Dead or Survive

Julia Butterfly Hill is an environmental activist known for her passionate commitment to nature. Born on February 18, 1974, in Mount Vernon, Missouri, Hill gained fame for her courageous two-year tree-sit in a California redwood named "Luna." Living on a small platform high above the ground, she successfully advocated for the protection of Luna and its surrounding forest, capturing global attention and inspiring others to join the cause. Beyond her tree-sit, Hill remains dedicated to environmental activism, using her voice to raise awareness about the importance of conservation and sustainable practices. Cheryl will tell you about her 700+ day adventure on this week's episode Rob follows with reasons that fitness may not be good for your health. Well, at least for Johnny, who definitely took fitness a little too far Hear all about when you press play!

The Natascha Kampusch kidnapping is a notorious case that occurred in Austria in 1998. Natascha Kampusch, a ten-year-old girl, was abducted by Wolfgang Priklopil while on her way to school. She was held captive in a secret underground cellar in Priklopil's house for over eight years. During her captivity, Natascha endured physical and psychological abuse. In August 2006, Natascha managed to escape when Priklopil briefly left her unattended. She sought help from a neighbor and was eventually rescued by the police. The case drew significant media attention and raised questions about the police's handling of the investigation, as Priklopil had been known to authorities but had managed to elude capture. After her escape, Natascha Kampusch became a public figure, sharing her experiences and recovery journey. The case remains a symbol of resilience and the lasting psychological effects of long-term captivity Cheryl tells you her story of survival on this week's episode Followed by Rob telling some of the most mind boggling Darwin Awards yet. These stories are almost hard to believe, but in the end a motorcycle wins Listen to hear more!

The Big Thompson flood disaster of 1976 was a catastrophic event that struck the Big Thompson Canyon in Colorado. Triggered by an intense series of thunderstorms on the evening of July 31, 1976, the region experienced an unprecedented deluge of rain. This led to flash flooding in the canyon, with the Big Thompson River surging with destructive force. The flood resulted in the loss of 144 lives, primarily catching tourists and residents off guard. It prompted a massive rescue and recovery operation and led to significant changes in flood risk management and preparedness in the area. On this week's episode, Cheryl will tell you about some of the survivors Rob follows with some Johnny stories. Sometimes you just can't imagine why people make the foolish decisions that they do. If only they had used a little common sense, they could have averted disaster. Listen to hear all about those bad decisions.

Daniel Laplante, a convicted murderer, behaved in a manner beforehand that should have set off alarm bells. Some of this behavior included stalking, break and enter and phrogging. Tina Bowen was lucky enough to survive her encounter with Laplante, others were not so lucky. Cheryl tells her tale on this week's survival story. Rob follows with Darwin awards including pranks gone wrong, break ins gone wrong and robberies gone wrong. Maybe after hearing these stories, people will think twice before making bad decisions.

Patty Hearst: A Tale of Transformation and Controversy Patty Hearst's life is a dramatic narrative that unfolds like a Shakespearean tragedy. Born into the wealthy and influential Hearst family, Patty's life took an unexpected turn in 1974 when she was kidnapped by the radical Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA). This shocking event marked the beginning of a captivating and controversial saga that would grip the nation. During her time in captivity, Patty underwent a remarkable transformation. Initially a terrified victim, she soon adopted the beliefs and actions of her captors, even participating in criminal acts such as bank robberies. Her shift from kidnapped heiress to armed revolutionary left the nation bewildered and divided, with many questioning whether she had truly converted or if her actions were a result of Stockholm syndrome. Patty's arrest and subsequent trial only added to the drama. The courtroom became a battleground, where the prosecution painted her as a criminal while the defense argued that she had been brainwashed by the SLA. Her trial was a spectacle, emblematic of the social and political turmoil of the era. Ultimately, Patty Hearst was convicted and sentenced to prison, but her sentence was commuted by President Jimmy Carter, and she was later pardoned. Her case remains a complex and enigmatic chapter in American history, leaving us with questions about the nature of personal identity, coercion, and the boundaries of individual agency. Patty Hearst's story is a captivating and dramatic exploration of a young woman caught in the crosshairs of radicalism, power, and the human psyche. Cheryl will tell the story on this week's episode followed by Rob telling people again why they shouldn't handle explosives The explosive-related Darwin Awards typically involve cases where individuals have attempted to handle, manipulate, or experiment with explosives without the necessary knowledge, safety precautions, or a clear understanding of the inherent dangers. These incidents often lead to tragic and, in some cases, comically absurd outcomes, showcasing the extreme risks associated with handling explosive materials without the proper expertise and caution. Hope you enjoy!

It's the off season, summer has begun! We know that you will miss us though, so from time to time we will be posting these mini episodes throughout the summer. This episode is Cheryl's turn. This week's submissions include a scary bike trail ride, an evil aunt and listening to your gut. Hope you enjoy!

Imagine your children and grandchild disappearing for over 40 years with no trace. This is exactly what happened to the parents of Dean and Tina Clouse. Little did they know, the remains of Dean and Tina had been discovered 40 years ago. But what happened to their baby? Holly Clouse was discovered 42 years after her disappearance, alive and well. Cheryl will tell you all about what happened on this week's episode. Rob, of course, follows with his tales of Darwin award winners. So many of these stories could be avoided if people just followed the rules. Sometimes they're there for good reason! These stories will baffle the minds of any reasonable person. Listen to find out!

Imagine being completely surrounded by raging fires, that are sucking all of the oxygen around you up. It's hard to breathe, or see through the smoke and there are cinders falling from the trees around you like artillery. This is exactly what happened to Ed Pulaski and his crew in the great fire of 1910. Ed managed to save his crew of men with his quick thinking. Cheryl will tell you all about it in this week's episode. Rob follows with stories of Johnnies who think that they are just out to have a good time. As it turns out, they picked the wrong kind of fun and earn themselves a Darwin award!

Welcome to the first ever Johnny on the spot! Rob takes control of the mike for a very short dose of Darwin award. If you enjoy this, and think we should do it more, please let us know!

On this week's episode, Cheryl talks about the Golden State Killer and just a few survivors of his numerous attacks. Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. is an American serial killer, sex offender, burglar, and former police officer who committed at least 13 murders, 51 rapes, and 120 burglaries across California between 1974 and 1986. This guy is just a monster! Rob follows with his Darwin award tales. Rob has covered many many reasons why you shouldn't steal. Karma will come for you. He has another example on this week's episode. He has also covered reasons not to mess with snakes, but his Johnnies always seem to do it anyways. Listen to the episode to hear more!

On this week's episode, Cheryl switches it up a little bit. Instead of a survival story she asks, did they survive? She tells the story of Frank Morris, and John and Clarence Anglin. This trio escaped from Alcatraz prison. They were never found, dead or alive. Cheryl presents all of the evidence and leaves it to you to decide. Did they survive the freezing and unforgiving waters of the San Francisco Bay, or did the waters swallow them up that night? Rob follows with Darwin award stories that could easily show up in your childhood cartoons. He also tells a story that emphasizes the importance of learning stick shift when trying to avoid police. Listen to this week's episode to hear more!

On this week's episode, Cheryl tells the survival story of Jim Corbett, who put an end to the reign of terror caused by the Champawat tiger. This tiger took more human lives than any other creature that has lived on this planet. Hear her story, and the story of Jim Corbett, who was hired to hunt her down. Rob follows with his Darwin Awards. This week he tries a new book for his research. Hear how that went when you listen to this week's episode!

This is our happy Easter episode! Cheryl covers the stories of how Johnny Depp, Ed Harris, Jackie Chan, Uma Thurman and Sylvester Stallone survived near death experiences while filming some of their iconic movies. Rob follows with Darwin award winners. This week's winners involve not being cautious enough around water, and sometimes snakes. Listen to the episode to hear more, and Happy Easter!!

