What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.

As human beings, we are often very protective of our own sense of personal justice – and injustice.   When I was a child, I had a teacher who – to me – seemed very unfair. If one of the kids in the class did something like write a bad word on the chalkboard, she would ask the entire class who did it. She really did her best to find the culprit, and carry out punishment.   But sometimes she just couldn’t figure it out. No one would admit it, and there wasn’t enough evidence to pin it on any specific student.   So her solution was – the whole class loses recess for the whole day. Definitely not fair! It always bugged me when that happened – I was being punished even though I hadn’t done anything wrong.   My guest today, Scott, was also a victim of injustice, but on a much larger scale. He was charged with a crime that he didn’t commit, and was held in a foreign jail for far too long. This is one of those stories where you just can’t predict what’s coming next.   And if you’re an American, it might just make you think twice before traveling outside the US.     If you’d like to contact Scott:  thescottmcmahonstory@outlook.com   Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here: https://WhatWasThatLike.com/222   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

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 movie traumatized you as a kid?   Links for this episode:   Costco figs: https://www.costcobusinessdelivery.com/sunny-fruit-organic-sun-dried-figs%2C-40-oz.product.100362726.html   Blade Runner: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/   The Billings murders in Pensacola: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murders_of_Byrd_and_Melanie_Billings   Gulf Coast Confidential podcast with Mollye Barrows: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gulf-coast-confidential-with-mollye-barrows/id1648822523   The Wizard of Oz movie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/   Return to Oz: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_to_Oz   The Exorcist: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070047/   Andrew Gold documentary about witnessing an “exorcism” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l78hW8qVIWI   Mary Queen of Scots: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2328900/   Hannibal: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0212985/   Arachnophobia: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099052/   Scott’s recommendation: https://netflix-codes.com   Meredith’s garlic peeler: https://www.amazon.com/Remover-Twister-Silicone-Odorfree-Internal/dp/B07WNPT8GD?th=1   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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda just wanted to go for a short trail run. Life had something else in store for her.   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

What do heart attacks, car accidents, and murder usually have in common? Most of the time, when any of these things happen, someone calls 911.   It’s one of the most reliable things we have – whenever there’s any kind of emergency, here in the US, we know we can just pick up any phone and dial 911 and get help. Even if it’s a phone that has no service.   This is an episode where I talk with someone who has an unusual job. My guest today is Brandon, and he’s been a 911 dispatcher in Nashville, Tennessee for 25 years. After taking emergency calls for all that time, he’s heard just about everything. And today we’ll get the inside scoop on what this job is really like.   Also, a content warning – one of the things discussed during our conversation is when calls come in from people who are suicidal.   So please, enjoy my conversation with Brandon.   If you’d like to contact Brandon or check out his podcast: https://musiccity911.com/   Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here: https://WhatWasThatLike.com/221   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

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

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

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

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

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

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