
What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.
A storytelling podcast, with first-hand amazing stories presented by Scott Johnson and Meredith Hackwith Edwards. Each storyteller tells their own personal true story, with all the details of what happened. Animal attacks, plane crashes, mass shootings, and more – you'll hear what happened directly from the person who experienced it, and the inspirational outcome of how they came out on the other side.
Latest episodes

Jun 24, 2025 • 24min
TQ40: What did you throw away that you wish you had kept?
Every Tuesday, we grab a past question from the
Facebook group, then Meredith and Scott answer it and read some of the answers
given by other listeners.
The question for this episode:
What did you throw away that you wish you had kept?
Links for this episode:
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo:
https://www.amazon.com/Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering-Organizing/dp/1607747308/ref=sr_1_1
The Mortified Podcast:
https://getmortified.com/audio/podcast/
TQ39:
https://WhatWasThatLike.com/tq39
Meredith’s podcast is Meredith For Real – the Curious
Introvert:
https://MeredithForReal.com
To check out the new Tuesday Question and get in the
discussion, join us at WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook.
Sponsor deals:
Head to http://Lumen.me/WWTL
for 20% off your purchase.
Sign up today at https://www.butcherbox.com/whatwas and
use code whatwas to get chicken breast, salmon or ground beef FREE in
every order for a year, plus $20 off your first order.
Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/WHAT
Go to Quince.com/whatwas
for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!
Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 23, 2025 • 6min
Listen now: Liberty Lost
In Evangelical homes across the United States, sex outside
of marriage is a sin against God. So, when Abbi becomes pregnant at 16, her
devout parents hide her away at the Liberty Godparent Home, a little-known
facility for pregnant teens on the campus of Liberty University. The Home says
it helps girls decide what comes next – whether that’s parenting their babies
or placing them for adoption. But inside the facility, the girls hear a
different message: God wants their babies to go to more “deserving” Christian
couples. Some girls will find the strength to fight back. Others will have no
choice but to give in. And some, like Abbi, will turn their grief into
resistance – and take a stand against the system before more mothers lose their
children to adoptions they never wanted.
From Wondery, host and reporter T. J. Raphael tells a
startling true story of young love, coercion, and defiance – and the dangerous
resurgence of maternity homes in post-Roe America.
Listen to Liberty Lost: Wondery.fm/LL_What_Was_That_Like
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 20, 2025 • 1h 47min
220: Dan is a pre-prison consultant
There was a time in his life when Dan was in a pretty
difficult situation. He was facing something that most people don’t ever have
to go through.
Even though he was not a violent person, and he certainly
was not any kind of career criminal, he made a bad decision and accepted a job
that, looking back, he never should have taken. But he did. And that lead him
to the tough spot he found himself in.
Dan was headed to prison. His plea deal meant he could get
up to 60 months. 5 years of his life.
One of the things he found to be the most stressful was that
he had no idea what to expect.
Now we fast forward to today, and Dan is at a very different
place in his life. A much better, happier place. He runs a very successful
business, working as a Prison Consultant.
When non-violent, first-time offenders are suddenly faced
with the fact that they’re going to do time in prison, they are desperate for
answers and guidance. What to expect, how to prepare, how to get your time
reduced, how to interact with the other inmates, and Dan helps with all of
that.
In our conversation, Dan told me all about his own
experience – what he did that earned him that prison time, what his first day
was like (which is actually a pretty hilarious story in itself), and how he
shortened his own time. And he told me how he helps people today. Imagine if
you’ve never even been arrested before, but you make a stupid decision, or you
drive drunk and kill someone, or whatever – and you’re headed to prison. Dan
knows exactly how you feel, and he has the answers you’re looking for.
Also – this is a Flashback episode. Dan came on the podcast
back in 2020, and I recently had a conversation with him, which you’ll hear at
the end of this episode. Since his original episode, he’s been through some
stuff that I never would have predicted.
If you’d like to contact Dan, his website is RDAPDAN.com, and this is his YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@RDAPDAN1
Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:
https://WhatWasThatLike.com/220
Graphics for this episode by Bob Bretz. Transcription was
done by James Lai.
Want to discuss this episode and other things with thousands
of other WWTL listeners? Join our podcast Facebook group at WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook
(many of the podcast guests are there as well)
Get every episode ad-free, AND get all the Raw Audio
exclusive episodes to binge, by joining the other listeners at What Was That
Like PLUS.
Try What Was That Like PLUS free:
iPhone: at the top of the What Was That Like podcast
feed, click on “Try free”
Android: on your phone, go to WhatWasThatLike.com/PLUS
and click to try it free on any app
Sponsor deals:
Head to http://Lumen.me/WWTL
for 20% off your purchase.
Sign up today at https://www.butcherbox.com/whatwas and
use code whatwas to get chicken breast, salmon or ground beef FREE in
every order for a year, plus $20 off your first order.
Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/WHAT
Go to Quince.com/whatwas
for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!
Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 13, 2025 • 1h 21min
219: Maggie saved her dog
When you live up north, where the winters are really cold,
one of the best times of the year is the day when you feel spring coming. That
first hint of warmer temperatures.
With the time change, there’s longer sunlight at the end of
each day, the birds start chirping, and everyone starts thinking about what
they’re going to do with this warmer weather.
And the lakes that have been frozen over solid for a few
months? That ice starts to melt. And there’s a danger in walking out on the
ice, because you can’t always tell if your next step will be the one where your
foot goes right through. And then you’re in ice-cold water – and it’s not that
easy to get out on your own.
My guest today is Maggie. She lives on a big lake, and one
day recently when the ice was getting thin, she was thrown into a situation
where she had to do an ice rescue.
And within minutes, Maggie herself needed to be rescued.
If you want to contact Maggie –
Social Media:
www.MaggieAndersonAuthor.com
https://www.instagram.com/margaret.g.anderson/
https://www.facebook.com/MGAnderson321/
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMaggieGAnderson
https://twitter.com/MaggieGAnderson
And the socks that kept her feet safe - Bridgedale Socks - https://www.bridgedale.com/
Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:
https://WhatWasThatLike.com/219
Graphics for this episode by Bob Bretz. Transcription was
done by James Lai.
Want to discuss this episode and other things with thousands
of other WWTL listeners? Join our podcast Facebook group at WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook
(many of the podcast guests are there as well)
Get every episode ad-free, AND get all the Raw Audio
exclusive episodes to binge, by joining the other listeners at What Was That
Like PLUS.
Try What Was That Like PLUS free:
iPhone: at the top of the What Was That Like podcast
feed, click on “Try free”
Android: on your phone, go to
WhatWasThatLike.com/PLUS and click to try it free on any app
Sponsor deals:
Head to http://Lumen.me/WWTL
for 20% off your purchase.
Sign up today at https://www.butcherbox.com/whatwas and
use code whatwas to get chicken breast, salmon or ground beef FREE in
every order for a year, plus $20 off your first order.
Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/WHAT
Go to Quince.com/whatwas
for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!
Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 10, 2025 • 36min
TQ39: What's the most amazing coincidence you've experienced?
Every Tuesday, we grab a past question from the
Facebook group, then Meredith and Scott answer it and read some of the answers
given by other listeners.
The question for this episode:
What's the most amazing coincidence you've experienced?
Links for this episode:
YouTube channel Dating Beyond Borders:
https://www.youtube.com/@DatingBeyondBorders
Tim O’Brien:
https://timobrien.net/
Tig Notaro:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tig_Notaro
Tig Notaro podcast, “Handsome” – with Fortune Feimster and
Mae Martin -
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/handsome/id1702258458
Jack Vale YouTube channel –
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsDl6A77CrbkSJLtxQFVDGw
Meredith’s episode 294 – Is giving up our privacy
inevitable?
https://www.meredithforreal.com/podcast-episodes/episode/7e42a23e/ep-294-is-giving-up-our-privacy-inevitable-social-media-search-engines-and-nest-cams
Meredith’s podcast is Meredith For Real – the Curious
Introvert:
https://MeredithForReal.com
To check out the new Tuesday Question and get in the
discussion, join us at WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook.
Sponsor deals:
Head to http://Lumen.me/WWTL
for 20% off your purchase.
Sign up today at https://www.butcherbox.com/whatwas and
use code whatwas to get chicken breast, salmon or ground beef FREE in
every order for a year, plus $20 off your first order.
Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/WHAT
Go to Quince.com/whatwas
for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!
Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 6, 2025 • 1h 43min
218: When children scare parents
If there’s one thing children are good at, it’s their
ability to give their parents a good scare.
When our son David was about 2 years old, we were at home,
just a regular day, not much going on. At some point, either my wife or I, I
don’t remember which one of us saw it – but we noticed he had some kind of
liquid all around his mouth. Like he had been drinking a smoothie or something.
But there were no smoothies sitting around. So what was it?
Then we saw the open bottle nearby – it was calamine lotion.
You know, the stuff you put on itchy skin for some relief. And it’s for
external use only. So of course we had no idea how dangerous this was. And back
then, there was no Google or WebMD to get answers immediately.
We called 911 – and oh wouldn’t I love to hear the audio of
that call today. The 911 dispatcher either called Poison Control, or connected
us to them. And they told us, thankfully, that calamine lotion is generally
non-toxic. So it wasn’t a big deal. But for a few minutes, to two scared
parents, it was a very big deal.
Recently in the Facebook group, one of our Tuesday questions
was this: Parents – what was the scariest moment with your child? And you
should see all those stories in the comments. And I thought – hey, this should
be a podcast episode. So I asked some of the commenters there to just give a
short version of their story by audio, and that’s what we have here today.
And this is the kind of thing we talk about in the Facebook
group all the time. At the moment there are 8,862 What Was That Like listeners
in that group – and we’d love to have you come over and join us in the
conversations. WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook
And now – some stories of when children gave their parents a
big scare.
Full show notes and transcript for this episode are here:
https://WhatWasThatLike.com/218
Graphics for this episode by Bob Bretz. Transcription was
done by James Lai.
Want to discuss this episode and other things with thousands
of other WWTL listeners? Join our podcast Facebook group at WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook
(many of the podcast guests are there as well)
Get every episode ad-free, AND get all the Raw Audio
exclusive episodes to binge, by joining the other listeners at What Was That
Like PLUS.
Try What Was That Like PLUS free:
iPhone: at the top of the What Was That Like podcast
feed, click on “Try free”
Android: on your phone, go to
WhatWasThatLike.com/PLUS and click to try it free on any app
Sponsor deals:
Head to http://Lumen.me/WWTL
for 20% off your purchase.
Sign up today at https://www.butcherbox.com/whatwas and
use code whatwas to get chicken breast, salmon or ground beef FREE in
every order for a year, plus $20 off your first order.
Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/WHAT
Go to Quince.com/whatwas
for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!
Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 30, 2025 • 1h 22min
217: Cesar was attacked
Have you ever had something bad happen, while you were
actually trying to do something good?
It’s kind of that old phrase – no good deed goes unpunished.
There was a thread about this online. This is what one
person wrote:
“I ran in the middle of a busy road to rescue a kitten. I
went door to door until I finally found the owner. The first thing she did when
she saw me holding her kitten was accuse me of stealing it. Every single animal
I've ever rescued I've either been ignored or yelled at for trying to return.
One guy yelled at me to get off his property despite the fact I was holding his
lost cat.”
When something like this happens, it just doesn’t seem fair.
You go out of your way to do something nice, and somehow you’re the bad guy.
My guest today is Cesar. Cesar is one of the nicest people
I’ve ever met. But there was this one time when he was trying to help someone.
And he almost lost his life because of it.
If you’d like to contact Cesar, his website is: https://CesarCardona.com
Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:
https://WhatWasThatLike.com/217
Graphics for this episode by Bob Bretz. Transcription was
done by James Lai.
