Against The Odds
- Episodes
- 299
- Format
- Series – listen from the start
- Latest episode
- Nov 10, 2026
About the podcast
Humans are resilient. In our toughest moments, we will fight, we will struggle, and we will triumph...often against the odds.
In this immersive series, host-adventurers Mike Corey and Cassie De Pecol will share thrilling stories of survival. From the daring rescue of a soccer team trapped in an underwater cave in Thailand, to a woman taken hostage by Somali pirates, these stories made headlines around the world. AGAINST THE ODDS will make you feel as though you’re living these experiences with our heroes as they push themselves to their limits.
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against The Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
Episodes 299
The Sinking of the Andrea Doria | Out of the Fog | 1
On July 17th, 1956 the luxury Oceanliner Andrea Doria set sail from Italy, bound for New York City. But one day before her arrival, the Andrea Doria entered a thick bank of fog near Nantucket Island. Another …
Show notes
On July 17th, 1956 the luxury Oceanliner Andrea Doria set sail from Italy, bound for New York City. But one day before her arrival, the Andrea Doria entered a thick bank of fog near Nantucket Island. Another ocean liner, the Stockholm, was steaming the other direction. They tried to maneuver around each other, but something went horribly wrong, and the ships collided endangering the lives of thousands of passengers and crewmembers.
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
LISTEN NOW: The First Wife
Many listened to the Dirty John podcast, which introduced the world to John Meehan, a dangerous serial predator who infiltrates the life of Debra Newell and ultimately dies at the hand of her daughter, Terra …
Show notes
Many listened to the Dirty John podcast, which introduced the world to John Meehan, a dangerous serial predator who infiltrates the life of Debra Newell and ultimately dies at the hand of her daughter, Terra. But there was an overlooked story that’s now being told, in full, for the first time.
In The First Wife: John Meehan’s Reign of Terror, Tonia Bales recounts her harrowing experiences as John’s wife of 10 years and the mother of their daughters, Emily and Abby. Highlighting new details and revelations, Tonia shares the abuse she suffered from the man she once believed to be her soulmate, but who ultimately revealed himself as a coercive and controlling terrorist. Through exclusive archival materials and all-new interviews with the people who knew her and John best, uncovering long-held secrets and including perspective from their daughters, Tonia embarks on a re-investigation of the man she thought she knew. The multiple bombshells she unearths include one that will change her and her daughters’ lives forever.
Listen now: HERE
Audible subscribers can binge all episodes right now ad-free. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Hugh Glass: The Real Life Revenant | An Interview With Novelist Michael Punke | 3
Author Michael Punke read the few facts known about Hugh Glass and wrote The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge, based on Glass’s ordeal. Director Alejandro Iñárritu adapted Punke’s novel into the Academy …
Show notes
Author Michael Punke read the few facts known about Hugh Glass and wrote The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge, based on Glass’s ordeal. Director Alejandro Iñárritu adapted Punke’s novel into the Academy Award-winning 2015 film by the same name, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Punke joins host Cassie De Pecol to discuss writing his novel and to share his thoughts about the film.
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Hugh Glass: The Real Life Revenant | Vengeance | 2
Hugh Glass wakes to find he’s been left for dead in the wilderness. With winter fast approaching, Glass will have to rely on his cunning and sheer will if he’s going to make it across 350 miles of wilderness to …
Show notes
Hugh Glass wakes to find he’s been left for dead in the wilderness. With winter fast approaching, Glass will have to rely on his cunning and sheer will if he’s going to make it across 350 miles of wilderness to safety, and take his revenge on the men who abandoned him.
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Listen Now— Over My Dead Body: Operation Sideswipe
A Hollywood stuntwoman turned personal injury attorney. A handsome disbarred lawyer with a dark past. And an elaborate scheme that leads to murder. Vanessa Motta gives up a career of fake car crashes for real …
Show notes
A Hollywood stuntwoman turned personal injury attorney. A handsome disbarred lawyer with a dark past. And an elaborate scheme that leads to murder.
