What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.

Scott Payne, a former FBI undercover agent, shares his extraordinary experiences infiltrating white supremacist groups and biker gangs. He reveals the psychological toll of undercover work and the challenges of balancing his dangerous job with personal life. Scott discusses his early days in undercover operations, including a tense infiltration of The Base, and dives into the ethical dilemmas faced during high-stakes missions. His gripping anecdotes highlight both the adrenaline of his role and the stark realities of navigating crime's dark underbelly.

Dive into the hilarity of social etiquette as the hosts tackle absurd rules that make no sense, like the need to say 'bless you' after a sneeze but not after a fart. They share funny anecdotes, including a quirky story about non-dairy ice cream. Explore the etiquette of hats and the historical roots behind them, alongside the comedic challenges of public bodily functions. The discussion balances tradition with modern sensibilities, leaving listeners laughing at the absurdities of social norms.

George Pickering Sr heard his son’s medical prognosis, buthe wasn’t ready to accept it.Sponsor deals:Head to http://Lumen.me/WWTLfor 20% off your purchase.Go to bluenile.com toshop Blue Nile, the original online jeweler since 1999!Follow “MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark and MysteriousStories” on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts.This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapya try at BetterHelp.com/WHATWAS andget on your way to being your best self.To get 15% off your next gift, go to UNCOMMONGOODS.com/WHATWASSign up today at https://www.butcherbox.com/whatwas anduse code whatwas to get chicken breast, salmon or ground beef FREE inevery order for a year, plus $20 off your first order.Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/WHATGo to Quince.com/whatwasfor free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!Go to cookunity.com/Whator enter code What before checkout for 50% off your first week.Go to Seed.com/what anduse code 25WHAT to get 25% off your first month.Go to storyworth.com/whatto save $10 on your first purchase!Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpodCancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to RocketMoney.com/whatwas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you hear the word “grandparents”, what comes into yourmind?For me, it’s someone who loves their grandchildrenunconditionally. And they just want to GIVE all the time. There’s some truth tothe phrase “If Mom and Dad say no, go ask Grandma!”.“Grandma” brings up an image of an older woman, in thekitchen baking cookies. “Grandpa” means the old man out in the garage,tinkering with the lawn mower and having me “help” by handing him a wrench or ascrewdriver.But those are just stereotypes. And sometimes real lifedoesn’t match up with the way we commonly think of how grandparents aresupposed to be.As a little girl, Gwen saw her grandparents all the time.And she knew her grandpa could sometimes be a not very nice person.Then one day, Gwen’s grandma decided she’d had enough.Content warning: this episode includes discussion of gunviolence.If you’d like to contact Gwen, she’s in the WWTL Facebookgroup:https://WhatWasThatLike.com/facebookFull show notes and pictures for this episode are here:https://WhatWasThatLike.com/213Graphics for this episode by Bob Bretz. Transcription wasdone by James Lai.Want to discuss this episode and other things with thousandsof 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 Audioexclusive episodes to binge, by joining the other listeners at What Was ThatLike PLUS.Try What Was That Like PLUS free:iPhone: at the top of the What Was That Like podcastfeed, click on “Try free”Android: on your phone, go to WhatWasThatLike.com/PLUS and clickto try it free on any appSponsor deals:Head to http://Lumen.me/WWTLfor 20% off your purchase.Go to bluenile.com toshop Blue Nile, the original online jeweler since 1999!Follow “MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark and MysteriousStories” on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts.This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapya try at BetterHelp.com/WHATWAS andget on your way to being your best self.To get 15% off your next gift, go to UNCOMMONGOODS.com/WHATWASSign up today at https://www.butcherbox.com/whatwas anduse code whatwas to get chicken breast, salmon or ground beef FREE inevery order for a year, plus $20 off your first order.Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/WHATGo to Quince.com/whatwasfor free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!Go to cookunity.com/Whator enter code What before checkout for 50% off your first week.Go to Seed.com/what anduse code 25WHAT to get 25% off your first month.Go to storyworth.com/whatto save $10 on your first purchase!Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpodCancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to RocketMoney.com/whatwas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every Tuesday, we grab a past question from theFacebook group, then Meredith and Scott answer it and read some of the answersgiven by other listeners.The question for this episode:What's the most difficult thing you've ever had to tellsomeone?Links for this episode: Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott: https://www.amazon.com/Fierce-Conversations-Achieving-Success-Conversation/dp/0425193373Meredith’s podcast is Meredith For Real – the CuriousIntrovert:https://MeredithForReal.comTo check out the new Tuesday Question and get in thediscussion, join us at WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook.Sponsor deals:Head to http://Lumen.me/WWTLfor 20% off your purchase.Go to bluenile.com toshop Blue Nile, the original online jeweler since 1999!Follow “MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark and MysteriousStories” on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts.This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapya try at BetterHelp.com/WHATWAS andget on your way to being your best self.To get 15% off your next gift, go to UNCOMMONGOODS.com/WHATWASSign up today at https://www.butcherbox.com/whatwas anduse code whatwas to get chicken breast, salmon or ground beef FREE inevery order for a year, plus $20 off your first order.Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/WHATGo to Quince.com/whatwasfor free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!Go to cookunity.com/Whator enter code What before checkout for 50% off your first week.Go to Seed.com/what anduse code 25WHAT to get 25% off your first month.Go to storyworth.com/whatto save $10 on your first purchase!Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpodCancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to RocketMoney.com/whatwas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Curto, husband of Camre who faced memory loss after childbirth, shares their incredible journey. He recounts the frantic moment he rushed to the hospital to meet their newborn son, only to find Camre in a medically induced coma. Steve reveals the emotional toll of her memory loss and the challenges they faced together, emphasizing love and resilience. He discusses their ongoing fight to reconnect and heal, highlighting the power of hope amid adversity. A touching story of commitment and transformation unfolds as they navigate this life-altering experience.

