The Crux True Survival Stories

The Crux True Survival Stories
  • 4.1 (611)
  • Documentary
  • Weekly

Are you drawn to thrilling survival stories where characters overcome impossible odds? The Crux: True Survival Stories is your podcast. Join us for gripping tales of resilience and invaluable insights into wilderness survival and the mindset needed to overcome adversity. Hosted by two practicing physician assistants, Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen, both passionate about wilderness and medicine. Our podcast is fueled by real-life stories and the pivotal moments that determine life or death outcomes. Tune in for captivating narratives that entertain and educate. Airing every Monday! Our bonus "Disaster Strikes" series episodes air every other Thursday.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-crux-true-survival-stories--7265181/support.

  1. 3d ago

    41 Days Adrift; Tami Oldham Ashcraft and Hurricane Raymond | E272

    In September 1983, Tami Oldham and her fiancé, Richard Sharp, set sail from Tahiti on what should have been a routine yacht delivery to San Diego. Weeks later, a hurricane they could not outrun found them in the open Pacific. Tami woke up injured, aboard a boat that barely resembled the one she had boarded, with one question that could not wait: where was Richard? What followed took more than a month, a navigation tool most of us have never used, and a decision at the very end that could have cost her everything. Julie and Kaycee tell the story and explain what a head injury like hers can mean Content note: This episode includes the death of a loved one, a serious head injury, and a brief mention of suicidal thoughts. In the United States, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text. Time Stamps -  00:00 Podcast Intro  00:30 Waking Up After Capsize 01:56 Content Warning  03:01 Tahiti Departure And Crew 04:54 Hurricane Raymond Forms 08:44 Inside The Storm 11:15 Richard Missing Aftermath 13:02 Radios Fail Survival Plan 15:44 Improvised Mast And Course 17:36 Celestial Navigation Without Time 22:35 Daily Routine Food Water Wounds 25:07 Close Calls And Steering Trouble 27:02 Third Man Factor  28:51 Land Signs  31:37 Hilo Harbor And Rescue 34:17 Recovery And Life After 35:27 Legacy And Closing Key References United Press International, "A woman who spent 41 days alone in a..." (November 22, 1983).Lou Bodenhemier, "A Survival Classic: Tami Oldham Ashcraft's 41 Days Alone at Sea," ExplorersWeb (May 20, 2025). Wikipedia, "Tami Oldham Ashcraft." Wikipedia, "1983 Pacific hurricane season," Hurricane Raymond section."Adrift: Surviving a hurricane at sea," interview with Tami Oldham Ashcraft, RNLI magazine (April 4, 2019).Media kit for Red Sky in Mourning, Foggia+Associates Public Relations (about 2002).7Kara Warner, "41 Days Stranded at Sea: The Harrowing, Heartbreaking Real-Life Story Behind New Movie 'Adrift,'" People (June 1, 2018).Tim Schmit, "'Adrift' 1983 Hurricane (Raymond)," CIMSS Satellite Blog, University of Wisconsin-Madison (October 12, 2021).Defense Health Agency, "Traumatic Brain Injury" (VA/DoD severity classification)."Guardian Angels Or The 'Third Man Factor'?" NPR (September 13, 2009)."Shackleton's Fourth Man," National Catholic Register.Review of Red Sky in Mourning, Kirkus Reviews.New Idea interview with Tami Oldham Ashcraft (August 27, 2018).14. 'Adrift' | Local author's book hits big screen," San Juan Journal. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-crux-true-survival-stories--7265181/support. Listen AD FREE: Support our podcast at patreon: http://patreon.com/TheCruxTrueSurvivalPodcast Email us! thecruxsurvival@gmail.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/ Get schooled by Julie in wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/ Use discount code CRUX to get 10% off tuition on a 2-day Wilderness First Aid course!  This episode includes AI-generated content.

    41 Days Adrift; Tami Oldham Ashcraft and Hurricane Raymond | E272

  2. 3d ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: The Tamsen Show

    Introducing Feeling Stuck? The Proven Method to Break Free with Psychologist Angela Duckworth from The Tamsen Show. Follow the show: The Tamsen Show Most of us have been taught that when something is not working, the answer is more discipline, more willpower, and more effort. Angela Duckworth, the University of Pennsylvania psychologist and bestselling author of Grit, built her career studying that idea. Her new book, Situated, asks us to look at everything surrounding that effort. In this conversation, she explains how the people, places, objects, and cultures around us shape our motivation, behavior, and even who we become. Angela shares the terrifying moment she nearly lost her mother during a snorkeling trip—and why it taught her to stop fighting the current and ask for help. She also opens up about a difficult period in her marriage that showed her how easily we can mistake the effects of someone’s circumstances for flaws in their character. Tamsen and Angela discuss why we attach moral value to doing things the hard way, how the people closest to us change what feels possible, and where to begin when we cannot simply leave the job, home, or situation shaping us. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why trying harder can keep us trapped in a losing situation - The four parts of your environment to examine when you feel stuck - How objects within three feet of you influence your behavior - Why different people bring out different versions of who you are - What you can change when your biggest circumstances are outside your control If you liked this episode, then you’ll like: The Real Reason You Feel Stuck (and How to Fix It) with Anna Runkle and How Friendships Can Change Your Life with Minaa B. If you want a say on our upcoming guests, fill out ⁠this form Stay connected with Tamsen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get ⁠Tamsen's newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ filled with free tools⁠ to living better, feeling stronger, and knowing you’re never alone Get Tamsen’s NYT instant bestselling book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠How To Menopause⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠ from Tamsen  Watch all the episodes on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠  The Tamsen Show on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Tamsen on ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠  Follow Angela on Instagram Get Angela's book, Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best Sponsors: Learn more about your ad choices, click here Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. Oct 22

    The 20-Year-Old Who Vanished Into America's Most Remote Canyon | Disaster Strikes E271

    In November 1934, 20-year-old artist and adventurer Everett Ruess disappeared into the remote canyons of southern Utah with two burros and a desire to explore some of the wildest country in the American West. He was never seen again.When searchers eventually retraced his route, what they discovered raised more questions than answers. And as the years passed, the mystery surrounding his disappearance only deepened. Did Everett fall victim to the unforgiving desert landscape? Did he encounter someone dangerous? Or was there something else behind his disappearance? In this episode of The Crux True Survival Stories: Disaster Strikes, Kaycee and Julie investigate one of the American West's most enduring mysteries—a disappearance that has puzzled investigators, historians, and adventurers for more than 90 years. SOURCES & REFERENCES BOOKS David Roberts - Finding Everett Ruess W.L. Rusho - Everett Ruess: A Vagabond for Beauty W.L. Rusho - Wilderness Journals of Everett Ruess W.L. Rusho - On Desert Trails with Everett Ruess Scott Thybony - The Disappearances: Three Stories of Lost People in the American West ARTICLES & REPORTING John Upton Terrell - The Fate of Everett Ruess, Salt Lake Tribune (1935) Bob Silbernagel - Efforts to Find Everett Ruess Proved More Difficult Than Anticipated, Grand Junction Daily Sentinel (2023) David Roberts - Solved: The Mystery of the Missing Artist, National Geographic Adventure (2009) Jim Scott - Solving a Mysterious Disappearance, CU Boulder Coloradan (2009) Howard Berkes - Mystery Endures: Remains Found Not Those of Artist, NPR (2009) Nicole Cowdell - Legacy of the Lost: Exploring One of Utah's Most Enduring Mysteries, University of Utah (2018) HISTORICAL RECORDS & ARCHIVES Everett Ruess family correspondence and journals, compiled by W.L. Rusho University of Utah Marriott Library - W.L. Rusho Collection University of Colorado Boulder - Anthropological and DNA research (2009) Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory - DNA reanalysis (2009) Oakland Museum of California - Dorothea Lange portrait of Everett Ruess (1933) Historical accounts of Clayton Porter, Addlin Lay, and Aneth Nez Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-crux-true-survival-stories--7265181/support. Listen AD FREE: Support our podcast at patreon: http://patreon.com/TheCruxTrueSurvivalPodcast Email us! thecruxsurvival@gmail.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/ Get schooled by Julie in wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/ Use discount code CRUX to get 10% off tuition on a 2-day Wilderness First Aid course!  This episode includes AI-generated content.

    The 20-Year-Old Who Vanished Into America's Most Remote Canyon | Disaster Strikes E271

  4. Oct 19

    Trapped in an Arctic Blizzard for 5 Days; The Incredible Survival of Ernie Etak | E270

    In the vast, frozen wilderness of Nunavut, Canada, even the most experienced hunters know that a routine trip can become dangerous in an instant.When Inuit hunter Ernie Etak headed out onto the Arctic tundra in December 2021, he couldn't have imagined the ordeal that lay ahead—or just how far he would be pushed to survive.In this episode of The Crux, Kaycee and Julie share Ernie's extraordinary true story and explore the traditional Inuit knowledge, survival instincts, and remarkable physiology that can mean the difference between life and death in one of the harshest environments on Earth.What happens when the human body reaches its limits? And what allows some people to survive when the odds seem impossible?Join us for a gripping story of survival in the Canadian Arctic. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-crux-true-survival-stories--7265181/support. Listen AD FREE: Support our podcast at patreon: http://patreon.com/TheCruxTrueSurvivalPodcast Email us! thecruxsurvival@gmail.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/ Get schooled by Julie in wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/ Use discount code CRUX to get 10% off tuition on a 2-day Wilderness First Aid course!  This episode includes AI-generated content.

    Trapped in an Arctic Blizzard for 5 Days; The Incredible Survival of Ernie Etak | E270

  5. Oct 12

    Crawling 11 Hours to Survive- Jake Schmitt and the Dog Who Led Him Home | E 269

    On a clear July evening in 2025, a seasoned hunting guide scouting for mule deer in Utah's Uinta Mountains felt his side-by-side begin to tilt at zero miles an hour. Minutes later, he lay on a steep slope with a shattered leg, his satellite messenger, radio, and phone scattered somewhere in the darkening brush, and only one companion left. What followed was an arduous journey of cold creek crossings, yipping coyotes, and a light no bigger than a quarter. Jake Schmitt thought he understood his dog, but somewhere in the dark, Buddy started doing something Jake still can't explain. Jake's GoFundMe Link - https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-jake-rebuild-after-his-5mile-crawl-to-safety References FOX 13 News Utah, "Man crawls 11 hours to rescue himself after getting injured on Uinta Mountains," July 29–30, 2025. https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/northern-utah/man-crawls-11-hours-to-rescue-himself-after-getting-injured-on-uinta-mountainsKSL, "Ogden man crawls, drags self for 11 hours after side-by-side rollover in Uintas," July 31, 2025. https://ksltv.com/local-news/ogden-man-crawls-drags-self-for-11-hours-after-side-by-side-rollover-in-uintas/802952/The Park Record, "Hunter crawls 11 hours to safety after a crash in the Uintas," Aug. 12, 2025. https://www.parkrecord.com/2025/08/12/hunter-crawls-11-hours-to-safety-after-a-crash-in-the-uintas/Outdoor Life, "After Rolling His UTV, This Man Crawled 11 Hours Through the Mountains with Only His Dog to Guide Him," July 31, 2025. https://www.outdoorlife.com/survival/utah-hunter-crawls-mountains-with-dog/WIVB News 4 Buffalo, "East Aurora native survives serious accident in Utah," July 30–31, 2025. https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/east-aurora-native-survives-serious-accident-in-utah/The Salt Lake Tribune, "How a dog helped a Utah man survive an 11-hour night crawl through the Uintas," Aug. 10, 2025 https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2025/08/10/he-shattered-his-ankles-utv-crash/Outside, "After Breaking Both Ankles, a Utah Man Crawled for Hours with His Dog Beside Him," Aug. 14, 2025. https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/exploration-survival/hunter-crashed-utv-dog-helped-survive/Mike Force Podcast, interview with Jake Schmitt, published around Aug. 4, 2025. https://youtu.be/Xu95PrMOoDMHushlife Podcast, interview with Jake Schmitt, early August 2025. https://youtu.be/kKLHd8GEUvgTeam Never Quit Podcast, "Jake Schmitt," around Oct. 1, 2025. https://teamneverquit.com/podcast/jake-schmitt/GoFundMe, "Help Jake Rebuild After His 5-Mile Crawl to Safety," organized by Kaitlynn Cline. https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-jake-rebuild-after-his-5mile-crawl-to-safety Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-crux-true-survival-stories--7265181/support. Listen AD FREE: Support our podcast at patreon: http://patreon.com/TheCruxTrueSurvivalPodcast Email us! thecruxsurvival@gmail.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/ Get schooled by Julie in wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/ Use discount code CRUX to get 10% off tuition on a 2-day Wilderness First Aid course!  This episode includes AI-generated content.

    Crawling 11 Hours to Survive- Jake Schmitt and the Dog Who Led Him Home | E 269

  6. Oct 8

    The Two Weeks Denali's Most Beautiful Ridge Turned Killer | Disaster Strikes E 268

    On May 24, 1998, a Canadian climber lost his footing on Denali's West Buttress and disappeared down the north face toward the Peters Glacier. Two National Park Service volunteer rangers were a hundred feet ahead of him. One of them radioed for permission to go down and look, got it, and started descending — and somewhere on that slope a decision was made that two separate federal investigations would spend the following year trying to explain. What happened next left one man clipped to a single ice screw in a storm, with no radio, waiting to find out whether anyone knew where he was. Thirteen days later, on the same stretch of ridge, it happened again. 00:00 Disaster Strikes Intro 00:41 Whiteout On The Ice 03:38 Denali Setup And Stakes 04:18 High Camp And Ranger Program 08:10 Gear Limits And Descent Plan 10:13 Burrito Brothers And The Thumb 13:41 Daniel Falls Off The Ridge 15:13 Radio Call And Rescue Choice 18:07 Unroped Descent Into Danger 24:22 Mike Disappears, Hurtado Waits 27:42 Rescue Team Rope By Rope 31:09 Bodies Packs And Missing Mike 34:34 Search Findings And Crampon Test 37:00 Rescue Fever And System Lessons 40:48 Aftermath; Another Fatal Fall 42:59 Scholarship And Farewell REFERENCES American Alpine Club, Accidents in North American Mountaineering, 1999 — "Fall on Ice/Snow, Unable to Self-Arrest, Weather: Alaska, Mount McKinley, West Buttress."NIOSH / Alaska FACE Investigation 98AK012, "Volunteer Ranger Dies from Fall on Denali," June 1, 1999.NIOSH / Alaska FACE Investigation 98AK016, "Assistant Mountaineering Guide Falls on Denali," June 22, 1999.American Alpine Club, Accidents in North American Mountaineering, 1999 — "Fall on Snow, Unable to Self-Arrest, Descending Unroped, Weather: Alaska, Mount McKinley, West Buttress."Porco, Peter. "Ridge Turns Killer." Anchorage Daily News, June 9, 1998.Anchorage Daily News, contemporaneous search coverage, May–June 1998, archived at akfatal.net."Denali Claims Another Climber." Mountain Zone. "Climber's Body Found — Man Loved Adventure, Family, Friends." Seattle Times, June 15, 1998."From a charmed life to learning how to cope with losing a son." Post Independent, April 18, 2011.Find a Grave memorial #28083415, Michael Adrian "Mike" Vanderbeek, Talkeetna Cemetery, Alaska. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-crux-true-survival-stories--7265181/support. Listen AD FREE: Support our podcast at patreon: http://patreon.com/TheCruxTrueSurvivalPodcast Email us! thecruxsurvival@gmail.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/ Get schooled by Julie in wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/ Use discount code CRUX to get 10% off tuition on a 2-day Wilderness First Aid course!

    The Two Weeks Denali's Most Beautiful Ridge Turned Killer | Disaster Strikes E 268