Vanessa Motta gives up a career of fake car crashes for real ones. But her law career in New Orleans gets off to a rocky start — until she meets Sean Alfortish, a charming man who offers her the perfect space for her law office. Vanessa and Sean fall hard for each other, and as a former lawyer himself, Sean becomes her mentor. So, what if he's done some prison time for fraud?
When Sean introduces Vanessa to one of the city's most prolific case runners, Cornelius Garrison, the money starts rolling in. Cornelius brings her a steady stream of accident victims looking to sue. There's just one problem: the accidents aren't real. And once the secret gets out, someone will have to pay.
Reported and hosted by Mitch Moxley, Over My Dead Body: Operation Sideswipe is a six-part series about greed, betrayal, and who gets thrown under the bus when everything is on the line.
Audible subscribers can binge all episodes early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible App or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts. Listen now: HERE
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Hugh Glass: The Real Life Revenant | Death Watch | 1
On August 23, 1823, a fur trapper named Hugh Glass was attacked and brutally mauled by a grizzly bear in present-day South Dakota. Glass’s fellow trappers were sure his wounds were fatal. But Glass refused to …
Show notes
On August 23, 1823, a fur trapper named Hugh Glass was attacked and brutally mauled by a grizzly bear in present-day South Dakota. Glass’s fellow trappers were sure his wounds were fatal. But Glass refused to die. His real-life story inspired Alejandro Iñárritu’s film, “The Revenant.”
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Listen Now: Audible True Crime – Ghost Story
Audible True Crime is a dedicated podcast feed where we bring you the best podcasts in true crime, with episodes dropping every single week. Just in time for spooky season, we’re releasing a show called Ghost …
Show notes
Audible True Crime is a dedicated podcast feed where we bring you the best podcasts in true crime, with episodes dropping every single week.
Just in time for spooky season, we’re releasing a show called Ghost Story, a series about a hidden family secret, unexplainable events and jaw-dropping coincidences. Tristan Redman doesn’t believe in ghosts. But weird things happened in his teenage bedroom. And when he discovers later that occupants of his family home have seen the ghost of a faceless woman, he’s intrigued. Because it just so happens that his wife’s great grandmother, Naomi Dancy, was murdered in the house next door…killed by two gunshots to the face.
Audible subscribers can binge all episodes on Audible True Crime early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible App or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts. Listen Now: HERE
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Great Northern Railroad Avalanche | Stranded on a Train | 4
In the early hours of March 1st, 1910, an avalanche roared down onto passengers stranded on the Seattle Express, smashing the cars into the ravine below. Photographs from the scene showed a mess of upside down …
Show notes
In the early hours of March 1st, 1910, an avalanche roared down onto passengers stranded on the Seattle Express, smashing the cars into the ravine below. Photographs from the scene showed a mess of upside down rail cars, huge tree trunks and debris. Ninety-six people died in the disaster. Gary Krist covered the tragedy in his book The White Cascade: The Great Northern Railway Disaster and America's Deadliest Avalanche. He joins host Mike Corey to share insights and stories.
If you’d like to learn more, you can listen to the audiobook version of “The White Cascade: The Great Northern Railway Disaster and America's Deadliest Avalanche by Gary Krist right now on Audible.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Great Northern Railroad Avalanche | A Roaring Cascade | 3
It’s been a week since the train was stranded. Finally, railroad employees agree to escort the passengers on foot nine miles down the tracks to another rail stop less impacted by the snow. But the night before …
Show notes
It’s been a week since the train was stranded. Finally, railroad employees agree to escort the passengers on foot nine miles down the tracks to another rail stop less impacted by the snow. But the night before they’re supposed to leave, the snow turns to rain, destabilizing the snowpack. At around 2:00 in the morning, the avalanche they’ve all been dreading hits them. As the passengers and railroad workers who survived dig out, they’ll have to use all their wits and resources for the rescue effort. They realize they’re alone and isolated on the mountain, facing the aftermath of the deadliest avalanche in United States history.
If you’d like to learn more, you can listen to the audiobook version of “The White Cascade: The Great Northern Railway Disaster and America's Deadliest Avalanche by Gary Krist right now on Audible.
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Great Northern Railroad Avalanche | Buried Deep | 2
Superintendent James O’Neill races to clear the tracks of snow so the train stuck in the Cascade Mountains can escape before an avalanche hits. But the snow is relentless, coming down ferociously. And O’Neill …
Show notes
Superintendent James O’Neill races to clear the tracks of snow so the train stuck in the Cascade Mountains can escape before an avalanche hits. But the snow is relentless, coming down ferociously. And O’Neill faces one setback after another, keeping the train stuck for days on end. Tensions grow among the passengers. The railroad workers assure the passengers they’re safe and just need to be patient. But as the coal stock grows low and avalanches rumble all around them, some passengers decide they’re done waiting. They’re going to hike down the mountain, no matter the risk.
If you’d like to learn more, you can listen to the audiobook version of “The White Cascade: The Great Northern Railway Disaster and America's Deadliest Avalanche by Gary Krist right now on Audible.
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Great Northern Railroad Avalanche | Snowed In | 1
On February 22, 1910, passengers board the Seattle Express train in Spokane, Washington. They include a pair of lawyers, a new widow, and a paper salesman. They are due to arrive in Seattle the next morning …
Show notes
On February 22, 1910, passengers board the Seattle Express train in Spokane, Washington. They include a pair of lawyers, a new widow, and a paper salesman. They are due to arrive in Seattle the next morning after traveling over the Cascade mountain range. But when a snow storm hits, the train gets stuck at a small, isolated railroad depot. Railroad superintendent James O’Neill must work to free the train and get them off the mountain before they run out of food or an avalanche strike
If you’d like to learn more, you can listen to the audiobook version of “The White Cascade: The Great Northern Railway Disaster and America's Deadliest Avalanche by Gary Krist right now on Audible.
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In Their Own Words: 9-11: A Survivor Remembers | 1
Sujo John and his wife Mary emigrated from India to the U.S. in February, 2001. Both found work at the World Trade Center – one in the North Tower, one in the South Tower. Life was good for the young couple …
Show notes
Sujo John and his wife Mary emigrated from India to the U.S. in February, 2001. Both found work at the World Trade Center – one in the North Tower, one in the South Tower. Life was good for the young couple; they had jobs, and they were expecting their first child. Then, they went to work on September 11th. Today, On this episode, Sujo John shares his story of how he survived the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, and how it changed his life forever.
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
FAN FAVORITE: Fire at Sea: Cruise Ship Rescue | The Last Lifeboat | 4
Rescue workers begin the painstakingly slow process of airlifting cruise ship evacuees one by one from their lifeboats. But a typhoon has turned the Gulf of Alaska into a raging sea, and as they await rescue …
Show notes
Rescue workers begin the painstakingly slow process of airlifting cruise ship evacuees one by one from their lifeboats. But a typhoon has turned the Gulf of Alaska into a raging sea, and as they await rescue, many of the passengers fear they’ll either drown or die of hypothermia. Just when rescuers think they’ve saved everyone, they realize they’ve overlooked one lifeboat. Amid rain and massive waves, and with darkness approaching, they worry they might never find it.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
FAN FAVORITE: Fire at Sea: Cruise Ship Rescue | Adrift | 3
With the fire aboard Prinsendam now burning out of control, the captain gives the order to abandon ship. Passengers, some dressed only in pajamas and nightgowns, scramble into wooden lifeboats, which are …
Show notes
With the fire aboard Prinsendam now burning out of control, the captain gives the order to abandon ship. Passengers, some dressed only in pajamas and nightgowns, scramble into wooden lifeboats, which are lowered into the dark and frigid waters of the Gulf of Alaska. Meanwhile, rescue vessels – both military and private – rush to the scene. But with over 500 passengers and crew in need of saving, and a typhoon closing in, they’re in a race against time.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
FAN FAVORITE: Fire at Sea: Cruise Ship Rescue | Dead in the Water | 2
As crew members aboard Prinsendam work to contain the fire, passengers shiver on the decks in the cold night air. The mood is mostly festive; everyone expects that the fire will be extinguished soon. But when …
Show notes
As crew members aboard Prinsendam work to contain the fire, passengers shiver on the decks in the cold night air. The mood is mostly festive; everyone expects that the fire will be extinguished soon. But when the blaze spreads to the dining room, the ship’s captain realizes he has no choice. He issues an SOS. If help doesn’t come soon, they’ll have to abandon ship — with a typhoon headed straight toward them.
