In this episode of 'The Crux True Survival Story Podcast,' hosts Julie Henningsen and Kaycee McIntosh recount the tragic and heroic story of Anton Tselykh. On May 10th, 2025, Anton experienced a catastrophic fall while climbing in the North Cascades, leading to the death of three of his close friends. Despite suffering severe injuries, Anton survived a 500-700 foot fall and managed a grueling nine-hour descent in complete darkness to find help. The episode delves into the critical moments, decisions made, and survival instincts that enabled Anton to overcome insurmountable odds, as well as the lessons climbers can learn from this tragic event.

The Pacific Northwest Survival Games are going national! In this special episode, Kaycee sits down with founder Tony Peniche to discuss the upcoming partnership with Scouting America that could bring survival competitions to 250+ councils across the country. Kaycee also shares her experience competing in this year's games—the adrenaline, the mistakes, the unexpected friendships, and the valuable skills she learned in just 60 minutes per challenge. We talk about everything from shelter building with Oregon hardwood to throwing atlatls (ancient spear-throwing tools used by early humans for hunting), creative camouflage strategies, and how future competitors can prepare for the ultimate outdoor challenge.

**Content Warning: This story contains graphic details about a fatal cave accident involving prolonged entrapment in a confined space. It includes descriptions of claustrophobic conditions, failed rescue attempts, and a tragic death. The content may be particularly distressing for those sensitive to themes of confinement or helplessness. John Edward Jones entered Nutty Putty Cave in 2009 and never came out. A tragic tale of split-second decisions that turned fatal.

Carolina Wila survived 12 days lost in Western Australia's brutal outback after a head injury caused her to abandon her vehicle and wander into 740,000 acres of remote wilderness. Join hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen as they uncover how this 26-year-old German backpacker endured freezing temperatures, walked barefoot through treacherous terrain, and kept moving even after convincing herself rescue would never come.

When 65-year-old Lithuanian rafter Valdas Bieliauskas slipped on a wet rock in Tasmania's remote Franklin River, his leg became wedged between boulders in freezing rapids—triggering a 20-hour rescue that would end with doctors performing an underwater amputation to save his life. This is the story of an impossible decision, a rescue team pushed to their limits, and one man's refusal to give up.

Experienced hiker Gerry Largay vanished on the Appalachian Trail in 2013, triggering one of Maine's largest search operations. Her story—and the journal she kept during 26 days alone in the wilderness—changed how the hiking community thinks about safety and preparedness

In August 2024, Zach DeMoss swerved to avoid a deer on Idaho's Highway 12 and flew 40 feet through the air into remote wilderness. Catastrophically injured and unable to move, he faced an impossible choice every single hour: endure unbearable pain or let go. This is the story of five days that tested the absolute limits of human survival.

Student pilot Sheryl Ramstad's first solo flight ended in a devastating crash that left her with severe burns covering most of her body. Hear how this former attorney transformed her trauma into purpose, becoming a nurse for burn survivors while conquering marathons and Mount Kilimanjaro.

On July 28, 2025, 39-year-old Andrew Barber's tire blew out on a remote forest service road in British Columbia's Cariboo wilderness while searching for his missing dog. What began as a simple mechanical failure transformed into a nine-day fight for survival where Andrew built a shelter, carved "HELP" into a rock, and faced an impossible choice: drink contaminated pond water or die from dehydration. When an RCMP helicopter finally spotted his distress signals, rescue teams estimated he had less than 24 hours left to live.

On January 26, 1972, 22-year-old Serbian flight attendant Vesna Vulović survived a 33,000-foot fall without a parachute when JAT Flight 367 exploded over Czechoslovakia, setting a world record that still stands today. Her miraculous survival and subsequent life as a pro-democracy activist made her an enduring symbol of human resilience until her death in 2016.

Join host Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen recount the incredible tale of 11-year-old Terry Jo Duperrault. In November 1961, what began as the Duperrault family's dream vacation to the Bahamas aboard the yacht Bluebelle turned into a nightmare that left Terry Jo alone at sea for four days. Her miraculous rescue would expose shocking secrets about decorated war hero Captain Julian Harvey and reveal the dark truth behind one of the most chilling maritime tragedies in history. Content warning: Contains descriptions of violence toward children.

When 11-year-old Norman Ollestad Jr. walked away from a plane crash in the San Gabriel Mountains during a blizzard, his survival story was just beginning. After watching his father die, Norman faced nine hours alone on an icy 8,600-foot mountain with no winter gear, no food, and no rescue coming. This is the remarkable true story of how a boy's lost childhood became his lifeline, and how sometimes the most demanding lessons are the most important ones.

