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It starts as the journey of a lifetime. A British farmer uproots his young family and attempts to sail around the world.
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My dad thought that it would be an education in life.
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Sunrises and sunsets and night skies.
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Such magical days.
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This big swordfish came along, so, so magical. But then, far out in the Pacific, abandoned ship. Killer whales hit the boat.
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I couldn't believe what I was seeing. There's water crashing over the deck. I thought, no, this is not. Help me.
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They scramble into a life raft, but nobody's coming to save them.
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Two drops of water to drink. We really were on our own.
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Alone in a fast ocean. Time is running out.
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The raft was already leaking, and the.
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Family is at breaking point. You just weren't up to it. You failed.
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Living with you is a misery. Sheer misery.
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How will they survive?
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I'm so scared. Hope had vanished. We will not eat each other. We will not eat each other. Waiting. Waiting to live or waiting to die?
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I'm Becky Milligan, and this is Adrift, an Apple original podcast produced by Blanchard House. New episodes are available Monday and Apple TV subscribers get special early access to the entire season. Follow and listen on Apple Podcasts.
Podcast: Adrift
Host: Becky Milligan / Apple TV & Blanchard House
Episode: Introducing Adrift
Release Date: November 3, 2025
The “Introducing Adrift” episode draws listeners into the harrowing true story of the Robertson family, who, in the early 1970s, left everything behind to sail around the world. What begins as an idyllic family adventure turns into a desperate survival story when catastrophe strikes in the Pacific Ocean. This episode establishes the emotional stakes, the family members, and previews the psychological and physical challenges lying ahead.
“My dad thought that it would be an education in life.”
— Family Member (B), [00:15]
“This big swordfish came along, so, so magical. But then, far out in the Pacific, abandoned ship. Killer whales hit the boat.”
— Host (A), [00:27]
“I couldn't believe what I was seeing. There's water crashing over the deck. I thought, no, this is not. Help me.”
— Family Member (B), [00:44]
“Two drops of water to drink. We really were on our own.”
— Family Member (B), [01:03]
“You just weren't up to it. You failed.”
— Host (A), [01:16]
“We will not eat each other. We will not eat each other.”
— Family Member (B), [01:34]
“Waiting. Waiting to live or waiting to die?”
— Host (A), [01:38]
Throughout this introductory episode, the tone is cinematic and suspenseful. The dialogue alternates between reflective, almost wistful flashbacks and the stark terror of survival, employing direct quotes and gripping sound design to immerse listeners in the unfolding crisis.
The “Introducing Adrift” episode compellingly sets up a dramatic true survival story—one that examines not just the struggle against nature, but the psychological turmoil faced by a family under unimaginable duress. This initial episode entices listeners to join the journey week by week, promising a mix of adventure, raw emotion, and intimate insight into what it means to be truly adrift.