Digest

This episode of My Favorite Murder delves into the captivating story of Tammy Oldham Ashcraft, a young woman who survived 41 grueling days at sea after her yacht was capsized by Hurricane Raymond in 1983. The episode begins with Karen and Georgia recounting their experience at Bananas Fest, a charity event featuring banana-themed shenanigans and live podcasts. They also mention their surprise appearance at a late-night show at the Comedy Works. The episode then transitions to the harrowing tale of Tammy's survival. After the storm capsized her yacht, killing her fiancé Richard, Tammy, injured and alone, navigated the boat to Hawaii using a sextant and a wristwatch, relying on a mysterious voice for guidance. The voice, which Tammy heard as Richard, her mother, and her father, provided her with encouragement and helped her overcome suicidal thoughts. The episode explores Tammy's recovery, which was long and arduous, both physically and emotionally. She suffered from head trauma that affected her reading and short-term memory. Despite the challenges, she eventually found joy again and returned to the ocean, obtaining her captain's license and working on large sailing ships. Tammy published a book about her experience, "Red Sky in Morning," which was later adapted into the movie "Adrift" starring Shailene Woodley. The movie brought back intense emotions for Tammy, but she was also proud to see her story told on screen. The hosts discuss the power of survival stories and how they inspire us to persevere through difficult times. They also emphasize the importance of feeling your emotions, even if it's through watching a movie like "Pride and Prejudice" for the 97th time. They encourage listeners to take inspiration from Tammy's story and apply it to their own lives, reminding us that if Tammy can survive 41 days at sea, we can overcome our own challenges.

Outlines

00:00:00

My Favorite Murder: Tammy Oldham Ashcraft's Incredible Survival

This episode of My Favorite Murder explores the incredible survival story of Tammy Oldham Ashcraft, who endured 41 days at sea after her yacht was capsized by Hurricane Raymond, highlighting her resilience and the power of perseverance. The episode begins with Karen and Georgia recounting their experience at Bananas Fest, a charity event featuring banana-themed shenanigans and live podcasts. They also mention their surprise appearance at a late-night show at the Comedy Works.

00:03:59

Corrections Corner: Pronunciation Mishap

Georgia addresses a pronunciation error in the previous episode regarding the name of the victim, Sean O'Callaghan. She explains the correct pronunciation and apologizes for the mistake.

00:05:42

Exactly Right Podcast Network Highlights

Karen and Georgia highlight various podcasts within their network, including Wicked Words, Ghosted, That's Messed Up in SVU, and Rewind. They also promote their MFM store and encourage listeners to check out their other shows.

00:07:16

Kleenex Ultra Soft Issues: Back to School Season

This chapter is a sponsored segment promoting Kleenex Ultra Soft Issues, emphasizing their importance for back-to-school season and highlighting their three-layer design for comfort and protection.

00:08:04

Hungry Root: Personalized Grocery Delivery

This chapter is a sponsored segment promoting Hungry Root, a service that delivers fresh groceries and simple recipes tailored to individual preferences and dietary needs. They offer a discount for My Favorite Murder listeners.

00:09:35

The Giggling Granny: Nanny Doss, Serial Killer

This chapter tells the story of Nanny Doss, a serial killer dubbed the \"Giggling Granny.\" She poisoned multiple family members, including her husbands and grandchildren, often using arsenic. Her crimes were motivated by a desire for love and a twisted sense of revenge.

00:40:22

Extraordinary Survival at Sea: Tammy Oldham and Hurricane Raymond

This chapter recounts the harrowing story of Tammy Oldham, who survived a hurricane while sailing a yacht with her fiancé, Richard Sharp. The storm capsized the yacht, killing Richard. Tammy, injured and alone, navigated the boat to Hawaii using a sextant and a wristwatch, relying on a mysterious voice for guidance.

01:04:46

Tammy Oldham Ashcraft's Incredible Survival

Tammy Oldham Ashcraft, a young woman, survived 41 grueling days at sea after her yacht was capsized by Hurricane Raymond. She navigated 1,500 miles to land through sheer determination and skill, enduring exhaustion, grief, and media attention.

01:08:26

Tammy's Life Today and Message of Perseverance

Tammy now lives in Washington state with her family and continues to sail. She also does public speaking, sharing her story of courage and survival. She emphasizes the importance of perseverance and digging deep, even in the face of adversity.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are the main cases investigated in the new season of \"Up in Vanish\"?

  The new season of \"Up in Vanish\" focuses on the disappearance of Florence Ockpilic, an Alaska native, and the missing person case of Joseph Baldaris, an avid outdoorsman who vanished after going hiking.

• What was the significance of the Bananas Fest event for Karen and Georgia?

  Bananas Fest was the first time Karen and Georgia performed on stage since the pandemic. They were surprised guests at a late-night show and enjoyed meeting fans from all over the world.

• What was the nature of the pronunciation error Georgia made in the previous episode?

  Georgia mispronounced the name of the victim, Sean O'Callaghan, due to her American accent. She apologized for the mistake and explained the correct pronunciation.

• What was the most significant challenge Tammy Oldham faced after the hurricane?

  Tammy was left alone on a damaged yacht in the middle of the ocean, with limited supplies and a head injury. She had to navigate the boat to Hawaii using a sextant and a wristwatch, while battling exhaustion, grief, and hallucinations.

• What was the role of the mysterious voice in Tammy's survival?

  The voice, which Tammy heard as Richard, her mother, and her father, provided her with guidance and encouragement, urging her to keep going and believe in herself. It helped her overcome suicidal thoughts and maintain hope during her ordeal.

• What happened to Tammy Oldham Ashcraft's yacht and how long did she survive at sea?

  Tammy's yacht was capsized by Hurricane Raymond in 1983. She survived 41 grueling days at sea, navigating 1,500 miles to land.

• What were some of the challenges Tammy faced during her recovery?

  Tammy suffered from head trauma that affected her reading, short-term memory, and emotional processing. She also experienced nightmares and was consumed by the experience for years.

• What did Tammy do after her recovery and how did she return to the ocean?

  Tammy eventually found joy again and returned to the ocean. She obtained her captain's license and started working on large sailing ships, demonstrating her resilience and love for the sea.

• What is the message Tammy wants to convey through her story?

  Tammy emphasizes the importance of perseverance and digging deep, even in the face of adversity. She believes that no matter what challenges we face, we can overcome them with strength and determination.

Show Notes