Against The Odds

by Wondery
6,221

Humans are resilient. In our toughest moments, we will fight, we will struggle, and we will triumph...often against the odds. 

In this immersive series from Wondery, host-adventurers Mike Corey and Cassie De Pecol will share thrilling stories of survival. From the daring rescue of a soccer team trapped in an underwater cave in Thailand, to a woman taken hostage by Somali pirates, these stories made headlines around the world. AGAINST THE ODDS will make you feel as though you’re living these experiences with our heroes as they push themselves to their limits.

Listen to Against The Odds on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/shows/against-the-odds now.

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Recent Reviews
  • bobareba
    Nome Serum Run
    Will we every hear the end of the Nome Serum Run without a subscription? If we don’t I’ll consider this a scam!
  • podtownreview
    Captivating and entertaining
    Great podcast that covers amazing situations. I love the writing, narration, sound effects, and production quality. With some episodes it’s like the audio equivalent of watching a movie, so it’s fun to listen to favorites again. It’s also cool that they have interviews with people involved or someone who’s written about the event! Mike Corey is an excellent interviewer. Highly recommended overall.
  • Lacy Listener
    Excellent podcast based on true stories!
    I enjoy this podcast very much as stories are based on real life and I like the multi-episode format because I listen to them all at once rather than waiting week to week. I am surprised at the poor reviews as they are not appreciative of the amount of work and good quality of a free podcast. I agree that female and male actor voices would be much less confusing to follow the dialogue. Thanks for a great show!!
  • Salz1616
    My favorite
    I’ve listen to almost every season. Of course some are less interesting than others but overall I love it!This is hands down my favorite podcast. I love the story telling, sound effects, the “fluff” as some call it. It’s gripping enough to keep me interested but light enough I can keep listening. I am invested in the characters and have been teary eyed a time or two. Keep it coming!
  • tripleHlove
    Dragggssss
    This podcast drags on way too much. Every story I’ve listened to could have been wrapped in a one episode, not a whole season. G.e.t.t.o.t.h.e.p.o.i.n.t. We don’t need theatrics and made up conventions in between facts.
  • Domtron83
    Compelling storytelling
    I very much like the subject matter so I may be biased, however, I always look forward to the show. It seems to be very well researched and any kind of assumptions were made up. Dialogue seem aligned with the source material. The liberties they take to make it a good coherent story don’t take away from the facts or mislead the listener. My one problem is the voices could be more buried. There are sound effects and I don’t know why Cassie and Mike can’t both lender voices to the different characters in each episode. Cassie could do voices of all female characters and Mike could do the voices of all the male characters. I think this would make the dialogue easier to follow. This is an easy fix. Otherwise a fun and informative listen.
  • Bschora
    FLUFF FACTOR: 22% (ugh zone)
    / Episode length: 41 mins. / Fluff time, round-up: 9 mins. / Avg time between fluff: 08.20. / Fluff%: 22%. / Based on episode: S46E4 ==========================
  • EmLeFay
    Pronunciation please!!!
    If you’re going to do a series on a plane crash — please learn how to pronounce the common term “altimeter.” Pathetic.
  • Plz .
    Great podcast
    I love this podcast and I understand that they can only upload once a week but I wish that they could upload faster
  • Rshell81
    Season 46 - Disappointing
    This story was ultimately a disappointing example of a person choosing his addiction over his wife and children. Yes, the survival story is unique however I don’t like how the show glorifies and downplays the addiction that it ultimately boils down to.
  • composeyourself
    One of my favorite podcasts
    This podcast has some solid writing and excellent storytelling. Very high quality production with powerful stories of survival. There is a lot of death in this podcast too, despite the fact that there are always survivors. Many of these stories will stick with me forever. Thank you for the great podcast!
  • The Eckhert
    Great stories but voice acting off
    I love the podcast and listen to it whenever episodes come out but I just wish they wouldn’t use the narrator as the voice actor. It’s just super corny and distracts from the story. Especially if we don’t know the full story.
  • bamabillsfan
    Sound effects
