Podcast · History

Real Survival Stories

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 50 min
Latest: 7 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

7 Oct 2026 · 57 minNew

Blind and Alone on Top of the World

In 2024, amateur mountaineer Brian Dickinson is attempting to scale his fourth major peak in just three years. It’s the turn of Mount Everest, as the navy veteran takes on the tallest of them all. But after the triumph of reaching the summit, Brian’s whole world suddenly turns white and his life hangs in the balance. When prolonged sun exposure bleaches his corneas, he’s unable to see. All alone, with no means of communication and no chance of rescue, he is going to have to overcome Everest again… and this time he’ll be doing it blind… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins.…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S1 · E166 · 30 Sep 2026 · 55 min

Modern Viking Adventure: Fateful Voyage

In 2024, a small crew embark on a daring voyage across the North Sea aboard the Naddoddur - a replica Viking ship. Skipper Andy Fitze’s aim is to honour Viking culture, promoting the seafaring traditions of the Faroe Islands and encouraging a future generation of explorers. But in a vessel such as this, nothing is plain sailing. When disaster strikes, the crew must draw on all their training, skill and comradeship if they’re to make it out. But even that may not be enough to avert tragedy… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Heléna Lewis | Produced by Ed Baranski…
S1 · E165 · 23 Sep 2026 · 54 min

Snowmobile Survival: It’s a Trap…

Two brothers are pushed to the brink in the mountains of British Columbia. Chad and Brad MacDonald are enjoying a day of snowmobiling on the slopes near their hometown, keen to spend some much-needed time together. But the light-hearted atmosphere soon dissipates when a simple piece of misjudgement lands them in serious trouble. Trapped with minimal provisions, facing at least one freezing night in the open, their brotherly bond will be tested like never before… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Heléna Lewis | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke…
S1 · E164 · 16 Sep 2026 · 49 min

Cruise Liner on Fire: Typhoon Incoming

At 48 years old, John Graham has already lived more lives than most. Formerly of the US Foreign Service and State Department, he’s now working as a lecturer aboard a cruise ship - the MS Prinsendam. But on the night of his first talk, a fire tears through the commercial liner and more than 500 people are forced overboard. To make matters worse, a typhoon is on its way… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Rhys Bevan | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke Lonergan | Production Assistant: Chris McDonald | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Sound…
S1 · E163 · 9 Sep 2026 · 49 min

Nuclear Missile Malfunction: Into the Silo…

A young technician is called into action when the USA is threatened with nuclear disaster. In September 1980, Greg Devlin receives an emergency call from his commanding officer in the US Air Force. There’s been a potentially catastrophic fuel leak at a missile silo near Damascus, Arkansas. If the fuel ignites, it could conceivably cause the warhead to detonate, triggering a nuclear explosion right in the very heart of America. Greg and his colleagues must do all they can to try to contain the leak. The stakes could not be higher… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written…
S1 · 6 Sep 2026 · 47 min

Introducing Jane Austen Stories: Emma

This is a preview of a brand-new audiobook from the Noiser Podcast Network. Join Dame Julie Andrews as she reads another beloved Austen classic, Emma, on the Jane Austen Stories podcast. Step into the village of Highbury, home to the handsome and clever Emma Woodhouse. As new visitors arrive and quiet mysteries unfold, what will our heroine learn both of the secrets of others and of her own heart's desires? For more episodes, search for Jane Austen Stories in your podcast app and hit follow, or head to www.noiser.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
S1 · E162 · 2 Sep 2026 · 48 min

Vineyard Misadventure: Long Crawl Out

In 2017, Noah Messenger is a teenager working in the lush and luxurious environs of the Maryhill Winery in Washington State. One late sunny afternoon, while happy guests sip the local produce, Noah takes a stroll after his shift. A single misstep changes everything. Within moments he’ll be semi-paralysed, with no phone, no food and no water. All his hopes of survival rest on his colleagues coming to look for him. But as the hours slip by, is help even on its way?… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Heléna Lewis | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke…
S1 · E161 · 26 Aug 2026 · 53 min