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
FAN FAVORITE: Fire at Sea: Cruise Ship Rescue | The Blaze | 1
In October of 1980, the luxury cruise ship Prinsendam set sail from Vancouver with more than 300 passengers aboard, many of whom were elderly. But just after midnight on the cruise’s fourth day, in the Gulf of …
Show notes
In October of 1980, the luxury cruise ship Prinsendam set sail from Vancouver with more than 300 passengers aboard, many of whom were elderly. But just after midnight on the cruise’s fourth day, in the Gulf of Alaska, a fire broke out in the ship’s engine room. The crew battled to contain the blaze, but with limited firefighting equipment, it was unclear if they could prevent the fire from spreading, and threatening the entire ship.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In Their Own Words: Andrew Cotton — Wipeout at Nazaré | 1
Professional big wave surfer Andrew Cotton — “Cotty” — discovered he had a knack for riding waves that most other surfers wouldn’t dream of tackling. His journey took him around the globe, from California to …
Show notes
Professional big wave surfer Andrew Cotton — “Cotty” — discovered he had a knack for riding waves that most other surfers wouldn’t dream of tackling. His journey took him around the globe, from California to Hawaii, Ireland and Australia. But when Cotty got an invite to join surf legend Garrett McNamara in a small seaside town in Portugal called Nazaré, he discovered swells bigger and wilder than he’d ever encountered before. Today, Andrew Cotton is here to tell the story of his quest to surf the world’s biggest breaks – and how he bounced back from the wipeout that nearly ended his surfing dreams.
Follow Cotty on YouTube @andrewcottonsurfer, and Instagram @andrew_cotty
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Nightmare in Tornado Alley | The Aftermath With Journalist Holly Bailey | 4
Journalist Holly Bailey returned to Moore, Oklahoma on May 21st, 2013, the day after an EF5 tornado ripped through the city. As a child, she attended school in Moore, but now, the place looked unrecognizable …
Show notes
Journalist Holly Bailey returned to Moore, Oklahoma on May 21st, 2013, the day after an EF5 tornado ripped through the city. As a child, she attended school in Moore, but now, the place looked unrecognizable, with cars wrapped around trees and houses ripped from their foundations. Bailey spoke with residents, teachers, meteorologists and bereaved families. She wrote about the aftermath in her book, The Mercy of the Sky: The Story of a Tornado. She joins Cassie to share her memories and stories of how people coped after the storm.
In this episode, we discussed suicide and depression. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 9-8-8.
For more on this story, we recommend:
The Mercy of the Sky by Holly Bailey
(also available as an audiobook on Audible).
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Nightmare in Tornado Alley | What Remains | 3
When the tornado finally passes, survivors crawl from the wreckage to find their town in ruins. A shaken Gary England and his team at KWTV report on the destruction. First responders claw through mountains of …
Show notes
When the tornado finally passes, survivors crawl from the wreckage to find their town in ruins. A shaken Gary England and his team at KWTV report on the destruction. First responders claw through mountains of rubble looking for survivors. As some families experience miracles and others face heartbreaking loss, the true scale of the devastation begins to sink in.
For more on this story, we recommend:
The Mercy of the Sky by Holly Bailey
(also available as an audiobook on Audible).
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Nightmare in Tornado Alley | It's Here | 2
As a massive mile-wide tornado approaches the town of Moore, Oklahoma, meteorologist Gary England warns viewers to take shelter wherever they can. For principal Amy Simpson and the students and faculty of Plaza …
Show notes
As a massive mile-wide tornado approaches the town of Moore, Oklahoma, meteorologist Gary England warns viewers to take shelter wherever they can. For principal Amy Simpson and the students and faculty of Plaza Towers Elementary School, that means hallways and bathrooms. At Briarwood Elementary, LaDonna Cobb is one of many teachers who try to shield children with their bodies, as the tornado rips the school apart.
For more on this story, we recommend:
The Mercy of the Sky by Holly Bailey
(also available as an audiobook on Audible).
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Nightmare in Tornado Alley | Storm Watch | 1
On May 20, 2013, residents of Moore, a suburb of Oklahoma City, awoke to a severe weather watch. But no one was overly concerned. Tornadoes are a fact of life in the Midwest, especially in Moore, which had …
Show notes
On May 20, 2013, residents of Moore, a suburb of Oklahoma City, awoke to a severe weather watch. But no one was overly concerned. Tornadoes are a fact of life in the Midwest, especially in Moore, which had already survived a devastating EF5-strength twister on May 3rd, 1999, packing winds of 321 miles per hour. No one really believed it could happen again. But soon, a powerful new tornado would be heading towards Moore – and two elementary schools, Plaza Towers and Briarwood, were right in its path.
For more on this story, we recommend:
The Mercy of the Sky by Holly Bailey
(also available as an audiobook on Audible).
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
FAN FAVORITE: Crash in a Volcano | Climbing Out | 2
Rescue workers search for the camera crew trapped inside Kilauea’s Pu’u O’o crater, but they’re forced to abandon their efforts when an incoming storm makes conditions too hazardous. Cameramen Chris Duddy and …
Show notes
Rescue workers search for the camera crew trapped inside Kilauea’s Pu’u O’o crater, but they’re forced to abandon their efforts when an incoming storm makes conditions too hazardous. Cameramen Chris Duddy and Mike Benson struggle to survive a night inside the volcano. When daylight comes and there’s still no sign of rescue, Chris makes a fateful decision — to try to save his own life and bring back help for his friend.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
FAN FAVORITE: Crash in a Volcano | Into the Crater | 1
In November 1992, a Hollywood camera crew soars above Hawaii’s Kīlauea, one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes, to capture footage for a major feature film. But suddenly their helicopter’s engine cuts out …
Show notes
In November 1992, a Hollywood camera crew soars above Hawaii’s Kīlauea, one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes, to capture footage for a major feature film. But suddenly their helicopter’s engine cuts out, and they plunge into an active crater. Trapped and inhaling toxic fumes, the men will have to battle for survival — even for every breath — if they’re going to escape the volcano and see their loved ones again.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Coast Guard Rescue on Alaska's High Seas | A Pilot Remembers | 4
When Coast Guard pilot Steve Torpey got called into work on a Friday night back in January, 1998, he had no idea he was heading into the most challenging flight of his career. At that point, two Coast Guard …
Show notes
When Coast Guard pilot Steve Torpey got called into work on a Friday night back in January, 1998, he had no idea he was heading into the most challenging flight of his career. At that point, two Coast Guard helicopters had already failed to rescue the crew of the sunken fishing vessel La Conte. Torpey’s crew — manning the third helicopter — were the stranded fishermen’s last hope. Now retired, Steve Torpey joins host Mike Corey to share his memories of that fateful rescue mission.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Coast Guard Rescue on Alaska's High Seas | Hanging On | 3
With two helicopter teams exhausted and out of fuel after hours of failed attempts, the Coast Guard was forced to send out a third and final team to try to pluck the stranded fishermen from the icy waters. With …
Show notes
With two helicopter teams exhausted and out of fuel after hours of failed attempts, the Coast Guard was forced to send out a third and final team to try to pluck the stranded fishermen from the icy waters. With no other pilots left, it fell to base commander Ted LeFeuvre to lead the final crew. And as the high winds and waves of the brutal storm refused to let up, he was forced to take unorthodox and risky measures.
For more on this story, we recommend:
The Last Run by Todd Lewan
Coming Back Alive by Spike Walker (also available as an audiobook on Audible)
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Coast Guard Rescue on Alaska's High Seas | Rogue Wave | 2
Forced to abandon the La Conte, the five fishermen — Bob Doyle, Mark Morley, Mike DeCapua, Giggy Mork and David Hanlon — find themselves at the mercy of towering waves and galeforce winds as they float in the …
Show notes
Forced to abandon the La Conte, the five fishermen — Bob Doyle, Mark Morley, Mike DeCapua, Giggy Mork and David Hanlon — find themselves at the mercy of towering waves and galeforce winds as they float in the frigid sea. As they prayed for a swift rescue, the Coast Guard helicopter crew sent from Sitka soon discovered this wasn’t an ordinary, or predictable, storm.
For more on this story, we recommend:
The Last Run by Todd Lewan
Coming Back Alive by Spike Walker (also available as an audiobook on Audible)
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Coast Guard Rescue on Alaska's High Seas | Black Line | 1
On January 30, 1998, five fishermen finally hit the jackpot in a fishing bank known as Fairweather Ground off the southeastern coast of Alaska. They were aboard a wooden ship called the La Conte, which had seen …
Show notes
On January 30, 1998, five fishermen finally hit the jackpot in a fishing bank known as Fairweather Ground off the southeastern coast of Alaska. They were aboard a wooden ship called the La Conte, which had seen better days. Despite a brewing storm approaching and the ship taking on water, the men decided to throw out one more fishing line. They’d soon learn they’d made a grave mistake.
For more on this story, we recommend:
The Last Run: A True Story of Rescue and Redemption on the Alaska Seas by Todd Lewan
Coming Back Alive: The True Story of the Most Harrowing Search and Rescue Mission Ever Attempted on Alaska’s High Seas by Spike Walker (also available as an audiobook on Audible)
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In Their Own Words: Slipped Off a Glacier | 1
In July of 2025, climate reporter Alec Luhn was in his element hiking around a glacier in Norway’s Folgefonna National Park. But when Alec slipped off a boulder and broke his leg, he found himself unable to …
Show notes
In July of 2025, climate reporter Alec Luhn was in his element hiking around a glacier in Norway’s Folgefonna National Park. But when Alec slipped off a boulder and broke his leg, he found himself unable to move and trapped in a remote area with no one expecting him home for days. On this episode of In Their Own Words, Alec recounts the story of his fall, being caught in a storm, and doing everything he could to give himself a chance to see his family again.
To follow Alec’s work, subscribe to his newsletter: https://icemushroom.substack.com
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
WWII Nurses Turned Prisoners of War | The "Battling Belles" of Bataan | 6
The capture of American nurses in the Philippines is often described as an “untold story” of WWII; Dr. Elizabeth Norman set out to change that. She conducted extensive interviews with 20 of the 77 nurses who …
Show notes
The capture of American nurses in the Philippines is often described as an “untold story” of WWII; Dr. Elizabeth Norman set out to change that. She conducted extensive interviews with 20 of the 77 nurses who were captured. Norman collected the nurses’ firsthand accounts, and pored over their diaries and letters, weaving these sources together in her book, We Band of Angels: The Untold Story of the American Women Trapped on Bataan. Norman joins Cassie to delve into what it was like to care for patients while trapped in an internment camp for three years.
https://www.amazon.com/We-Band-Angels-American-Trapped/dp/0812984846
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
WW II Nurses Turned Prisoners of War | A Risky Plan | 5
The rations at the Los Baños P.O.W. camp are now down to just 400 calories per day. Every day, the nurses tend to patients who die from starvation. They don’t know how much longer they can hold on. Unbeknownst …
Show notes
The rations at the Los Baños P.O.W. camp are now down to just 400 calories per day. Every day, the nurses tend to patients who die from starvation. They don’t know how much longer they can hold on. Unbeknownst to them, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Muller of the U.S. Army launches his plan to liberate the camp. But it’s complex and dangerous, with many moving pieces. It’s very likely it could fail, leading to the death of his soldiers and the prisoners of Los Baños.
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
These are the latest 60 of 299 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
Similar podcasts
More History podcasts
Is this your podcast?
Confirm it with an entry in your feed: you get a code here, add it as podcast:txt to the channel of your feed, and we check it. Your podcast is then shown as “verified” on SoundNode.