Real Survival Stories

Captain Brian Udell, an elite fighter pilot, shares his extraordinary tale of survival after ejecting from an F-15 at supersonic speed—a feat never before accomplished. He recounts the harrowing moment of malfunction that led to his life-and-death decision, navigating the cold Atlantic waters post-ejection with severe injuries. Brian details the intense challenges he faced in signal for rescue and emphasizes the resilience required to overcome his traumatic experience. His journey culminates in an inspiring story of triumph against the odds.

As a wildfire breaks out in Minnesota, a ranger crew is dispatched to clear the forest of members of the public. But unbeknownst to Todd Stefanic and his colleagues, this will rapidly become the largest and fastest-moving blaze in state history. Penned in on all sides, Todd must dodge the flames amidst the woodland’s waterways. But will these lakes and rivers provide a safe haven? Or condemn them to a watery grave?A Noiser production, written by Joe Viner.For ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptionsIf 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

A mother and daughter relax into ten days of luxury on a tropical island. But fate has other plans. A day trip gone wrong leaves Michelle Hamilton alone in a small canoe, drifting out to sea. Over three terrifying days she’ll come face to face with punishing weather and apex predators. And her own beliefs will be profoundly changed…A Noiser production, written by Emily Webb.For ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptionsIf 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

Two men soar over the majestic Himalayas, risking their lives to save others. Richard Lehner and Daniel Aufdenblatten must extract a group of climbers marooned deep in the Annapurna range. With time and oxygen running out, they’ll employ an audacious rescue technique… dangling Richard on the end of a rope, hanging beneath a helicopter at 23,000 feet…A Noiser production, written by Fiona Ford.For ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptionsIf 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

In Tasmania, a deadly seismic tremor brings Todd Russell’s world crashing down on top of him. As a miner, he’s used to working far underground - extracting precious metals from the deep. But when he finds himself trapped in a tiny air pocket, Todd must draw on untapped deposits of fortitude if he’s to survive the unsurvivable…A Noiser production, written by Joe Viner.For ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptionsIf 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

Els Visser, a trainee doctor from the Netherlands, shares her harrowing survival story after a cruise shipwreck in the Flores Sea. She recounts the chaos aboard as panic sets in among the passengers. Els fights for survival in treacherous waters, facing fear and dwindling supplies. Her emotional struggles and determination shine through as she navigates towards a volcanic island. Themes of resilience and the will to survive are woven through her intense journey, showcasing the profound impact of such a life-altering experience.

This is a taster episode from our sister show, Short History Of… which is also hosted by John Hopkins.Daniel Defoe’s 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe is one of the most widely published books in history. This story of a man stranded alone on an island is said to be second only to the Bible in its number of translations. But who was Defoe’s inspiration for creating one of the best-known protagonists in literature? And what led to this real-life sailor spending years of his life cut off from human contact?This is a Short History of the Real Robinson Crusoe.Follow Short History Of… wherever you get your podcasts for new episodes every Monday. Or follow this link: https://podfollow.com/short-history-of/view Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A private flight to Scotland runs into serious trouble. With his passengers safely on board and sipping bubbly, pilot Jonathan Moss takes off on what should be a quick and easy job. But when the weather takes a drastic turn and his aircraft loses power, the situation quickly becomes anything but routine. Without lights, navigation, radio or heating, Jonathan will have to estimate and improvise his way through an unfolding disaster in the skies…A Noiser production, written by Fiona Ford.For ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptionsJonathan got in touch after listening to the show. If you have an amazing survival story of your own that you’d like to put forward, let us know. Drop us an email at support@noiser.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Most don’t make it to the finish. Some don’t survive. Two months into a monumental sailing race, Pete Goss is beset by the worst storm he’s ever faced. And then… a distress call comes in. A fellow skipper is sinking and needs urgent help. Suddenly, Pete’s battle to stay alive becomes the most daring of rescue missions…A Noiser production, written by Sean Coleman.For more on this story read Pete’s book Close to the Wind.For ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptionsIf 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

An outdoor instructor plummets into peril on the misty, mythical Isle of Skye. Iain Afshar is traversing a precipitous sawtooth ridgeline in the Cuillin Hills when he tumbles blindly into impenetrable fog. Bloodied, broken and stranded, it seems he has minutes to live. But as he clings to life, his ultimate salvation will come from the unlikeliest of sources…A Noiser production, written by Joe Viner.For ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptionsIain got in touch with us after listening to the show. If you have an amazing survival story of your own that you’d like to put forward, let us know. Drop us an email at support@noiser.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices