Dead or Survive

This week, we head into the wild heart of Yellowstone, where survival means eating thistles, sleeping next to geysers, and — in one case — being mistaken for a wounded bear. First up, Cheryl tells the astonishing story of Truman Everts, a nearsighted tax assessor who joined a 19-man expedition in 1870… and quickly turned it into a solo, 37-day disaster epic. Lost, frostbitten, and fueled almost en...

This week’s survival story takes us deep into the Appalachian Trail, where two friends were ambushed in cold blood — and somehow lived to tell the tale. Cheryl shares the harrowing true account of Scott Johnson and Sean Farmer, who were shot by a stranger in the woods… and left for dead. What followed was a gritty, miles-long fight for life through fear, shock, and sheer willpower. Then Rob takes...

This episode might cost you an arm or a leg — literally. Cheryl shares the jaw-dropping survival story of Kurt Kaser, a Nebraska farmer who found himself trapped in a grain auger… with no help in sight. What he did to escape is the kind of thing that makes even the toughest listeners squirm. Then Rob jumps in with two more tales — both featuring our ever-reckless Johnny, who apparently decided bre...

This week’s episode brings the chaos — and the courage. Cheryl shares the incredible story of Misty Cockerill, who narrowly survived a brutal attack by the man known as the Beast of BC — one of Canada’s most violent predators. Then, things get personal as Momma Wilson (aka Cheryl’s own mother) joins the show to tell her unbelievable survival story — how she lived through being struck by lightning....

This week, Cheryl shares one of the most disturbing and unbelievable survival stories of our time: the story of Elisabeth Fritzl. At just 18 years old, Elisabeth was lured into a basement by her own father — and held there against her will for 24 years. What followed was a life of isolation, abuse, forced motherhood, and unimaginable endurance. Yet somehow, she survived it all… and when the truth...

This week’s episode is a special tribute to Rob’s father — a great man with a passion for motorcycles, diving, and horses. We’re sharing stories of narrow escapes and wild survival from each of those worlds, in honor of the life he lived and the risks he loved. Then, true to form, Johnny rounds out the episode by heading to the beach, jumping out of a plane, and doing what Johnny does best: earnin...

Before Mulan was a Disney icon, there was Deborah Sampson — a real-life woman who disguised herself as a man and fought for the U.S. Army in the Revolutionary War. This week, Cheryl tells the story of a fearless trailblazer who defied every rule of her time just to serve on the battlefield. Then Rob is back with the usual chaos: a string of daredevil fails that didn’t stick the landing, and a guy...

This week’s episode tells the haunting story of Terry Jo Duperrault, a 12-year-old girl who witnessed the murder of her entire family during what was meant to be a dream sailing trip. Left alone on a tiny cork float in the open ocean, she survived nearly a week at sea — with no supplies, no shade, and no idea if help would ever come. Then Rob brings us a classic Dead or Survive shift in tone — wit...

Beck Weathers was left for dead on Mount Everest — not once, but twice. And yet, somehow, he walked himself back into camp through a blizzard, frostbitten and half-blind, and lived to tell the tale. This week, Cheryl dives into one of the most unbelievable survival stories ever to come off the world’s tallest mountain. Then Rob brings the chaos: a new contraceptive technique that really shouldn't...

This week’s episode is not for the faint of heart. Cheryl tells the harrowing survival story of Teka Adams, a woman who was abducted and brutally attacked in a horrifying fetal abduction attempt. With unimaginable strength and presence of mind, she escaped — and survived one of the darkest crimes imaginable. ⚠️ Content warning: Graphic violence and disturbing content. Then Rob takes us to the othe...

We’ve got our first listener survival story! And trust us — it delivers. This week, Cheryl shares a wild real-life tale submitted by a listener, packed with adrenaline and close calls. Then we dive into the deadly world of hippos that attack, kiteboards that launch without warning, and brakes that fail when you need them most. It’s a mix of wild animals, wild gear, and wildly bad luck — with just...

At just 15 years old, Mary Vincent was brutally attacked while hitchhiking in California. Her arms were cut off. She was thrown from a cliff. And somehow… she lived. This week, Cheryl tells the extraordinary survival story of a teenager who refused to die — and what happened when she came face to face with her attacker in court. Then Rob, as always, helps us process the darkness with some truly ab...

What happens when you fall 47 stories from the top of a New York high-rise? If you’re Alcides Moreno — somehow, you live. In one of the most jaw-dropping survival stories ever recorded, Cheryl tells the unbelievable tale of a man who should have died on impact… but didn’t. Then, Rob is back with a triple dose of absurdity: 🦤 ostrich attacks, 🎄 Christmas chaos with weaponized decorations, and a D...

Imagine waking up trapped underwater — in total darkness — 100 feet beneath the ocean’s surface. For three days. That’s exactly what happened to Harrison Okene, the cook aboard the Jackson 4, when his ship capsized off the coast of Nigeria. With no scuba gear, no light, and no idea if rescue was even coming, he clung to life in a tiny air pocket at the bottom of the Atlantic. Cheryl dives into thi...

What starts as a casual second date ends with both Danielle and Daniel shot in the face — but somehow still alive. In a horrifying twist of fate, the couple found themselves ambushed by a gunman in broad daylight. Bleeding, stunned, and barely conscious, they pulled off a survival story that’s nothing short of miraculous. And if that’s not wild enough — we wrap this episode with some fresh Darwin...

At 17, Juliane Koepcke boarded a flight through the Peruvian rainforest. She had no idea she'd soon be freefalling through the sky — the sole survivor of a devastating crash. After falling two miles into the Amazon jungle, Juliane awoke strapped to her seat with a broken collarbone, a swollen eye, and one sandal. For the next 11 days, she fought hunger, bugs, infection, and despair — all alone...

When Jennifer Morey moved into what was supposed to be a safe, upscale apartment complex in Houston, she had no idea the real danger was already inside. After waking up to a man in her bedroom — bleeding, terrified, and half-conscious — Jennifer realized she was fighting for her life against a predator in disguise: a private security guard. This is the story of one of the most chilling home invasi...

What starts as a sailing dream turns into a salty nightmare when a young couple’s boat is rammed by a whale and sinks — leaving them stranded in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with almost nothing. For the next 118 days, they drift in a life raft battling starvation, sharks, and the unforgiving sea. This episode dives into one of the most jaw-dropping animal-related survival stories ever recorded...

Imagine being trapped in the mountains for an entire winter… watching people around you die of starvation, frostbite, and despair. How desperate would you have to be to eat the remains of your loved ones? This is the harrowing true story of the Donner Party — a group of pioneers who set out for California in 1846 and wound up snowbound in the Sierra Nevada for months. Delays, bad luck, and brutal...