Adrift

About Adrift

It’s the early 1970s, and a young British family is attempting to sail around the world when catastrophe strikes. The Robertsons have sold everything they own to embark on this trip. But their epic odyssey soon turns into a desperate fight for their lives in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Dougal and Lyn, their teenage son Douglas, 12-year-old twins Sandy and Neil, and young hitchhiker Robin find themselves hundreds of miles from land, with few supplies, no radio contact, and surrounded by sharks. Drifting in the vast emptiness, they must rely on their instincts and harness the elements to survive. Yet even with deadly predators circling, they discover that sometimes their worst enemy is...themselves. Adrift is an Apple Original podcast, produced by Blanchard House. Follow and listen on Apple Podcasts. apple.co/Adrift

Publisher

Apple TV / Blanchard House

Category

history · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

3 Nov 2025

Latest episode

15 Dec 2025

Latest episodes

7 of 9 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   15 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Ghosts | 8

   Host Alex Gibney interviews the Robertson children as they confront their father's past and the enduring impact of their family's survival at sea.

2. 

   8 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Savages | 7

   Host Doug Ellin interviews guest Lyn Ellin about their relationship's breaking point amidst survival challenges and a critical mistake.

3. 

   1 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Hell on Earth | 6

   Host [Host Name] interviews castaways as they battle a massive storm after abandoning their raft, highlighting their struggle for survival.

4. 

   24 Nov 2025

   Praying for Rain | 5

   Dougal and his family face a dire situation as their only hope for rescue drifts away, leaving them stranded.

5. 

   17 Nov 2025

   Recriminations | 4

   Dougal devises a plan for water and the family finds food, but their deteriorating raft threatens their survival.

6. 

   10 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT

   An Impossible Choice | 3

   Dougal Robertson faces an impossible choice as the family's life raft holds a terrifying discovery, revealing a pivotal Miami stopover that changed everything.

7. 

   10 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Baptism of Fire | 2

   Dougal grapples with overwhelming guilt as he revisits wartime trauma after losing his family again.

8. 

   10 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Dark Shadows | 1

   The Robertson family embarks on a daring global sailing adventure, facing unforeseen disaster in the Pacific Ocean.

9. 

   3 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Introducing Adrift

   Host Dougal Robertson shares his family's harrowing fight for survival after a shipwreck leaves them adrift in the Pacific Ocean.

Inside a recent episode

Ghosts | 8

Published 15 Dec 2025 · Transcript excerpt

[…] But bread and butter is enough. The captain takes Douglass to the bridge of the ship. I didn't speak Japanese. He didn't speak English. We didn't speak the same language. But on board, everyone is like family. Captain Suzuki needs to know who they are, where they come from and what happened. They have to report back to base as soon as possible. I showed him the world Atlas and he pointed to England. The flags of the countries were also on the Atlas. And he pointed out the Union Jack. The Union Jack, the UK flag. The father then drew a picture. We understood they were trying to sail around the world. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.6 / 5

1,377 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

122 ratings

Contact Adrift

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Adrift