Saved by a Humpback Whale

May 13, 2026 · 46 min · Season 1 · Episode 146

About this episode

Marine biologist Nan Hauser recounts her incredible encounter with a humpback whale in the Cook Islands.

An incredible mystery plays out beneath the waves. Marine biologist Nan Hauser is an expert in the behaviour of whales. One day, in the breathtaking surroundings of the Cook Islands, Nan is shooting footage for a nature documentary when a 45-tonne humpback comes charging towards her. In seconds, she’ll find herself picked up and swept along by the enormous creature, balanced on the tip of its vast jaw. What on earth is happening? And how can Nan hope to emerge in one piece? A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. Written by Joe Viner | Produced by Ed Baranski | Assistant Producer: Luke Lonergan | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Sound Supervisor: Matt Peaty | Sound design by Jacob Booth | Assembly edit by Rob Plummer | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Ralph Tittley. For ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions If you have an amazing survival story of your own that you’d like to put forward for the show, let us know. Drop us an email at support@noiser.com Learn more about your ad…

People in this episode

Host: John Hopkins

Guest: Nan Hauser

Topics covered

marine biology
whales
survival story
nature documentary
ocean mystery

Keywords

humpback whale
marine biologist
survival
ocean
nature documentary

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Noiser

Places: Cook Islands