What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.

Have you ever been awakened in the middle of the night because something terrible was happening?   It’s definitely not a pleasant way to wake up. This happened to a 27 year old man named Nick, and he wrote about it on social media –   I was sleeping at my girlfriend’s house last night. Usually we pass out around midnight, but last night we didn’t get to sleep until around 1:30 or so. It was around 3am when I woke up and swear I saw someone’s head peeking in & staring at us through the bedroom door. Adrenaline shot through my entire body. I went into complete fight mode - I got up and charged towards the door, with my loyal, badass dog following right behind me. As I ran out and looked around, I didn’t see anyone. My dog and I probably looked around for a solid minute until I finally snapped out of it and realized it had just been a dream. And the fact my dog wasn’t going ape shit brought me out of it as well.   The thing is, even if it turns out to be nothing, for most people it’s still going to be difficult to get back to sleep.   My guest today is Tina – she’s a wife, and a mother. She was awakened in the middle of the night, and it wasn’t a false alarm. What woke her up was an ACTUAL alarm. Tina’s house was on fire.   If you’d like to contact Tina, she’s in the WWTL Facebook group.   Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here: https://WhatWasThatLike.com/231   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: What's your favorite memory of your father?   Links for this episode:   Could AI Blackmail You? Meredith For Real episode https://open.spotify.com/episode/7DQJmHWDjtHqwMledP8BVd?si=Dn9t9Us3TuKzasu1t1FFdA   Shark Tank https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark_Tank   Beatles tribute band RAIN https://www.raintribute.com/   While My Guitar Gently Weeps – Prince, Tom Petty and others https://youtu.be/uWc4wMyL1oI?si=qdAzNm30oqPnYhS7   Industrial Dry Dust Broom https://a.co/d/aV7nJwz   Fold N Fly – full instructions for tons of paper airplanes https://foldnfly.com   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

When I started this podcast more than seven years ago, the primary factor was based on just one fundamental concept: the impact of a good story.   For each What Was That Like main episode, you hear a story. The guest is telling the story of what happened. Many of the stories are traumatic, many include loss and grief, and there are those that are happy as well. Even the heavy stories often end on a positive note. But the common factor is that they are all things that actually happened. The guest is talking about an actual thing that they experienced.   The story you’re about to hear in this episode would fall into the category of fiction.   In a recent episode, my guest was David, and he was talking about being in the extremely cold north, and not being able to find a cabin that he knew was nearby. That one is episode 225, called “David couldn’t find the cabin”. In that episode, I opened with the first few lines from one of my favorite short stories – To Build A Fire, by Jack London. Reading just that short section made me want to read the full story again.   And that’s what I’m doing in today’s episode. Jack London is my favorite author, and I love this story because he really puts us in the mind of this man, and his thought process, and his range of emotions.   So we’ll first have a quick break for a couple of sponsors who make the show possible, and then we’ll get into this story. Please enjoy this amazing work by Jack London… To Build A Fire.     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

How scary would it be, if you suddenly lost your ability to speak?   There was a story in the news about a man named Peter. When Peter was 73 years old, he had a stroke. He survived the stroke, but he found that he could no longer speak. And it looked like that condition was permanent, because after 4 years, he still had no voice.   But then, Peter was on vacation with his wife Carol, and their son Jonathan. And one day Peter just woke up, and he was able to speak again. He just started speaking, and Carol said, “Peter, you’re speaking!” Then she said, “Don’t stop, keep talking! It might go away again!”   Jonathan was in the next room and heard two people having a conversation and came rushing in wondering what was happening. They all started crying and laughing at the same time. It was a very emotional time because it had been so long.   Later that day, Peter found out that he had had ANOTHER stroke. They wondered if whatever damage the first stroke had done, was now UNdone by the second stroke. Doctors were doubtful of that, but even they didn’t have an explanation. Peter is just happy to have his voice back.   My guest today is Vanessa. She experienced something similar – some kind of sudden, mysterious condition that showed up with multiple symptoms, including taking away her voice.   What makes Vanessa’s story even more fascinating is her career – she’s a speech therapist.   If you’d like to contact Vanessa: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechless_slp/?hl=en   Her book: Speechless: How a Speech Therapist Lost Her Ability to Speak and Her Silent Struggle to Reclaim Her Voice and Life – https://www.amazon.com/Speechless-Therapist-Ability-Struggle-Reclaim/dp/B0DS96R6XT     Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here: https://WhatWasThatLike.com/230   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: What past job did you hate the most?     Links for this episode:   No-tie shoelaces: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTF79TGF?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title   Travel French Press mug: https://www.amazon.com/Integrated-Leakproof-Insulated-Stainless-Hammertone/dp/B07L6N6JC4/ref=sr_1_9?th=1   Facebook group for people to complain about Enterprise car rental service: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1351161114904309   Meredith’s foot fetish episode: https://www.meredithforreal.com/podcast-episodes/episode/7cc267d5/ep-274-whats-up-with-foot-fetishes   Bendable neck light  https://a.co/d/7HZH1zk     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

I was traveling recently, and I got in this Uber and started talking to the driver, and when I heard his voice I said, “Kevin, you need to have a podcast!” I don’t know if he’ll do that, but he did graciously agree to record that quick opener for me, just before I got out of his car.   438 – keep  that number in your head and I’ll come back to it in a minute.   By now you have probably figured out, this episode is not going to be the typical type of episode where I talk with someone who has been through some kind of unusual situation. I’ll be back here in a week with one of those stories.   But today, you’re about to hear an episode from the Raw Audio series. You may have heard me talk about the Raw Audio episodes in the past, but you might not have actually heard one of these episodes unless you’re a paid supporter of the podcast – which many of you are, and I appreciate that.   When you sign up to support the show, one of the benefits of that subscription is the bonus content – these are the Raw Audio episodes. They’re called that because they are truly raw, and real life. You’re gonna hear actual 911 emergency calls, and the story that goes with that call. This is about as authentic as it gets.   And you might notice that throughout this episode, you will not hear any ad breaks. The Raw Audio episodes never have ads. And not just that, but as a paid supporter, you won’t hear any ads on ANY of the What Was That Like episodes.   If you enjoy this episode, I invite you to sign up to support the show. Remember that number I mentioned a minute ago, 438? That’s how many listeners are already supporters. They subscribe for a few dollars each month, so they get to hear ALL the Raw Audio episodes and never any ads. And right now there are 52 Raw Audio episodes live and ready for you to binge when you sign up and become supporter number 439.   After you hear these three stories, I’ll come back in to let you know exactly how you can subscribe, because there are a few different ways you can do it, depending on what kind of phone you have and what app you use to listen to podcasts. It’s really simple though. But for now, please enjoy this ad-free episode of Raw Audio.     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

Do you know, with certainty, how you would react in a time of extreme stress or crisis?   As a 22 year old woman in San Francisco, Betty had not yet decided on a career path. So, while she was figuring out what she wanted to do, she worked at the factory owned by her parents. The factory produced beef jerky. It wasn’t really her dream job, but it kept her busy at the time, and she also felt good about helping her parents in their business.   One day, Betty’s workplace suddenly became very dangerous. Some people came in to rob the family business – and they were waving guns around. Betty was out front, and one of the first employees to come in contact with the robbers. She never panicked, even as one of the men held a gun to her head. Instead, she calmly called her dad, who was in the back, and said, “Dad, we’re being robbed”. The robbers got some money and left, and no one was physically injured.   Betty’s nerves of steel would come into play again years later. She was one of the flight attendants on American Airlines flight 11, on September 11, 2001. Today you’ll hear her voice, and you’ll learn why the 9/11 Commission declared Betty a hero.     Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here: https://WhatWasThatLike.com/228   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: What under-$100 item has been the best thing you've bought?   Links for this episode:   Chris Moneymaker wins the 2003 World Series of Poker – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCkUImEGrMU   Meredith’s beach cruiser bike  https://www.walmart.com/ip/26-Huffy-Nel-Lusso-Cruiser-Bike-Adults-Ages-13-Years-Light-Blue/852840675?classType=VARIANT&from=%2Fsearch&sid=14eaec04-9668-412a-9777-6e7438b9a926   Scott’s Instant Pot: https://instantpot.com/   Scott’s bidet: https://hellotushy.com/   The Baker Creek Seed Catalog: https://www.rareseeds.com/requestcat/catalog?srsltid=AfmBOopnFGgxfoSyi0sjMPgVvmwRnWFgKIXtAYfY5L8kYrWRQbo2-ufE   Finger toothbrushes for dogs: https://www.amazon.com/dog-finger-toothbrush/s?k=dog+finger+toothbrush   Meredith’s neck reading light: https://www.amazon.com/Gritin-Dimmable-Brightness-Comfortable-Lightweight/dp/B0CBMKLC84/ref=sr_1_6?th=1   The LockPicking Lawyer: https://www.youtube.com/@lockpickinglawyer   Meredith’s foot fetish episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6UinWG6euM0KCEK8L9wwbY?si=5QjEd_HJQNSIxaYjmVtWZQ   Travel french press  https://a.co/d/5s0BU8U     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

Geraldine was alone on a 6-month Appalachian Trail hike, with a poor sense of direction.   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

Quite a few of the episodes here on What Was That Like involve emergencies. Today we’re talking about a different kind of emergency.   If you’re new to the podcast, this is definitely not a typical episode. You might want to look through some of the past episode titles and pick one out that looks interesting.   But today is a little different. I’m in Dallas this week, hanging out with a bunch of my podcasting friends, so for this episode we’re kind of taking a break from the normal interview format.   A little bit of background. About 10 years ago, I was creating and hosting a different podcast. It was called Ultrafinishers. Each episode, I would interview a runner who had just finished their first ultramarathon. An ultramarathon is any race longer than a marathon, which is 26.2 miles. So an ultra usually ranges from 50k, which is a little more than 30 miles, up to 100 miles. Some are even longer than that.   But for one of those episodes, I asked people to call in and tell their story of the nightmare that just about every runner has had to deal with – you’re out on a run, and you have to poop, and there’s no bathroom in sight. It’s not a fun thing when it’s happening – but as it turns out, it’s pretty entertaining to hear about when it happens to other people.   So you’re about to hear a bunch of my ultra running friends from 10 years ago, telling their poop stories. And all of these were called in on a phone line, so the audio quality is not quite what you’d expect on a modern podcast. But it’s listenable.   And don’t worry – I have lots of crazy What Was That Like stories in the pipeline, and I’m looking forward to bringing those to you in the near future.   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   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices