Against The Odds

In March 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton works to put together a crew of twenty-eight men to sail from England to Antarctica. It was a new continent untouched by humanity that only the most adventurous men dared to explore—men who yearned to be the first to see what no other person had.   Shackleton wants to be a part of the first group of men to cross the entirety of the frozen continent. He’s already reached the icy continent before, but now, he plans to conquer it...

Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew of twenty-seven men witness their ship, the Endurance, take a devastating blow against the unforgiving ice off the coast of Antarctica. The men will have to build camp and spend the winter on an ice floe. They’re unsure of how or when they’ll get home, but they’ll need to learn how to survive on desolate terrain...

Ernest Shackleton and his men are trapped on an ice floe off the coast of Antarctica. Tensions are running high, and rations are dwindling quickly. Shackleton is unsure how they are going to survive. Escaping the ice seems nearly impossible. The crew must remain determined if they plan to set sail for Elephant Island and regain their freedom. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening...

Ernest Shackleton and his crew of twenty-seven men were finally able to set sail for Elephant Island, but now the boats have been separated. They’ll have to endure the sea’s wrath. Shackleton’s crew must win the battle against the arctic’s unruly, icy waters if they ever plan to reach safety. Meanwhile, Henry Worsley’s body is breaking down. His team is exhausted and cold but determined to keep pushing on to realize Shackleton’s unfinished dream. Listen early and ad free with Wondery+...

In a final attempt to get his men home, Ernest Shackleton and his crew have to get through the Drake Passage, the most dangerous stretch of ocean in the world. And that’s just the beginning. When they reach their goal of South Georgia island, they realize the only way to reach civilization is to cross 29 miles of impassable ice and snow on foot - something no one has ever done before...

Chris Turney is an Earth scientist studying the causes and impacts of environmental and climate change with a focus on the Antarctic. Turney shares tales from his own ambitious expeditions to Antarctica and the greatest challenges Shackelton and his crew faced on the ice.  Listen early and ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App https://wondery.app.link/againsttheodds...