In this episode of the Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen delve into the harrowing story of Ryan Wardwell's three-day ordeal trapped behind a waterfall at the Seven Teacups in California. Despite hypothermic conditions, Ryan's resilience and survival instinct kept him alive long enough for an incredibly complex multi-agency rescue operation to succeed. The hosts discuss the advanced technical skills required for navigating the Seven Teacups, an expert-level canyoneering route that has gained dangerous popularity through social media. They also cover the tragic 2024 drowning of three experienced canyoneers in the same location, emphasizing the perilous nature of hydraulic water conditions and the importance of preparedness and situational awareness in wilderness adventures.

This week's story is about the incredible Emma "Grandma" Gatewood, who became the first woman to solo hike the entire 2,168-mile Appalachian Trail in 1955. At 67 years old, this Ohio grandmother completed the journey wearing canvas sneakers and carrying only a homemade denim bag, blanket, and shower curtain - proving that extraordinary achievements don't require extraordinary gear. After surviving decades of domestic violence, Gatewood found freedom on the trail and went on to hike it three times total, inspiring countless hikers and helping save the Appalachian Trail through the national attention her story generated.

The Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosted by Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen, recounts the dramatic survival story of Calena Gruber, a seven-year-old girl from Seattle. During a sailing camp in Miami's congested Biscayne Bay, a commercial barge collided with the small sailboat Calena was on, causing it to be dragged underwater. Despite suffering severe injuries and being trapped under 60 feet of steel and construction equipment, Calena displayed extraordinary resilience and presence of mind to escape. Sadly, three other young sailors did not survive. The incident exposes critical failures in maritime safety protocols and regulatory gaps, particularly the lack of licensed operators for tugboats under 26 feet. The podcast also discusses the psychological and physical challenges Calena faced during her recovery, the importance of stringent safety measures, and the remarkable resilience of children in traumatic situations. The episode concludes with insights into sailing program safety and calls for regulatory reforms in maritime operations.

In this episode, Kaycee McIntosh narrates the harrowing true survival story of Eric Murda, a 43-year-old irrigation contractor from Florida. On July 17, 2022, Eric decides to clean up litter near Lake Manatee, inadvertently finds himself lost in the swamp, and makes a fatal mistake by swimming across the lake at night. An alligator attacks him, tearing off his forearm. The story chronicles his three-day fight to stay alive in the hostile wetland environment, battling pain, disorientation, and various threats like venomous snakes and disease-carrying mosquitoes. Eric's will to live leads to his eventual rescue, transforming him into a motivational speaker who shares his experience to inspire others. The podcast episode also delves into survival strategies, critiquing both Eric’s critical mistakes and his incredible mental toughness.

Tony Peniche shares how his casual backyard BBQ idea accidentally went viral and became the Pacific Northwest Survival Games - a survival competition that now attracts TV celebrities and has a reality show in development. As a serial entrepreneur turned survival event organizer, Tony discusses creating competitions that use pressure and anxiety to simulate real emergencies, where surprisingly amateurs often outperform seasoned survivalists. The episode covers event logistics, survival skills training, and Tony's journey from marketing consultant to survival community leader.

This episode tells the story of a 67-year-old woman who was attacked by a bear on an Anchorage hiking trail and dragged into the wilderness. After she managed to call 911, rescuers used advanced drone technology to locate and save her. The podcast explores the rescue operation, how drones are transforming wilderness search and rescue, and provides practical survival tips including bear safety and preparedness advice.

During this episode of The Crux, Julie Henningsen tells us the remarkable true story of six Tongan teenagers who survived 15 months stranded on a deserted island in 1965. Unlike the fictional chaos depicted in "Lord of the Flies," these real boys created a cooperative and well-organized community that demonstrated humanity's capacity for collaboration under extreme circumstances. The episode covers their survival challenges, resourcefulness, and ultimate rescue by an Australian sea captain, highlighting themes of friendship, ingenuity, and resilience in the face of adversity.

In this episode of The Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts tell the story of Stairwell A - the only escape route left intact in the South Tower after Flight 175 struck on 9/11. When faced with conflicting information about whether to go up or down, 18 people made the critical decision that saved their lives. The episode follows Brian Clark's heroic rescue of Stanley Praimnath and explores how split-second choices and trusting your instincts can mean the difference between life and death.