When Would We Die?

On July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis had just delivered the atomic bomb to the Pacific - what happened next is famously the subject of Quint's monologue in Jaws. Join Doogie and Tom for a special season finale focused on the events of those next five days featuring Doug Stanton, best-selling author of In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of It's Survivors.

It's time to head to Amity Island for Tom's favourite ever film, Jaws.  Hopping aboard the Orca with Doogie, Tom and Quint, Hooper and Brody are marine biologist, Yannis Papastamatiou (10:28); as well as Neighbours legend  and star of 2023's Great White, Tim Kano (30:32).

Doogie and Tom strap on their proton packs and jump in ECTO-1 for a wild ride through downtown Manhattan in stone cold 1984  classic, 'Ghostbusters'.  But who are they gonna call for help? Well, along for the ride, and to give both sides of the story on the whether ghosts even exist, are bio-paranormal investigator, Dolly Adamson (07:25), as well as scientific sceptic & author, Sharon Hill (30:43).  

Go up, up and away with Doogie and Tom in their beautiful balloon, as they retrace the steps of Carl and Russell in the beloved Pixar classic. Journalist and ageing specialist, David McManus, explains how they wouldn't be the only OAP's looking for adventure these days (11:01), before hot air ballooning legend Troy Bradley gives them the benefit of his first hand experience flying houses through electrical storms (25:05).

There's a witch in the woods, and Doogie and Tom are paying her a social call. To help them work out if they'll get on famously or end up in the naughty corner, they chat to the mayor of Blair/Burkitsville,  MD, Michael J. Robinson (07:07); writer and historical witch expert, Dr. Malcolm Gaskill (24:09); and real Modern Witch and lead singer of 90's sensation Def FX, Fiona Horne (37:14).

Ring in the New Year in Antarctica, with Doogie, Tom, Kurt Russell, Kurt Russell's flamethrower and 'The Thing'. Glacial archaeologist, Dr. Will Taylor and paleobotanist, Dr. Isaac Hart (8:55),  help work out if the frozen alien they dig out of the ice will do them in; whilst  polar expedition veteran, David Knoff, works out what will get them first - the 20-hour days, the creeping paranoia or the mistrust (31:25).

At that special time of year when everyone is gathering together with their loved ones, Doogie and Tom are going Home Alone. Joining them to keep an accurate injury count on the Wet Bandits is listener, Chris (2:48) and fellow podcasters, Two Humerus Nurses (20:36).

Doogie and Tom follow up last week's avian apocalypse with a real apocalypse. Come with them as they try to survive fast zombies in the streets of London  - helped only by The Zombie Research Society's resident epidemiologist, Dr. Tara P. Smith (9:25) and survival expert, Cameron Carlson (30:52).

What could be weirder than psychotic birds on a killing spree? A whole lot of things, it turns out, if you're talking about Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. Join Doogie and Tom as they take a surreal trip to Bodega Bay to face avian apocalypse - helped only by ornithologist, Dr. Anne Goodenough (9:44) and pest control expert, Peter McCarthy (40:00).

Doogie and Tom begin Season 2 with an episode 65 million years in the making. Legendary palaeontologists Dr. Phil Currie (10:30) and Rebecca Hunt-Foster (29:08) help determine what will get them first in Jurassic Park - velociraptors, T-Rex or the lack of decent wifi on Isla Nublar? 

Only three people have ever escaped from Alcatraz  - so what chance have Tom and Doogie really got? To get the inside track on what it takes to make it off the Rock, they're joined by the nephew of two of the escapees, Ken Widner (9:39), and author, Mike Lynch (35:00).

Don your best sandals and toga, because Doogie and Tom are off to ancient Rome. They try their hands as members of the Roman Army, with the help of Prof. David Potter (8.40), before stepping into the arena as gladiators, guided by Dr. Jayne Draycott (21.57). 

What could possibly go wrong in a fairy tale? Apart from the shrieking eels, the Cliffs of Insanity and the Rodents of Unusual Size, of course. Join Doogie and Tom as the most annoying sidekicks since Donkey as they fight their way through Florin, with only the help of fairy tale expert, Professor Amy Bennett Zendzian (07:40) and fencing master, Jarod Kirby (22:43).

Come jumpin' off the deck and shovin' into overdrive as Doogie and Tom take to the sky in Top Gun! Under the tutelage of veteran instructors Vincent 'Jell-O' Aiello (7.38) and Guy Snodgrass (22.52), what could possibly go wrong? 

Doogie and Tom venture back into space—because it went so well in 'Aliens'. Fewer xenomorphs this time, but still plenty of hazards to negotiate including flying space debris, exploding airlocks and George Clooney's terrible jokes. Luckily, they've brought a real-life astronaut along for the ride. Professor Greg Chamitoff is here to hold their gloves as they try not to die in zero gravity (7.18), and answer some bonus questions about important things like whether he ever saw a real live ET up there (23.42).

This week, Doogie holds Tom accountable for all the unspeakable acts the English inflicted on the poor Scots during the 13th century. Helping put Tom to the sword is Dr. Callum Watson, Battle Coordinator at the Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre (9.54) and Ralph Moffat, Curator of European Arms and Armour at Glasgow Museums (26.24).

Doogie and Tom take a trip to the beautiful forests of Maine to try their luck as woodland creatures alongside Bambi, Faline and Thumper.  Bestselling author Andrew Vietze (7:19) gives them the lowdown on the many ways they could die including forest fire, blizzards, predators and men with big guns. And then one of those men with big guns, Hal Blood of Big Wood Bucks Hunting, helps them get inside the head of a master hunter (23:25).

Doogie and Tom travel 99 years into the future and prove they have learned absolutely nothing as they lock horns with the alien Xenomorph queen. Thankfully, they radioed in advance for help: Gary Bryant, Professor of Physics at RMIT University (7.50) and ex-SAS soldier, bestselling author and speaker and resident medic on SAS Australia, Dr. Dan Pronk (25.24)

It all looked so sweet and harmless from the outside, but upon entering Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, Doogie and Tom soon  discover the perils that come with a lifetime's supply of chocolate, especially if you're an Oompa Loompa. To help navigate the perils of the chocolate river: Dr. C.N.E. Corbin, Assistant Professor at Portland State University Tularn School of Urban Studies and Planning (7.24) and John Ninness, Principal Consultant of the Australian-based consultancy company Safety Sure (26.55).

Venturing back over 200 years into the American wilderness, have Doogie and Tom bitten off more than they can chew (like Leonardo DiCaprio with that bison liver)? Along the way, they'll encounter bears—some of which might be on cocaine—savage native Americans and naked beaver trappers. What could possibly go wrong? Just as well they have guides: Philip Deloria, Leverett Saltonstall Professor of History at Harvard University (7.28); and Dr Wesley Larson, host of popular podcast Tooth and Claw: True Stories of When Animals Attack (31.54).

Ever wondered when you'd snuff it in your favourite movie? Well, so have Tom and Doogie, a couple of average guys (albeit with magnificent beards).Tackling a different movie each week, they'll enlist the help of experts to help them answer the ultimate question: when would they die?