Leilani shares her thrilling childhood dream of riding an Asian elephant in Thailand, only for the adventure to take a dark turn when she falls off. The podcast dives deep into the emotional aftermath of her trauma and recovery, highlighting the challenges of navigating healthcare in a foreign country. Along the way, there’s a strong emphasis on ethical treatment of animals and the resilience required to overcome such life-altering events. Listeners will find humor, reflection, and uplifting insights on the journey toward healing.

In a lively discussion about terrible neighbors, hosts share quirky and alarming stories about pranks and odd encounters. They emphasize the importance of personal boundaries while navigating communal living. A quirky listener's tale about a three-legged dog's mishaps adds humor to the mix. The etiquette of dog waste disposal ignites laughter and reflections on neighborhood dynamics. Throughout, a balance of light-heartedness and serious insights keeps the conversation engaging, reminding us of the everyday absurdities we all face.

Dive into the gripping tale of Floyd Collins, a passionate cave explorer whose dreams turned into a nightmare. Discover how his enthusiasm for tourism led to a fateful exploration where he became trapped beneath a boulder. The podcast reveals the intense rescue efforts that captivated a nation, ultimately ending in tragedy. Explore the haunting legacy of Collins, whose story continues to inspire modern culture, even leading to a new musical in New York City. Adventure, ambition, and tragedy—this saga has it all!

The thing about living in an apartment or renting a room is… you have to deal with other people.Depending on how the building is laid out, it’s almost like living with strangers. If your next door neighbor accidentally starts a fire, your home could burn too. If the person above you has a flood, it’s very likely that you’ll be dealing with that problem as well.Not to mention, what if your neighbors in this same building are jerks? Or they have 20 drunk people at their place for a party? Or they practice their drums at 3 am?These are all things to consider, and you might not even be able to research all of this before moving in.My guest today is Tiffany. She was in a different country, and she rented a room to live in. There were other rooms, and other people living in those rooms, and they were mostly nice. But there was one guy who was not so nice. And he was pretending to be the landlord.Tiffany’s socials:Her podcast on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/bittersweetlifepodcast/Her podcast on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thebittersweetlifepodcastTiffany’s Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/tiffanyparksromeTiffany’s book:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071HD869DFull show notes and pictures for this episode are here:https://WhatWasThatLike.com/210Graphics 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 appSponsor deals:Head to http://Lumen.me/WWTL for 20% off your purchase.Go to bluenile.com to shop Blue Nile, the original online jeweler since 1999!Follow “MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark and Mysterious Stories” on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts.This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at BetterHelp.com/WHATWAS and get on your way to being your best self.To get 15% off your next gift, go to UNCOMMONGOODS.com/WHATWAS 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/WHATGo to Quince.com/whatwas for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!Go to cookunity.com/What or enter code What before checkout for 50% off your first week.Go to Seed.com/what and use code 25WHAT to get 25% off your first month.Go to storyworth.com/what to save $10 on your first purchase!Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpodCancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to RocketMoney.com/whatwas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices