With the fire aboard Prinsendam now burning out of control, the captain gives the order to abandon ship. Passengers, some dressed only in pajamas and nightgowns, scramble into wooden lifeboats, which are lowered into the dark and frigid waters of the Gulf of Alaska. Meanwhile, rescue vessels – both military and private – rush to the scene. But with over 500 passengers and crew in need of saving, and a typhoon closing in, they’re in a race against time. 

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Introducing Audible True Crime, a dedicated podcast feed where we bring you the best podcasts in true crime, with episodes dropping every single week. Find your next bingeable series about unsolved murders, cold cases, scams and mysteries. This is the cream of the crop of Audible podcasts, featuring award-winning series and soon-to-be favorites. Stop pestering your friends or searching “best true crime podcast” on Google. 

Up first, Guru: The Dark Side of Enlightenment: A search for spiritual guidance leads a group of strangers to seek direction from a self-help guru. And not just any guru. James Arthur Ray is an Oprah endorsed motivational speaker and entrepreneur whose unorthodox methods that blend self-improvement and economic advice have won him praise and a growing following. He’s fast becoming a self-help superstar. But Ray’s increasingly extreme methods push his followers to their limits. What are they seeking? What does he offer? And what happens when it all goes too far, and people die? 

Listen to Audible True Crime wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can binge all episodes on Audible True Crime early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible App or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts.

Listen now: link.pscrb.fm/6438e/fdaudibletruecrimeron-93b44

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As crew members aboard Prinsendam work to contain the fire, passengers shiver on the decks in the cold night air. The mood is mostly festive; everyone expects that the fire will be extinguished soon. But when the blaze spreads to the dining room, the ship’s captain realizes he has no choice. He issues an SOS. If help doesn’t come soon, they’ll have to abandon ship — with a typhoon headed straight toward them.

Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.

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In October of 1980, the luxury cruise ship Prinsendam set sail from Vancouver with more than 300 passengers aboard, many of whom were elderly. But just after midnight on the cruise’s fourth day, in the Gulf of Alaska, a fire broke out in the ship’s engine room. The crew battled to contain the blaze, but with limited firefighting equipment, it was unclear if they could prevent the fire from spreading, and threatening the entire ship.  

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Professional big wave surfer Andrew Cotton — “Cotty” — discovered he had a knack for riding waves that most other surfers wouldn’t dream of tackling. His journey took him around the globe, from California to Hawaii, Ireland and Australia. But when Cotty got an invite to join surf legend Garrett McNamara in a small seaside town in Portugal called Nazaré, he discovered swells bigger and wilder than he’d ever encountered before. Today, Andrew Cotton is here to tell the story of his quest to surf the world’s biggest breaks – and how he bounced back from the wipeout that nearly ended his surfing dreams.  

Follow Cotty on YouTube @andrewcottonsurfer, and Instagram @andrew_cotty

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Journalist Holly Bailey returned to Moore, Oklahoma on May 21st, 2013, the day after an EF5 tornado ripped through the city. As a child, she attended school in Moore, but now, the place looked unrecognizable, with cars wrapped around trees and houses ripped from their foundations. Bailey spoke with residents, teachers, meteorologists and bereaved families. She wrote about the aftermath in her book, The Mercy of the Sky: The Story of a Tornado. She joins Cassie to share her memories and stories of how people coped after the storm. 

In this episode, we discussed suicide and depression. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 9-8-8.

For more on this story, we recommend:

The Mercy of the Sky by Holly Bailey

(also available as an audiobook on Audible).

Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.

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When the tornado finally passes, survivors crawl from the wreckage to find their town in ruins. A shaken Gary England and his team at KWTV report on the destruction. First responders claw through mountains of rubble looking for survivors. As some families experience miracles and others face heartbreaking loss, the true scale of the devastation begins to sink in.

For more on this story, we recommend:

The Mercy of the Sky by Holly Bailey

(also available as an audiobook on Audible).

Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.

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As a massive mile-wide tornado approaches the town of Moore, Oklahoma, meteorologist Gary England warns viewers to take shelter wherever they can. For principal Amy Simpson and the students and faculty of Plaza Towers Elementary School, that means hallways and bathrooms. At Briarwood Elementary, LaDonna Cobb is one of many teachers who try to shield children with their bodies, as the tornado rips the school apart.

For more on this story, we recommend:

The Mercy of the Sky by Holly Bailey

(also available as an audiobook on Audible).

Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.

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On May 20, 2013, residents of Moore, a suburb of Oklahoma City, awoke to a severe weather watch. But no one was overly concerned. Tornadoes are a fact of life in the Midwest, especially in Moore, which had already survived a devastating EF5-strength twister on May 3rd, 1999, packing winds of 321 miles per hour. No one really believed it could happen again. But soon, a powerful new tornado would be heading towards Moore – and two elementary schools, Plaza Towers and Briarwood, were right in its path.

For more on this story, we recommend:

The Mercy of the Sky by Holly Bailey

(also available as an audiobook on Audible).

Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.

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Rescue workers search for the camera crew trapped inside Kilauea’s Pu’u O’o crater, but they’re forced to abandon their efforts when an incoming storm makes conditions too hazardous. Cameramen Chris Duddy and Mike Benson struggle to survive a night inside the volcano. When daylight comes and there’s still no sign of rescue, Chris makes a fateful decision — to try to save his own life and bring back help for his friend.

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In November 1992, a Hollywood camera crew soars above Hawaii’s Kīlauea, one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes, to capture footage for a major feature film. But suddenly their helicopter’s engine cuts out, and they plunge into an active crater. Trapped and inhaling toxic fumes, the men will have to battle for survival — even for every breath — if they’re going to escape the volcano and see their loved ones again.

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