What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.

I’ve never had an injury that was serious enough to be what I would think of as “life changing” but some people have. It’s a pretty deep idea to think about.

I came across this post online recently. Here’s what this woman wrote:

I experienced a life changing injury 6 months ago, which has left me very physically disabled and in excruciating pain 24/7. I am waiting for scans in the next month, after being refused medical care in the country where I was injured, but it is likely the...

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 was the best surprise you've ever arranged?

Links for this episode:

There actually is a podcast called Rebeccamendations (but the most recent episode was 3 years ago) -

https://open.spotify.com/show/2ZmgyCh0mRyql7crPTUevr

Cowboy artist Ed Quigley - https...

Utsa

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This is Scott, host of the show.

On most episodes of What Was That Like, we talk to a regular person who has been through something extremely unusual – like a rattlesnake bite, a plane crash, a housefire rescue – we have more than 250 episodes with those kinds of stories.

Today’s episode has several incredible stories, but it’s a little different.

You may have heard me talk about the Raw Audio episodes. These are exclusive, bonus episodes that are only available to listeners who support...

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 makes you CRINGE every time you hear someone say it?

Links for this episode:

Voxer -

https://www.voxer.com/

Walmart Plus -

https://www.walmart.com/plus

Meredith’s podcast is The Curious In...

Do you remember the TV show called Locked Up Abroad? It’s no longer in active production, but you can still see past seasons on some different platforms like Hulu and Apple TV.

Every episode of the show was a true story of someone who was traveling outside their own country. Actually I seem to recall that most of the people were Americans traveling outside the US. And they would make a really bad decision to do something like trying to smuggle drugs or other illegal things into this other country. And of course th...

I have two children, one boy and one girl. Actually they’re not children, they’re adults and they’re on their own now of course.

But I still have a couple of young lives that I’m responsible for. I’m talking about my two dogs, Lilly and Fenway, they are both Yorkies, and obviously I would do anything for those little pups. They’re actually getting up there in dog years now – they’re 12 and 13. But they’re in good health so far, we go for a walk twice a day, and they still love ch...

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 the nicest thing a stranger has done for you?

Links for this episode:

The Wet Taco:

https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Wet-Taco-61552268228210/

Just Watch:
https://JustWatch.com

Be My Eyes:

https://www.bemyeyes...

Dalia wanted everything for herself but one thing was in the way: her husband Michael.

Sponsor deals:

Visit www.functionhealth.com/WHATWAS or use gift code WHATWAS25 for a $25

credit toward your membership.

Visit AuraFrames.com and use promo code WHATWAS at checkout to get $45 off.

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% of...

Have you ever had a really big vision of doing something, and then the way it turned out was actually very different from what you had planned?

I think this is almost universal for us as humans. Think back to when you were a teenager. You probably had some ideas about becoming an adult and what that would look like. What kind of career you might have, or not. Finding a partner if you wanted one. Thinking about being a parent, or not having kids at all.

A lot...

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 an animal you'd love as a pet - even if it's unrealistic?

Links for this episode:

The Earth Species Project – decoding the language of other animals:

https://earthspecies.org/

The Magic To-Do List:

https://goblin.tools/ToDo

Today’s episode deals with a controversial question: Should a person be legally allowed to get medical assistance to end their own life?

And keep in mind, this usually pertains to someone who is terminally ill, and who is also mentally and emotionally stable enough to make that decision on their own.

Here in the US, most states still do not allow it. But Medical Assistance in Dying is legal in all of Canada. That’s where Courtney lives.

Courtney told this amazing story on t...

One of the things that makes this life so interesting is that something can happen that’s life-changing, when you least expect it.

I mean, you’re just going about your day – stopping at the grocery store, or putting gas in your car, just a routine day. Then something totally unexpected happens, right in front of you.

I remember one time when I was just on my way to work in the morning. Just driving on this rural road in Maine, and there was a pickup truck in front of me...

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 makes you weird?

Links for this episode:

Meredith’s episode on circumcision:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-310-american-circumcision-preference-or-cultural/id1483941440?i=1000727817532

A scene from Friends without the laughtrack:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgKgXehYnnw

The Army claims LaVena Johnson took her own life. The evidence suggests otherwise.

