Against The Odds

Professional big wave surfer Andrew Cotton — “Cotty” — discovered he had a knack for riding waves that most other surfers wouldn’t dream of tackling. His journey took him around the globe, from California to Hawaii, Ireland and Australia. But when Cotty got an invite to join surf legend Garrett McNamara in a small seaside town in Portugal called Nazaré, he discovered swells bigger and wilder than he’d ever encountered before. Today, Andrew Cotton is here to tell the story of his quest to surf the world’s biggest breaks – and how he bounced back from the wipeout that nearly ended his surfing dreams.
Follow Cotty on YouTube @andrewcottonsurfer, and Instagram @andrew_cotty
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Journalist Holly Bailey returned to Moore, Oklahoma on May 21st, 2013, the day after an EF5 tornado ripped through the city. As a child, she attended school in Moore, but now, the place looked unrecognizable, with cars wrapped around trees and houses ripped from their foundations. Bailey spoke with residents, teachers, meteorologists and bereaved families. She wrote about the aftermath in her book, The Mercy of the Sky: The Story of a Tornado. She joins Cassie to share her memories and stories of how people coped after the storm.

In this episode, we discussed suicide and depression. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 9-8-8.

For more on this story, we recommend:
The Mercy of the Sky by Holly Bailey
(also available as an audiobook on Audible).

Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“I am not Nicholas Rossi!” gasps Arthur Knight through an oxygen mask in March 2022. Recently discharged from a Covid ward in Glasgow, he's in a wheelchair. The police say he’s Nicholas Rossi, suspected of faking his death and wanted for rape in Utah. The story makes headlines globally.
When journalist Jane MacSorley meets Arthur Knight and his wife Miranda, she thinks the police have made a mistake. She embarks on a yearlong investigation, making a unique discovery which changes everything.
Listen to I Am Not Nicholas Season 1 on Audible or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes early and ad-free by joining Audible on the Audible App or on Apple Podcasts.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When the tornado finally passes, survivors crawl from the wreckage to find their town in ruins. A shaken Gary England and his team at KWTV report on the destruction. First responders claw through mountains of rubble looking for survivors. As some families experience miracles and others face heartbreaking loss, the true scale of the devastation begins to sink in.

For more on this story, we recommend:
The Mercy of the Sky by Holly Bailey
(also available as an audiobook on Audible).

Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As a massive mile-wide tornado approaches the town of Moore, Oklahoma, meteorologist Gary England warns viewers to take shelter wherever they can. For principal Amy Simpson and the students and faculty of Plaza Towers Elementary School, that means hallways and bathrooms. At Briarwood Elementary, LaDonna Cobb is one of many teachers who try to shield children with their bodies, as the tornado rips the school apart.

For more on this story, we recommend:
The Mercy of the Sky by Holly Bailey
(also available as an audiobook on Audible).

Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.