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Against The Odds
30 episodes
FAN FAVORITE: Fire at Sea: Cruise Ship Rescue | The Blaze | 1
Ep 1 · Aug 11, 2026 · 42 min
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/privac…
In Their Own Words: Andrew Cotton — Wipeout at Nazaré | 1
Ep 1 · Aug 4, 2026 · 38 min
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 th…
Nightmare in Tornado Alley | The Aftermath With Journalist Holly Bailey | 4
Ep 4 · Jul 28, 2026 · 37 min
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 stor…
Listen Now: I Am Not Nicholas
Jul 22, 2026 · 5 min
“I am not Nicholas Rossi!” gasps Arthur Knight through an oxygen mask in March 2022. Recently discharged from a Covid ward in Glasgow, he's in a wheelchair. The police say he’s Nicholas Rossi, suspected of faking his death and wanted for rape in Utah. The story makes headlines globally. When journalist Jane MacSorley meets Arthur Knight and his wife Miranda, she thinks the police have made a mistake. She embarks on a yearlong investigation, making a unique discovery which changes everything.&nbs…
Nightmare in Tornado Alley | What Remains | 3
Ep 3 · Jul 21, 2026 · 51 min
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 subscri…
Nightmare in Tornado Alley | It's Here | 2
Ep 2 · Jul 14, 2026 · 46 min
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 (a…
Nightmare in Tornado Alley | Storm Watch | 1
Ep 1 · Jul 7, 2026 · 48 min
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 p…
FAN FAVORITE: Crash in a Volcano | Climbing Out | 2
Ep 2 · Jun 30, 2026 · 43 min
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…
FAN FAVORITE: Crash in a Volcano | Into the Crater | 1
Ep 1 · Jun 23, 2026 · 43 min
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…
Coast Guard Rescue on Alaska's High Seas | A Pilot Remembers | 4
Ep 4 · Jun 16, 2026 · 36 min
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…
Coast Guard Rescue on Alaska's High Seas | Hanging On | 3
Ep 3 · Jun 9, 2026 · 49 min
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 Ba…
Coast Guard Rescue on Alaska's High Seas | Rogue Wave | 2
Ep 2 · Jun 2, 2026 · 44 min
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 audio…
Coast Guard Rescue on Alaska's High Seas | Black Line | 1
Ep 1 · May 26, 2026 · 47 min
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…
In Their Own Words: Slipped Off a Glacier | 1
Ep 1 · May 19, 2026 · 48 min
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, subscrib…
WWII Nurses Turned Prisoners of War | The "Battling Belles" of Bataan | 6
Ep 6 · May 12, 2026 · 37 min
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 pa…
WW II Nurses Turned Prisoners of War | A Risky Plan | 5
Ep 5 · May 5, 2026 · 47 min
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 liste…
WW II Nurses Turned Prisoners of War | A Taste of Freedom | 4
Ep 4 · Apr 28, 2026 · 46 min
Conditions at the Los Baños camp are deteriorating. More and more prisoners have been transferred there, leading to overcrowding, and rations have been cut to under 1,000 calories per day. Prisoners are resorting to desperate acts to survive as they’re pushed to the physical and psychological brink. The nurses are also malnourished and struggling to care for their fellow prisoners. But the tide of the war has finally turned and an ambitious U.S. Army paratrooper named Henry Muller…
WW II Nurses Turned Prisoners of War | The Devil You Know | 3
Ep 3 · Apr 21, 2026 · 50 min
Desperate to get away from the sadistic commandant in charge of their P.O.W. camp, the twelve Navy nurses, who call themselves the Twelve Anchors, agree to transfer to a new camp. It’s called Los Baños and it’s located deep in the jungle, 40 miles outside of Manilla. But when the nurses arrive, they realize this new camp has no medical supplies, not enough beds for prisoners to sleep on, not even running water. The nurses soon wonder if they made a grave mistake. Audible subscribe…
WW II Nurses Turned Prisoners of War | Captured | 2
Ep 2 · Apr 14, 2026 · 42 min
After Japan invades the Philippines, the twelve Navy nurses find themselves imprisoned at a military hospital turned P.O.W. camp. They make the best of it, continuing to tend to their patients, confident that the American military will quickly defeat Japan and liberate them. But as the weeks drag into months, with no rescue in sight, the nurses are transferred to another camp. They soon discover that their new home is led by a sadistic commandant who likes nothing more than to make his pris…
WW II Nurses Turned Prisoners of War | An Act of War | 1
Ep 1 · Apr 7, 2026 · 47 min
It’s the Depression and twenty-three-year-old-Dorothy Still is desperate for a job. She joins the US Navy as a nurse, and by 1941, she’s given a dream posting at an American base in the Philippines. Dorothy lives in a beautiful location, with easy work, and a thriving night life. But after the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, the Philippines becomes Japan’s next target. Dorothy and eleven other Navy nurses find themselves in an active war zone, with a conquering army bearing down. Audible subs…
Lightning Strike on Half Dome | Survive the Night | 2