Sponsor deals:

Visit www.functionhealth.com/WHATWAS or use gift code WHATWAS25 for a $25

credit toward your membership.

Visit AuraFrames.com and use promo code WHATWAS at checkout to get $45 off.

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 fi...

Today’s episode is a little different.

If you’re a regular listener to the show, you know that usually we hear a story from a regular person about something they’ve experienced that was extremely unusual. We have over 250 episodes like that – plane crashes, mass shootings, animal attacks, and lots more. And it’s not all trauma stories – we have some happy ones too.

But sometimes we change it up, and I have a guest on who has a really unusual job. I’ve talked to Spence, who’s a lighthouse k...

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 and your spouse/partner will NEVER agree on?

Links for this episode:

Curious Introvert episode about dating in midlife:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-318-dating-in-midlife-where-have-all-the-good-men/id1483941440?i=1000737048315

Curious Introvert episode about hoarders:
https://podcasts...

Technology is making it more and more difficult to get lost.

Right now, I’m here in my home in Florida. I could pull out my phone, type in any random address in, say, Washington state – the other end of the country. Roughly 3,000 miles away. And within a few seconds, I would have turn by turn audio directions that would enable me to drive directly to that address. I know, GPS isn’t always perfect, but it’s really an amazing example of technology. And usually it works so smoothly that we just take it for g...

There’s a funny thing about being an American.

I’ve seen this with some people I know, as well as some of the guests here on the podcast. Living in the United States, it’s easy to have the mindset that the way we do things is the way the rest of the world does things. Unless you travel to other countries regularly, and get exposed to other cultures, that’s kind of the default thought for a lot of people.

An example...

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 is the worst second hand embarrassment you've ever felt?

Links for this episode:

DC video in CVS - https://youtube.com/shorts/okIKTmzebVo

Meredith’s nail polish:

https://www.essie.com/nail-polish/longwear

Scott’s Drip Dry recommendation:

Chelsea Perkins created a bizarre plan for murder. But it wasn’t foolproof.

Sponsor deals:

Visit www.functionhealth.com/WHATWAS or use gift code WHATWAS25 for a $25

credit toward your membership.

Visit AuraFrames.com and use promo code WHATWAS at checkout to get $45 off.

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...

If your brain changes, are you still the same person? That was the question behind a 1991 movie titled Regarding Henry. In that film, Harrison Ford played the part of Henry Turner. Henry was a wealthy New York City lawyer. He was also narcissistic, uncaring, and even a little unethical sometimes. He got what he wanted and he didn’t care who was in the way. One night he stops into a convenience store and accidentally interrupts an armed robbery. Henry gets shot in the head, but somehow survives. But he has damage to his brain. As he recovers, he slowly em...

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 the most annoying thing people do in public?

Links for this episode:

Meredith hates Axe cologne:
https://www.amazon.com/AXE-Fragrance-Collection-Premium-Deodorant/dp/B0CTB125V1/ref=sr_1_6

Life Kit podcast episode about nail care:
https://www.npr.org/2026/02/12/nx-s1-5711411/dont-mess-with-your-cuticles-and-other-nail-advice

Ne...

Today’s episode has a content warning for discussion of suicide.

Have you ever seen pictures or video of a hoarder house, and just wondered, what is going on?

I mean, everyone has a different tolerance level for clutter. But hoarding is not just an issue of having a messy living environment. It’s actually classified as a distinct mental illness. The American Psychiatric Association says hoarding is characterized by a persistent, intense inability to discard possessions – leading to significant clutter, distress, and impairment in daily living.

For a lot of people, flying is a really scary thing.

And that fear can come from a few different factors. You’ve heard stories about planes that have crashed (even though it’s rare). You’re gonna be in this metal tube a few miles above the ground. And you’re putting your life in the hands of people you don’t even know.

Part of flight attendant training is learning how to handle a passenger who has anxiety about flying. If someone steps on to the plane and tells...

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 irrational fear?

Links for this episode:

Ear Hustle podcast:

https://www.earhustlesq.com/

Inside True Crime Podcast with Matt Cox:

https://insidetruecrime.com/

Dan prepares people for prison:

https://WhatWasThatLike.com/51 <...

The MS Estonia sank, and many people died. But what really happened that night?

