Alone in Antarctica | The Far Eastern Party | 2

Against The Odds

Wondery

Cassie De Pecol, History, Society & Culture, Dolby, Mike Corey, Dolby Atmos, Atmos

4.7 • 7.2K Ratings

🗓️ 15 July 2025

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Douglas Mawson and his companions Belgrave Ninnis and Xavier Mertz are losing precious time on their journey across uncharted territory in Antarctica. Severe storms have pinned them down for days, and they’ve had to backtrack to avoid hidden crevasses in the Antarctic ice, so deep that falling into one would mean almost certain death. Then, more than 300 miles from base camp, a shocking tragedy leaves them fighting for their lives.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to Against the Odds early and ad-free right now.
0:05.6	Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.
0:09.8	A listener note, Against the Odds uses dramatizations that are based on true events.
0:14.4	Some elements, including dialogue, may be invented, but everything is based on research.
0:19.1	The following episode contains depictions of violence
0:21.7	and is not suitable for everyone.
0:23.7	Please be advised.
0:33.7	Belgrave Ninus strikes a match,
0:36.2	but it immediately goes out.
0:38.3	Even inside this sturdy canvas tent, the frigid Antarctic wind keeps finding its way in,
0:44.3	making it impossible to light the stove, and no stove means no hot soup or tea.
0:50.3	Ninus cups his hands around a fresh match and strikes it, but this one blows out too.
0:55.8	He sighs and tosses the match away, then looks over at his companions, Xavier Mertz and Douglas Mawson.
1:03.2	They're huddled in their reindeer sleeping bags.
1:06.5	Anyone got a blow torch?
1:09.9	Mawson takes the lid off a food box.
1:12.6	Well, gentlemen, looks like hardtack and chocolate for dinner again.
1:16.6	Mertz, the Swiss alpine skier and Forever Optimist, gingerly tries a bite of chocolate.
1:23.6	It's frozen solid like everything else.
1:26.6	Mawson gnaws on a piece of hardtack, a dry biscuit made from flour, water, and salt.
1:31.9	He grimaces at the taste.
1:34.6	Ninus, though, can't bring himself to eat anything.
	...

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