What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.

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

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 something you tried once but would never do again?   Links for this episode:   Joe Rogan and Theo Von try smelling salts: https://youtu.be/xq9h2FSNIYM?si=RoEJGLTtmHYBj0qx   Bitwarden password manager: https://bitwarden.com     Meredith’s sofa: https://joybird.com/sectionals/lewis-sectional/?fabric=royale-forest&woodStain=mocha&orientation=left   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

You and I make decisions, all day every day. But have you ever thought about being able to have a choice about how you die?   I mean, most people would probably prefer a method that’s quick and painless, so I guess we might want to have some say in the matter. But being put in that position of having to actually choose – in the moment – is not something that happens very often.   But that’s the situation Lesli was in. This is a Flashback episode, and Lesli told this story on the podcast about five years ago. I wasn’t able to get in touch with her for an update conversation, but what you’re about to hear is a super crazy story of what happened to her in Nashville.   And how her neighbor, Bill, came to her rescue without a moment to spare.   Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here: https://WhatWasThatLike.com/232   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

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