Dan Becker Outdoors

Loren Schauers was an 18 year old construction worker whose life changed forever after a horrific forklift accident nearly killed him. But behind the headlines is a story far deeper than most people realize. In this episode, Loren and his wife Sabia sit down with me to tell the full story in their own words. From the moments before the accident… to waking up in the hospital… to the impossible decision doctors gave him… to what life actually looks like now. This isn’t just a survival story. It’s a story about resilience, love, identity, faith, pain, and choosing to keep living when everything changes in an instant.

*This episode contains discussion of rape and sexual abuse. Viewer discretion is advised*Elizabeth Smart joins me to share the story that shocked the country. At just 14 years old, she was taken from her bedroom in the middle of the night and held captive for nine months before being found alive. In this conversation, Elizabeth talks about what happened, what those months were like, how she survived, and what life looked like after the headlines faded. We also talk about trauma, healing, resilience, and the reality of moving forward after something unimaginable. This is a heavy episode, but an incredibly important one. I’m grateful to Elizabeth for her honesty, courage, and willingness to tell her story in her own words.

Savannah Barney was leading a group of teenagers on what should have been a routine canyoneering trip in Utah — until the unthinkable happened. While anchored to a massive boulder at the canyon’s edge, the rock suddenly tore loose and pivoted upward, ripping her off the rim and sending her plunging nearly 30 feet into the slot below.She landed face-first on solid rock.The impact snapped her body backward so violently it shattered her spine, instantly paralyzing her before anyone in her group had even entered the canyon.In a single second, the experienced outdoor leader became the one fighting for survival — trapped, unable to move, deep in a remote canyon with a group of teens depending on her.This is the story of the fall, the rescue, and what it takes to rebuild a life when everything changes in an instant.

Tyler Johnson was hunting black bear with his father when, without warning, a grizzly charged out of nowhere and began to maul him. With seconds to react, Tyler managed to draw his pistol and fire multiple rounds into the bear as it attacked. His father—an experienced game warden who raised Tyler in Alaska’s wilderness—also fired, ultimately killing the bear. Tyler survived, badly wounded.What happened next is what most people recognize: Tyler pulled out his phone and filmed the aftermath. That raw footage went viral, spreading across the internet as one of the most intense bear attack videos ever recorded. In this episode, Tyler tells the full story—what led up to the attack, what it felt like in the moment, the decisions that saved his life, and what people don’t see in the viral clip. This is a firsthand account of survival, training, instinct, and the reality of bear country.

Four survivors. Four stories that defy logic. In this marathon episode, we revisit some of the most intense and unbelievable interviews we’ve ever recorded.You’ll hear from Courtney Henderson, who fell nearly 50 feet down a mountainside with her friend Gavin Caruso — a fall Gavin didn’t survive. Courtney’s 911 call still stands as one of the most chilling ever recorded.Then, we sit down with Jeremy Evans, who survived what many call one of the worst grizzly bear attacks in history. Mauled three times by the same bear, Jeremy’s fight to stay alive in the Canadian wilderness feels almost impossible.Next, we revisit the story of Karen Klein, who became stranded in the Grand Canyon with her husband and young son. With no food, no shelter, and no way out, she made a desperate decision: leave her family behind and set out alone to find help.And finally, you’ll hear from Minko Nikolov, who was struck by lightning while hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park — and somehow lived to tell the story.If you only listen to one episode today… make it this one.

In this episode, I sit down with Keri Bergere, a cyclist who survived a shocking and brutal cougar attack while riding mountain bikes with friends. Her story is one of instinct, terror, and unimaginable strength — and the bond between the women who fought back against a predator determined to kill.

Tami Ennis thought she was heading out for a simple ocean adventure—but within hours, her life became a nightmare. After a sudden shipwreck left her and others stranded in open water, Tami was forced to witness the unthinkable: her friend being attacked and killed by sharks right in front of her. With no food, no land in sight, and no guarantee she’d survive, she relied on sheer will, instinct, and faith to stay alive. This episode is a raw, detailed look at trauma, survival, and what the human body and mind can endure when there’s no other choice. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.

His face clawed and arm ripped open. Bob Legasa was ambushed by a 500 pound grizzly. Thank God his friend was there to stop the attack. Here is the amazing story.

Karen Klein had to abandon her entire family that was stranded and stuck in a vehicle in a snowstorm in the Grand Canyon. She hiked 26 miles to find Help and almost died doing it.

Adventurer Jeremy Evans of Calgary Canada was hunting sheep deep in the mountains when a mother grizzly bear ambushed him trying to protect her hub. He spent 30 grueling minutes fighting off the bear as it ripped his face and head apart.