  7. Oct 5

    Three Nights Stranded in Glacier National Park Without Shoes | E267

    A day hike in Glacier National Park turns into a fight for survival when 19-year-old Matthew Read encounters deep spring snow near Huckleberry Lookout.What begins as an ordinary hike quickly goes wrong, leaving Matthew stranded in steep, heavily forested terrain as changing weather and cold exposure raise the stakes.In this episode of The Crux: True Survival Stories, we follow Matthew’s three-night ordeal and the massive search effort unfolding around him. Along the way, we break down postholing in deep snow, wilderness survival strategy, hypothermia versus frostbite, and the challenges search-and-rescue teams face trying to locate one person in Glacier’s vast backcountry.How do you survive when a simple step into the snow changes everything? 00:00 Snow Trap Begins 00:45 Meet the Hosts 01:01 Huckleberry Trail and Terrain 04:17 Meet Matthew Read 06:22 A Warning on the Trail 08:09 Postholing Explained 09:25 Losing His Shoes and Sliding Off Trail 11:39 Building a Debris Shelter 13:32 Why Staying Put Matters 15:33 Hypothermia vs. Frostbite 20:06 Waiting and Signaling for Rescue 22:13 Search and Rescue Begins 24:55 Thermal Imaging Breakthrough 27:51 The Nighttime Hoist Rescue 29:46 Treating Severe Frostbite 33:35 Recovery and Survival Lessons 35:43 Final Takeaways Resources / ReferencesThese are the ones I'd actually put in your show notes rather than padding the list with generic sources: National Park Service — “Missing Hiker Rescued in Glacier National Park” — the primary official account of the search, Matthew's location, thermal detection and 175-foot hoist. National Park Service National Park Service rescue reportNational Park Service — “Search Underway in Glacier National Park for Missing 19-Year-Old” — contemporary search announcement documenting winter-like upper-trail conditions and the agencies involved. National Park Service National Park Service search announcementFlathead Beacon — “Stranded Glacier National Park Hiker Shares Story of Survival and Hope” — the best detailed account, including Matthew's own description of losing his shoes, building shelter, staying put and the Two Bear Air search. Flathead Beacon Flathead Beacon feature on Matthew ReadDaily Inter Lake — “19-year-old rescued from Huckleberry Mountain in May avoids double amputation” — follow-up reporting on Matthew's frostbite treatment and recovery. Daily Inter Lake Daily Inter Lake recovery follow-upUndark — “The Burgeoning Science of Search and Rescue” — later reporting that uses Matthew's case to explain lost-person behavior and search strategy. Undark Magazine Undark search-and-rescue feature Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-crux-true-survival-stories--7265181/support. Listen AD FREE: Support our podcast at patreon: http://patreon.com/TheCruxTrueSurvivalPodcast Email us! thecruxsurvival@gmail.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/ Get schooled by Julie in wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/ Use discount code CRUX to get 10% off tuition on a 2-day Wilderness First Aid course!  This episode includes AI-generated content.

    Three Nights Stranded in Glacier National Park Without Shoes | E267

  8. Sep 28

    Trapped at 23,900 Feet: Doug Scott’s Descent With Two Broken Legs | E 266

    Doug Scott broke both his legs 23,900 feet above sea level on one of the world's most technically demanding mountains. No rescue team was waiting. No helicopter stood by. For eight days, Scott and his climbing partner Chris Bonington faced a descent that should have killed them—navigating crevasses, rappelling with broken legs, surviving a five-day storm with no food and wet sleeping bags in the death zone. But the real question isn't how they survived the mountain. It's what each person on that team did at every moment when survival seemed impossible. This is the story of how humans respond when everything goes catastrophically wrong. 00:00 Welcome to The Crux 01:50 Meet the Climbers 03:24 Why the Ogre Matters 04:47 Expedition Setup and Early Injury 07:35 Final Summit Push 11:44 The Fall and Broken Legs 15:56 Night on the Ledge 19:49 Crawling Descent and Regroup 23:08 Stormbound Survival 28:26 Base Camp Abandoned 30:37 Mo Runs for Rescue 33:33 Porter Carry and Helicopter Twist 37:35 Aftermath and Lessons 40:56 Closing Thoughts REFERENCES: Chris Bonington, "The Ogre," American Alpine Journal, 1978 Doug Scott, "A Crawl Down The Ogre," Himalayan Journal, 1979 Doug Scott, The Ogre: Biography of a Mountain and the Dramatic Story of the First Ascent, Vertebrate Publishing, 2017 Gripped Magazine, "The Climber Who Broke Both Legs and Crawled Off a Himalayan Mountain" Mo Anthoine, expedition audio recordings Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-crux-true-survival-stories--7265181/support. Listen AD FREE: Support our podcast at patreon: http://patreon.com/TheCruxTrueSurvivalPodcast Email us! thecruxsurvival@gmail.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/ Get schooled by Julie in wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/ Use discount code CRUX to get 10% off tuition on a 2-day Wilderness First Aid course!  This episode includes AI-generated content.

    Trapped at 23,900 Feet: Doug Scott’s Descent With Two Broken Legs | E 266
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4.1
out of 5
611 Ratings

About

Are you drawn to thrilling survival stories where characters overcome impossible odds? The Crux: True Survival Stories is your podcast. Join us for gripping tales of resilience and invaluable insights into wilderness survival and the mindset needed to overcome adversity. Hosted by two practicing physician assistants, Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen, both passionate about wilderness and medicine. Our podcast is fueled by real-life stories and the pivotal moments that determine life or death outcomes. Tune in for captivating narratives that entertain and educate. Airing every Monday! Our bonus "Disaster Strikes" series episodes air every other Thursday.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-crux-true-survival-stories--7265181/support.

Information

  • Creator
    The Crux True Survival Stories
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    272
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Julie Henningsen
  • Show Website
    The Crux True Survival Stories

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