Marooned: Tales of the Catastrophically Lost

Join hosts Aaron Habel (Generation Why) and Jack Luna (Dark Topic) as they journey through harrowing tales of the catastrophically lost.

The Extreme Mechanic 10/01/2025

The Extreme Mechanic In 1993, French engineer Émile Leray’s Citroën 2CV broke down in the middle of the Moroccan desert. Stranded without any way to call for help, he dismantled the vehicle and rebuilt it into a working motorcycle. For twelve days and nights he lived in the stripped shell of the car and ate what rations he had while piecing the machine together- to attempt to ride it back to civilization and save himself. Thank you, everyone, for the love you have shown us and Marooned over the past two years. We really appreciate it. - Aaron & Jack Forum with linked articles and information Yabiladi /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/38423125

Bushman's Hole 09/17/2025

Bushman's Hole On January 8th, 2005, Australian diver David Shaw attempted to retrieve the body of Deon Dreyer, who had died in Bushman’s Hole, an 886-foot-deep cave in South Africa in 1994. Shaw ultimately reached the body, but became entangled and died on the cave floor, leaving his friend and support diver, Don Shirely, to fight for survival. Sources: To advertise on this podcast please email: Or go to: /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/38250280

Amanda Eller 09/03/2025

Amanda Eller On May 8, 2019, 35-year-old physical therapist and yoga teacher, Amanda Eller, set off on what she thought would be a hike along a trail in the Makawao Forest Reserve, Hawaii. Part way through the hike, she realised she had become disoriented and lost. Without a cell phone, water bottle, map, or any supplies, she fought to survive in the wilderness, with only intuition to guide her. She was rescued 17 days later, injured, but alive. However, her spiritual take on her experience left many questioning her actions and intentions. Sources: Mauinow articles: [][][][] To advertise on this podcast please email: Or go to: /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/38068020

The Tunnel Creek Crash 08/20/2025

The Tunnel Creek Crash On September 20, 2004, a Cessna 206 aircraft crashed while flying to a rural Schafer Meadows airstrip in Montana. Of the five people on board, only two would survive. Burned, injured, and presumed dead, forest service workers Jodee Hogg and Matt Ramige, were left to fight for survival, and descend the treacherous terrain in search of help. Sources: /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/37889015

A Grizzly Attack 08/06/2025

A Grizzly Attack In August of 2017, experienced hunter and avid outdoorsman, Jeremy Evans, was scouting for sheep in the Alberta Rockies when he spotted a grizzly bear cub through his binoculars. Without warning, he was attacked by a mother grizzly bear from behind resulting in devastating injuries. Alone in the backwoods of the Canadian wilderness, his face torn, fingers broken, tendons severed, and blood spilling from his injuries, Jeremy struggled for miles to save himself. Sources: - After the Attack: Man's harrowing account of being attacked by a bear still offering lessons about life, trauma - Account of horrific grizzly attack is a story about survival 'against all odds' - Dad has his face ripped off by bear in brutal attack - Jeremy Evans: How To Survive A Grizzly Bear Attack - Man Who Escaped After Bear Crushed His Skull on How He Survived To advertise on this podcast please email: Or go to: /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/37701960

The Örnen 07/23/2025

The Örnen In July of 1897, a team of three Swedish men, led by Swedish engineer Salomon August Andrée, climbed aboard the Örnen, a hydrogen balloon set to fly over the north pole in one of the first attempts to explore the Arctic by air. Almost as soon as they set off things began to go awry, and the ill-fated expedition became one of Sweden’s greatest mysteries. Sources: To advertise on this podcast please email: Or go to: /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/37513515

Dead In The Water 07/09/2025

Dead In The Water In 1999, Swedish medical student, Anna Bågenholm, was skiing in Norway with friends when she fell through a frozen stream and became trapped under a thick layer of ice. Unable to free herself, and forced to wait for rescue, her body temperature quickly fell to 13.7°C (56.7°F) and she fell unconscious. 80 minutes later, Bågenholm was brought to the surface by rescuers, clinically dead. But that is not the end of Anna's story... Sources: - -Swedish-Norwegian co-operation in the treatment of three hypothermia victims: - – My story can help others - To advertise on this podcast please email: Or go to: /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/37338445