K2 Disaster: Alone in the Death Zone

Catastrophe unfolds on one of the deadliest mountains on Earth - the mighty K2. When a massive ice fall hits the peak and their ascent spirals into chaos, Wilco van Rooijen and his teammates will find themselves trapped at extreme altitude in the ‘Death Zone’. But it’s not just the dizzying heights that Wilco must contend with. When a hasty decision robs him of one of his senses, he will be forced to make a drastic, death-defying choice… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Joe Viner | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke Lonergan | Production…
S1 · E160 · 19 Aug 2026 · 47 min

Stranded in the Outback: Stuck Fast in Mud

Brendan Cook, his partner Mel and two of their friends take a trip along the legendary Birdsville Track - one of Australia’s most notorious outback roads. But an unusual series of events results in their vehicle getting stuck in silt and mud, sinking further with every attempt to extract it. As the sun beats down, Brendan and his companions must free their car before their dwindling food and water supplies run out entirely. But as the hours and days pass without success, their only remaining options appear drastic and dangerous… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by…
S1 · E159 · 12 Aug 2026 · 53 min

Glissading Gone Wrong: Into the Abyss

On a remote mountain, the sun glints brilliantly off the snow. Two specks are visible on the slope - two men. One stationary, the other moving at speed. The second man is Dan Wenker. He’s sliding down the mountain, over the pristine white powder. But in mere moments he’ll be 60 feet under the ice, staring up at just a slither of daylight. How did he get here, and how on earth will he get out?… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Rhys Bevan | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke Lonergan | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Sound design by Matt Peaty |…
S1 · E158 · 5 Aug 2026 · 49 min

Seven-Hour Swim: Real-Life Jaws

It’s August 1981. On a lazy Sunday, an impromptu sailboat trip around the coastal waters of Volusia County, Florida seems the perfect way to enjoy the sunshine. But then things start to unravel. One small setback becomes a series of disasters, leaving Tami Ennis and her friends stranded miles offshore, clinging to the underside of their sinking boat. Now they face a momentous choice. Stay where they are and risk drifting further out to sea? Or swim for land, through a stretch of water known as the shark bite capital of the world… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written…
S1 · E157 · 29 Jul 2026 · 50 min

Winter Storm: Two Friends in a Swirling Vortex

In 2008, James Osborne sets out on his first winter hike, guided by his friend and colleague, Fred. But a combination of bad luck and bad judgement means a simple day trip in New Hampshire’s White Mountains snowballs into a desperate battle against the fury of nature. Caught in the middle of a blistering storm with no tent, meagre provisions and no chance of quick rescue, their only hope is to try to descend back down the mountain. As the cold bites, it isn’t long before things spiral out of control… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Heléna Lewis | Produced by…
S1 · E156 · 22 Jul 2026 · 45 min

Electrocuted in a Hot Air Balloon

A perfect spring morning in the English countryside becomes something else entirely. High above the patchwork quilt of green and golden-brown fields a balloon glides through the air. Safely ensconced inside its basket, little does Rebecca Hay know that in mere minutes a disaster will unfold. It will feature lethal high voltage, an outbreak of fire and a stomach-churning descent back to earth… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Heléna Lewis | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke Lonergan | Additional script editing: Joe Viner | Exec produced by Joel…
S1 · E155 · 15 Jul 2026 · 50 min

Avalanche at the Mine: Buried Under a Machine

Les Morlang is a mechanic at a gold mine in the mountains of Colorado. In November 1985, he’s racing to complete some essential construction work before a blizzard rolls in. But he and his colleague Jack will be caught off guard. As a devastating natural disaster descends, they’ll become separated… leaving Les entombed beneath fifty feet of compacted snow and ice… 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: Matt Peaty | Sound design by Jacob Booth |…
S1 · E154 · 8 Jul 2026 · 50 min

Seaplane Crash: Flipped Upside Down

In May 2025, a hardworking Dutch couple book an extended holiday to Canada. Désirée and Marko Kruithof hope to reconnect and take some time to plan the next phase of their lives, now their children have left home. But all plans are thrown out the window when, just days into their holiday, the seaplane they’ve booked for a sightseeing trip crashes off the coast of British Columbia. Trapped upside down inside the flooded cabin, the clock is ticking. And even if they can free themselves, a final sting in the tail awaits… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Heléna…
S1 · E153 · 1 Jul 2026 · 52 min

Apex Predator: Stalked by a Wild Beast

A young park ranger wakes up late, skips his chores, and heads out for an invigorating hike instead. It will prove a monumentally fateful decision. On the forested slopes of Carpenter’s Peak, Andy Peterson is stalked then attacked by a nimble and lightning-quick apex predator intent on ending his life. It seems certain he’ll become the beast’s next meal. Unless he can somehow scramble free… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Rhys Bevan | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke Lonergan | Production Assistant: Chris McDonald | Exec produced by Joel…
S1 · E152 · 24 Jun 2026 · 53 min

Walk in the Woods: Submerged in Icy Water

Winter 2011 in New Hampshire. David Dwyer is at home in his study when he notices that his wife Kelly hasn’t come back from her walk in the woods. Strapping on his snowshoes, he heads out to look for her. The situation will prove far worse than David’s fears. Kelly isn’t merely lost or injured; she’s unconscious, clinging to life, submerged up to her neck in freezing water. Can she, quite literally, come back from the dead? A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Joe Viner | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke Lonergan | Production Assistant: Chris…
S1 · E151 · 17 Jun 2026 · 47 min

Father & Daughter Thrown Overboard: A Parent's Nightmare

In May 2021, keen yachtsman Glenn Anderson is sailing up the coast of Western Australia with his 11-year-old daughter, Ruby. As they near the halfway point of their adventure, conditions turn brutally rough. And when their yacht is struck by a huge wave, father and daughter will be sent tumbling into the seething, danger-filled waters of the Indian Ocean. But falling overboard is just the beginning. With their vessel disappearing in the storm, Glenn will find himself in a terrible position as a captain... and an even worse one as a father... A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John…
S1 · 15 Jun 2026 · 1 hr

Introducing: Founding Fathers: An American Dream - Episode 1

This is a preview of a brand-new show from the Noiser Podcast Network. Hosted by Clarke Peters (The Wire, The Boroughs), 'Founding Fathers: An American Dream' tells the epic story of the birth of the United States of America, 250 years ago. Follow George Washington into bloody battles, sit alongside Thomas Jefferson as he crafts the Declaration of Independence, hear Alexander Hamilton debate the future of the new nation. And discover things you may never have known about this world-changing fight for liberty. But it all begins in Boston...a young, unruly city where the first stirrings of…
S1 · E150 · 10 Jun 2026 · 51 min

Tragedy in Greece: Honeymoon in Flames

In July 2018, Zoe Holohan and her husband Brian travel to Greece to enjoy a relaxing honeymoon, having tied the knot just days before. But it soon morphs into a horror story when the couple wake from a siesta to find themselves trapped in one of the worst natural disasters in the country’s recent history. Racing against time, Zoe and Brian face a desperate scramble to escape before it’s too late… For more on Zoe’s story read her book As the Smoke Clears. A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Heléna Lewis | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke Lonergan…
S1 · E149 · 3 Jun 2026 · 50 min

Water Gun Malfunction: Freak Accident

The Northwest Shelf is Australia’s largest area of oceanic oil and gas extraction. In 2011, saturation diver Richard Bradley is 130 feet under water performing some routine maintenance… when he feels a sudden pain. The high pressure water blaster he’s using has malfunctioned, puncturing his left forearm with a jet of dirty water. Seriously injured, he can’t simply swim to the surface. As a complex procedure kicks into gear, every step must go perfectly if Richard is to reach the surface alive… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Rhys Bevan | Produced by Ed…
S1 · E148 · 27 May 2026 · 50 min

Family Plane Crash: Ripping Through the Trees

In March 1974 the Godfreys are travelling to Aspen, Colorado for their annual skiing holiday. Brothers Andy and Mark, aged eight and eleven, are buzzing. But as their plane begins its descent over the snow-covered Rockies, the mood suddenly changes. The pilot appears to have made a critical miscalculation. All the family on board can do is hold on tight and pray… 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: Matt Peaty | Sound design by Jacob Booth |…
S1 · E147 · 20 May 2026 · 48 min

Tasmania Emergency: Needle of Rock in the Waves

Celia Bull and her partner Paul set out to climb a sea-stack off the coast of Tasmania. Over 200 feet tall, this slender spire of rock is just 13 feet in diameter. The fact that it remains standing amidst the frothing waves seems to defy logic. When Paul is severely injured, he’s left dangling from a rope off the side of the monolith. It’s up to Celia to rescue him, before the rising tide can claim him… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Heléna Lewis | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke Lonergan | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Sound Supervisor:…
S1 · E146 · 13 May 2026 · 46 min

Saved by a Humpback Whale

An incredible mystery plays out beneath the waves. Marine biologist Nan Hauser is an expert in the behaviour of whales. One day, in the breathtaking surroundings of the Cook Islands, Nan is shooting footage for a nature documentary when a 45-tonne humpback comes charging towards her. In seconds, she’ll find herself picked up and swept along by the enormous creature, balanced on the tip of its vast jaw. What on earth is happening? And how can Nan hope to emerge in one piece? A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Joe Viner | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant…
S1 · E145 · 6 May 2026 · 55 min

Earthquake in China: Out of the Darkness

Maayan Sebbag is living and studying in Chengdu, China. One day, on a trip to a remote nature reserve, disaster strikes. Passing through a village nestled in the mountains, Maayan and her friend suddenly find themselves at the epicentre of a terrible natural disaster - a magnitude 8 earthquake that will go down as one of the deadliest in human history. Trapped in the pitch black, buried alive, Maayan will fight to free herself from this living tomb. But escaping burial will prove just the beginning… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Rhys Bevan | Produced by Ed…
S1 · E144 · 29 Apr 2026 · 54 min

South Africa Cave Dive: Recovery Mission

This is the story of the deepest underwater human recovery mission ever attempted. A daring and noble task that has profound consequences. Skilled divers Don Shirley and Dave Shaw are exploring South Africa’s legendary Bushman’s Hole - an enormous, pitch-black, flooded cave - when they uncover a body. The macabre discovery kickstarts an audacious retrieval operation. But in this hostile environment, there is no room for error… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Heléna Lewis | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke Lonergan | Exec produced by Joel…
S1 · E143 · 22 Apr 2026 · 52 min

Indian Ocean Castaways: Island Life (Part 2 of 2)

We return to the stranded crew of the Miken. After locating the elusive island, Gordon and the others must turn their focus to the reason they’re here in the first place: finding the barrels of fuel. But as days in the jungle pass without success, a terrible possibility starts to dawn… maybe there is no fuel here at all. Unable to power their boat, the castaways must deal with a new challenge: merely surviving on their desert island… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Joe Viner | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke Lonergan | Exec produced by Joel…
S1 · E142 · 15 Apr 2026 · 50 min

Indian Ocean Castaways: Epic Voyage (Part 1 of 2)

In Sri Lanka, a chance meeting with an eccentric fisherman sees Gordon Brace and his wife Elisabeth join the trip of a lifetime: a crossing of the Indian Ocean aboard a single-engine motorboat. But the young sailors will get much more than they bargained for. Because what follows is a survival story for the ages - a three-month epic of grit, daring and peril on the high seas… 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…
S1 · E141 · 8 Apr 2026 · 49 min

Battle on Mount Grinnell: Hiker’s Paradise

A proud dad and his daughter set out on a hike to celebrate her graduation from high school. Montana’s Glacier National Park is sublime. But on a remote ledge, everything changes in an instant. After accidentally stumbling on a wild beast determined to protect its young, Johan Otter must do his utmost to buy daughter Jenna enough time to escape… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Heléna Lewis | 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…
S1 · E140 · 1 Apr 2026 · 52 min

Eruption in the Andes: Veil of Ash

Jeff Brydon sets out on a hike across some of Chile’s most awe-inspiring scenery, within touching distance of several of the country’s magnificent volcanoes. But when he awakes to find the world smothered in a haze of ash, Jeff must scramble to evacuate. All signs of the trail have been eliminated. A twisting, terrifying journey ensues… A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Heléna Lewis | 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…

About Real Survival Stories

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. Go to https://surfshark.com/survival or use code SURVIVAL at checkout to get 4 extra months of SurfsharkVPN! For advertising enquiries, email info@adelicious.fm No part of this podcast may be used or reproduced in any manner for the purpose of training artificial intelligence technologies or systems. In accordance with Article 4(3) of the DSM Directive 2019/790, Noiser Ltd expressly reserves this work from the text and data mining exception.

Real Survival Stories is a English history podcast from NOISER. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: NOISER
Language: English
Category: History
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 50 min
Latest episode: 7 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1698687674
Rights: All rights owned by Noiser Ltd

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