64 episodes

Whether natural or man-made, disasters attract a strange mixture of horror and fascination. However, the spectacle of devastation is only ever one part of the story. Take a closer look, and you will find tales of extraordinary human endurance and heroism, stories that veer from the horrific to the oddly humorous, and lessons that can be learned to make our world safer.
 
From the Titanic to the Costa Concordia, the Station nightclub fire to the Pulse nightclub shooting, these extraordinary events – and the people involved – are examined on the Great Disasters podcast, written, researched, recorded and produced by me, Kari Fay.
 
From official reports, first-person accounts, and contemporary media, I delve into the often-appalling details of these events to bring you the full story.

Great Disasters Kari Fay

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.8 • 243 Ratings

Whether natural or man-made, disasters attract a strange mixture of horror and fascination. However, the spectacle of devastation is only ever one part of the story. Take a closer look, and you will find tales of extraordinary human endurance and heroism, stories that veer from the horrific to the oddly humorous, and lessons that can be learned to make our world safer.
 
From the Titanic to the Costa Concordia, the Station nightclub fire to the Pulse nightclub shooting, these extraordinary events – and the people involved – are examined on the Great Disasters podcast, written, researched, recorded and produced by me, Kari Fay.
 
From official reports, first-person accounts, and contemporary media, I delve into the often-appalling details of these events to bring you the full story.

    Empire State Building Plane Crash

    Empire State Building Plane Crash

    On a foggy day in 1945, the busy streets of New York City were interrupted by a sound that shouldn't have been there - a plane, flying between the skyscrapers, and set on a collision course with the tallest building in the world.

    Visit www.greatdisasters.co.uk for the full transcript and more.

    Check out the Great Disasters Podcast on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram - let me know what you think of the show.
    Support the show

    • 31 min
    2023 In Review

    2023 In Review

    Every year brings its share of tragic events. A few are somewhat predictable - we will always expect a number of hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones, for example - while others are more unusual. Some grab headlines and make history, and others are quickly forgotten. These are the events which shaped 2023.

    Visit www.greatdisasters.co.uk for the full transcript and more.

    Check out the Great Disasters Podcast on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram - let me know what you think of the show.
    Support the show

    • 46 min
    2022 In Review

    2022 In Review

    How much tragedy can a single year bring? From the Hunga Tonga volcano to the Buffalo snow storm, let's take a look at the disasters which shaped the year 2022.

    Visit www.greatdisasters.co.uk for the full transcript and more.

    Check out the Great Disasters Podcast on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram - let me know what you think of the show.
    Support the show

    • 42 min
    2010 Copiapo Mining Incident

    2010 Copiapo Mining Incident

    The story of 33 men trapped deep within a Chilean mine gripped not only their nation, but the whole world. This episode of Great Disasters draws on contemporary reporting and the survivors' accounts to tell a fascinating story of  hope and survival against the odds.

    Visit www.greatdisasters.co.uk for the full transcript and more.

    Check out the Great Disasters Podcast on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram - let me know what you think of the show.
    Support the show

    • 1 hr 39 min
    2013 Lampedusa Migrant Shipwreck

    2013 Lampedusa Migrant Shipwreck

    In this episode of Great Disasters, I'll be looking at the shipwreck of a migrant boat off the coast of Lampedusa in 2013.

    The beautiful Italian island of Lampedusa is accustomed to the arrival of migrant boats, and the frequent need to rescue their occupants, since it's the closest European land to the coast of Libya. However, this incident was on an unprecedented scale.

    Drawing on contemporary reporting and the accounts of witnesses and survivors, I'll tell the full story of what went wrong.

    Visit www.greatdisasters.co.uk for the full transcript and more.

    Check out the Great Disasters Podcast on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram - let me know what you think of the show.
    Support the show

    • 38 min
    2021 In Review

    2021 In Review

    A look back over the disasters and tragedies which shaped 2021, from COVID-19 to the Surfside Condo Collapse, the La Palma Volcano, and more.

    (Apologies if my narration isn't as precise as usual - I am in the middle of some significant dental work.)

    Visit www.greatdisasters.co.uk for the full transcript and more.

    Check out the Great Disasters Podcast on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram - let me know what you think of the show.
    Support the show

    • 34 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
243 Ratings

243 Ratings

stuuuuuuuuuuuf ,

BEST SHOW EVER!!!!!

I really agree with mishiburg

MishiBurg ,

Like banter? Look elsewhere

I listen to dozens of podcasts, and great disasters is in my top 3, thanks to its solid research, interesting subject matter, and excellent delivery. There’s something about KF’s voice that makes hearing about the worst disasters in history an almost soothing experience. This is my favorite “hidden gem” pod.

jsh3581 ,

Awesome

Professionally written, spoken and researched. The best disaster pod cast available

John harrison

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