The Johnson Sea Link Incident 06/25/2025

The Johnson Sea Link Incident In June 1973, The Johnson Sea Link, a deep-sea submersible, went on a routine mission off the coast of Florida. The Sea Link quickly became entangled in the cables and debris of a sunken ship. Trapped 360 feet below the surface for over 30 hours, four crew members fought for survival, but only two would make it out alive. Sources: To advertise on this podcast please email: Or go to: /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/37144650

Misadventure in Bolivia 06/11/2025

Misadventure in Bolivia When the going gets tough, the tough get going. A well known phrase that could easily be applied to almost every survival situation. Unfortunately, when it really comes down to it; those who would like to get going can’t wait around for anyone else. And that can be tough stuff. Though in this case it was more like “tough shit”. To advertise on this podcast please email: Or go to: Back from Tuichi by Yossi Ghinsberg /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/36942940

Stuck 05/28/2025

Stuck When it comes to social media, it is said that many are oversharing. Details of one's life including family members, where they live, and the troubles they are experiencing can be known by hundreds, if not thousands of other people. For some, it helps to make them feel connected by bringing in new followers and friends. Before youtube and instagram they felt isolated and unpopular. The likes and comments boost their morale and make them feel wanted. But what happens when a content creator is suddenly disconnected from everyone? To advertise on this podcast please email: Or go to: Sources: / /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/36741795

The Highest Fall 05/14/2025

The Highest Fall From the moment Vesna Vulović saw her friend wearing a flight attendant uniform she knew the job was for her. Vesna loved travelling to different countries and meeting new people. January 25th, 1972 was a day like any other for flight attendant Vesna Vulovic - she checked her schedule and boarded JAT Flight 367 to Belgrade with a layover in Copenhagen, Denmark. Unbeknownst to the crew and passengers, a mid-flight attack would rip the plane apart, and Vesna would be the sole survivor of the incident and a 33,333 ft fall. Please review us in your favorite podcast app! :-) To advertise on this podcast please email: Or go to: Sources: The Independent, Thu, Jan 26, 2012 ·Page 25 The Muskegon Chronicle, Fri, Jan 28, 1972 ·Page 1 The Toronto Star Tue, Dec 26, 1972 ·Page 17 Honolulu Star-Advertiser Sun, Dec 25, 2016 ·Page B6 South Florida Sun Sentinel Sun, Dec 25, 2016 ·Page B4 /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/36560550

The SOS Incident 04/30/2025

The SOS Incident Two hikers get lost in a park in Japan and a very large SOS made of birch trees leads rescuers to the pair. But the two hikers swear they had nothing to do with the sign and a subsequent search reveals human remains and a disturbing audio recording left at the scene... Our website: https://visitmarooned.com /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/36373175

The Lost Girls Of Panama 04/16/2025

The Lost Girls Of Panama It’s not unusual for those in their early twenties to want to get out into the world and explore it. Plenty of young people have found themselves backpacking across foreign lands, sleeping in hostels and meeting strangers in strange places, that will become lifelong friends, sharing lifelong memories. But it’s dangerous. Let’s not forget that. Anything that fits the bill of adventure - must naturally be so. To advertise on this podcast please email: Or go to: Sources: MSNBC, (information compiled from various sources) / Daily Beast- /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/36160120

Alexander Selkirk 04/02/2025

Alexander Selkirk There are many similarities between the fictional stories of Robinson Crusoe and the Tom Hanks film, Castaway. Man becomes stranded on a deserted island, following a wreck. Man first struggles to survive, before becoming one with his surroundings, and thrives. Man is rescued, and finds himself missing life on the island. But there is one major similarity that is often overlooked, and that is that both of these critically acclaimed, fictional survival stories, are based on the real life Marooning of Alexander Selkirk. Sources: The Life and Adventures of Alexander Selkirk, The Real Robinson Crusoe by John Howell 1837 A Voyage to the South Sea, and Round the World by Captain Edward Cooke 1712 To advertise on this podcast please email: Or go to: /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/35924075

Will To Live 03/19/2025

Will To Live We admire those willing to put themselves in such peril with the interest of exploration and discovery in mind, but with those who choose it for fun? It’s hard for the rest of us to wrap our heads around. Let’s take something common. SkyDiving. It’s said you’ll never feel so alive! And that’s because… you’ll never feel so close to certain death. “But it’s safe!”, they’ll say. And to that I respond. I’m sure it is. Airplanes are safe too. Here’s the problem with both. If something small goes wrong… that’s a big problem. Visit our website! To advertise on this podcast please email: Or go to: /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/35771665

