In this explosive episode of The Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen dive into five days of pure terror on the high seas. When four armed Somali pirates stormed the Maersk Alabama in 2009, Captain Richard Phillips made a split-second decision that would either save his crew—or cost him his life. What followed was a heart-pounding standoff in a sweltering lifeboat with AK-47-wielding captors, while Navy SEALs prepared for one of the most precise rescue sho...
Jun 23, 2025•43 min•Ep. 171
On December 20th, 1980, 19-year-old Jean Hilliard experienced what doctors call medically impossible. After her car slid off an icy road in rural Minnesota during a blizzard with temperatures at -22°F, Jean made the difficult decision to walk two miles through whiteout conditions to reach her friend Wally Nelson's farmhouse. Dressed only in cowboy boots and a winter coat, she battled brutal winds and life-threatening cold for over an hour. In a cruel twist of fate, Jean collapsed just 15 feet fr...
Jun 16, 2025•53 min•Ep. 170
In 2002, 23-year-old French snowboarder Marco Siffredi vanished without a trace while attempting to snowboard down Mount Everest's treacherous Hornbein Couloir. This gripping episode of Disaster Strikes explores the tragic story of an elite extreme athlete whose deadly obsession with conquering Everest's most dangerous descent route led to one of mountaineering's most haunting mysteries. Discover Marco's meteoric rise in the world of extreme snowboarding, his groundbreaking first successful desc...
Jun 12, 2025•27 min•Ep. 169
Picture this: You're a medical professional on a routine work trip when suddenly you're playing a real-life game of survival that makes Bear Grylls look like a weekend camper. Meet Tiffany Slaton, the dialysis tech from Georgia who accidentally became the Sierra Nevada's most badass temporary resident. What started as just another day at the office turned into a 24-day masterclass in "how to not die in the mountains." Tiffany didn't just survive—she MacGyvered her way through multiple blizzards,...
Jun 09, 2025•40 min•Ep. 168
This gripping episode explores one of climbing's most harrowing incidents—the 2000 kidnapping of four young American climbers in Kyrgyzstan's remote mountains. Tommy Caldwell, Beth Rodden, Jason Singer Smith, and John Dickey were world-class athletes with a North Face sponsorship to establish first ascents on untouched granite walls. Their dream expedition turned into a nightmare on August 12, 2000, when they were awakened by bullets striking the rock around their portaledges 1,000 feet up the Y...
Jun 02, 2025•35 min•Ep. 167
Get ready for the most unbelievable survival story you've ever heard. Hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen deliver a jaw-dropping tale that sounds like Hollywood fiction but is 100% real—and it happened at 400 mph, 17,000 feet above ground. Picture this: June 10th, 1990. British Airways Flight 5390. Thirteen minutes after takeoff, the cockpit windscreen explosively blows out, and Captain Tim Lancaster gets literally sucked halfway out of the aircraft. For 22 agonizing minutes, he's pinned ...
May 26, 2025•43 min•Ep. 166
In this episode of 'The Crux: Disaster Strikes,' host Julie Henningsin delves into the harrowing story of the cargo ship El Faro, which sank near The Bahamas on October 1st, 2015, claiming all 33 lives on board. Through the recovered voyage data recorder, we gain a chilling insight into the ship's final hours. Henningsin explores the crew dynamics, the weather challenges, and the human errors that compounded the disaster. The episode highlights the systemic issues in maritime safety and the less...
May 22, 2025•34 min•Ep. 165
In this episode of The Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen explore the ill-fated voyage of the Karluk during the 1913 Canadian Arctic Expedition. They discuss the questionable leadership of expedition organizer Vilhjalmur Stefansson, the concerns about the ship's seaworthiness, and the harrowing events that followed when the vessel became trapped in ice. The episode covers the dramatic sinking of the ship, the incredible 80-mile journey across shifting ic...
May 19, 2025•27 min•Ep. 164
In this episode of The Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen delve into the allure and dangers of Mount Fuji. They discuss the historical significance and the cultural importance of Japan's tallest peak, which attracts hundreds of thousands of climbers annually. The episode covers the tragic yet sensational story of a climber who had to be rescued twice within four days due to altitude sickness, along with other harrowing tales of fatalities and rescues on ...
May 12, 2025•41 min•Ep. 163
In this episode of Disaster Strikes, host Kaycee McIntosh tackles the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, often referred to as the 'silent killer.' This episode examines real-life tragedies, explaining how carbon monoxide exposure occurs and the devastating effects it can have on the human body. McIntosh emphasizes the importance of prevention through the use of carbon monoxide detectors and provides practical tips to protect yourself and loved ones at home and while traveling. The episode hig...
May 08, 2025•21 min•Ep. 162
In this episode, join Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh as they dive into the astonishing story of Dr. Alain Bombard, a French physician and biologist who, in 1952, undertook an audacious scientific experiment. To prove that humans could survive adrift at sea using only ocean resources, Bombard set off to drift across the Atlantic Ocean in a small inflatable dinghy, without food or water. Over the course of 65 harrowing days, he endured severe conditions, subsisting on raw fish, plankton, and...
May 05, 2025•48 min•Ep. 161
This episode of The Crux True Survival Story Podcast follows the remarkable tale of 2-year-old Boden Allen who survived a seven-mile journey through the hazardous Arizona desert, thanks to the protective instincts of a ranch dog named Buford. Host Kaycee McIntosh delves into the Allen family's terrifying ordeal, the resilience of young children in wilderness situations, and the heroics of Great Pyrenees dogs. The episode also highlights other incredible child survival stories and provides crucia...
Apr 28, 2025•33 min•Ep. 160
In this episode of 'Disaster Strikes,' host Julie Henningsin dives into the haunting story of Randy Morganson, a legendary backcountry ranger who vanished without a trace in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains in 1996. This episode explores Randy's life, his profound connection to the wilderness, and the tragic series of events that led to his disappearance. Over nearly three decades, Randy was known for his extensive knowledge of the Sierra Nevada, his ability to find lost hikers, and his dedi...
Apr 24, 2025•23 min•Ep. 159
In this episode of the Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh delve into the harrowing survival story of the crew of the USS Indianapolis, which sank in July 1945. The episode covers the catastrophic events leading up to and following the ship's sinking, where the crew faced extreme conditions, including dehydration, exposure, and shark attacks. The hosts discuss the psychological and physical trials endured by the survivors, the failures in communication th...
Apr 21, 2025•47 min•Ep. 158
In this episode of The Crux, Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen, delve into the terrifying encounters between humans and polar bears. The episode recounts the harrowing survival stories of individuals like Matt Dyer and Elijah Carner, who faced life-threatening polar bear attacks in remote Arctic regions. The hosts discuss the increasing frequency of such encounters due to climate change, which causes bears to move closer to human territories. They also explore the biology of polar bears, the ...
Apr 14, 2025•58 min•Ep. 157
In this inaugural episode of the new podcast segment 'Disaster Strikes,' host Kaycee McIntosh, joined by Julie Henningsen, explores a tragic outdoor adventure case. They recount the story of four German tourists who vanished in Death Valley in 1996, leading to one of the park’s most enduring mysteries. Through an in-depth examination of their journey and the subsequent discovery of their remains over a decade later, the episode highlights the extreme dangers of Death Valley and provides essentia...
Apr 10, 2025•29 min•Ep. 156
In this episode of The Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh explore the harrowing experience of Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd in Antarctica during the winter of 1934. Byrd, already famous for his polar explorations, volunteered for a solo mission to collect meteorological data in a tiny buried shack during the Antarctic winter. With temperatures plummeting to -70°F in perpetual darkness, Byrd's scientific dedication was tested when his poorly ventilated...
Apr 07, 2025•38 min•Ep. 155
In this episode of Crux True Survival Stories, host Kaycee Macintosh revisits the remarkable survival story of Matt Ruem, who endured six grueling days trapped in his truck after an accident on I-90 in Indiana. From enduring severe injuries and contaminated rainwater to the complex rescue operation and difficult medical decisions, including the amputation of his left leg, Matt shares his transformative experience. This compelling tale highlights Matt's resilience, his journey through medical rec...
Mar 31, 2025•50 min•Ep. 154
Content Warning: This episode contains discussions about suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 International Association for Suicide Prevention: https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/ This episode explores attempted suicide. While we believe these conversations are important, please prioritize your mental health and well-being. If you find this...
Mar 24, 2025•44 min•Ep. 153
In this episode of 'The Crux True Survival Story Podcast,' medical professionals and wilderness survival enthusiasts Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh recount the dramatic tale of the Coast Guard's rescue of the HMS Bounty crew during Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. The episode delves into the fateful decisions made by Captain Robin Walbridge, the harrowing experiences of the 16 crew members, and the heroic efforts of Coast Guard rescue swimmers Randy Haba and Daniel Todd. Sadly, the disaste...
