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.

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

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

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....

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.

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.

Into Thin Air is the definitive, personal account of the deadliest season in the history of Everest...

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.

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.

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....

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....

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.

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 the vein of #1 New York Times bestseller Soul Surfer, this inspiring story of loss and resilience follows the Reeder family after a horrific shark attack.

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....

The mesmerizing, larger-than-life tale of an eccentric adventurer who traversed some of the greatest frontiers of the twentieth century, from uncharted Arctic wastelands to the underground resistance networks of World War II....

As thrilling as any novel, as taut and exciting as any adventure story, Peter Hathaway Capstick’s Death in the Long Grass takes us deep into the heart of darkness to view Africa through the eyes of one of the most renowned professional hunters.

Extraordinary and inspiring, The Boys in the Light is the true story of a band of young U.S. soldiers who fought together in World War II and, in the throes of combat, rescued two survivors—one of them the author’s father—from Hitler’s plot to exterminate the Jews of Europe.

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

A memoir of the author's journey from an office job to restoring a cabin in the Pacific Northwest, Cabin is based on his wildly popular Outside Magazine piece.

The real stories behind the scenery of America’s national parks....

The Trail is a moving story of how nature helps us find what’s missing in our lives. The tale begins with Gil, who in the wake of his father’s death and recently fired from his job, agrees to accompany his father’s old hiking partner Syd on a month-long trek on the John Muir Trail....

Martha Sherrill brings us to a world that Americans know very little about---the snow country of Japan during World War II....

Maurice and Maralyn make an odd couple. He’s a loner, awkward and obsessive; she’s charismatic and ambitious. But they share a horror of wasting their lives. And they dream – as we all dream – of running away from it all. What if they quit their jobs, sold their house, bought a boat, and sailed away? Most of us begin and end with the daydream. But Maurice began to study nautical navigation. Maralyn made detailed lists of provisions. And in June 1972, they set sail. For nearly a year all went well, until deep in the Pacific, a breaching whale knocked a hole in their boat and it sank.

The Boys in the Light follows the parallel journeys of Company D and Eddie Willner, the author’s father, as they experience two sides of World War II. This is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the strength of the bonds forged during war; a must-listen for fans of Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and Erik Larson’s The Splendid and the Vile.

Lessons about embracing the miracles of life, based on a story of how Brody Young survived being shot nine times and severely wounded by a man while on patrol as a park ranger in a remote canyon in Utah one night. After many months, he recovered from his wounds and returned to work, forever changed by his near-death experience. How Young reacted in the face of life-threatening danger takes on heightened meaning when we learn how he decided to respond to the miracles that followed.

A two-week vacation to the Florida Keys meant Mary and Jameson Sr. could share the beauty of their favorite turquoise-blue waters with their four children. On that serene day at Looe Key Reef, their oldest, ten-year-old Jameson Jr., was swimming among the marine life, capturing breathtaking footage of a sea turtle when a massive bull shark attacked. Nine miles from shore and even farther from a hospital, their son weakening, the Reeders prayed for help—and it came through a miraculous chain of events.

Have you dreamt of trading your daily routine for a life of boundless exploration? Does the idea of shedding the conventional and embracing the extraordinary call to you? In Wanderlust Wisdom, author Chris Englert introduces you to 25 inspiring full-time travelers who have answered that call and forged their own unique paths to a nomadic existence. Forget the one-size-fits-all retirement plan or the fleeting vacation. This book delves into the diverse realities of life on the road, showcasing vibrant stories from individuals and couples—from young adventurers to seasoned octogenarians—...

A summer hike, a lakeside swim, a night in a camper… these moments of peace can become nightmares in a heartbeat. The line between the human world and the wild is vanishing. In this gripping collection of true, meticulously researched accounts, you will confront the terrifying reality of what happens when that line is crossed. From the dense forests of National Parks to the deceptive quiet of a suburban backyard, these stories reveal the chilling truth: a predator can be anywhere. Inside, you will discover: Heart-Pounding Encounters: Witness the split-second decisions that mean life or ...

What if everything you know can be cloned... except who you are? INIMITABLE is a bold, first-person manifesto about the only thing artificial intelligence can’t replicate: your lived experience turned into impact. Through a series of sharp, real-life stories—some uncomfortable, all true—Nacho Caballero shows how authenticity, presence, and emotional intelligence are now your only competitive edge in a world of templates and tech. It's not a book about fighting the future. It's a book about owning who you already are, and why the one thing that can't be hacked is your story, told live,...

Chandler Ricks was born for this. Smokejumping isn’t just a job—it’s a calling. It’s danger wrapped in adrenaline, sweat forged in purpose. At just twenty years old, Chandler steps out of training and into the flames, a six-foot-three force of will, armed with a pulaski axe and the kind of courage only found in those who run toward what others flee. But fire isn’t the only thing waiting in the wilderness. As Chandler’s first season with the elite team of smokejumpers begins, he’s faced with searing heat, shifting winds, and a fiery phenomenon even the veterans can’t explain...

When Bobby’s eleven-year relationship broke down, he thought he'd hit rock bottom. Then a bad economic turn and a handful of unlucky business deals drove his hard-earned company into the ground, and Bobby discovered what it was to lose all his purpose in life. Drowning his sorrows in a pub with his sister one day, Bobby boldly declared that he would turn his life around by driving from his hometown of Wigan all the way to Australia. The next day, Bobby’s plan kicked in – he sold up his business and spent all the money revamping a truck that he would drive and live in with his dog, Red.

You don’t need all the answers—just the courage to take the first step. In Bold: A Memoir, author J.A. Jernay delivers an unforgettable story about daring to live a life guided by guts, not guarantees. From leaving behind predictable paths to chasing dreams in unfamiliar places, each chapter is an invitation to defy limits and trust yourself to survive every outcome. Follow the author as he finds a foothold in the Washington, D.C. political media establishment navigates the pitfalls of the Hollywood entertainment industry climbs the highest mountain in the contiguous 48 states restarts ...

A jagged and luminous survivor's account and a defiant celebration of imperfection, Broken Girl is a powerful and poetic work of staggering loss and betrayal, love, and rage.

Jasmine always trusted her instincts—until someone refused to take “no” for an answer. In the dead of night, a single glance becomes a chilling pursuit. As cryptic gifts and relentless messages encircle her every move, Jasmine must discover just how far she’ll go to protect her freedom—and reclaim the power of her voice. STALKED is a pulse-pounding thriller about boundaries, bravery, and the unbreakable resolve of a woman who refuses to be silenced. When Jasmine tells him “No,” she means it. But Mark doesn’t listen. What begins as an innocent rose on her doorstep escalates ...

What happens when a burnt-out techie professional ditches the comforts of modern life and hikes 2,650 miles across the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada? A head-on collision of midlife crisis and wilderness reality, where he’s never felt more alive. Somewhere between blisters, bear poop, and resupply, it clicks. Those cryptic ideas of Zen and Taoism he skimmed almost two decades ago—about ‘simplicity’ and ‘attachment,’ the kind most of us flag as hippie nonsense, weren’t entirely wrong.

In Driving Lessons, Christopher B. Strain sets out on a quintessential American road trip, exploring not just the roads and byways of the country but the road trip's place in American culture. Strain dives into the well of American travel writing, illuminating fascinating aspects of the road trip, such as how race, class, and gender shape the experiences of road trippers.

Wildfire shares the drama, hardships, and experiences of the firefighters who try, sometimes in vain, to prevent destruction when a spark flares out of control. Hansen tells the rich and frightening stories of the firefighters themselves and the challenges they face: a safety system struggling to keep up with fire seasons that are lengthening, fires that are becoming more extreme, and agencies that are struggling to cover the bills.

Lovestruck and newly unemployed, Andrew Singer cashes in his savings to investigate a key question: Is #vanlife as awesome as it looks? After all, what could go wrong when two millennials—who have never used a saw before—attempt to convert a plumber’s van into a tiny home-on-wheels?

After I'd got him out of harm's way, I dived back in yet again and swam out past the surf-break, out to where the other two lads were floundering. Then, one at a time, I took them back onto the rocks – all done against the raging rip and wild surf. By then an hour or so had passed. Still, severe cuts, bruises and abrasions aside, I'd successfully saved the lives of the four young people who, in all probability, would've otherwise drowned.

In Walking the Tideline, Caroline Kurtz solo hikes the rugged, beautiful Oregon Coast—an expedition of isolation, adventure, joy, and grief inside the emotional wilderness of finding one's identity after the death of a loved one.

Steph Davis takes risks, trusts her impulses, makes decisions based on what feels right and never looks back. Soon after she was introduced to rock climbing, she abandoned the respectability of university life and a potential career as a concert pianist to become a "dirtbag climber," living out of her grandmother's hand-me-down Oldsmobile sedan with Fletcher, her loyal Blue heeler mix. Today, Davis is one of the most accomplished female climbers in the world, having made first ascents in Pakistan, Patagonia, Baffin Island, and Kyrgyzstan. \

At 83 years old, Valerie Taylor has lived a big, bold, adventurous life. Born in Australia, Valerie spent a great deal of her childhood in New Zealand. A talented artist, she dropped out of school when she contracted polio and was saved by Sister Elizabeth Kenny's treatment plan; it was two years before she could walk unaided. When Valerie was 15, she found work as an animator and moved back to Australia with her family. All the while she thrived on being close to the ocean, and was a keen spearfisher.

For years, she lived beneath the silence—trapped in a world of fear, addiction, and broken promises. A childhood shadowed by chaos gave way to a young adulthood filled with heartache, shattered trust, and desperate struggles to survive. Every day was a battle against the darkness inside and around her. But beneath that silence, something fierce and unbreakable was hope.

Join me on my three-day journey as I recap fun-filled adventures flying to spend quality time with my best friend, who is also like a brother to me. There were lots of laughs and good times to be had. This was my first time in the area, and it remains so even to this day.

Tipping has been one of those difficult adjustments for me to make, now that we live in Portugal and Spain. While I am tempted to use the same rule of thumb that guided my gratuities in the USA – 20% for good service, 10-15% for acceptable, less for less – I am seeing how awkward even appreciative workers here may feel and react when given a tip based on these percentages.

"Digging For Life" is a moving narrative by Adiang Assuoe, chronicling his harrowing journey from Cameroon to the diamond fields of Angola. In this heartfelt memoir, Assuoe shares his pursuit of a better life in post-apartheid South Africa, a dream that tragically lands him in a world of exploitation and enslavement. Assuoe's storytelling captures the essence of an individual's struggle against overwhelming odds, making "Digging For Life" a compelling read that resonates with anyone who has dared to dream. It's a story that stays with you, long after the last page is turned.

Latin America is a mystery, shrouded behind myths and niceties. However, the politically incorrect truth about the region is becoming more prescient as the diaspora balloons, especially in Anglo-America. If you want to get past polite-society conversations and marketing narratives to understand the reality on the ground, this is the book for you. The Latin America Red Pill is part investigative journalism, part economic analysis, and part autobiography.