    The sounds effects in the episode Bitten by a Rattlesnake were so distracting! I had a difficult time following the story because of the loud sounds effects.
  • spikeme84
    I love this!
    I’ve become so engrossed in some of these stories! I like them because as I listen I can create scenes in my mind as the story unfolds and sometimes this is a much needed break that allows me to “get away” from worries in life temporarily. 😊
  • Zimboy63
    Disjointed
    Sorry to say I started listening to a program and then can’t find the next installment 9 days in the desert?
  • FourInchesPyle
    Mauro
    Episode recap: Mauro Mauro Mauro Mauro Mauro…..
  • Ellen F K
    Please get rid of the man
    His voice is horrible :-(
  • BiggusBallsworth
    Outstanding Storytelling(sometimes)
    Can’t get enough of this podcast, the cream of the crop for survival enthusiast ;) Edit: enough with the “encores” already, we will happily wait for a new season.
  • f1-fan not taken
    Excellent drama podcast
    It’s not a history book. If you want boring facts go read Wikipedia. This is entertainment. I like how they dramatize stuff but keep it realistic and factual.
  • LPA82
    Mostly Great!
    I’m enjoying the episodes about Whakaari, they seem to be well-researched, but the added acting/dramatization is not my fave and takes away from the subject matter.
  • JudyKKing
    Season 36
    Lost interest almost immediately. The added sounds were incredibly annoying. Fake laughing, etc.
  • avg podcast enjoyer
    Great pod/recommendation.
    Great pod been listing for years, listened to some seasons more than once. They should do a series on the divers at deer island Boston, I’m actually suprised they haven’t yet.
  • Tekmnd
    Well made
    I really enjoy this podcast. I recently found it and have been listening to a couple of episodes every day. I have now listened to almost all of them. The editing on these is really good! The sound effects, the volume differences…. There can be little things that bother me when they are done poorly. The editing on these are really really good! These are well made! Both narrators are good too, the stories are written well. However, the editing and sound is what gets it a full 5 stars from me.
  • Jester 26
    Extremely immersive
    I started listening to this podcast a few weeks ago. I have listened to 22 seasons so far and I am hooked. It’s like TV for your mind. It’s extremely well written. I highly recommend it!
  • Edward bidding man
    I love the historical episodes.
    My really drawn into the series’ they have for the more historical stories. The Donner Party, the USS Indianapolis. The narrator is awesome, really draws you in. I usually pick up a book about the subject after the listen to the podcast.
  • Tailgunner12
    Amazing
    I absolutely love this podcast, it makes these stories seem real. I’m saddened by Indianapolis, infuriated by buried alive, and agrivated by Johnstown. It is amazing, and I’ll recommend it to anyone.
  • sarahtuch
    Good Stories, Bad Telling
    ATO does a great job of storytelling. However, the background music and absolutely over the top voices by both hosts is so cringe I can barely listen. It’s giving Acting 101 and it’s embarrassing.
  • bauserjm
    So good!!
    I can’t stop listening to these wonderfully made, true stories. Highly recommend them!
  • bichzbtripin
    Addictive
    I just can’t listen to anything else and I am not sure what I will do when I am caught up! Each series really stays with you and I find myself talking about it to anyone that will listen.
  • Zeegha
    Inspirational
    Enjoy this podcast especially the series about the late John McCain. It’s hard to understand how someone would refer to him as a coward; he certainly wasn’t in my opinion. Thank-you.
  • ScooterBooter2012
    👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
    Hands down, the best podcast I listen to. Thank you.
  • Buxac
    Love this show
    Great job guys, keep em coming!
  • wepvid
    Good but sounds are annoying
    Please consider tweaking the sound effects. The length they run is REALLY annoying. It’s truly painful to listen while we’re also hearing the sounds of footsteps crunching along for what seems like 5 minutes! The effects run an atypically long time, that’s really annoying and it’s also just distracting. Depecol’s enunciation is off, too. Good stories but the sounds detract significantly.
  • Driver Increíble
    Engrossing!
    The most dreaded task is made vibrantly exciting when listening to this podcast. The dramatic play is exciting, the realism and fact checking honest and thorough. This podcast is entirely wonderful-highly recommend.
  • Nurse\Jen
    Top tier podcast
    I don’t give 5 stars often (always room for improvement, right?), but this podcast is so well done. It’s the perfect combination of drama and information. My favorite seasons have been the Paradise Fire and the Mt Hood Disaster. I’ve enjoyed reading some of their sources afterward as well.
