit of Half Dome, choosing to press forward despite clear indications of an approaching thunderstorm. As conditions deteriorated rapidly, climbers Adrian Esteban and Tom Rice found themselves joined by others at the peak, where they sought refuge in a small, cave-like enclosure. This decision, intended to provide safety from the elements, instead led to a life-altering tragedy. Listeners can expect a tense, meticulously detailed account of the events leading up to the lightning strike, examining the dangerous intersection of human ambition and the uncontrollable power of nature. It is a chilling introduction to a series defined by human resilience and the sudden fragility of life.

In Their Own Words: Chris Lemons – Deep Sea Diving Crisis | 1

In this harrowing installment of Against The Odds, listener-favorite guest Chris Lemons recounts the terrifying incident that nearly cost him his life. In 2012, while working on oil infrastructure deep beneath the North Sea, a routine dive turned into a fight for survival when Lemons was suddenly cut off from his support vessel. Stranded 300 feet underwater with nothing but a minimal supply of emergency oxygen, he faced the impossible reality of waiting for rescue while trapped in total darkness. Throughout this episode, Lemons provides a gripping, firsthand account of his mental and physical state during those desperate thirty minutes. Listeners will gain insight into the fragility of human life in extreme environments and the incredible circumstances that allowed him to defy the odds and return to the surface. It is a powerful exploration of resilience, survival, and the profound will to live.

FAN FAVORITE: Alaska Bear Attack | Three Long Hours | 2

In this gripping episode of Against the Odds, listeners are taken deep into the Alaskan wilderness to witness a harrowing struggle for survival. When Bart Pieciul is viciously mauled by a bear, his two companions must rely on their expertise and composure to save his life. Stranded in the rugged mountains, the group faces a grueling three-hour wait for a Coast Guard rescue mission. As daylight fades and temperatures plummet, they fight a desperate battle against severe blood loss and the encroaching threat of hypothermia. Adding to the tension is the terrifying uncertainty of whether the aggressive bear might return to finish what it started. This episode highlights the raw determination required to survive nature’s most unpredictable dangers, offering a powerful look at human resilience and the unbreakable bonds formed in the face of life-or-death situations.

FAN FAVORITE: Alaska Bear Attack | In Defense of Life and Property | 1

In this episode of Against The Odds, listeners are transported to the remote wilderness of Haines, Alaska, a town defined by its proximity to one of the world’s densest bear populations. While residents have historically coexisted with these powerful animals, the delicate balance between human life and local wildlife is shifting. The narrative explores how climate change is depleting the bears’ natural food sources, forcing them into closer contact with the community and creating an environment of mounting tension. This episode examines the complex intersection of human safety and animal preservation, highlighting the difficult choices residents face when their homes become territory. Through a gripping exploration of this human-wildlife conflict, the show provides listeners with a sobering look at how environmental changes are fundamentally altering the way we live alongside nature.

Schoolchildren's Blizzard | Not Forgotten | 5

In this episode of Against The Odds, host Mike Corey explores the tragic events of January 12, 1888, when a sudden and catastrophic blizzard struck the Great Plains. While Midwest settlers were no strangers to difficult winters, this particular storm took thousands of pioneer families by surprise, creating a desperate survival scenario for schoolchildren trapped in rural schoolhouses far from home. To provide a comprehensive look at this historical disaster, the program features guest David Laskin, the award-winning author of The Children’s Blizzard. Laskin discusses his meticulous research process, detailing how he reconstructed the harrowing experiences of those caught in the storm. Listeners will gain insight into the devastating impact of the event and discover how these stories continue to resonate within the memories of descendants today. This compelling account brings a chilling piece of American frontier history to life.

Schoolchildren's Blizzard | The Frozen Remains | 4

In the fourth installment of this gripping series, Against The Odds explores the harrowing aftermath of the legendary Schoolchildren’s Blizzard of 1888. As the relentless storm finally breaks on the morning of January 13th, the narrative shifts from survival during the gale to the desperate, frantic search for the missing. Listeners follow the agonizing journeys of individuals like Johann Albrecht and Wilhelm Woebbecke as they scour the frozen, desolate landscape for their children. The episode captures the high-stakes tension of these search parties as they race against the clock to locate those lost in the drifts before hypothermia claims them. This installment offers an intimate look at the human cost of the tragedy, emphasizing the profound courage and heartbreak inherent in this historical disaster. It is a poignant examination of endurance and the devastating reality of a frontier winter.

