They Survived

From neo-nazi leader to helping others escape

Christian Picciolini was born in 1973 near Chicago to an Italian-American working-class family. As a lonely and searching teenager, he was drawn to the neo-Nazi skinhead movement at age fourteen, seeking a sense of belonging and identity he felt was missing at home and at school. Within a few years, he became a leader in the group, organizing events, giving speeches, running white-power bands and operating a record store that distributed extremist music and propaganda. In his early twenties, he left the movement and later co-founded Life After Hate and the Free Radicals Project, organizations that help people disengage from extremist groups. Today, he works internationally to prevent radicalization and provide support for those leaving hate-based movements. Curious about the photos that go with this episode? You can find them on our Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/heldineigenverhaal/ Want to stay up to date on new episodes of Held in Eigen Verhaal? Then follow us on TikTok as well: https://www.tiktok.com/@irisenthoven

Kidnapped and sold to the highest bidder by human traffickers

Lurata Lyon grew up in the border region of Serbia and Kosovo, an area torn apart by the Balkan wars in the 1990s. At the age of 17, she was abducted by a gang involved in human trafficking and organ harvesting. She was groomed to be a sexworker and was held for about a month. When she escaped, she was abducted again and was held for six months in a small, dark room, completely cut off from the outside world. During this time, she was raped and physically abused. Her dad managed to get her out, but she lost the will to live. After her escape she was granted asylum in the United Kingdom as a political refugee, where she began a new life. Today, Lurata Lyon is an international speaker and coach, using her experiences to inspire others and raise awareness about human trafficking. This is the fourth episode of our new season of They Survived. In this series, I talk to guests from all over the world who share their intense, true, and inspiring stories in their own words. Curious about the photos that go with this episode? You can find them on our Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/heldineigenverhaal/ Want to always stay up to date on new episodes of Held in Eigen Verhaal? Then follow us on TikTok as well: https://www.tiktok.com/@irisenthoven

Fourteen years wrongfully imprisoned and tortured in Guantánamo Bay

Mohamedou Ould Slahi (1970) grew up in Mauritania and later studied in Germany. In the 1990s, he briefly joined the Afghan struggle against the Soviet Union, which at the time was supported by the US and many other countries. Later, he was linked to Al Qaeda when his cousin - who was a friend of Osama Bin Laden - called him using Bin Laden’s phone. Because of this background and earlier contacts, he came under the scrutiny of security services. After the September 11 attacks in 2001, he was arrested. Through Jordan and Afghanistan he eventually ended up in Guantánamo Bay. There he spent fourteen years imprisoned without charge or trial. He was severely mistreated, interrogated, and kept in isolation for years. In his cell, he began to write. This became the book Guantánamo Diary, in which he shared his experiences with sharp observations and dark humor. The book became known worldwide and was later adapted into the film The Mauritanian. Since his release in 2016, he has lived in freedom again. He now resides in the Netherlands with his family and is committed to advocating for human rights and justice. This is the third episode of our new season of They Survived. In this series, I talk to guests from all over the world who share their intense, true, and inspiring stories in their own words. Curious about the photos that go with this episode? You can find them on our Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/heldineigenverhaal/ Want to always stay up to date on new episodes of Held in Eigen Verhaal? Then follow us on TikTok as well: https://www.tiktok.com/@irisenthoven Would you like more information about Craig and the platform he founded after Rachel’s death? You can find it here: https://www.craigscott.org Foto’s Instagram Photos from the episode with Mohamedou: ‘Fourteen years wrongfully imprisoned and tortured in Guantánamo Bay’ You can now listen to and watch the full episode on your favorite podcast app. #irisenthoven #theysurvived #podcast #guantanamobay #themauritanian #mohamedououldslahi

Surviving the Columbine High School massacre but losing your sister

On April 20, 1999, the world was shocked by the shooting at Columbine High School, also known as the Columbine High School Massacre. Sixteen-year-old Craig Scott survived the horrific event. During the shooting, he was in the library, where he came face-to-face with the gunmen. That day, he lost his sister Rachel, who was the first student to be shot and killed.  He also had to witness two of his best friends being murdered. Since then, Craig has dedicated himself to sharing his story and showing that even after such a dark event, it is possible to rebuild and live a beautiful life. This is the second episode of our new season of They Survived. In this series, I talk to guests from all over the world who share their intense, true, and inspiring stories in their own words. Curious about the photos that go with this episode? You can find them on our Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/heldineigenverhaal/ [https://www.instagram.com/heldineigenverhaal/] Want to always stay up to date on new episodes of Held in Eigen Verhaal? Then follow us on TikTok as well: https://www.tiktok.com/@irisenthoven [https://www.tiktok.com/@irisenthoven] Would you like more information about Craig and the platform he founded after Rachel’s death? You can find it here: https://www.craigscott.org [https://www.craigscott.org/]

Lost at Sea for 28 Hours with nothing to hold on to

Brett Archibald is a South African surfer who fell overboard during a surf trip to the Mentawai Islands in Indonesia. He then spent 28 hours in the open ocean, surrounded by strong currents, jellyfish, and even sharks. During that time, Brett kept himself mentally afloat by creating an imaginary team of friends. He named them Bob, Emily, and Hillary. These imaginary friends helped him endure the impossible and show how creativity and imagination can be life-saving even in the most extreme situations. After 28 hours in the ocean, Brett was spotted and rescued by the crew of a passing boat. He was brought aboard and to safety, bringing an incredibly challenging survival ordeal to an end. This is the very first episode of our new season of They Survived. In this series, I talk to guests from all over the world who share their intense, true, and inspiring stories in their own words. Curious about the photos that go with this episode? You can find them on our Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/heldineigenverhaal/ Want to always stay up to date on new episodes of Held in Eigen Verhaal? Then follow us on TikTok as well: https://www.tiktok.com/@irisenthoven