  • Shaycr16
    Thank you!
    I love your podcast! Thank you for all the amazing story telling. I really love how both of you tell the story. I always look forward to the next episode or season! Keep up the great work! And thanks again!
  • Betelguese
    Everest ‘96
    Thanks for recreating the most harrowing mountaineering tale of all time on your channel. I’d already seen the movies and read all three books multiple times, including listening to Krakauer’s own tortured reading of Into Thin Air. My one nitpick is about pronunciation: - Lohtse rhymes with BOAT-see - Lopsang rhymes with HOP-song - Khumbu rhymes with ZOOM-boo - Beidleman rhymes with IDLE-min - Watney rhymes with COT-knee Congrats on knowing that “cwm” is pronounced KOOM! Anyway, keep the good work.
  • DotTheBC
    My favorite podcast EVER
    Among the trillion podcasts out there, Against the Odds is at the top of the list as the best podcast ever!
  • Delmar9770
    The best podcast ever
    This is a great podcast. DO NOT change a thing. If I had to pick the best podcast out there it would be this one by a country mile. Just so well put together. I could say 1 million good things about this podcast, and not one bad thing. This is a easy 5 stars
  • cochablabla
    Unbelievably true and engaging stories well told stories about survival.
    Due to the type of Manual work I do, I listen to 10 hours of podcasts at 1.5 speed daily. Naturally I go through a lot and there is only so much news and commentary you can take before it gets repetitive. Then there is crime. Easy listens but what does listening to hours a day of stories about murder and sadness say about ones character? Is there not anything out there as engaging but less sadistic? In comes this show. Incredible stories of survival and endurance and many times historically significant and true to boot!!! Very well told in a style reminiscent of old radios novelas with character dialogue and great narrative. Scroll through seasons to see which peaks your interest. I think you will be entertained.
  • Urmermaidmomma
    !!Spectacular!!
    I drive tractor on a farm every summer. I listen to a LOT of podcasts. I recently found this show and I could not stop listening. Even after work. In bed. The hosts’ voices are perfect. The storytelling is detailed and expressive and appropriately dramatic. There is zero side chit-chat. The sound effects! Done so perfectly you sink into the story completely. This is absolutely my favorite “channel” now. I have high standards of non fiction podcasts and I just can’t rave enough about this show!
  • Zephyr_spykid
    Great story
    I love your show it always entertains me on long car riders thank for making this.
  • thisnicknameispissing me off
    Faith in Humanity
    I remember being glued to my television, watching these events unfold years ago. The media could never have explained the depths of this miracle. The podcast brought me to tears and led me to the feeling of triumph. Absolutely fantastic from beginning to end.
  • c mosby
    Review
    I love y’all show and storytelling makes my time in nursing home tolerable lol!
  • Kim, Boulder
    Excellent storytelling
    Excellent storytelling and research
  • The Crabber
    Amazing podcast!!
    You all do such an amazing job on setting up the story and making us feel like we are there. Keep at it. I tried to tell so many people about the stories, and what happened… then I hear a real life story, and I think “these guys should make a podcast about it” Just keep going it’s awesome!!!
  • Lo-Barns
    Do not change a thing
    So well done. Amazing storytelling. All the effort and work to put the show together is obvious and worth it. The stories are incredible and I love talking about them to friends. I highly recommend.
  • MaryMaryyyyyy
    Incredible
    Incredible high level production that makes you feel like you’re really in the stories they tell. I get so excited every time they come out with a new episode and can’t wait for more!
  • Ex chump
    Excellent!!!
    I’ve listened to quite a few seasons and they are all excellent. Well researched, well written, well narrated, the sound effects really add to the story. The interviews after the stories are amazing. I’ve cried a few times listening to some of them. (USS Indianapolis was one, Thai cave rescue was another). Please keep up the wonderful work!
  • kfryrn
    Riveting Stories
    Every episode is exciting, tense and presented very well. I especially like the last episode where we can be debriefed. It will include discussions from either the author, the actual person the story is about or perhaps a family member. I recommend this podcast and look forward to the next season!!
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