Ep 2 · Mar 31, 2026 · 50 min
As the hikers slowly regain consciousness, they realize the worst has happened: they’ve been struck by lightning. By chance, a pair of EMTs finds their way to the summit in time to help. But they soon realize that if they don’t get the men off Half Dome and airlifted to a hospital fast, they won’t make it till morning. 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.…
Lightning Strike on Half Dome | The Storm | 1
Ep 1 · Mar 24, 2026 · 39 min
On the evening of July 27, 1985, a group of friends decided to ignore gathering storm clouds and warnings as they climbed to the top of Yosemite’s famous Half Dome. Climbers Adrian Esteban and Tom Rice reached the summit first, soon joined by three others as a thunderstorm raged. They decided to shelter in a small cave-like enclosure — a decision that would prove deadly. Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading…
In Their Own Words: Chris Lemons – Deep Sea Diving Crisis | 1
Ep 1 · Mar 17, 2026 · 38 min
In 2012, Chris Lemons had a bright future ahead, with a fiancee and a good job fixing oil infrastructure on the ocean floor. One night in September, he went to work on a pipe about 300 feet beneath the North Sea. But, an accident left him alone and cut off from his lifeline – with only a small emergency supply of oxygen. On this episode of In Their Own Words, Chris shares the story of surviving for about half an hour with nothing to breathe. Links: chrislemons.co.uk exploreyourdepths.com Audible…
FAN FAVORITE: Alaska Bear Attack | Three Long Hours | 2
Ep 2 · Mar 10, 2026 · 48 min
After Bart Pieciul is mauled by a bear in the Alaska wilderness, his friends have to use all of their outdoor knowledge to keep him alive. The three men are stranded in the mountains for hours, waiting for a Coast Guard helicopter to airlift Bart to the nearest hospital. As the temperature drops, they’re desperate to prevent their friend from succumbing to blood loss and hypothermia. And they have no idea if the bear that attacked him will return. Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes o…
FAN FAVORITE: Alaska Bear Attack | In Defense of Life and Property | 1
Ep 1 · Mar 3, 2026 · 47 min
The residents of Haines, Alaska are used to living alongside bears. The region surrounding their small town has one of the densest bear populations in the world. But as climate change curtails the bears’ natural food sources, encounters between bears and humans are becoming more common, putting everyone on edge. 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.c…
Schoolchildren's Blizzard | Not Forgotten | 5
Ep 5 · Feb 24, 2026 · 37 min
Early settlers to the Midwest were accustomed to harsh winters, but the blizzard that hit the Great Plains on January 12th, 1888 caught thousands of pioneer families off guard. The storm was especially brutal for children trying to find their way home from rural schoolhouses. Author David Laskin joins host Mike Corey to talk about how he pieced together the stories of the blizzard, and how the event lives on in the memory of their descendants. Laskin is the award-winning author of The Children’s…
Schoolchildren's Blizzard | The Frozen Remains | 4
Ep 4 · Feb 17, 2026 · 42 min
By the morning of January 13th, 1888, the blizzard had passed, and a frantic search for survivors began. Farmer Johann Albrecht looked for his missing son, and Wilhelm Woebbecke hunted for his foster daughter Lena. Every search party knew they were racing against time to find survivors before they succumbed to hypothermia. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Schoolchildren's Blizzard | Exposed | 3
Ep 3 · Feb 10, 2026 · 34 min
As the blizzard raged, its winds blew up to 60 miles per hour. Those caught out in the storm faced white-out conditions. With few landmarks on the flat prairie, even residents who knew the area well found themselves disoriented. Children like Walter Allen and Lena Woebbecke became lost in the furious storm, desperately trying to make it to safety. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter List…
Schoolchildren's Blizzard | Into the Swirling White | 2
Ep 2 · Feb 3, 2026 · 41 min
On January 12th, 1888, residents of the Dakota Territory and Nebraska woke to an unseasonably warm day. Farmers took advantage of the mild weather to tend to chores and children headed off to school in light jackets. But longtime residents like Sioux tribe member Charley Stabler recognized signs that a major blizzard was coming. As the storm hit, schoolteachers faced agonizing decisions over how to keep their students safe. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcast…
Schoolchildren's Blizzard | No Warning | 1
Ep 1 · Jan 27, 2026 · 40 min
In the 1800s millions of people moved to the American midwest, drawn by promises of cheap, fertile land. But they were caught unprepared in January 1888, when a cold front swept down from Canada and caused a brutal blizzard that left thousands of schoolchildren stranded in drafty, uninsulated schoolhouses. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Against The Odds on the Wondery App…
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