On Christmas Eve in 1971, 17-year-old Juliane Koepcke boarded a plane with her mother, expecting to spend the holidays with her family. But when lightning struck their aircraft over the Amazon rainforest, everything changed.

Against all odds, Juliane survived a fall of nearly 10,000 feet. Injured, alone, and surrounded by miles of dense jungle, she faced an even greater challenge: finding her way back to civilization.

Discover the extraordinary true story of a teenager whose courage, determination, and knowledge of nature helped her survive the impossible.

Listen, learn, and build your English with TRUE STORY by Explore English, a podcast for intermediate English learners (B1–B2).

In 1925, a charming con artist named Victor Lustig convinced a businessman that the French government was secretly selling the Eiffel Tower.

The businessman believed him. He paid for it. And Lustig disappeared with the money.

But the story doesn't end there. Lustig returned to Paris and decided to try the same trick again.

Discover the unbelievable true story of one of history's boldest scams—and how a little confidence can make even the impossible seem believable.

Listen, learn, and build your English with TRUE STORY by Explore English.

In 1901, 63-year-old schoolteacher Annie Edson Taylor had a plan to change her life.

She would climb inside a wooden barrel, go over Niagara Falls—and hopefully become rich and famous.

It sounds impossible. But she did it.

Discover the remarkable true story of the first person known to survive going over Niagara Falls in a barrel, why she took such an extraordinary risk, and what happened after she survived.

Sometimes taking a risk changes everything.

Just not always in the way you expect.

Listen, learn, and build your English with TRUE STORY by Explore English.