What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.

What’s the most scared you have ever been?I’m not talking about being on a crazy roller coaster ride, or watching a scary movie. What we’re talking about on this episode is the kind of fear that just grips you, and controls you, and won’t let you think about anything else.I asked some of the listeners of this podcast that very question recently, in our private Facebook group. And at the end of this episode, you’ll be able to hear some of their answers – and there’s quite a variety. Turns out being scared can show up in our lives in a lot of different ways.And our guest today, Kira, has experienced that kind of gut-wrenching fear. She was on a downtown street, alone. It was dark, because it was 3:30 am. She was walking to work, and thought everything was okay.But she suddenly realized, she was not alone.Mentioned in this episode: the Noonlight app. It’s free for both iOS and Android, at Noonlight.com (there are paid versions with additional features).You can contact Kira at violentcrimesurvivors@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alaska is home to a lot of wildlife, including bears.Dan loves the outdoors. You name just about any outdoor activity, and he has done it. Hiking, camping, boating, climbing, and his main obsession – fishing.In his time outdoors, Dan has had more than one encounter with a bear. Typically, they just run off when they see a human. But there was one day when Dan unexpectedly crossed paths with an angry grizzly bear. It was a day he’ll never forget.Music at the end of this episode is part of the song Comatose Rider, written and performed by Dan Bigley.Let’s take a walk, by the river sideFish in the basket, red dog by my sideFeels like so long ago, I was 25 years oldI cannot see, through the visions in my headFeels like I’ve been for so long in my bedSeems like the more I learn, the more my life seems newAnd you’re coming into viewChorusI don’t know how I got to the top of the mountainI don’t know, but I believe that its trueI don’t know how I got to the top of the mountainBut its got something, something to do with youIts got Something to do with youIts got everything to do with youSomething to doWith youVerseWhen it feels like, the desert sun and the canyon wrenAre a million miles awayI can hear you voice inside my head, whisper its gonna be OKChorusI don’t know, how I got to the top of the mountainI don’t know, but I believe that its trueI don’t know how I got to the top of the mountainBut its got something, something to doWith youIts got something to do with youIts got everything to do, with youSomething to doWith you…Guitar soloOutroOh, are you feeling aliveOh, are you feeling aliveOh, are you feeling aliveOh, are you feeling so alive so alive singingOh, so alive, singingOh, yes I’m feeling so alive so alive, singingOh, so aliveOh, so alive Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was an early morning in Indiana.Steven, 18 years old, was on his way home from an overnight shift at work. Around 6:30 am, he got into the first car accident of his life – a minor fender bender – and was exchanging information with the other driver.He had no idea that his second crash, a much bigger one, was about to happen.Music credit: Industrial Cinematic by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3909-industrial-cinematic License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to an article in Business Insider magazine, one of the most stressful jobs in the US is being a 911 dispatcher. Out of 600 listed occupations, a 911 emergency operator’s job ranked at #13 for stress levels.They’re trained to remain calm on every call, regardless of how panicked the caller might be, or what’s happening on the other end of that phone line. But what about when a call comes in, and the caller is someone you know?My conversation today is with Mariah. One day, she received a text message in which her brother, Nate, was threatening suicide. Mariah and her boyfriend immediately started driving to where Nate said he was, at the back of a local forestry. On the way, Mariah called 911 to get help – and the voice that answered “911, what is your emergency?” was a voice that she knew very well.If you are having suicidal thoughts, please call this number: 800-273-8255 anytime night or day to talk with someone. Your life is worth living. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brandon spent 17 years working as an equestrian stuntman. But he didn’t grow up on a farm, and he didn’t spend his youth around horses. Back then, he was more interested in playing hockey.But he and his family did enjoy visiting Renaissance Fairs, and he met the right person at the right time. He got the opportunity to start learning how to be a stuntman – first working on the ground as a “squire”, then later helping to train the horses, and eventually to work as a stunt rider.But his very first “stunt riding” experience was not what he expected.Do you have questions for Brandon? He’s in the What Was That Like private Facebook group – join us over there at WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook.You can also follow Brandon on Instagram (stickfigurehero) and Twitter (stickfigurehero). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you worry about your privacy on the internet?Do you ever think about how much someone could find out about you, if they wanted to?Have you wondered if your life could be destroyed, over the internet, by a stranger?Maybe you should.Monika was happy. She was a successful real estate agent. She used social media to connect with friends, and family, and clients. Just like everyone else does.But one day, without realizing it, she made a mistake. And she had no idea what was about to happen. Photo courtesy of Margo Gray, WAFF 48 in Huntsville, AlabamaMechanolith by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4031-mechanolithLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Very few things in life could be more traumatic or horrifying than discovering a suicide.Remember how shocked we all were back in August of 2014, when police announced that legendary actor and comedian Robin Williams was found by his personal assistant, having committed suicide.There are so many factors to consider in that case, but I remember that when this happened, I kept thinking about how that person, his assistant, felt as she entered that room and discovered him on that Monday morning. She had worked with him for over 20 years, and it was more than just an employer – employee relationship. They were also close personal friends. It’s hard to imagine going through something like that.Our guest today is Liz. She has experienced this as well. But the suicide she discovered was not her boss, or just a close friend. It was her husband.Going through that would be bad enough. But for this podcast episode, Liz has even another story that is almost completely unrelated to her husband’s suicide. She’s been through a lot, and now she works trying to help people who have gone through similar tragedies. Check the links below for information on her book, and the work she’s doing.A warning: this episode contains descriptions of graphic violence against a child. It’s definitely not suitable for everyone.If you’d like to support this podcast and get access to all of the exclusive bonus episodes, you can do that at WhatWasThatLike.com/support.Special thanks to J.T. Tschirhart for doing the voiceover for the message from Levi Aron.Episode links:Dr Liz website: https://DrLizLifeLaunch.comYouTube: https://youtu.be/yGFm6oiUdFgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizette.bataille.3Dr Liz’s book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V3N3YL5/Leiby Kletzky Memorial Fund info:  https://patch.com/new-york/ditmaspark/leiby-kletzky-memorial-fund-b8221f9fSuicide Hotline: 800-273-8255 – available 24 hours a day, every day Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you remember when you were young, and going through your teenage years? Didn’t time seem to go by a lot more slowly back then?All those years, waiting, and looking forward to that one big day when you’re finally out on your own. Now that was something to be excited about, right? You’d have your own car, your own place, you could come and go whenever, you could stay up as late as want, it would be like heaven on earth! Of course, now that we’re past that stage in life, we know that being out on your own and responsible for yourself is not always the paradise and freedom that we might have anticipated.My guest today, Terri, was right at that breakthrough stage. Leaving home for the first time, being on her own, even moving hundreds of miles away – it was all very exciting.But then as soon as she moved in to her new place – the very first day she was there, actually – she found out that the real world can bring with it some unexpected and horrific things. It was a day she’ll never forget.If you like the show, please consider becoming a supporter. That not only tells me you enjoy the podcast, it also means you can get access to all the other bonus episodes that are only available to patrons. There are different levels of support and all the details are at WhatWasThatLike.com/support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we have a really fun episode that is going to make you smile.My guest today is Robin, and Robin likes to have fun. She’s different. And she’s on today’s show to tell us about an experience she had – she was hired by the Oscar Mayer hot dog company to drive the Wienermobile.And I realize some people might not be familiar with the Wienermobile, especially those outside the US. What we’re talking about here is a large vehicle that is designed to look like a giant hot dog. Yes, this is an actual street-legal vehicle, 27 feet long (about 9 meters). If you’re in the US, you might be surprised some day and see one traveling on a street, right there in your city.And while this kind of vehicle seems like it would be unique, there are actually SIX of them traveling the country at any given time. They show up at grocery store grand openings, theme parks, pickle festivals, all kinds of events. And the drivers give out merch such as Wienie Beanies, Wienermobile Hot Wheels cars, and the ever popular Wiener Whistles.Well, my friend Robin decided that she wanted to be a Wienermobile driver. So today she’s going to talk about how she made herself stand out from the other ONE THOUSAND applicants and got the job, and what the job is actually like.And a couple of other things – Robin lives in New York City. You’ve heard of The Moth, right? Really popular podcast. In New York, they regularly do storytelling competitions, and Robin has competed in these. They’re called Story Slams. And she has actually won!And at the end of this episode, I asked her to tell me about the time she was able to meet the comedy legend, Jerry Stiller. Great story.So I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. If you’d like to support the show, and get access to all the bonus exclusive content, you can do that at WhatWasThatLike.com/support.YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/user/YumsTheWordShowRobin’s blog – https://www.robingelfenbien.com/blogRobin’s website – https://www.robingelfenbien.com/Recess with Auntie Robin - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2579481095698218Is the Wienermobile in your area? https://khcmobiletour.com/wienermobilePodcast - http://www.yumsthewordshow.com/Instagram – https://instagram.com/robin.gelfenbien Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is September 11. Today is the day we remember and honor those who lost their lives here in America on September 11, 2001.246 innocent people aboard the four planes that were hijacked.2,606 people in the World Trade Center and the surrounding area. 343 of these were firefighters, and 71 were law enforcement officers.125 people in the Pentagon.In today’s episode, we’re going to hear from two people who were there.Lori Brody and her brother, Scott, both worked at the World Trade Center. She survived; he did not. Lori will tell us what happened to her that day, and in the years since.Joe Falco was a New York City firefighter. He was working to save lives at the World Trade Center, and was injured when the buildings collapsed.May we never forget those who were lost on September 11, 2001. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices