The CRUX: True Survival Stories

In this episode of 'Disaster Strikes,' host Julie Henningsin dives into the haunting story of Randy Morganson, a legendary backcountry ranger who vanished without a trace in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains in 1996. This episode explores Randy's life, his profound connection to the wilderness, and the tragic series of events that led to his disappearance. Over nearly three decades, Randy was known for his extensive knowledge of...

In this episode of the Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh delve into the harrowing survival story of the crew of the USS Indianapolis, which sank in July 1945. The episode covers the catastrophic events leading up to and following the ship's sinking, where the crew faced extreme conditions, including dehydration, exposure, and shark attacks. The hosts discuss the psychological and physical ...

In this episode of The Crux, Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen, delve into the terrifying encounters between humans and polar bears. The episode recounts the harrowing survival stories of individuals like Matt Dyer and Elijah Carner, who faced life-threatening polar bear attacks in remote Arctic regions. The hosts discuss the increasing frequency of such encounters due to climate change, which causes bears to move closer to huma...

In this inaugural episode of the new podcast segment 'Disaster Strikes,' host Kaycee McIntosh, joined by Julie Henningsen, explores a tragic outdoor adventure case. They recount the story of four German tourists who vanished in Death Valley in 1996, leading to one of the park’s most enduring mysteries. Through an in-depth examination of their journey and the subsequent discovery of their remains over a decade later, the episode hig...

In this episode of The Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh explore the harrowing experience of Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd in Antarctica during the winter of 1934. Byrd, already famous for his polar explorations, volunteered for a solo mission to collect meteorological data in a tiny buried shack during the Antarctic winter. With temperatures plummeting to -70°F in perpetual darkness, B...

In this episode of Crux True Survival Stories, host Kaycee Macintosh revisits the remarkable survival story of Matt Ruem, who endured six grueling days trapped in his truck after an accident on I-90 in Indiana. From enduring severe injuries and contaminated rainwater to the complex rescue operation and difficult medical decisions, including the amputation of his left leg, Matt shares his transformative experience. This compelling t...

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions about suicide.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
• International Association for Suicide Prevention: https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

This episode explores attempted suicide. While we believe these con...

In this episode of 'The Crux True Survival Story Podcast,' medical professionals and wilderness survival enthusiasts Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh recount the dramatic tale of the Coast Guard's rescue of the HMS Bounty crew during Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. The episode delves into the fateful decisions made by Captain Robin Walbridge, the harrowing experiences of the 16 crew members, and the heroic efforts of Coast Gua...

In this episode of the Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen bring you the extraordinary tale of David Finlayson and his 13-year-old son Charlie—a story that redefines courage in the face of disaster.

When their August 2015 climbing expedition in Idaho's remote Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness took a devastating turn after a massive boulder struck David, it was young Charlie who tran...

In this episode of 'The Crux True Survival Stories,' hosts Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh delve into the extraordinary life of Colton Harris Moore, also known as the Barefoot Bandit. The episode explores Colton's troubled childhood, his years-long crime spree of burglaries, plane thefts, and his controversial rise to folk-hero status. The hosts discuss his remarkable self-taught survival skills, his knack for evading capture,...

The Coldest Night: Rob Gering's 12-Hour Fight for Survival
In this episode of Crux True Survival Stories, host Kaycee McIntosh interviews Rob Gering, who recounts his harrowing experience of surviving a snowmobile crash in subzero temperatures in northern Wisconsin. On a frigid February night, Rob was left immobilized with multiple broken bones and faced down in the snow for over 12 hours. His survival hinged on a lost glove and th...

In this episode of The Crux True Survival Stories, hosts Kaycee McIntosh, joined by Julie Henningsen, delves into the tragic survival story of the Kim family. What began as a joyful Thanksgiving 2006 road trip from San Francisco to Seattle, ended in a perilous and fatal detour through Oregon's Bear Camp Road. The episode details the Kim family's struggle for survival, the critical search and rescue operations that followed, and how...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Matt Potratz, a former professional snowmobiler whose life changed forever in a devastating avalanche in 2009. Before the accident, Matt was living what many would consider a dream life - a successful career as a general sales manager at a Toyota dealership and appearances in seven different snowmobile motion pictures. But in just 12 seconds, everything changed.

The avalanche left Matt wit...

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Try online therapy today at betterhelp.com/CRUX and take the first step toward becoming your best self.

On this episode of The Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh dive into the harrowing account that inspired 'Moby Dick'—the tragic voyage of the whale ship Essex. Listeners are taken on a detailed journey through early 19th-century whaling, the ca...

In this episode of The Crux True Survival Stories, host Kaycee McIntosh interviews Mike Theis from Balltown, Iowa, who recounts his terrifying encounter with his own pet deer. After a decade of peaceful coexistence, Mike faced a sudden and violent attack during rutting season, leading to a life-threatening struggle. Mike's quick thinking and resourcefulness using his belt as a restraint helped him survive multiple near-fatal injuri...

In this episode of The Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh delve into Theodore Roosevelt's perilous 1914 expedition through the Amazon's River of Doubt. The podcast recounts Roosevelt's remarkable survival story, highlighting his struggle against tropical diseases, near-starvation, and the elements, alongside his son Kermit and a diverse team. The journey, driven by Roosevelt's sense of adve...

In this gripping episode of the Crux True Survival podcast, host Kaycee McIntosh and co-host Julie Henningsen recount the harrowing story of Anna Conrad, who survived five days buried under an avalanche at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort in 1982. As the snow blanketed the Sierra Nevada mountains, Anna's remarkable tale of survival defied all odds. They delve into the events leading up to the avalanche, the rescue operation, and the impac...

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Try online therapy today at betterhelp.com/CRUX and take the first step toward becoming your best self.

In this episode of The Crux, hosts Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh delve into the miraculous events of January 15, 2009, when U.S. Airways flight 1549 made an emergency landing on the Hudson River. With a calm and collected demeanor, Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger and his c...

Surviving the Bernese Alps: The Incredible 1946 C-53 Dakota Crash and Rescue

In this episode of The Crux True Survival Stories, host Kaycee McIntosh and co-host Julie Henningsen explore the dramatic 1946 crash and subsequent rescue of a C-53 Dakota aircraft in the Bernese Alps. Carrying eight passengers and four crew members, the plane's crash initiated one of the most legendary high-altitude rescue missions in Swiss history. The h...