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 entirely by thistle roots and stubbornness, Everts barely made it out alive — and then somehow still managed to turn down a government job and stiff the guys who saved him.

Then we jump forward to 2007, when Timothy Henderson stepped outside to look for his dog and ran into a 350-pound grizzly bear. With his skull torn open and his dog barking bravely by his side, Timothy played dead twice — and lived to tell the tale.

Meanwhile, Rob explores the lighter side of things with stories of dangerous enlightenment and Darwin Award-level logic lapses, all under the theme of what happens when people try to get a little too close to nature.

🌋 Geysers, grizzlies, and good intentions.

🥬 One man’s thistle is another man’s miracle meal.

🧠 And remember: “sunshine” is not a food group.

#YellowstoneSurvival #TrumanEverts #GrizzlyAttack #DeadOrSurvive #SunshineDiet #TrueSurvivalStories #DarwinAwards #NationalParksGoneWrong

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 the mic with four quick hits — Darwin Award winners who lost their lives in spectacularly dumb ways. This week’s lineup includes bees, convertibles, poor timing, and worse judgment.

🔫 Ambush survival in the mountains.

🐝 Death by bees (yes, again).

🧠 And the age-old rule: Don’t throw people out windows.

#ScottJohnson #SeanFarmer #AppalachianTrail #DeadOrSurvive #DarwinAwards #SurvivorStories #TrueCrimePodcast #ShotAndSurvived

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 breathing was optional this week. From poor choices to final gasps, it’s all very Dead or Survive.

🦵 One man, one auger, one knife.

😤 Two breathless Johnnys.

🎧 One unforgettable episode.

#KurtKaser #FarmSurvivor #DeadOrSurvive #DarwinAwards #GrainAugerAccident #AmputationSurvival #TrueStoryPodcast #BreathlessDecisions

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.

And if that’s not enough? Rob’s gone full Batman again. Expect vigilante-themed Darwin Award stories, questionable logic, and maybe a cape or two.

💥 One woman versus a monster.

⚡ One lightning bolt.

🦇 And one man who really thinks everything can be Batman.

#MistyCockerill #BeastOfBC #SurvivorStories #DeadOrSurvive #LightningStrikeSurvivor #DarwinAwards #BatmanObsession #TrueCrimePodcast

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 finally came out, the world was stunned.

Then, in true Dead or Survive fashion, Rob swings the spotlight in a wildly different direction — into the world of real-life superheroes. That’s right: people in capes, masks, and sometimes tactical spandex… doing things that no one really asked them to.

We wrap it all up with a one-in-a-million shot that will leave you equal parts shocked and concerned for Johnny’s decision-making process.

⛓️ Captivity, control, and ultimate escape.

🦸‍♂️ Capes, chaos, and “wait… what did he just do?”

🎯 One hell of a contrast — and one unforgettable episode.

#ElisabethFritzl #DeadOrSurvive #SurvivorStories #TrueCrimePodcast #BasementSurvival #RealLifeSuperheroes #DarwinAwards #SurvivalAndStupidity

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: earning himself a Darwin Award in spectacular fashion.

🐎 A legacy of courage.

🏍️ Stories from the edge.

🪂 And one more leap into chaos.

#MemorialEpisode #Tribute #Motorcycles #Diving #HorseRiding #DeadOrSurvive #DarwinAwards #SurvivalStories #TrueStoryPodcast

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 named Johnny who decided he was done with teenagers and campgrounds… and proved it in the most unhinged way possible.

🪖 Revolutionary grit.

🚗 Dukes of Hazzard energy.

💥 A crash course in questionable choices.

#DeborahSampson #DeadOrSurvive #WomenInHistory #DaredevilFails #DarwinAwards #TrueStoryPodcast #HistoryAndHavoc

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 — with the story of Johnny, a man who tested the limits of just about everything... and learned exactly why you shouldn’t.

🌊 One survivor’s impossible strength.

🤦 One man’s very avoidable downfall.

🎧 One unforgettable episode.

#TerryJoDuperrault #DeadOrSurvive #OceanSurvival #TrueCrimePodcast #DarwinAwards #AloneAtSea #UnbelievableSurvival

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 exist, the hazards of huffing epoxy, and a model who found out the hard way that saying nothing can sometimes say too much.

🧊 Left for dead.

🧠 Bad decisions in bulk.

🎧 One very Dead or Survive episode.

#BeckWeathers #MountEverest #EverestSurvival #DeadOrSurvive #DarwinAwards #ExtremeSurvival #TrueStoryPodcast #DarkHumor

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 other end of the disaster spectrum with a few “get rich quick” schemes that backfired spectacularly. Spoiler: Johnny learns the hard way that money isn’t everything... especially when you're missing key body parts.

💀 Unthinkable survival.

💸 Dumb ambition.

🎢 One rollercoaster of an episode.

#TekaAdams #TrueSurvivalStory #FetalAbduction #DeadOrSurvive #GetRichQuickFails #DarwinAwards #TrueCrimePodcast