This week on Dead or Survive, Cheryl dives into a chilling true crime tale of betrayal, obsession, and survival — the horrifying story of Angelique Robledo and Kassandra Toruga. What starts as a fractured friendship ends with an attempted womb-snatching that could rival any horror film.

Then we switch gears with a very special guest: Quin Riches joins the show to reveal the mind-blowing tale of Juan Pujol García, a Spanish double agent who managed to fool the Nazis, manipulate the Allies, and quite possibly bring an end to WWII — all while being paid by both sides.

Finally, Rob rounds it out with a Darwin Award winner who took “going out with a bang” a little too literally. Hint: explosives were involved… and so were tragically poor life choices.

👶 Fake pregnancies and a horrifying plan.

🕵️‍♂️ A spy so slick he tricked Hitler.

💥 A Darwin tale with an explosive ending.

#TrueCrimePodcast #DeadOrSurvive #JuanGarcia #WombSnatcher #WWIISpy #DarwinAwards #SurvivalStories

This week on Dead or Survive, Cheryl dives into the wildest Amazon jungle survival story you’ll ever hear — the tale of Yossi Ghinsberg, a backpacker whose dream adventure turned into a real-life nightmare. Left completely alone in the rainforest for weeks, Yossi faced jaguar attacks, quicksand, botflies burrowing in his skin, starvation, and hallucinations — all while questioning whether the man who led him into the jungle was just a con artist... or something far worse.

Then Rob charges into the new millennium with the first official Y2K-era Darwin Award — featuring a man, a power pole, and a stunning misunderstanding of how electricity works. You’d think basic physics would be a survival instinct, but nope.

🌿 Alone in the Amazon.

⚡ Death by electrocution.

🎒 One man’s fight to live, and another’s short circuit to disaster.

#YossiGhinsberg #AmazonSurvival #DeadOrSurvive #DarwinAwards #JungleSurvivor #TrueStoryPodcast #Y2KDarwin #SurvivalAgainstTheOdds #BotfliesAndAll

This week on Dead or Survive, Cheryl shares the unbelievable survival story of Jose Salvador Alvarenga — a fisherman who got caught in a storm and ended up adrift at sea for 438 days. With nothing but a cooler of supplies, a dying companion, and a whole lot of mental strength, he became a real-life castaway who defied the odds, the ocean, and even starvation.

Then Rob plunges us into the shallows of the gene pool with some of the most ridiculous water-based Darwin Awards in history. Because yes, people still forget how drowning works — and no, flotation devices aren’t optional when your bright idea involves a lawn chair and helium balloons.

🌊 Adrift for 14 months.

🚿 Electrocution in the bathtub.

🎧 A little bit of castaway courage and a lot of watery chaos.

#JoseSalvadorAlvarenga #LostAtSea #DeadOrSurvive #DarwinAwards #CastawaySurvivor #438DaysAdrift #SurvivalPodcast #TrueStories

This week on Dead or Survive, Cheryl brings you the freezing, terrifying story of Teri Jendusa-Nicolai, who was beaten by her ex-husband, stuffed in a garbage can, and left for dead in a storage unit during a brutal Wisconsin winter. But against all odds — and in temperatures far below zero — Teri held on. Her story is one of grit, quick thinking, and a will to survive that defied the cold and the odds.

Then Rob cranks up the voltage with Darwin Award winners who found out the hard way that electricity doesn’t forgive stupidity. From DIY rewiring fails to bathwater experiments gone wrong, it’s a shocking collection of poor life choices.

🧊 Trapped in the cold.

⚡ Zapped by ignorance.

🎧 One survivor. Several cautionary tales.

#TeriJendusaNicolai #DomesticViolenceSurvivor #DeadOrSurvive #DarwinAwards #SurvivorStories #ColdCaseSurvival #TrueCrimePodcast

This week on Dead or Survive, Cheryl tells the heartbreaking and heroic story of Jayme Closs — a 13-year-old girl who witnessed her parents' murder and was kidnapped by the killer. After 88 days in captivity, she found a way to escape and bring her captor to justice. Her story is one of pure bravery, sharp instincts, and the unbreakable will to live.

Then Rob brings us back into familiar Darwin territory with cautionary tales that many of us probably heard from our mothers. From playing with fire (literally) to the classic “don’t touch that, it’s plugged in” — let’s just say some people had to learn the hard way.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes themes of child abduction and violence.

🧠 Bravery beyond her years.

🔥 Warnings no one should ignore.

🎧 Another powerful episode of Dead or Survive.

#JaymeCloss #SurvivorStories #DeadOrSurvive #DarwinAwards #TrueCrimePodcast #HeroicTeen #EscapedCaptivity

This week, Cheryl shares the unbelievable but true survival story of John Capes — the man who escaped a sunken submarine, swam for hours through enemy waters, and lived to tell the tale... only to be called a liar for decades. His heroism was doubted in life, but proven long after death.

Then Rob turns the spotlight on Darwin Award winners who made very different kinds of burial plans — including a man who voluntarily buried himself alive for fun, and another who thought firearms were safe to play with… mid-selfie.

⚓ Trapped under the sea.

⚰️ Buried by choice.

💥 And a few shots no one saw coming.

#JohnCapes #SunkenSubmarine #DeadOrSurvive #DarwinAwards #ShipwreckSurvivor #FirearmFails #SurvivorPodcast #BuriedAlive

This week on Dead or Survive, Cheryl shares not one — but two nearly unbelievable stories of women who were buried alive by their partners... and survived.

First, we revisit the shocking 2011 case of Michelina Lewandowska, a mother who was tasered, bound, stuffed in a cardboard box, and buried in a shallow grave — only to escape using her engagement ring as a tool.

Then Cheryl brings you a more recent and chilling case: Young Sook An, who escaped a woodland grave in Washington in 2022 after being duct-taped, stabbed, and left for dead by her estranged husband.

Both stories are raw, terrifying, and inspiring reminders of what real survival looks like.

Then Rob is back with a change of pace — delivering Darwin Award winners who showed us how not to handle electricity, water, and a shocking misunderstanding of physics.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains themes of domestic violence and attempted murder.

🪵 Buried alive.

⚡ Death by bathwater and powerlines.

💪 Two women refused to die. And Johnny… well, he refused to think.

#MichelinaLewandowska #YoungSookAn #BuriedAlive #DeadOrSurvive #DarwinAwards #SurvivorStories #DomesticViolenceSurvivors #RealSurvival #TrueCrimePodcast

This week, Cheryl shares the heartbreaking and powerful story of Colleen Stan, also known as The Girl in the Box. In 1977, Colleen was kidnapped and held captive for seven years, most of that time spent inside a crude, coffin-sized wooden box, subjected to psychological torment and abuse. Her survival was not just physical — it was mental, emotional, and deeply courageous.

After that, Rob lifts us (briefly) out of the darkness with a few gravity-defying tales from the Darwin Awards hall of fame — where certain individuals learned the hard way that physics doesn’t care about confidence. From rope swings gone rogue to DIY bungee jumps, gravity always wins.

🪵 Trapped beneath a bed.

🪂 Launched into disaster.

🎧 This episode is as heavy as it gets — and still very Dead or Survive.

#ColleenStan #GirlInTheBox #DeadOrSurvive #DarwinAwards #TrueSurvival #CaptivitySurvivor #DarkHistoryPodcast #SurvivorStories

Where did we go??! We know, we disappeared for a few months. We are sorry. But we're back now for season 2! This season will still have Cheryl telling amazing stories of survival, followed by tales of Darwin award winners by Rob. We hope you will join us for our new season! 

This week’s episode of Dead or Survive tells one of the most harrowing and powerful survival stories in recent history. Cheryl shares the ordeal of Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Gina DeJesus — three young women kidnapped and held captive for more than a decade in a Cleveland home. Their story is one of unimaginable abuse, but also of resilience, courage, and eventual escape.

Meanwhile, Rob lightens the mood (as only he can) by exploring how even powerful conquerors throughout history weren’t immune to Darwin-level decisions — from kings who ignored common sense to generals who met ridiculous ends.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains descriptions of kidnapping and abuse. Listener discretion is advised.