What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.

Scott reads A Piece of Steak, by Jack London     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: If you’re 21 or older, get 25% OFF your first order + free shipping @IndaCloud with code [WHATWAS] at https://inda.shop/[WHATWAS]! #indacloudpod   Go to ThriveMarket.com/WHATWAS to get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift just for signing up.   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   Try Mint Mobile for 3 months, for just 15 bucks a month - MintMobile.com/WHAT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A simple decision can lead to life-altering moments. Hannah shares her gripping story of a chance encounter while driving over a bridge, where she noticed a submerged vehicle. Without a second thought, she jumped into the icy water, risking her own safety to save the trapped driver. Her impulsive act highlights the importance of being prepared for emergencies. After the rescue, she faced emotional challenges and a new perspective on life. The podcast illustrates how one day can pivot everything, igniting conversations on human instinct and community response.

Dive into delightful scents as Meredith and Scott explore the nostalgia of smell. From jasmine and pine during bike rides to the comforting aroma of sautéing onions, they discuss how food smells evoke cherished memories. Listeners share their love of fresh bread and coffee, sparking debates on brewing methods and flavored varieties. The duo also touches on the impact of losing smell and offers tips to avoid tech scams. Finally, discover practical household product picks and the quirky strategies Meredith uses to connect with podcast guests.

Retail work often brings bizarre stories, but an armed robbery takes the cake. Jen recounts the terrifying moment a masked gunman entered her store, revealing her quick thinking as she managed to direct customers to safety. While trapped, she provided comfort to panicking shoppers and coordinated a hidden 911 call. Afterward, the emotional toll of the trauma lingered, impacting her work life and mental health. Jen shares her journey of recovery, transforming her experiences into advocacy for other survivors.

Discover the incredible resilience of humanity in the face of disaster. Hear gripping tales of survival, such as a mother racing against time to save her children from a colossal tsunami. Experience the raw panic and fear as families confront the unstoppable force of nature. These real-life stories immerse you in moments of courage and the will to endure against all odds. Get ready for a heart-pounding journey through the ultimate test of human spirit.

When you meet someone for the first time, do you trust them by default?   I like to think that I just assume the best of a stranger, until they prove they aren’t worthy of my trust. But that can be dangerous in some cases.   There were a couple of people who were partners in a business and they were looking for office space to rent. They searched online and found an ad for what looked like the perfect space. They met the owner there and he showed them around. They paid him first and last month’s rent using Venmo, and planned to sign the lease agreement the next day.   They got the keys and moved everything in. But they never heard from the owner again. After a couple of days they still weren’t able to reach him. Then the next day, the ACTUAL owner showed up, asking who they were any why they had moved all their stuff in, since he was planning to lease the space out soon.   The original fake owner was a disgruntled employee. He made out with a few thousand dollars, handed over the keys, and disappeared. But that whole scam hinged on trust.   My guest today is Tessi. She lives in Montana but was traveling outside the US. She met a young man and she didn’t have any specific reason to not trust him.   But he was not someone to be trusted.     Links to local articles: https://www.usexpatcostarica.com/authorities-provide-assistance-to-tourist-who-was-raped-in-tortuguero/   https://www.usexpatcostarica.com/american-identified-suspect-of-rape-in-tortuguero/   https://qcostarica.com/court-imposes-six-months-of-preventive-detention-against-suspect-of-raping-a-american-tourist-in-tortuguero/     Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here: https://WhatWasThatLike.com/234   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: If you’re 21 or older, get 25% OFF your first order + free shipping @IndaCloud with code [WHATWAS] at https://inda.shop/[WHATWAS]! #indacloudpod   Go to ThriveMarket.com/WHATWAS to get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift just for signing up.   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   Try Mint Mobile for 3 months, for just 15 bucks a month - MintMobile.com/WHAT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every other 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: When you just want to be left alone, where is your favorite place to be?   Links for this episode: Merlin bird identification app: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/   Meredith’s Foot fetish episode  https://open.spotify.com/episode/6UinWG6euM0KCEK8L9wwbY?si=2QnDapnsQVOxJxvy7Agg3Q   Meredith’s Barefoot episode  https://open.spotify.com/episode/6PWbBwx8F3m7b77lcQ9GJ5?si=6CzYFD3ER5CMRVY4brYTvg   Meredith’s Brother Label Maker  https://a.co/d/bdTtrID   Billy Crystal audiobook https://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/still-foolin-em-where-ive-been-where-im-going-and-where-the-hell-are-my-keys/194423   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: If you’re 21 or older, get 25% OFF your first order + free shipping @IndaCloud with code [WHATWAS] at https://inda.shop/[WHATWAS]! #indacloudpod   Go to ThriveMarket.com/WHATWAS to get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift just for signing up.   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   Try Mint Mobile for 3 months, for just 15 bucks a month - MintMobile.com/WHAT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

STAS 8: Tanya Skelton   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: If you’re 21 or older, get 25% OFF your first order + free shipping @IndaCloud with code [WHATWAS] at https://inda.shop/[WHATWAS]! #indacloudpod   Go to ThriveMarket.com/WHATWAS to get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift just for signing up.   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   Try Mint Mobile for 3 months, for just 15 bucks a month - MintMobile.com/WHAT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You never really know someone…especially online. In today’s world, the power of influence can be the quickest path to money and fame, and it often ends in ruin. These are the stories of the world’s most insidious Scamfluencers. And we are their prey. On Wondery’s new weekly series, join co-hosts Scaachi Koul and Sarah Hagi as they unpack epic stories of deception from the worlds of social media, fashion, finance, health, and wellness. These influencers claim to be everything from charismatic healers to trusted financial insiders to experts in dating. They cast spells over millions. Why do we believe them, and how does our culture allow them to thrive? From Black Swan Murder to a fake social media influencer to an audacious Hollywood Ponzi schemer, each season will take the listener along the twists and turns, the impact on victims, and what’s left when the facade falls away.   Listen to Scamfluencers: https://Wondery.fm/Scam_WWTL Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes you find yourself in a situation that you didn’t ever expect, and you are faced with a decision that you never thought you’d have to make.   Joe was an EMT in New York. He had just finished his evening shift, and he did what he always did after leaving work. He stopped by the local Dunkin’ Donuts for his regular nightly coffee. But this time was a little different – he happened to be carrying his newly acquired carbon monoxide detector with him.   When he entered the store, that detector started sounding an alarm. But Joe was skeptical. There was  only one employee working at this late hour, and Joe asked her if she felt okay. The donut worker said she felt fine, so Joe thought that the detector might be malfunctioning. And he could have just forgotten about it at that point. But he made the decision to double check. He reset that alarm, and got permission to go back and inspect the area near the ovens. Sure enough, this time the detector confirmed dangerous levels of carbon monoxide – and it was all throughout the store.   Joe quickly evacuated the premises and contacted the proper authorities. The decision he made, just on instinct, probably saved the life of that employee.   My guest today is Lemon – yes, just like the fruit. And you’ll hear how she got that nickname. Lemon was suddenly and unexpectedly put in a place of making a life-changing decision.   And she had to do that while she was at home, and her house was on fire.     Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here: https://WhatWasThatLike.com/233   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: If you’re 21 or older, get 25% OFF your first order + free shipping @IndaCloud with code [WHATWAS] at https://inda.shop/[WHATWAS]! #indacloudpod   Go to ThriveMarket.com/WHATWAS to get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift just for signing up.   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   Try Mint Mobile for 3 months, for just 15 bucks a month - MintMobile.com/WHAT   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices