
Real Survival Stories
True stories of ordinary people thrust into extraordinary survival situations. Stranded in the desert. Lost in the jungle. Marooned in the mountains. Shipwrecked on the high seas. You'll hear from individuals who had everything against them. But even then, they refused to give in…Hosted by John Hopkins. New episodes Thursdays. Get every episode a week early and ad-free with Noiser+. Click the banner at the top of the feed to get started or head to noiser.com/subscriptions.For advertising enquiries, email info@adelicious.fm
Latest episodes

Jul 16, 2025 • 56min
Deep Dive Mystery: Hit by the Bends
Blue Lake holds a mystery deep beneath its surface. And Martin Robson wants to solve it. The British diver descends into the murky depths. But hundreds of feet underwater, an invisible and excruciating force suddenly overwhelms him. Semi-paralysed and sinking, Martin is only at the start of an extraordinary ordeal - one that will ultimately last not for hours, but days…
A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins.
Written by Luke Lonergan | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke Lonergan | Script edit by Joe Viner | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design & audio editing by Jacob Booth, Liam Cameron, Matt Peaty | Assembly editing by Rob Plummer | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Ralph Tittley.
For ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions
If you have an amazing survival story of your own that you’d like to put forward for the show, let us know. Drop us an email at support@noiser.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 9, 2025 • 55min
Plane Down in Africa: Search Party Lost
Deep in rural South Africa, it’s a tough life for a farmer. John Moor has spent years tackling thieves who pilfer his livestock. One day he takes a bold step - chartering a plane to search for some missing cattle in the Drakensberg Mountains. He hopes it’ll give him the upper hand… but everything comes crashing down. John and his companion will find themselves stranded and injured somewhere in the huge range. The mission must switch from recovery to rescue…
A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins.
Written by Duncan Barrett | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke Lonergan | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design & audio editing by Jacob Booth, Liam Cameron, Miri Latham, Matt Peaty | Assembly editing by Rob Plummer | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cian Ryan-Morgan
For ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions
If you have an amazing survival story of your own that you’d like to put forward for the show, let us know. Drop us an email at support@noiser.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 2, 2025 • 58min
Alone in the Valley: Outdoorsman in Peril
Josh Burns embarks on a solo expedition into the Blue Mountains of Oregon. But when a freak accident flips the script, this resourceful hunter is turned into potential prey. Alone in the domain of bears, wolves and mountain lions, Josh will have to find a way to rescue himself. All the while, he’ll struggle to move, stay conscious… and even draw breath…
A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins.
Written by Joe Viner | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke Lonergan | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design & audio editing by Jacob Booth, Liam Cameron, Miri Latham | Assembly editing by Rob Plummer | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cian Ryan-Morgan
For ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions
If you have an amazing survival story of your own that you’d like to put forward for the show, let us know. Drop us an email at support@noiser.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 25, 2025 • 50min
Upended in a Lake: Ivory Coast Ambush
Jon Ritchey sets out on a relaxing fishing trip in the Ivory Coast - a West African country that is close to his heart. But out on the tranquil water, Jon’s boat - and life - are turned upside down. He and his family have inadvertently strayed into the territory of one of the continent’s deadliest animals. Despite the best efforts of father and uncle, when the young man finds himself in its lethal grasp, it seems there will be only one outcome...
A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds.
For ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions
If you have an amazing survival story of your own that you’d like to put forward for the show, let us know. Drop us an email at support@noiser.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 18, 2025 • 54min
Crumbling Mountainside: Into the Void
High in New Zealand’s Southern Alps, a huge shift on the surface of a glacier sends two climbers hurtling down the slope at breakneck speed. With no time to react, Paul Rogers vanishes into the ice. He will find himself injured, without equipment and with no idea what’s happened to his partner. And just when it seems things can’t get any worse, they do…
A Noiser production, written by Chris McDonald.
For ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions
If you have an amazing survival story of your own that you’d like to put forward for the show, let us know. Drop us an email at support@noiser.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 11, 2025 • 55min
Swept Downstream: Mountain Biker in Costa Rica
Mark Lyons enters an epic mountain bike race through the heart of Costa Rica. Its fearsome reputation is well deserved. The father of two will end up caught in a river current and swept downstream for miles - deep into the jungle. Even if he can escape the water, with no GPS, no phone and no shoes, survival will still require a superhuman effort…
A Noiser production, written by Joe Viner.
For ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions
If you have an amazing survival story of your own that you’d like to put forward for the show, let us know. Drop us an email at support@noiser.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

16 snips
Jun 4, 2025 • 59min
Two Kilometres Underground: Inches of Breathing Room
Robbie Shone, a top British cave photographer, shares his treacherous journey deep within the world's deepest cave in Russian-occupied Georgia. Facing an unexpected flood, he recounts the chaos and urgent decisions made to survive with barely inches of breathing room. Shone's gripping account highlights the thrilling camaraderie among the explorers and the haunting fears of drowning. The episode poignantly reflects on the emotional weight of loss within the caving community, leaving listeners on the edge of their seats while contemplating the fragility of life.

May 28, 2025 • 60min
Skidding off the Freeway: Trapped out of Sight
Matt Reum, a welder, recounts his harrowing experience of being trapped in his truck for six days after a fatal crash during a foggy winter night. He shares the terrifying moments of isolation and panic as he fought for survival, grappling with injury and despair. Matt reflects on his challenging childhood, the complexities of connection and belonging, and the mental battle between hope and hopelessness. His story highlights resilience and the transformative power of survival against the odds.

May 21, 2025 • 54min
Alpine Adventure: First Date on a Mountain
Rachel Kelsey, a climber and adventure enthusiast, along with her date Jeremy, find themselves caught in a violent storm on Piz Badil in the Swiss Alps. This harrowing first date escalates as they battle life-threatening conditions, revealing the unpredictable nature of mountain weather. Their connection deepens amid the chaos, showcasing the power of teamwork and resilience as they strategize for survival. The couple's chilling night on a precarious ledge highlights vulnerability, fear, and hope, transforming their tale into a gripping alpine adventure.

May 14, 2025 • 57min
Stranded on Ice: Polar Bears Prowling…
Glen Gantz, a Utah biologist, shares his electrifying tale of a solo rafting trip down the Firth River in 2000, where the wilderness pushed him to his limits. He recounts the harrowing moment he became stranded on a spit of land with a prowling polar bear nearby, revealing the thin line between adventure and peril. Glen discusses battling severe weather, confronting his fears while trapped in a storm for 36 hours, and the unexpected emotional weight of isolation. His story is a gripping reminder of nature’s beauty and danger.