In this episode, Lauren tells the incredible survival story of Juliane Diller Koepcke. In 1971, LANSA Flight 508 crashed over the Peruvian Amazon, and 17-year-old Juliane found herself stranded in a dense jungle, facing a huge challenge. Lauren talks about the calm yet determined actions Juliane took—from the shock of falling into the jungle to carefully navigating through trees, streams, and trails toward safety. Listeners will hear how Juliane used her quick thinking and resourcefulness to treat minor injuries, find water, and follow simple clues in nature that led her to a river. This story shows not only her physical journey but also the inner strength that helped her survive this overwhelming ordeal.

Sources:

Koepcke, J. (1998). When I Fell from the Sky: The True Story of My Survival. New York: St. Martin’s Press.

BBC. (2012). The Plane Crash That Left One Survivor. BBC News.

National Geographic. (2011). The Survival of Juliane Koepcke: A True Story of Courage in the Amazon. National Geographic Magazine.

Werner Herzog’s 1999 documentary: Wings of Hope.

The Morbid Podcast: Episode 419: The Unbelievable Survival Tale of Juliane Koepcke.

In this episode, Jenn takes us on a high flying journey through the stories of five extraordinary women who didn’t just break barriers in aviation—they redefined the industry itself.

From the fearless female pilots who flew before they even had the right to vote, to the groundbreaking engineers who reshaped the way we fly today, these women battled discrimination, defied expectations, and risked everything to claim their place in the skies.

Jenn unpacks the thrilling and sometimes dangerous missions of these aviation pioneers, sharing the near-misses, record-breaking achievements, and behind-the-scenes struggles they faced. Tune in to hear about the Fly Girls, namely Ruth Nichols, Louise Thaden, Ruth Nichols, Florence Klingensmith, and Amelia Earhart.

Sources:

O'Brien, Keith. Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History. 2020.

Earhart, Amelia. The Fun of It. Harper & Brothers, 1932.

In this episode, Lauren takes us on a thrilling ride through the life of the infamous bank robber, John Dillinger. Known as the "Jackrabbit" of the Depression-era criminal world, Dillinger's daring heists, flashy personality, and audacious escapes made him one of the most notorious criminals of the 1930s.

Lauren chats about his early years, his criminal rise, and his run-ins with the law—while uncovering the real stories behind his legendary robberies. From prison breaks to his ultimate showdown with the FBI, Dillinger's life was nothing short of wild. But was he a hardened criminal or a man out of place in desperate times? Join us for a closer look at the outlaw who became a symbol of rebellion—and who ultimately met a tragic end on the streets of Chicago.

Sources:

Burrough, Bryan. Public Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34. Penguin Books, 2004.

Gorn, Elliott J. Dillinger's Wild Ride: The Year That Made America's Public Enemy Number One. Oxford University Press, 2009.

Federal Bureau of Investigation. "John Dillinger: FBI Case Records." https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/john-dillinger

Helmer, William J., and Rick Mattix. Dillinger: The Untold Story. Indiana University Press, 1994.

Toland, John. The Dillinger Days. Random House, 1963. Chicago Tribune archives, various articles on Dillinger’s life and crimes.