FAN FAVORITE: Teddy Roosevelt's Amazon Expedition | River's End | 4

Against The Odds

Wondery

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

4.7 • 7.2K Ratings

🗓️ 26 August 2025

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

After weeks on the River of Doubt, Theodore Roosevelt’s expedition is on the verge of collapse. But hope emerges when they find clues that Brazilian frontiersmen may be living and working in the wilderness nearby. As Roosevelt’s health deteriorates, drastic measures must be taken to fight the infection in his leg. The men must race to return the former president to civilization before illness and starvation claim his life.

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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.
0:09.5	This episode of Against the Odds contains graphic imagery that some listeners may find disturbing.
0:15.7	Please be advised.
0:16.6	Thank you. Theodore Roosevelt
0:26.7	stirs from a distant dream
0:29.1	As he opens his eyes,
0:31.6	the canvas walls of his tent
0:33.5	slowly come into focus.
0:36.3	He feels the humid air of the Amazon warming his skin like a blanket.
0:42.4	Foggy memories from the last 24 hours begin to take shape in his mind. He remembers that he's
0:49.1	been fighting malaria and that a deadly fever has been overwhelming him. He reaches down and feels a bandage on his leg.
0:58.1	He recalls that an infection from a bad cut has been sapping his strength. But he's awake now,
1:05.4	and he's grateful to be alive. Roosevelt turns to see his son Kermit standing by his cot, smiling down at him.
1:13.9	The fever must have broken. That's right, son. I'll be back to my old self soon enough.
1:20.8	Kermit smiles. But behind it, Roosevelt can see he's still worried. Kermit kneels next to him.
1:28.6	So there's good news.
1:30.3	We scout it up ahead.
1:32.0	The waters are much calmer.
1:34.1	No more white water.
1:35.6	For a while, anyway.
1:37.5	Good.
	...

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