Adventurers, Explorers & Survival

Acclaimed actor Jeremy Renner narrates his gripping and inspiring story of a near-fatal accident and what he learned about inner strength, endurance and hope as he overcame insurmountable odds to recover, one breath at a time. This program includes a note written and read by his daughter, Ava.

From the creators of the New York Times bestselling audio series Campfire Stories and MeatEater’s American History comes a new audiobook original that plunges listeners into the untamed world of a celebrated and misunderstood group of nineteenth-century outdoorsmen: the Mountain Men.

In August of 1914, the British ship Endurance set sail for the South Atlantic. In October 1915, still half a continent away from its intended base, the ship was trapped, then crushed in the ice

A “thrilling and superbly crafted” (The Wall Street Journal) account of the most momentous voyage of the Age of Exploration, which culminated in Captain James Cook’s death in Hawaii, and left a complex and controversial legacy still debated to this day.

By the YouTube sensation with two and a half million followers, the inspiring account of a young woman who, in a moment of personal crisis, embarked on an epic, transcontinental motorcycle ride—and along the way found a new sense of purpose.

On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood....

Meriwether Lewis and his partner, William Clark, endured incredible hardships and witnessed astounding sights on their 1803 cross-country trip to unexplored West....

Two friends, zero preparation, one dream. From the author of the beloved bestseller The Emerald Mile comes a rollicking and poignant account of an epic 750-mile odyssey, on foot, through the heart of America’s most magnificent national park and the grandest wilderness on earth.

A victim of her mother’s Munchausen by proxy and child abuse survivor, Gypsy-Rose Blanchard’s unique and controversial case made headlines across the world.

In April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley....

Even among iconic frontiersmen like John C. Fremont, Kit Carson, and Jedediah Smith, Jim Bridger stands out. A mountain man of the American West, straddling the fur trade era and the age of exploration, he lived the life legends are made of....

The River of Doubt brings alive extraordinary events in a powerful nonfiction narrative thriller that happens to feature one of the most famous Americans who ever lived....

From one of Outside magazine’s “Literary All-Stars” comes the thrilling true tale of the fastest boat ride ever through the Grand Canyon, atop the legendary Colorado River flood of 1983.

Gather around for campfire stories with the MeatEater crew as they share 16 harrowing true tales of survival, grit, and misfortune in the great outdoors - an immersive audio experience from the host of the long-running Netflix series and top-ranked wilderness podcast....

In Campfire Stories: Narrow Escapes & More Close Calls, storytellers take us from Florida to the Northern Rockies to the Arctic Ocean with wild and true stories, a reminder that the natural world is rugged and unpredictable....

A 600-mile canoe trip in the Canadian wilderness is a 17-year-old's dream adventure, but after he is mauled by a grizzly bear, it's all about staying alive....

438 Days is the miraculous account of the man who survived alone and adrift at sea longer than anyone in recorded history....

Steve House built his reputation on ascents throughout the Alps, Canada, Alaska, the Karakoram, and the Himalaya that have expanded possibilities of style, speed, and difficulty....

For millennia the location of the Nile River’s headwaters was shrouded in mystery. In the 19th century, there was a frenzy of interest in ancient Egypt. At the same time, European powers sent off waves of explorations intended to map the unknown corners of the globe....

From Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie, a searing, deeply personal account of enduring—and surviving—an attempt on his life thirty years after the fatwa that was ordered against him.

The electrifying true story of a young couple shipwrecked at sea: a mind-blowing tale of obsession, survival, and partnership stretched to its limits.

The true survival story of an early polar expedition that went terribly awry—with the ship frozen in ice and the crew trapped inside for the entire sunless, Antarctic winter....

Inspired by Wondery’s hit podcast Against the Odds—learn how to survive whatever nature can throw at you through gut-twisting true stories of survival on the brink.

This is the remarkable story of Josef Lewkowicz—Polish Jew and Holocaust survivor who became a Nazi hunter.

In 1982, at the age of just 23 and halfway through her architecture studies, Elspeth Beard left her family and friends in London and set off on a 35,000-mile solo adventure around the world on her 1974 BMW R60/6....

Noraly Schoenmaker was a thirtysomething geologist living in the Netherlands when she learned that her live-in partner had been having a long-term affair. In desperate need of a new beginning, she decided to quit her job and jet off to India. But her plans were dashed when she fell quickly and helplessly in love: with a motorcycle. Behind the handlebars, she felt alive and free—nimble enough to trace the narrowest paths, powerful enough to travel the longest of roads.

How to Survive Against the Odds places you at the center of fifteen real life-or-death scenarios. Each story explores the physiological responses of the human body under unbearable conditions, how to counteract them, and strategies for survival from doctors and psychologists. Through these tales, we see the grit, willpower, and know-how needed to navigate out of a host of merciless situations.

Captain William Kidd stands as one of the most notorious "pirate" outlaws ever, but his legend is tainted by a bed of lies. Having captivated imaginations for more than three hundred years and inspired many stories about pirates, troubling questions remain. Was he really a criminal or is the truth more inconvenient: that he was a buccaneer's worst nightmare, a revered pirate hunter turned fall guy for scheming politicians?

Kon-Tiki is the record of an astonishing adventure—a journey of 4,300 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean by raft. Intrigued by Polynesian folklore, biologist Thor Heyerdahl suspected that the South Sea Islands had been settled by an ancient race from thousands of miles to the east, led by a mythical hero, Kon-Tiki. He decided to prove his theory by duplicating the legendary voyage.

MAYA BLUE: A Memoir of Survival is Working Girl meets Taken, a true story of love, cocaine, abduction, and survival, and in the end, Brenda Coffee is the last one standing. Recipient of the coveted Kirkus starred review and nominated for the prestigious 2025 Kirkus Prize, MAYA BLUE is a memoir that reads like a thriller, a compelling, fast-paced story that underscores the power of our voice. "It was a fairy tale until it wasn't... " For a long time, that's what successful businesswoman Brenda Coffee told herself whenever she dared to look back on her twenties and thirties.

In June 2023, writer Dan Rubinstein lashed camping gear to his stand-up paddle board and embarked on an improbable solo voyage from Ottawa to Montreal, New York City, Toronto, and back to Ottawa along the rivers, lakes, and canals of a landlocked region. Over 1,200 miles and ten weeks, he explored the healing potential of "blue space"—the aquatic equivalent of green space—and sought out others drawn to their local waters.

What New York Times best-selling authors say about Farrell’s writing. Farrell’s writing is blunt and honest. There is something heroic in his attempts to salvage a productive life from the ruins of abuse and addictions. - New York Times best-selling author of Paddy Whacked, T.J English In a stripped-down, busted-and-back voice of a man with absolutely nothing left to hide, Richard Farrell gives us this deeply moving tale of redemptions. – Andre Dubus III, New York Times best-selling author of House of Sand and Fog. A work of compelling honesty. The writing is so powerful, so brutally ...

There is a process to death and dying, Caroline is now very much aware of this process as she witnesses the slow deterioration of her physical body as its spiritual body prepares for separation. Caroline Rivers shares her last week of journal entries detailing the experience of death while preparing to face its mystery: What may or may not be on the other side.

In the backwoods of Millwater County, legends aren’t born—they’re built on burning rubber, whispered deals, and split-second decisions. Calvin “Skipper” Dale is the kind of man who leads with quiet grit and moves faster than the law can write him up. Jason “Jump” Taylor turns any escape into an art form—vaulting rivers, fences, and doubt in a single bound. And Megan “Hop” Lamont? She’s charm in denim cutoffs, with a past more complicated than a CB radio full of static. They don’t just run moonshine. They outrun betrayal, corruption, and a deep-state conspiracy that ...

The Durrells are probably the most celebrated literary family of the 20th century. Gerald turned them into celebrities with his tripartite memoir, beginning with My Family and Other Animals (1956) which told of his experiences with his widowed mother Louisa and three siblings during their time in 1930s Corfu. We know of the Durrells from their own writings and from the image of them created by TV, film and biographical accounts of specific figures. What we do not know is the truth.

For readers who were captivated by the raw emotion of It Ends With Us and the intensity of Seven Days in June, comes a poignant and unforgettable story about love, deception, and the painful beauty of letting go. Nahomi thought she had found her forever. From the moment she met Anthony, their connection was undeniable—intense, passionate, and seemingly unbreakable. He made her feel seen, wanted, and cherished in ways she had never known. But love, as she would soon learn, isn’t always what holds two people together.

In this searing memoir, Chanchal Garg reveals the spiritual and sexual abuse that shattered her sense of self and forced her to question a life defined by duty and sacrifice. Raised as a devoted Indian daughter, she was taught never to question authority-until a transformative moment during a yoga class, while pregnant with her daughter, awakened a truth she could no longer ignore. That realization set her on a solitary journey, as she lost her faith, community, and the life she had always known.

In Born in a Living Hell version 2.0, Darlene J. Clark courageously unveils the haunting realities of her tumultuous childhood, marked by abuse, betrayal, and unimaginable hardship. This raw, unflinching memoir not only recounts the painful moments of her past but serves as a beacon of hope and resilience for those who have suffered in silence. Through her story, Darlene calls for understanding, awareness, and the courage to stand up against abuse, reminding us all that survival is not only possible it’s a triumph. For those seeking a tale of strength amid adversity, Born in a Living Hell...

What if the last great frontier wasn't space—but the depths below? Meet Theodore. Explorer, scientist, dreamer. With two master’s degrees—one in bioscience and one in mechanical engineering—and a PhD in oceanography, he's not just prepared for adventure; he was born for it. In Theodore The Explorer: Born To Discover, follow a man whose heart beats to the rhythm of curiosity and whose compass points toward the unknown. From lost civilizations beneath the sea to untold tales whispered by the wind, Theodore journeys across jungles, deserts, ruins, reefs, and into the hearts of people ...

This is a modern-day adventure based on a true story in America's last great wilderness, Alaska. It is a tale about a hunting expedition that quickly goes sideways. Two friends find themselves battling for survival among bear attacks, failing equipment, and deadly weather. These two not only survive, but thrive with cool heads, trust in each other, and a positive outlook.

They called her Mountain Mama. She didn’t mind. She’d earned it. Alone for over twenty years in the heart of the Ozarks, she carved out a life from snow, silence, and stubbornness. No electricity. No company. No regrets. The quiet didn’t scare her—it fed her. She survived not just the elements, but her past. And when something ancient began to stir beneath the mountain, it wasn’t a rescue party she needed—it was resolve. This is not a love story. It’s not a tragedy. It’s the true rhythm of one woman’s survival, transformation, and unbreakable bond with the wild. If ...

About the Author Kendra L. Little emerges as a fresh and authentic voice in inspirational storytelling. In her powerful debut, she shares a deeply personal journey marked by survival, healing, and an unshakable faith in God. With transparency and courage, Kendra unveils the wounds life left behind—but more importantly, the beauty that grew from them. Her story is a testament to God’s redeeming power and a reminder that purpose still lives beyond the pain. Through every page, she invites readers to walk with her on the road to becoming the woman God called her to be—flawed, faithful, ...

Golden Globe Race 2018-19: The Long Way Without GPS is not merely a chronicle of a race. It is a meditation on the human spirit tested by the sea—the kind of test that strips away comfort, technology, and pretense, and leaves only the sailor, the boat, and the long, unrelenting ocean. In 2018, fifty years after the original Golden Globe Race first dared men to sail alone, non-stop, around the world, a new generation of sailors answered the same call. But this was no modern regatta. There were no satellites, no GPS, no weather routing. The rules were spartan. The solitude, absolute. These ...

Every success story begins with a single step in the right direction. Pem Dorjee Sherpa's journey began with a determination to break the cycle of poverty and abuse he was born into. To do that, Pem will have to summon the resilience, courage, and resolve to do what others only dream of: summit Mt. Everest.

A gripping true story of survival and resilience. Khamza Alimov endured famine, Stalin’s camps, and the cruelty of Soviet rule—but never lost his humanity. Told by his daughter, author Maruana Khamzaqizi, this powerful memoir weaves personal history with the collective trauma of the Kazakh people. A moving tribute and an essential account of a little-known chapter in 20th-century history, this book speaks to anyone drawn to stories of strength, truth, and endurance.

Terrified that a stroke could steal your future? Discover the simple solution and improve your life. Are you battling the fog of traumatic brain injury every single morning? Do you dread each twinge, fearing it might be another attack? Has watching a loved one struggle with lost words and weak limbs left you feeling helpless? Aithal—a novelist, an engineer, and a 24-year stroke survivor—has walked that path himself. Now he shares a hard-won roadmap for turning catastrophe into courage—and shows how luck often arrives disguised as disaster. A Stroke of Luck is a candid, uplifting ...

War is loud. But what happens when it goes quiet? I Saw the Silence is a haunting and hopeful memoir from humanitarian storyteller Paolo Sebastiano Sivillica. Set in the heart of the Democratic Republic of Congo, this book chronicles Paolo’s journey as a witness not to bullets or explosions, but to what comes after: trauma, silence, and survival. Through deeply personal reflections and composite stories of survivors, the memoir explores invisible wounds left by decades of conflict.

What if one moment — one impossible climb — changed everything? At eight years old, Ted Lazaris didn’t climb that towering tree in Milwaukee to be brave. He climbed because something called to him. What followed wasn’t just a fall — it was a moment that defied logic, rewrote destiny, and became the foundation of a lifetime of purpose. When Time Stood Still is a true story of survival, storytelling, and second chances. From near-death experiences to divine interventions, this deeply personal memoir reveals how the most ordinary beginnings can lead to the most extraordinary lives. ...

From a young age, I always had a special place in my heart for children. Growing up in metropolitan Detroit, my childhood was marked by the shadows of abuse and neglect. The love I so desperately needed was often out of touch, but it ignited a deep desire to give it to others. I vowed that one day, I would create a safe and nurturing environment for children, filled with the affection I rarely received. At sixteen, my world was turned upside down when I was forced to drop out of school.

You’re not lazy. You’re not weak. And you’re not alone. If you’re lying on the floor wondering if your back will ever let you stand tall again—this book is for you. The McKenzie Method Bent Over and Broken isn’t another textbook full of anatomy terms or a “just stretch more” guide. It’s a raw, real story about finally finding relief—after years of trial, error, painkillers, and dead ends. Through the voice of Tom, a lifelong skeptic who tried everything from ER visits to lying on the floor for 12 hours straight, you’ll discover the McKenzie Method: a simple, no-fluff ...