Sponsor deals:

Visit AuraFrames.com and use promo code WHATWAS at checkout to get $45 off.

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 sh...

Sometimes, technology can almost seem like magic. That’s how I think sometimes about cell phones.

I mean, you can just pull a little device out of your pocket, tap a couple of things on the screen, and suddenly you’re talking in real time to some other person, who can be anywhere in the world? I know we take this for granted now, but it’s pretty amazing.

There was a little trick I used to do sometimes, with Skype. Remember Skype? Back in the day, it was pretty...

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 one of the stupidest things you've ever done?

Links for this episode:

Meredith’s plant identification app – Picture This -
https://picturethisai.com

Scott’s recommendation for installing software quickly and safely:
https://Ninite.com

Meredith’s podcas...

If you’re in the Austin, Texas area – let’s meet up. I’ll be in Austin the second week of March – and this is 2026, for you listeners of the future – we’ll have another in-person Listener Meetup on March 11. This is where you can come and hang out with me and other podcast listeners, have a drink, ask a question, whatever. I’d love to get to know you! All of the details can be found in the What Was That Like Facebook group, at WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook.

And now, on with today’s episode, which n...

As parents, you want your child to be healthy and happy. And you’ll do anything to make that happen.

But that’s not always easy when your child is autistic.

Science and medicine has learned a lot about autism, but there’s still a lot of mystery around it as well. What causes it (if anything), how to treat it… there are lots of questions that are still unanswered. And a successful treatment protocol for one person might not work as well for another one.

My...

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 did your boss do that made him/her the worst boss ever?

Links for this episode:

Meredith webcam privacy screen:
https://a.co/d/0hMs0zQF

Scott’s recommended app called Pizza Compass:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pizza-compass/id...

The case of William Moldt shows us that sometimes a mystery has to wait for technology to catch up.

Sponsor deals:

Visit AuraFrames.com and use promo code WHATWAS at checkout to get $45 off.

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 Qu...

Here on the podcast we’ve several episodes with guests who have told the story of being attacked by an animal.

These include a grizzly bear, a monkey, a shark, a rattlesnake, a tiger, a pair of dogs, an alligator, and a swarm of yellow jackets. But we haven’t yet had a story about a hippo attack.

Until today.

My guest today is Honor. She was traveling throughout Africa and she learned about the list of animals in Africa that cause the most fata...

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 are you starting to hate as you get older?

Links for this episode:

Planes, Trains and Automobiles airplane scene -

https://youtu.be/Kw-f9B7FAdQ?si=3V9qMhG1KqQ4cDPj

Children International -
https://children.org

<...

Sometimes, there comes a moment in your life when everything changes.

You might have a little warning ahead of time, or it might come as a complete surprise. It might be a surprise that makes your whole life better, or it could be news that’s devastating. We never know – that’s just how life works.

Justin had a moment like that. He was adopted the day after he was born, so he never knew his birth mother. He had a wonderful childhood, and he loves his family, but he alw...

I wonder if this ever happens to you.

Maybe you’re visiting someone and you’re staying overnight. Or you’re on a trip and you’re staying in a hotel or an Airbnb. And that first time you wake up, you have a brief few seconds where you’re a little disoriented. Like, “Hey, where am I? This is not my bedroom. This is not my bed”. But then it comes back to you – oh yeah, I’m away from home right now.

I would think it would be even worse if y...

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 the craziest thing you have put your body through?

Links for this episode:

Bruce the cow causing disruption:

https://youtube.com/shorts/WNM0cV7bViM?si=cKREAXmSXdeqHxaX

Krav Maga – Israeli hand to hand combat fighting:

https://en.wikipedia.org...

Tom and Eileen trusted others for their safety, but that trust was misplaced.

Sponsor deals:

Visit AuraFrames.com and use promo code WHATWAS at checkout to get $45 off.

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...

Have you ever had a feeling of impending doom? Like you just knew something bad was about to happen?

Quite a few years ago, I was in New York City. I went with a friend to a late comedy show, and when it was over we got on the subway to get back to the hotel. This was pretty late, like 2 am or maybe even later. We were on the train, waiting for the doors to close. Personally, I was feeling fine. But my friend, Teri, was more aware of our surroundings. There were...