logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2024
12m 8s

The Real Lord of the Flies

The Retrospectors
About this episode
Captain Peter Warner and his crew made a startling discovery as they sailed past the uninhabited island of Atta in the Pacific on 11th September, 1966: six naked, shaggy-haired teenage boys, who had been stranded there for fifteen months. Sione, Stephen, Kolo, David, Luke, and Mano had escaped from their boarding school in Tonga's capital, Nuku'alofa, having ... Show More
Up next
Yesterday
Shooting 'Dr. No'
It had a budget of just $1 million, a lead actor wearing a toupee, and the baddie in the first draft of the script was a monkey. But the first James Bond film, ‘Dr. No’, which began shooting in Jamaica on 16th January, 1962, kicked off a phenomenally successful franchise that’s s ... Show More
11m 58s
Jan 15
Death By Molasses
A roaring wave of syrup swept through the North End of Boston on 15th January, 1919, in an event that claimed 21 lives, including 2 children, and came to be known as the “Great Molasses Flood”. At the heart of the disaster was a rushed, badly built industrial tank: the steel was ... Show More
13m 6s
Jan 14
New York meets Snow White
Disney’s long-awaited feature ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ was rapturously received at Radio City, New York, inspiring three-hour queues for tickets. The reviews that America woke up to on 14th January 1938 were euphoric: a masterpiece had landed. “It is a classic as importa ... Show More
12m 6s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
Introducing: Real Survival Stories - Tsunami in Sri Lanka
This is a taster episode from our sister show, Real Survival Stories. Hosted by our very own John Hopkins, the show brings you astonishing tales of ordinary people thrust into extraordinary survival situations. In this episode, we meet Pat and Pete Etheridge. One tranquil day on ... Show More
51m 41s
Aug 2025
Shipwreck off Australia: Dragged Towards the Rocks
A merchant vessel departs Tasmania. The scheduled journey time is two days. But 18-year-old Mick Doleman and his crewmates will end up at sea for far longer than that. When their ship goes under, the seamen will find themselves stranded in a vulnerable life raft. The hellish expe ... Show More
54m 29s
Mar 2020
The refugee who swam 20 people to safety: Yusra Mardini, Series 1, Episode 5
As a boat bound for Greece, filled with passengers attempting to flee war-torn Syria starting sinking - those on board feared the worst. But, over the course of three and a half monumental hours, Yusra Mardini and her sister Sara achieved the unthinkable as they jumped into the A ... Show More
31m 29s
Dec 2024
119: Surviving Against All Odds: Endurance by Alfred Lansing
"In that instant they felt an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment. Though they had failed dismally even to come close to the expedition's original objective, they knew now that somehow they had done much, much more than ever they set out to do." Welcome back to another ... Show More
1h 36m
Sep 2024
Captured by Blackbeard: Adventure on the Queen Anne's Revenge
In this fictional episode, join young Benjamin as he embarks on a thrilling adventure with the infamous pirate Blackbeard aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge! Sailing from his quiet fishing town to exotic lands, Benjamin learns about courage, friendship, and the pirate life. Full of ... Show More
8m 48s
Sep 2024
9/11: Rescue on the Water (Replay)
HISTORY This Week returns with new episodes starting September 16th! In the meantime, listen to a favorite classic from the archives. September 11, 2001. On a clear and sunny day, Captain Richard Thornton is piloting his ferry boat back and forth between New Jersey and New York ... Show More
30m 7s
Oct 2020
LOTF (Chapter 1) - "The Sound of the Shell"
A fair-haired boy lowers himself down some rocks toward a lagoon on a beach. At the lagoon, he encounters another boy, who is chubby, intellectual, and wears thick glasses. The fair-haired boy introduces himself as Ralph and the chubby one introduces himself as Piggy. Through the ... Show More
48m 38s
Sep 2020
Embrace the STRUGGLE in the Australian Outback!
<p>In this episode, Zara and Leo set up camp in the Australian wilderness to practice their survival skills. But before long, they get swept up in a tidal river and find themselves up a tree without a paddle! Find out how <strong>struggle </strong>can make you STRONGER, and learn ... Show More
18m 45s
Dec 2024
Fan Favorite: The Unbelievable Survival Tale of Juliane Koepcke
<p>This episode is a fan favorite that was originally published as Episode 476. We hope that you have a happy and safe holiday!</p><p>Juliane Koepcke's story will have you questioning any recent complaint you've made. This woman was the sole survivor of a plane crash in 1971. Aft ... Show More
1h 36m