In October of 1987 almost every household sat on edge, waiting to see if Baby Jessica would be rescued from the well. It was huge news that was covered 24/7 by CNN, only the second time ever that CNN did continuous coverage of a story. Jessica would become "everybody's baby" and the world rejoiced when she was brought safely to the surface. Cheryl tells you her story on this week's episode. Rob follows with Darwin award stories, where the animals refuse to go down without a fight! Hear how a man died while trying to bite a fish to death, or how a man who was illegally poaching endangered fish led to his own extinction. Hope you enjoy this week's episode, don't forget to share with friends!

On this week's episode Cheryl will tell you about how Holly K. Dunn was the sole survivor of an attack by the railroad killer. Angel Resendiz attacked and killed at least 15 people while travelling illegally on trains between Mexico and the U.S.A. Holly survived after watching her boyfriend murdered in front of her. Hear how she did it and all of the good she did with her life afterwards. Rob follows with Darwin award stories involving walls. From being slammed into them or climbing the wrong ones, hear what can happen. We hope you enjoy this week's episode!

Lieutenant David Steeves crashed into the Sierra Nevada mountains, during the cold war. His crash site was deep in King's Canyon and Sequoia National park. Steeves spent the next 54 days, trying to survive in the middle of nowhere with very little gear. Cheryl will tell you the whole story on this week's episode Rob follows with a rare Jessica, instead of Johnny story. Another of his stories involves one of Cheryl's favorite things, golf carts! Listen to the episode to hear more!

After becoming disoriented by a sandstorm during the Marathon des Sables, Mauro Prosperi walked 180 miles through the Sahara desert and managed to survive. Along his journey he drank his own urine and ate bats in the name of survival. Cheryl will tell you all about his story on this week's episode Rob follows with stories straight out of Russia, from a man that thought he had the power to stop things with his mind, to learning a very valuable lesson about stealing from the elderly Thanks for joining us and enjoy the show!

We have made it to 50! Thank you to all of our listeners who have made this possible! Today we did our draw for the giveaway Yeti and it is announced on this episode Cheryl tells the story of the Stayner family. Steven Stayner was kidnapped by a pedophile and raised by him for over 7 years. He went on to rescue another child who was abducted by this monster. Steven's older brother Cary, didn't deal with this trauma so well. Instead of being a well adjusted human who eventually got his brother back, he went on to be a serial killer. Rob follows with Darwin award winners that leave us scratching our heads, wondering How? and why? As always thank you for joining us, and happy listening!

On the horrific night August 13, 1967, two young women were separately attacked and killed in Glacier National Park, Montana, by grizzly bears. The events were a ticking time bomb waiting to happen. The gruesome attacks, helped to shape the way that national parks prevent, and react to aggressive bear behavior. Cheryl will walk you through the nightmare of this terrible tragedy. Rob follows with tales of men being men. In the pursuit of impressing the people around them, these Johnnies have won themselves a shiny new Darwin award.

In this week's episode Cheryl will tell you the survival story of Danelle Ballengee. In 2006, this trail runner was rescued after spending 56 hours with a shattered pelvis at the bottom of a canyon. With the help of her loyal dog Taz, Danelle was able to survive, despite near fatal injuries. Rob follows with a "genius" theme for his Darwin award winners. His stories never cease to amaze! Have a listen to find out more.

Kendra, was the innocent victim of an unprovoked, vicious stabbing and slashing attack on August 10, 2008 by Shelley Malil, which almost resulted in her death. The attack left her with 23 knife wounds, two collapsed lungs, a nearly severed chin and other injuries. Cheryl will tell you this story with Hollywood ties on this week's episode Rob follows with tales of Darwin award winners that have questionable religious practices, that resulted in their untimely deaths

On May 31, 2014, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, two 12-year-old girls, Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser, lured their friend Payton Leutner into a forest and stabbed her 19 times in an attempt to appease the fictional character Slender Man. Hear Payton's survival story on this week's episode Rob follows with Darwin award stories of when animals strike back! How does a snake shoot a man? Rob will tell you all about it!

On this week's episode, Cheryl tells the survival story of Jennifer Schuett. In the summer of 1990, Jennifer Schuett experienced a real-life nightmare when she was kidnapped from her bed, sexually assaulted, and left for dead. But through perseverance, determination, and sheer resilience she survived. Rob follows with Darwin award tales involving dynamite, DIY fuse repair, and teenaged antics gone wrong Plus on this week we tell you about a contest that we have started. Listen to find out more!

Cheryl tells the story of Ricky Megee who was left for dead in the Australian outback. He was buried alive with no water and no shoes. He survived 71 days on a diet of leeches, frogs, insects, snakes, ants, lizards and edible plants. Rob follows with more reasons to avoid ice fishing, life lessons about stealing and exploding trees. Thanks for listening!

This week Cheryl tells the story of Ada Blackjack. When Ada Blackjack set sail in 1921 for a remote speck of land north of Siberia, which was known to be a nesting ground for polar bears. The petite Inupiat woman was an unlikely Arctic heroine. She was meant to be a seamstress and cook for an expedition comprised of four men and a female cat named Vic, Blackjack was assured that during her one-year contract sewing survival gear on Wrangel Island, she would be well fed and cared for without needing to participate in the grueling day-to-day work of Arctic survival. But by the time a rescue ship crested the horizon nearly two years later, Blackjack, who would come to be known as “The Female Robinson Crusoe,” was the only member of the party still alive—that is, apart from Vic. The shy tailor with the crippling fear of polar bears had taught herself to shoot and trap to stave off the constant threat of starvation, and when she strode out to meet her rescuers in a resplendent reindeer parka she had stitched herself, her gaunt face held a triumphant smile. Rob follows with more unfortunate tales of bad decisions, and in one case some instant karma. Listen to this weeks episode to hear more!

Rob and I have had a tragic event happen this weekend. Because of this we are taking a week off of recording. Thanks for your understanding

Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her family's home in Salt Lake City on June 5, 2002. She was sexually abused for nine months by Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee until her rescue in Sandy in March 2003. Hear about her survival story on this week's episode. Rob follows with tales of 2 separate Johnny's who thought flying without a license would be a good idea. Neither story ends well.

On this week's episode, Cheryl tells you 3 different Christmas miracles. She starts with a man that almost loses half of his family, followed by an unbelievable Christmas discovery and she finishes with the greatest rescue operation by a single ship in history. Rob follows with tales of bad friends that should stop stupid decisions with explosions, rocking a little too hard around the Christmas tree and, a story, that we're pretty sure, was the inspiration for the movie "Up" Thank you all for sharing your Christmas holidays with us!

On this week's episode Cheryl will tell the story of frenemies Angelique Robledo and Kassandra Toruga.  After Kassandra failed to become pregnant she began a plot to steal the baby from the very pregnant Angelique, by cutting the baby from her womb Afterwards we have a very special guest this week, none other than Quin Riches, who tells the story of Juan Garcia aka "Garbo" Juan almost single handedly put an end to WWII. "Who is this man?" you may ask, well Quin will tell you all about him. Finally Rob will finish with a Darwin award story involving explosives and bad decisions

On this week's episode Cheryl will tell the amazing survival story of Yossi Ghinsberg. Yossi went through more than any one person should ever endure in the Amazon jungle. He fended of a Jaguar, impaled himself on a stick was swarmed with bees and bot flies. He ate monkeys and sloths to survive. All the while being led into the jungle by a very suspect character. Possibly a serial killer?! Rob will follow with the story of the first Darwin award winner of this millenium, and once again proves why you should never mess with electricity.

On this week's episode, Cheryl tells the story of a man that got lost at sea for 438 days. He was like a real life castaway. Rob follows with dumb ways to die in the water. People know that drowning is a thing right? Have a listen to hear more!

This week Cheryl will tell you the story of how a woman survived being beaten, and stuffed into a garbage can for 26 hours, in below freezing temperatures. Rob will follow with some absolutely electrifying Darwin awards

On this week's episode hear about how Jayme Closs escaped her kidnapper after witnessing both of her parents being murdered. It's an emotional tale about a heroic young teenager. Rob follows with his Darwin stories, including one that was likely taught to you by your mother from a very young age.

John Capes set a new record for surviving a shipwreck, when the submarine he was in hit a mine and sank. Unfortunately, his story was so incredible that people didn't believe him. It wasn't until 12 years after his death that his story was confirmed. Hear about his story, followed by Darwin award winners who willingly buried themselves alive and took too many chances with firearms on this weeks episode.

On this week's episode, learn how 2 women survived being buried alive by their exes. Rob will tell you tales of dumb ways to die by water and electricity. Thanks for joining us!

Colleen Stan AKA the girl in the box was held captive as a sex slave and forced to live in a box for 7 years. Most days she spent 23 hours in this box. Cheryl tells the story, followed by Rob telling stories of Darwin award winners that don't quite understand the concept of gravity. Please join us to hear all about it!

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!

On this week's episode Cheryl tells the story of 3 women that were held captive in Cleveland Ohio for over a decade. Plus Rob will tell you stories about how even powerful conquererors from the past had moments that led to Darwin awards

This week is our reverse episode, so this week Rob tells the amazing survival story. Rob tells us the story of Adrian Carton De Wiart, also known as the unkillable soldier. This man escaped death so many times it's ridiculous! Cheryl then tells the Darwin story of the Collyer brothers, who died because of their own hoarding. Thanks for listening!

On this week's episode, Cheryl tells the story of how Michael Couillard and his son Matthew spent 10 days inside an ice cave in Turkey. Robs dives into the history books for his Darwin stories and reveals that Darwin awards have been around for a very long time. 

On this week's episode, you will hear about R. Norris Williams and other Titanic survivors. Rob will tell you tales of snowmobiling in Alaska, and electricians who should know better. 

This week you will hear about how Lisa McVey, not only survived a brutal kidnapping, but also helped to bring down a serial killer. Rob will tell you heated tales of fireworks and volcanoes. 

This week you will hear the story that inspired the novel Robinson Crusoe. Followed by Rob telling the lengths that some people will go to, to see Metallica and party like a rock star

This week we talk about how Matthew McGough and his 5 year old daughter Shannon survived for over a week in the Australian outback desert. Plus we talk about how this week's Darwin award winners claimed their prize with a lighter and a rocket car. Listen to find out more!

On this week's episode, we hear about how Kate Moir survived the night in the notorious Moorhouse murder house and possibly saved many others from being murdered. For our Darwin winners, we once again get into exotic pets and drinking things we shouldn't. Give us a listen to hear all about it!

This week is our 6 month anniversary! To celebrate Cheryl tells the story of an 11 year old thrill seeker surviving a plane crash in the mountains. Rob has learned some new methods of fishing. Both stories involve some questionable conspiracy theories :)

On this week's episode you will hear how people survived one of the world's most devastating wildfires. Johnny gets really interesting this week with his grenade and penis tossing antics

On this week's episode we hear about how Kris and Doug Wells survived an attack from a serial killer. Rob tells us stories about an overconfident kung fu fighter and a rollercoaster junkie

Join us on this week's episode learn how to survive in Yellowstone National Park with no supplies, and Rob will teach you about how to become enLIGHTened.

In this week's episode, Cheryl tells the story of how Scott Johnson and Sean Farmer survived a shooting attack on the Appalachian trail. Rob follows with 4 short stories of Darwin winners where death occurs by bees, convertibles and more! 

This episode may cost you an arm or a leg, hear how Kurt Kaser took care of business while dealing with a farming mishap. Afterwards Rob will tell you 2 stories about how our Johnny took his breath away.