Schoolchildren's Blizzard | Exposed | 3

In this episode of Against The Odds, listeners are transported back to the harrowing events of the Schoolchildren’s Blizzard. The narrative explores the terrifying reality faced by those caught in a sudden, brutal storm that brought wind speeds of up to 60 miles per hour and complete white-out conditions across the flat prairie. With landmarks obscured and visibility reduced to nothing, even seasoned locals found themselves hopelessly disoriented. The episode focuses on the harrowing experiences of children like Walter Allen and Lena Woebbecke, who were forced to navigate the freezing landscape in a desperate struggle for survival. Through these personal accounts, the podcast highlights the raw power of nature and the incredible human spirit required to endure such a catastrophic event. It is a gripping examination of resilience and the fight to reach safety against impossible odds.

Schoolchildren's Blizzard | Into the Swirling White | 2

In this gripping installment of Against The Odds, listeners are transported back to January 12, 1888, a day that began with deceptive warmth across the Dakota Territory and Nebraska. While farmers and schoolchildren enjoyed the mild conditions, those with deep roots in the land, such as Sioux tribe member Charley Stabler, sensed the arrival of a catastrophic weather event. The episode explores the rapid onset of the infamous Schoolchildren’s Blizzard, a sudden and ferocious storm that caught entire communities off guard. As the temperature plummeted and the landscape vanished into a blinding wall of white, the narrative focuses on the harrowing experiences of schoolteachers tasked with protecting their young students. Listeners will hear a harrowing account of survival, the impossible decisions made under pressure, and the human spirit’s resilience against one of the most unpredictable natural disasters in American history.

Schoolchildren's Blizzard | No Warning | 1

In this gripping episode of Against The Odds, listeners are transported back to the American Midwest during the late 1800s. The narrative explores the experiences of thousands of settlers who relocated to the region, lured by the promise of fertile land and new beginnings. However, their optimism was shattered in January 1888 when an unprecedented and brutal blizzard descended from Canada without warning. The episode focuses on the harrowing plight of schoolchildren who found themselves trapped in poorly insulated schoolhouses as temperatures plummeted. Through a vivid retelling of this historic disaster, the hosts examine the fragility of life on the frontier and the terrifying reality of being caught unprepared by nature. This episode offers a sobering look at a tragic turning point in American history, highlighting the resilience and desperation of those forced to survive the storm.

Madre de Dios: Stranded in the Amazon | Still Waters | 3

In this harrowing episode of Against The Odds, the survival journey of Fitz and Holly FitzGerald reaches a desperate breaking point. Over a week into their ordeal, the couple finds themselves hopelessly trapped deep within an unforgiving Amazonian swamp. As starvation sets in, they must contend with the constant threat of prowling jaguars and relentless insect swarms. When their raft fails them, they are forced to make a life-or-death decision: swim through murky, caiman-infested waters in a final attempt to reach safety. Listeners will hear a gripping account of the physical and mental toll exacted by the jungle as the couple pushes their bodies to the absolute limit. This episode captures their raw struggle for survival, showcasing the incredible endurance required when every decision becomes a matter of life and death in the heart of the wild.

Madre de Dios: Stranded in the Amazon | Dead End | 2

In this gripping episode of Against The Odds, listeners follow Fitz and Holly FitzGerald as their ambitious Amazon river expedition takes a harrowing turn. What begins as a picturesque journey aboard their handmade raft, the Pink Palace, quickly devolves into a desperate fight for survival. After navigating a tense confrontation at the border, the pair is blindsided by a violent storm that pushes them deep into a treacherous, flooded labyrinth of dark water and dense vegetation. As they become completely disoriented in this hostile environment, the episode highlights the terrifying reality of being stranded in one of the world's most unforgiving wildernesses. This chapter of the series captures the escalating tension and isolation of the FitzGeralds as they attempt to find an escape route through an unpredictable and deadly jungle maze.