Searching for lost cities in the Amazon sounds like something out of a Hollywood script – unless you’re University of Florida anthropologist Mike Heckenberger. He’s been visiting the Amazon for three decades, working with local tribes and uncovering a network of ancient cities in the jungle. On this episode, Mike joins host Cassie De Pecol to discuss what it’s like to explore the region today, more than a century since Roosevelt’s expedition, and what we can learn from the indigenous people of t...
Feb 07, 2023•36 min•Season 22Ep. 5
After weeks on the River of Doubt, Theodore Roosevelt’s expedition is on the verge of collapse. But hope emerges when they find clues that Brazilian frontiersmen may be living and working in the wilderness nearby. As Roosevelt’s health deteriorates, drastic measures must be taken to fight the infection in his leg. The men must race to return the former president to civilization before illness and starvation claim his life. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, bin...
Jan 31, 2023•48 min•Season 22Ep. 4
Challenges mount as the expedition travels farther down the river. With the end of their journey nowhere in sight, hunger and disease take their toll on the men. Colonel Rondon wonders if members of an indigenous tribe are following them … and waiting to attack. Tensions between the men simmer, until they explode in violence. In the midst of this turmoil, Theodore Roosevelt suffers an injury that initially seems small, but could bring him to the brink of death. Listen early and ad free with Wond...
Jan 24, 2023•45 min•Season 22Ep. 3
As Theodore Roosevelt’s expedition sets off down the River of Doubt, it doesn’t take long for the going to get rough. Their canoes are no match for the boiling rapids, forcing them to trek through an unforgiving jungle rife with insects, predators and disease. As their movement slows, their food supplies dwindle. Roosevelt’s son Kermit takes a bold risk to speed their progress . . . but the turbulent waters deliver more peril than he bargained for. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wo...
Jan 17, 2023•44 min•Season 22Ep. 2
In 1913, former President Theodore Roosevelt embarked on a perilous expedition to explore one of the last unmapped rivers in the Amazon. Roosevelt was joined by his son Kermit, famed Brazilian explorer Candido Rondon, and a team of naturalists and porters. But as the party sets off on a 400 mile trek across the highlands to reach the headwaters, they discover they are woefully unprepared for the dangers that await them in the wild. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclus...
Jan 10, 2023•45 min•Season 22Ep. 1
On the afternoon of July 15, 1976, nine-year-old Jennifer Brown Hyde and her older brother Jeff were returning home from a summer school trip to a local pool. On their way home, masked men with guns boarded their school bus, and her life was changed in an instant. In this special interview, Jennifer joins host Mike Corey to discuss the kidnapping, its aftermath, and how sharing her story has helped her heal from the trauma. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, bi...
Dec 13, 2022•41 min•Season 20Ep. 3
The kidnapped children and their bus driver are trapped underground in the back of a moving truck, and they’re running out of food and water. They decide the only way out is to dig their way to the surface. Meanwhile, the amateur criminals who hijacked the school bus are trying to deliver a five million dollar ransom demand to the California government. Soon, the tables are turned, and the kidnappers are the ones trying to escape an international manhunt. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. ...
Dec 06, 2022•41 min•Season 20Ep. 2
In the summer of 1976, three masked gunmen hijack a school bus full of children in rural Chowchilla, California. The twenty-six kids and their bus driver are driven to a quarry and buried alive. Back in town, no one has any idea where the children went, who took them, or why. The local sheriff and the FBI launch a massive manhunt to track down the kidnappers and locate the children, but the trail quickly runs cold. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, ear...
Nov 29, 2022•42 min•Season 20Ep. 1
Swede Momsen’s diving bell finally makes contact with the sailors trapped inside the USS Squalus. But bad weather makes for a harrowing mission. And just when rescuers are about to bring the last of the crew to safety, the bell hits an unexpected snag, leaving a group of sailors and the sub’s captain trapped in even worse circumstances than before, with their chances of survival literally hanging by a thread. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early acc...
Nov 22, 2022•47 min•Season 19Ep. 3
With the USS Squalus trapped at the bottom of the ocean, the Navy mounted an all-out rescue effort to save its crew before they ran out of breathable air. They called upon Charles “Swede” Momsen, an engineer who’d been pushing the Navy for years to develop new technology to rescue sunken submarines. While top brass considered Momsen a “rebel in uniform,” his ingenious invention — a rescue diving bell — soon became the Navy’s only hope. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for ex...
Nov 15, 2022•46 min•Season 19Ep. 2
On the morning of May 23, 1939, a state-of-the-art U.S. Navy’s submarine, the USS Squalus, was doing a routine test dive when something went terribly wrong. The sub began flooding, and plunged 240 feet down to the bottom of the ocean, trapping the dozens of sailors aboard. The ship’s captain knew he had to act fast if he had any hope of saving his crew from a horrible death. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Availab...
Nov 08, 2022•47 min•Season 19Ep. 1
CalFire dispatcher Beth Bowersox was on duty the morning the Camp Fire ignited. She joins Host Cassie De Pecol to share what it was like behind the scenes as a first responder, and her decision to evacuate all of her hometown of Paradise. Later, UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain discusses whether there could be another Camp Fire. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, call or text 988 for help. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, ...
Nov 01, 2022•36 min•Season 18Ep. 6
By the time it was contained in late November 2018, the Camp Fire had become the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. Journalist Lizzie Johnson spent two years reporting on the fire and its aftermath for The San Francisco Chronicle and her book, Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive An American Wildfire . Lizzie joins host Cassie De Pecol to discuss the stories she heard from local residents, firefighters and rescue crews in Paradise, and shares her own experiences r...
Oct 25, 2022•35 min•Season 18Ep. 5
By mid-afternoon of November 8, 2018, the Camp Fire has largely moved through Paradise. Families separated by the fire are desperate to find each other and know who survived — and if they’ll be able to return to their homes. The town of 27,000 people has largely been destroyed, leaving residents to reckon with the aftermath of the devastation. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App http...
Oct 18, 2022•41 min•Season 18Ep. 4
As the fire rages and traffic on the main roads out of Paradise comes to a standstill, firefighters realize evacuation is no longer a viable option. First responders race to locate places of refuge within the town, where trapped civilians and other firefighters can wait out the fire as safely as possible. Meanwhile, other residents and firefighters find themselves stuck in gridlock, with nowhere to go as the flames close in. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, b...
Oct 11, 2022•44 min•Season 18Ep. 3
As a fast-moving wildfire closes in on their town, Paradise residents move to evacuate as quickly as possible. But not everyone knows about the seriousness of the fire. Electronic evacuation alerts from Cal Fire aren’t getting through to the whole town. And others are stubbornly committed to staying put to defend their properties. Meanwhile, hundreds of drivers, including a school bus full of children, are getting trapped on the clogged roads leading out of town. Listen early and ad free with Wo...
Oct 04, 2022•39 min•Season 18Ep. 2
In the early morning of November 8, 2018, a faulty electrical line sparked a fire in the woods of Butte County, California. Spurred on by high winds and dry brush from extreme drought, the fire spread faster than anyone had ever seen before. In a little over an hour, it arrived in the town of Paradise, California, forcing 27,000 residents to flee for their lives. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wo...
Sep 27, 2022•45 min•Season 18Ep. 1
In 1992, Christopher Duddy was a young Hollywood cameraman assigned to shoot footage of an active volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island. Then his helicopter crashed inside the volcano near a pool of molten lava, and his life would never be the same. Host Mike Corey hears how Chris can still remember the sights, smells and sounds on his epic climb out…nearly 30 years later. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the...
Sep 20, 2022•36 min•Season 17Ep. 3
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. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges,...
Sep 13, 2022•42 min•Season 17Ep. 2
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. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, ...