Want to discuss this episode and other things with thousands
of other WWTL listeners? Join our podcast Facebook group at WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook
(many of the podcast guests are there as well)
Get every episode ad-free, AND get all the Raw Audio
exclusive episodes to binge, by joining the other listeners at What Was That
Like PLUS.
Try What Was That Like PLUS free:
iPhone: at the top of the What Was That Like podcast
feed, click on “Try free”
Android: on your phone, go to WhatWasThatLike.com/PLUS and click
to try it free on any app
Sponsor deals:
Head to http://Lumen.me/WWTL
for 20% off your purchase.
Sign up today at https://www.butcherbox.com/whatwas and
use code whatwas to get chicken breast, salmon or ground beef FREE in
every order for a year, plus $20 off your first order.
Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/WHAT
Go to Quince.com/whatwas
for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!
Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 27, 2025 • 33min
TQ38: What did you say that caused you to think “I never thought I would say that”?
The hosts engage listeners with a thought-provoking question about unexpected things they've said. Personal stories unfold, revealing journeys of overcoming hearing loss and navigating relationships. They share transformative experiences in achieving financial freedom, packed with practical advice and reflections. Listeners recount their struggles with loss and scams, highlighting resilience and the importance of awareness. With a playful mix of humor and heartfelt moments, this conversation encourages adaptability and personal growth.

May 23, 2025 • 18min
STAS4: Rachel Hoffman
To the Tallahassee Police, Rachel Hoffman was just a pawn to
be used in their war on drugs.
Get every episode ad-free, AND get all the Raw Audio
exclusive episodes to binge, by joining the other listeners at What Was That
Like PLUS.
Try What Was That Like PLUS free:
iPhone: at the top of the What Was That Like podcast
feed, click on “Try free”
Android: on your phone, go to WhatWasThatLike.com/PLUS and click
to try it free on any app
Sponsor deals:
Head to http://Lumen.me/WWTL
for 20% off your purchase.
Sign up today at https://www.butcherbox.com/whatwas and
use code whatwas to get chicken breast, salmon or ground beef FREE in
every order for a year, plus $20 off your first order.
Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/WHAT
Go to Quince.com/whatwas
for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!
Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 16, 2025 • 56min
216: Rachel rescued her children
Many years ago, I had a small pickup truck. It was kind of a
junker.
Mostly, I just used it for when I had some stuff to haul to
the town dump. It wasn’t pretty but it mostly served my purposes.
But this little truck had a problem. It would constantly
overheat.
Even in the cold Maine winter, I would have to keep an eye
on that temperature gauge to be aware of when the engine got too hot. And
sometimes when it showed that it was getting really hot, I’d have to just pull
over, let it cool down, and then maybe add some coolant to the radiator – once
it was cooled down enough for me to remove the cap.
It was an inconvenience sometimes, but I never felt like I
was in danger with it.
My guest today is Rachel. And she experienced something
similar. Except in her case, she was on a bridge with no breakdown lane. And
her two babies were with her.
And her car did way more than just overheat.
Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:
https://WhatWasThatLike.com/216
Graphics for this episode by Bob Bretz. Transcription was
done by James Lai.
Want to discuss this episode and other things with thousands
of other WWTL listeners? Join our podcast Facebook group at WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook
(many of the podcast guests are there as well)
Get every episode ad-free, AND get all the Raw Audio
exclusive episodes to binge, by joining the other listeners at What Was That
Like PLUS.
Try What Was That Like PLUS free:
iPhone: at the top of the What Was That Like podcast
feed, click on “Try free”
Android: on your phone, go to
WhatWasThatLike.com/PLUS and click to try it free on any app
Sponsor deals:
Head to http://Lumen.me/WWTL
for 20% off your purchase.
Sign up today at https://www.butcherbox.com/whatwas and
use code whatwas to get chicken breast, salmon or ground beef FREE in
every order for a year, plus $20 off your first order.
Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/WHAT
Go to Quince.com/whatwas
for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!
Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices