Rephonic
Artwork for The Crux True Survival Stories

The Crux True Survival Stories

The Crux True Survival Stories
Wilderness Survival
Hypothermia
Survival
World War II
Survival Skills
Dehydration
Survival Stories
Eddie Rickenbacker
Paralysis
Appalachian Trail
Hugh Glass
Gerry Largay
Resilience
Denali
Natural Disasters
Rescue Operations
Search and Rescue
Alaska
Sierra Nevada Mountains
The Great Molasses Flood

Are you drawn to thrilling survival stories where characters overcome impossible odds? The Crux: True Survival Stories is your podcast. Join us for gripping tales of resilience and invaluable insights into wilderness survival and the mindset needed to overcome adversity. Hosted by two practicing physician assistants, Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen, both passionate about wilderness and medici... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes272Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentaryHistorySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Crux True Survival Stories

Latest Episodes

In September 1983, Tami Oldham and her fiancé, Richard Sharp, set sail from Tahiti on what should have been a routine yacht delivery to San Diego. Weeks later, a hurricane they could not outrun found them in the open Pacific. Tami woke up injured, ab... more

In November 1934, 20-year-old artist and adventurer Everett Ruess disappeared into the remote canyons of southern Utah with two burros and a desire to explore some of the wildest country in the American West. He was never seen again.When searchers ev... more

In the vast, frozen wilderness of Nunavut, Canada, even the most experienced hunters know that a routine trip can become dangerous in an instant.When Inuit hunter Ernie Etak headed out onto the Arctic tundra in December 2021, he couldn't have imagine... more

On a clear July evening in 2025, a seasoned hunting guide scouting for mule deer in Utah's Uinta Mountains felt his side-by-side begin to tilt at zero miles an hour. Minutes later, he lay on a steep slope with a shattered leg, his satellite messenger... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Against The Odds
Against The OddsAudible Original
How I Survived
How I SurvivedThat's Life!
Not Today
Not TodayNot Today

Recent Guests

Keri Bergere
60-year-old rider at the center of the attack
Unknown (rider on Magic Carpet route)
Episode: 15 Minutes in a Cougar's Jaws | E 264
Erica Wolfe
51-year-old rider, participated in the attack defense
Recycled Cycles Racing (team)
Episode: 15 Minutes in a Cougar's Jaws | E 264
Tisch Schmidt-Williams
Rider who organized the ride
Recycled Cycles Racing
Episode: 15 Minutes in a Cougar's Jaws | E 264
Megan Hine
Expedition leader, wilderness survival expert, and survival consultant
Self/Independent
Episode: Managing Fear: Survival Lessons from Megan Hine
Hendrik Johannes Coetzee
South African whitewater explorer (Hendri Coetzee)
Episode: Swallowed by the Nile; The Life and Death of Hendrik Coetzee | Disaster Strikes
Ben Stookesberry
World-class kayaker, part of the expedition team
Eddie Bauer First Descent; expedition partner
Episode: Swallowed by the Nile; The Life and Death of Hendrik Coetzee | Disaster Strikes
Chris Korbulic
World-class kayaker, expedition partner
Eddie Bauer First Descent; expedition partner
Episode: Swallowed by the Nile; The Life and Death of Hendrik Coetzee | Disaster Strikes
Brady Lowry
One of the four wrestlers attacked by a grizzly bear
Northwest College, Powell, Wyoming
Episode: 60 Feet Away: How a 19-Year-Old Stopped a Grizzly Attack With His Bare Hands
Kendall Cummings
19-year-old wrestler who intervened against the bear
Northwest College, Powell, Wyoming
Episode: 60 Feet Away: How a 19-Year-Old Stopped a Grizzly Attack With His Bare Hands

Hosts

Kaycee McIntosh
Host with wilderness medicine perspective; physician assistant background
Julie Henningsen
Co-host; physician assistant with wilderness medicine perspective

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 1.5k ratings
  • Relaxing

    I enjoy this podcast. Only issue is I have to listen to it on a faster speed as the talking is quite slow.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Tash🐱
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Less personal Convo

    The narration of The Crux is much better without the excess laughter and banter that doesn’t really lend to the story and sometimes feels inappropriate due to the seriousness of the story.

    You would do better to cut out the interpersonal relationship of the narrators and stick to the story for the sake of your listeners .

    As is , I would never pay to listen to your friendship . Nothing against it . I just want the story, not details of whether you went somewhere or not 
 or what your kid parti... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    TriAsd
    United Statesa month ago
  • Love this podcast!

    These gals have a way of storytelling that is captivating, informative, and keeps me on the edge of my seat!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JennLott2
    United Statesa month ago
  • One of my favourite podcasts!

    Love The Crux! Such great stories, the hosts and their medical knowledge are fantastic. Interesting stories treated with care and respect. A podcast I have kept coming back to for years. Thanks ladies :)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CourtneyBeck
    Australiaa month ago
  • Stop using AI

    I'm giving this podcast five stars for now because I do really really enjoy it and I'll be sad to stop listening. But if they continue to use AI to promote their show, I can't in good conscience keep listening. I hope y'all take this to heart! AI is destroying our planet and using it is so unethical, especially if you care about the great outdoors.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    wolfscum
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise hosts' medical expertise and calm, informative narration that educates while entertaining.
Many appreciate well-researched survival stories and actionable tips.
Some critique heavy scripting or banter; others enjoy the conversational tone and back-and-forth.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Surviving Niagara Falls: The Impossible True Story of 7-Year-Old Roger Woodward | E207
Q: What was Roger's life like after the incident?
Roger developed a love of boating, became a certified diver, joined the Navy during the Vietnam War, and later led a meaningful life with a family and career.
Surviving Paralysis: The Fight to Walk Again - Part 1 | E204
Q: What kept you having a positive attitude and the ability to work hard through challenges?
Family, friends, and especially my husband, along with the positive environment of physical therapy, kept me motivated to fight.
Surviving Paralysis: The Fight to Walk Again - Part 1 | E204
Q: What advice would you give to other partners supporting someone through major medical challenges?
The partner's needs take priority, and you must set up systems to support that. Lean on friends and family, modify your environment, and take care of yourself as a caregiver.
Solo Flight Gone Wrong: Sheryl Ramstad's Journey from Tragedy to Triumph | E187
Q: What impact does an experience like this have on your life choices and your trajectory overall?
It led to a renewed perspective on life, making the most of each day and pursuing opportunities, driven by the experience of surviving a plane crash.
9/11 Survivors: Those Who Escaped the South Tower via Stairwell A | E 175
Q: What do you think is the most important lesson that we can learn from this story?
The thin line between survival and death and the crucial role of decision-making in extreme situations.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Crux True Survival Stories

What is The Crux True Survival Stories about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two physician assistants anchor gripping survival narratives with medical insight and psych timing, delivering true-life adventures from wilderness expeditions to disaster rescues. Episodes blend meticulous reporting, scientific context, and practical survival takeaways, often with bonus Disaster Strikes stories that examine broader safety and policy implications. The show stands out for its calm, knowledgeable hosts who translate extreme experiences into lessons on risk, resilience, and decision-making in harsh environments.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Crux True Survival Stories?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Crux True Survival Stories. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Crux True Survival Stories and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Crux True Survival Stories get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Crux True Survival Stories, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Crux True Survival Stories?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Crux True Survival Stories, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Crux True Survival Stories have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Crux True Survival Stories has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Crux True Survival Stories?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Crux True Survival Stories:

1. Real Survival Stories
2. Against The Odds
3. How I Survived
4. Not Today
5. What It Was Like

How many episodes of The Crux True Survival Stories are there?

The Crux True Survival Stories launched 6 years ago and published 272 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Crux True Survival Stories?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Crux True Survival Stories?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Crux True Survival Stories from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Crux True Survival Stories?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Crux True Survival Stories. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Crux True Survival Stories?

Recent guests on The Crux True Survival Stories include:

1. Keri Bergere
2. Erica Wolfe
3. Tisch Schmidt-Williams
4. Megan Hine
5. Hendrik Johannes Coetzee
6. Ben Stookesberry
7. Chris Korbulic
8. Brady Lowry

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days