Sep 06, 2022•46 min•Season 17Ep. 1
The story of the Thai cave rescue captivated the world – spawning numerous books, documentaries, and most recently, the Hollywood film, Thirteen Lives , directed by Ron Howard. On today’s episode, British rescue diver Rick Stanton returns to discuss his time consulting on the movie. He’ll share what it was like working with Viggo Mortensen, the actor who plays Rick, and how the dives were meticulously recreated for the film. Later, we’ll go inside the rescue with an excerpt from our 2021 i...
Aug 30, 2022•35 min•Season 16Ep. 5
Rescuers locate the 12 boys and their soccer coach deep inside the Tham Luang, but now they have another problem. How will they get them all out? An international team frantically looks for solutions, but no one can agree on a plan. Meanwhile, monsoon rains are coming and the clock is ticking down. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App https://wondery.app.link/againsttheodds . Please s...
Aug 23, 2022•46 min•Season 16Ep. 4
Rescuers locate the 12 boys and their soccer coach deep inside the Tham Luang, but now they have another problem. How will they get them all out? An international team frantically looks for solutions, but no one can agree on a plan. Meanwhile, monsoon rains are coming and the clock is ticking down. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App https://wondery.app.link/againsttheodds . Please s...
Aug 16, 2022•42 min•Season 16Ep. 3
The boys on the soccer team struggle to stay alive inside the cave. Expert divers from around the world arrive in Thailand to find a media circus and a slow-moving bureaucracy. All of them must work against harrowing conditions and disappearing oxygen levels to get to the boys before it’s too late. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App https://wondery.app.link/againsttheodds . Please s...
Aug 09, 2022•42 min•Season 16Ep. 2
In 2018, twelve young soccer players and their coach are exploring a six-mile caving system in Thailand when they are trapped inside by heavy rains. Local authorities attempt to rescue them. But it’s going to take an international effort by some of the world’s most expert divers, if they want to have a prayer of succeeding in this daring and dangerous mission. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wonde...
Aug 02, 2022•44 min•Season 16Ep. 1
On this special episode, survival writer Peter Stark joins host Mike Corey for a wide-spanning conversation about adventure – why we’re drawn to it and how it can push us to the edge. They’ll discuss Stark’s Outside Magazine article Frozen Alive , about what it feels like to succumb to hypothermia, as well as how to deal with risk in the wilderness, and exploring the blank spots on the map. They’ll also swap stories about encounters with deadly mamba snakes in Africa. Lis...
Jun 28, 2022•46 min•Season 15Ep. 6
The Mount Hood tragedy remains the second deadliest mountaineering accident in North American history. Growing up in Oregon, Ric Conrad remembers following the developments on the six o’clock news when he was just a few years older than some of the teenage climbers. But it wasn’t until he had his own experience tackling Mount Hood that he decided to investigate more. Ric is the author of Code 1244: The 1986 Mount Hood Tragedy . He joins host Cassie de Pecol to discuss what went wrong on th...
Jun 21, 2022•36 min•Season 15Ep. 5
As the search for the missing climbers enters its second day, rescuers redouble their efforts to find the lost students and their adult guides. But the vastness of the search area presents major challenges. Rescue workers and parents face the awful reality that the missing climbers' chances for survival are dwindling rapidly. But then, a crucial discovery gives them hope, and profoundly alters the nature of the search. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges,...
Jun 14, 2022•44 min•Season 15Ep. 4
Morning provides no relief for the Oregon Episcopal School climbers trapped without food or water high on Mount Hood. The storm that forced them to take shelter in a snow cave shows no signs of letting up. Two of the climbers embark on a perilous journey to find help, while elite rescuers battle the elements, and confront the terrifying possibility that they could wind up stranded on the mountain as well. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access,...
Jun 07, 2022•44 min•Season 15Ep. 3
With night falling, the student climbers and their adult chaperones must take refuge in a cramped, frigid, and hastily dug snow cave. Their leader, Father Tom Goman, begins to succumb to hypothermia. Meanwhile, search and rescue teams prepare to deploy. But as the storm that first trapped the climbers on Mount Hood rages on, the dire nature of their predicament becomes increasingly apparent. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free l...
May 31, 2022•37 min•Season 15Ep. 2