Father Son Time 03/05/2025

Father Son Time It’s always nice to get away for a day, or even a moment, with someone who had a hand in raising you. Buy them lunch. To repay one of those bags of food they prepared you before school. Sit down and listen. Something a child or teenager takes for granted; that someone will always be there to listen. At least for the lucky ones. So how unlucky to take your dad for a trip as a way of thanking him for a healthy exposure to the wild, and put him in danger of exposure… in the wild? To advertise on this podcast please email: Or go to: Sources: . /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/35536270

Last Breath 02/19/2025

Last Breath Taking one last breath is something we all practice as kids, experimenting with how long we can hold out before seeing stars. On September 18th of 2012, saturation diver Chris Lemons found himself in an impossible game of life or death, that went from seeing stars to becoming one in an upcoming feature film. Please rate and review Marooned on apple podcasts, Spotify, Castbox, or Amazon Music. Thank you! Sources: Last Breath (documentary) 2019 by Richard da Costa & Alex Parkinson /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/35346110

Lost On The Lava 02/05/2025

Lost On The Lava Lost on a lava field. Trudging along for days on an ever growing expanse. Mocked by the choppy chuckle of helicopter blades that fly tourists overhead. They’re not looking for you. A grey speck on a chalkboard searching for the road you came in on. Searching for signs then searching for water. And finding nothing as easy as it should be. Maybe a torch would attract some attention? But the lava flows are too hot to close in on. How frustrating. To be in hell and not even able to achieve fire. Please leave us a review or mention us to friends and co-workers. Remember, Jack & Aaron appreciate you. visitmarooned.com Sources: - Missing Poster - I Shouldn’t Be A live S5E9 /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/35153575

The Coast Guard Disaster 01/22/2025

The Coast Guard Disaster It’s important to know what you're getting into, but in many of life's decisions there's a hard truth of that not being completely possible. Like when joining the United States Armed Forces for instance. No amount of literature or film based on the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard, can truly prepare one for all that such a career may throw at you. Or into. Or out of. Sources: Bearing Drift by Peter Eident Deadliest American Disasters and Large Loss of Life Events Casualty Report Please tell others about Marooned. Without you and your friends and neighbors listening, Jack and Aaron are likely to end up on a remote beach...marooned. /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/34951745

The Luckiest Woman Alive 01/08/2025

The Luckiest Woman Alive The idea of pulling a large parachute behind you until the wind catches it, then running down a mountainside until you're swept up into the air… is called paragliding. Some might argue that what was just described sounds more like a nightmare. For professional paraglider, 36 year old Ewa Wisnierska, back in 2007 at the Manilla XC Open - it was a little bit of both. Please leave us a review! :-) Sources: Miracle in the Storm (2010) Documentary BBC Interview with Ewa 2007 World Championship Results /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/34770325

Marooned Xmas Special 12/25/2024

Marooned Xmas Special Luna and Aaron sit down to discuss drones, the Brian Thompson shooting, as well as look back on more than a year of Marooned. Happy Holidays, everyone. Much love. /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/34590720

Lewis Sweet 12/11/2024

Lewis Sweet There's a lot to be worried about when out on the ice. Top of mind would be the threat of falling through. There's no more disconcerting a noise than that of a moaning fracture from beneath. Usually it's just the lake suffering some indigestion, but on Michigan’s Sturgeon Bay, back in January of 1929, a fisherman trying to snag some food almost became it when the black maw to the growling belly below split open in an attempt to swallow him. Lewis Sweet escaped that fate, only to find himself being served on a platter. Sources: The Perilous Adventure of Lewis Sweet by O.J. Laylander /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/34380270

USS Indianapolis 11/27/2024

USS Indianapolis One would think that if they were to become catastrophically lost, stranded - Marooned - that a major improvement to the situation would be if a thousand or so of one's closest buddies could somehow be with them. One would think. But with rations low, and sharks plucking those buddies away one by one like hors d’oeuvres - chumming the waters - one might be better off alone. Sources: Indianapolis: The True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval History and the Fifty-Year Fight to Exonerate an Innocent Man by Lynn Vincent & Sara Vladic Hey! Does anybody ever read the show notes? If so, please rate and review Marooned so that Jack & Aaron aren't lost at sea. Thank you. /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/34174905