Mar 17, 2025•33 min•Ep. 152
In this episode of the Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen bring you the extraordinary tale of David Finlayson and his 13-year-old son Charlie—a story that redefines courage in the face of disaster. When their August 2015 climbing expedition in Idaho's remote Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness took a devastating turn after a massive boulder struck David, it was young Charlie who transformed from teenager to hero. With remarkable composure and inge...
Mar 10, 2025•45 min•Ep. 151
In this episode of 'The Crux True Survival Stories,' hosts Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh delve into the extraordinary life of Colton Harris Moore, also known as the Barefoot Bandit. The episode explores Colton's troubled childhood, his years-long crime spree of burglaries, plane thefts, and his controversial rise to folk-hero status. The hosts discuss his remarkable self-taught survival skills, his knack for evading capture, and his eventual arrest in the Bahamas. The story is a riveting ...
Mar 03, 2025•31 min•Ep. 150
The Coldest Night: Rob Gering's 12-Hour Fight for Survival In this episode of Crux True Survival Stories, host Kaycee McIntosh interviews Rob Gering, who recounts his harrowing experience of surviving a snowmobile crash in subzero temperatures in northern Wisconsin. On a frigid February night, Rob was left immobilized with multiple broken bones and faced down in the snow for over 12 hours. His survival hinged on a lost glove and the sharp observation of a fellow snowmobiler. Join us as Rob detai...
Feb 24, 2025•49 min•Ep. 149
In this episode of The Crux True Survival Stories, hosts Kaycee McIntosh, joined by Julie Henningsen, delves into the tragic survival story of the Kim family. What began as a joyful Thanksgiving 2006 road trip from San Francisco to Seattle, ended in a perilous and fatal detour through Oregon's Bear Camp Road. The episode details the Kim family's struggle for survival, the critical search and rescue operations that followed, and how this incident led to significant changes in winter travel safety...
Feb 17, 2025•38 min•Ep. 148
In this powerful episode, we sit down with Matt Potratz, a former professional snowmobiler whose life changed forever in a devastating avalanche in 2009. Before the accident, Matt was living what many would consider a dream life - a successful career as a general sales manager at a Toyota dealership and appearances in seven different snowmobile motion pictures. But in just 12 seconds, everything changed. The avalanche left Matt with catastrophic injuries, including a broken neck, severe brain tr...
Feb 10, 2025•41 min•Ep. 147
This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Try online therapy today at betterhelp.com/CRUX and take the first step toward becoming your best self. On this episode of The Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh dive into the harrowing account that inspired 'Moby Dick'—the tragic voyage of the whale ship Essex. Listeners are taken on a detailed journey through early 19th-century whaling, the catastrophic events that led to the ship's sinking, and the unimagi...
Feb 03, 2025•27 min•Ep. 146
In this episode of The Crux True Survival Stories, host Kaycee McIntosh interviews Mike Theis from Balltown, Iowa, who recounts his terrifying encounter with his own pet deer. After a decade of peaceful coexistence, Mike faced a sudden and violent attack during rutting season, leading to a life-threatening struggle. Mike's quick thinking and resourcefulness using his belt as a restraint helped him survive multiple near-fatal injuries. This episode highlights the unpredictable nature of domestica...
Jan 27, 2025•31 min•Ep. 145
In this episode of The Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh delve into Theodore Roosevelt's perilous 1914 expedition through the Amazon's River of Doubt. The podcast recounts Roosevelt's remarkable survival story, highlighting his struggle against tropical diseases, near-starvation, and the elements, alongside his son Kermit and a diverse team. The journey, driven by Roosevelt's sense of adventure and post-political defeat frustrations, led to unexpected s...
Jan 20, 2025•38 min•Ep. 144
In this gripping episode of the Crux True Survival podcast, host Kaycee McIntosh and co-host Julie Henningsen recount the harrowing story of Anna Conrad, who survived five days buried under an avalanche at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort in 1982. As the snow blanketed the Sierra Nevada mountains, Anna's remarkable tale of survival defied all odds. They delve into the events leading up to the avalanche, the rescue operation, and the impact it had on avalanche safety and the skiing community. This episo...
Jan 13, 2025•44 min•Ep. 143
This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Try online therapy today at betterhelp.com/CRUX and take the first step toward becoming your best self. In this episode of The Crux, hosts Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh delve into the miraculous events of January 15, 2009, when U.S. Airways flight 1549 made an emergency landing on the Hudson River. With a calm and collected demeanor, Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger and his co-pilot Jeff Skiles navigated this high-stakes situation, ensurin...
Jan 06, 2025•30 min•Ep. 142
