

Real Survival Stories
NOISER
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
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 17, 2025 • 48min
Underwater Labyrinth: Wedged Beneath the Waves
A keen diver, Nikki Daniels is never happier than when exploring the open seas. 50 feet underwater is her home from home. But in the summer of 1999, one wrong move turns her happy place into the scene of potential tragedy. Trapped within an upturned World War One ship at the bottom of the ocean - with low visibility and scant supplies of oxygen - Nikki must think and act fast if she’s going to solve this deadly puzzle. And putting herself in even greater danger may offer her only chance of escape…
A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins.
Written by Edward White | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke Lonergan | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design by Jacob Booth | Assembly edit 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
Our sister podcast Short History Of… has a new book! Pre-order your copy of A Short History of Ancient Rome now at noiser.com/books Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 10, 2025 • 52min
Alone in Zambia: Scorching Sun, Out of Water
Chaz Powell is determined to walk the full length of the Zambezi River, from source to mouth. 2,000 miles through harsh terrain, even harsher weather and some of the hottest temperatures on Earth. After two months, he’s making good headway… until his progress grinds to a sudden halt. Before long, Chaz will find himself exposed on the wide-open savanna. With grim irony, a journey along one of Africa’s longest rivers will transform into a desperate battle against dehydration…
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 by Jacob Booth | Assembly edit 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

Sep 3, 2025 • 57min
No Mans Canyon: Brothers in Trouble
A college professor and his older brother set out to explore Utah’s Canyonlands. But when a tricky climbing manoeuvre in a remote desert gully goes horribly wrong, David Cicotello finds himself stranded - without a rope and without his brother and mentor. Battling bitter cold and the ever-present danger of rockfall, David has no choice but to hunker down on a narrow ledge - with scant supplies and no means of escape…
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 by Matt Peaty | Assembly edit by Anisha Deva | 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

Aug 27, 2025 • 55min
Earthquake in India: Buried Alive
A young master’s student studying in the US travels back to India to visit loved ones. It’s a welcome break from his studies. But one morning Viral Dalal is awoken - suddenly and violently - by a devastating earthquake. Trapped in a coffin-sized air pocket beneath the rubble, all Viral can do is scratch at the walls of his concrete tomb with a tiny scrap of metal. As the hours turn into days, he will cling onto hope…
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 by Matt Peaty | Assembly edit 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

Aug 20, 2025 • 54min
Trapped in the Tropics: Stranger to Saviour
A chance encounter with an enigmatic stranger presents Warren Macdonald with the adventure opportunity of a lifetime. But deep in Queensland’s Hinchinbrook Island, a bizarre accident changes everything. Smashed to pieces and immobilised, Warren has to pin all his hopes on a man he only met the day before. And trapped in a streambed in excruciating pain, with water rising around him, the odds are not on his side…
A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins.
Written by Chris McDonald | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke Lonergan | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design by Matt Peaty | Assembly edit 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

Aug 13, 2025 • 49min
Deadliest Day on Everest
Jules Mountain, a mountaineer and cancer survivor, shares his incredible journey of climbing Everest after battling illness. He recounts the chaos of the 2015 earthquake and the avalanche that followed, leaving him and his companions fighting for survival. Jules discusses the fragility of life, the lessons learned from adversity, and the psychological challenges faced while pursuing one's dreams. He also reflects on 'summit fever' and the moral dilemmas that arise in the heart of a disaster, showcasing the indomitable spirit of those on the mountain.

Aug 6, 2025 • 54min
Shipwreck off Australia: Dragged Towards the Rocks
A merchant vessel departs Tasmania. The scheduled journey time is two days. But 18-year-old Mick Doleman and his crewmates will end up at sea for far longer than that. When their ship goes under, the seamen will find themselves stranded in a vulnerable life raft. The hellish experience will involve near starvation, brutal weather, physical turmoil and tragedy, as it becomes apparent that survival won’t be possible for everyone on board…
A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins.
Written by Lewis Georgeson | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke Lonergan | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design by Jacob Booth, Matt Peaty | Assembly edit by Rob Plummer | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Ralph Tittley.
For more on this story, read Back From the Dead by Piia Wirsu with Mick Doleman.
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 30, 2025 • 54min
Kidnapped at Gunpoint: 81 Days in Captivity
In 2013 a celebrated journalist travels to war-torn Syria. But near the front line he’s taken hostage by a group of rebel fighters. Over the next 81 days Jonathan Alpeyrie will get to know his captors extremely well. Harrowing, absurd, surreal… the ordeal will push his body and his mind to the limit. And with the threat of execution always hanging over him, forming a bond with his kidnappers will be crucial to his survival…
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 by Jacob Booth, Matt Peaty | Assembly edit 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 23, 2025 • 54min
Lost in the Amazon: Rainforest Nightmare
Dave Boyer, an intrepid American tourist, shares his harrowing story of getting lost in the Amazon rainforest with travel companion Crystal. They recount their journey from a vibrant exploration to the terrifying moment they became disoriented in dense foliage. Faced with brutal storms and psychological challenges, the duo innovates survival strategies, builds shelter, and navigates treacherous conditions. Their story underscores resilience, personal growth, and the stark beauty of the wild, culminating in a desperate six-day struggle for rescue.

Jul 16, 2025 • 52min
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