The Ednamair 11/13/2024

The Ednamair In the summer of 1968, an English newspaper, The Sunday Times, proposed a contest - The Golden Globe Yacht Race - which challenged all comers to attempt the first single handed non-stop circumnavigation of the world. Many entered, but only one man, Robin Knox-Johnson, completed the sail, securing the Golden Globe Trophy and a cash prize of 5000 pounds. This caught the attention of Dougal Robertson (a former sailor in his late forties) along with his wife Lyn and their children - 18 year old Anne, 16 year old Douglas, and 12 year old twin boys Neil and Sandy, who together, followed the Golden Globe race from their dairy farm in rural Staffordshire, England. While watching a news report of the race, Neil, one of the twins, blurted out “Daddy’s a sailor, why don’t we sail around the world?” And this was how it started. Please share Marooned with your friends and co-workers. If not, Jack and Aaron may have to make do on an island somewhere with too few coconuts and too many Komodo dragons. Thank you. Sources: /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/33908762

The Kim Family Road Trip 10/29/2024

The Kim Family Road Trip The family road trip brings to mind an overpacked station wagon, some unimpressed kids in the back, and a couple of adults arguing up front over a comically large map. It’s supposed to be a good time but in reality, usually, it’s a bit of a nightmare. Especially if dad made a wrong turn. And then another… and it’s getting dark. Marooned has a facebook group! Look us up and interact with us there. :-) Sources: /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/33672942

Ada Blackjack 10/14/2024

Ada Blackjack History is often written by the victors - or in this case - a man named Vilhjalmur Stefansson who made a living and a name for himself by using other people's money to put unsuspecting explorers in peril. This is the true story of Ada Blackjack. Hey! If you can read this, please tell others about Marooned. Jack and Aaron are running low on supplies, but a boost to the podcast would surely help us reach the peak. ;-) /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/33456032

Beaconsfield Mine Collapse 10/02/2024

Beaconsfield Mine Collapse Tuesday April 25th, 2006. 9:26 PM. The small mining town of Beaconsfield in Tasmania, Australia will soon find itself under the media’s spotlight - having lost the light of miners to collapse. Hey! Does anybody ever read the show notes? If so, please rate and review Marooned so that Jack & Aaron aren't lost at sea. Thank you. Sources: Beaconsfield (TV Movie 2012) 60 Minutes Australia Larry Knight Coroner Inquest Mineaccidents .com /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/33293307

The Marooning of Philip Ashton 09/17/2024

The Marooning of Philip Ashton Maroon - to leave someone trapped and isolated in an inaccessible place, especially an island. Admittedly, stories that closely fit that definition are more difficult to come by than we originally thought. This episode, however, fits the bill. Resources: Book ~ Fleming, Gregory N. At the Point of a Cutlass. 2014 Hey! Does anybody ever read the show notes? If so, please rate and review Marooned so that Jack & Aaron aren't lost at sea. Thank you. /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/33090837

Stranded In Space 09/04/2024

Stranded In Space To be stranded anywhere - Marooned - sucks. It’s going to be uncomfortable. You’re going to have to find a way to get through it, until rescue. Usually that means finding shelter, eating bugs, and drinking urine. You know the deal. But for astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore it will mean an extended stay in the place they've always longed to be. Outer Space. Bonnie Pandya's book is Little Tail, Big Tales and can be found wherever you buy books. Aaron's books are Peek A Boop and Wag A Boop and are on Amazon. >>Please subscribe to Marooned and leave us a review. Find our website at visitmarooned.com | Thank you, Jack & Aaron. /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/32896087

Heading For The Mountains 08/22/2024

Heading For The Mountains Marni Sheppeard (36) and Sonja Rendell (25) are both postgraduate students studying physics at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. Sonja and her longtime boyfriend have recently broken up and Sonja is noticeably heartbroken. In an attempt to help her classmate clear her head, Marni suggests spending some time in nature; maybe a hike through Arthur’s Pass National Park. >>Please subscribe to Marooned and leave us a review. Find our website at visitmarooned.com | Thank you, Jack & Aaron. /episode/index/show/d9208bc2-b641-4d57-a9c0-3b22d139d64a/id/32687997

Marooned: Tales of the Catastrophically Lost

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