What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.
A storytelling podcast, with first-hand amazing stories presented by Scott Johnson and Meredith Hackwith Edwards. Each storyteller tells their own personal true story, with all the details of what happened. Animal attacks, plane crashes, mass shootings, and more – you'll hear what happened directly from the person who experienced it, and the inspirational outcome of how they came out on the other side.
Episodes
Tessi was raped in the rain
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 co…
TQ49: When you just want to be left alone, where is your favorite place to be?
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 yo…
STAS 8: Tanya Skelton
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…
Listen now: Scamfluencers "Pharmacist Femme Fatale"
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 t…
Lemon was forced to decide
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 al…
TQ48: What's something you tried once but would never do again?
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 …
Lesli was saved by a neighbor
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 som…
Tina escaped the exploding batteries
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 wa…
TQ47: What's your favorite memory of your father?
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? Li…
To Build a Fire
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…
Vanessa lost her voice
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. An…
What past job did you hate the most?
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 f…
Raw Audio unlocked
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 open…
September 11 hero Betty Ong
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 worke…
TQ45: What under-$100 item has been the best thing you've bought?
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…
STAS 7: Geraldine Largay
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]! #…
Bathroom emergencies
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 …
TQ44: Who was your celebrity crush when you were young?
Every 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: Who was your celebrity crush when you were young? …
Bill's daughter was murdered
Sometimes, you see a phone call coming in and you just know that something bad has happened. I remember back several years ago, when my dad was still alive. He was in pretty poor health. He could still walk around, sort of, but it was wit…
David couldn't find the cabin
My favorite author is Jack London. His style of writing paints a very vivid picture in my mind. As I read his stories, it feels like I’m right there in the middle of it. One of his most well-known works is titled To Build A Fire. This is t…
TQ43: Describe one of your most memorable birthdays
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: Describe one of your most memorable birthdays …
STAS 6: Marlene Warren
Marlene answered the door, and there was a clown holding a gun. 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 f…
Naseem was run over 3 times
If you have children, you’ve probably thought at some point, “Am I a good parent?” It’s natural to question our own abilities sometimes. Do I spend enough time with my kids? Do they feel safe? Do they feel loved? Are they comfortable talk…
TQ42: What crazy thing have you seen happen at a wedding?
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 crazy thing have you seen happen at a weddi…
Ross was shot while sleeping
In an ideal world, children should be able to trust their parents. After all, it’s the grown-ups in the family who are responsible for the kids. No child should ever have to worry about safety when mom and dad are around for protection - in…
Scott was locked up in a foreign jail
As human beings, we are often very protective of our own sense of personal justice – and injustice. When I was a child, I had a teacher who – to me – seemed very unfair. If one of the kids in the class did something like write a bad wor…
TQ41: What movie traumatized you as a kid?
Every 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 movie traumatized you as a kid? Links for this …
STAS 5: Amanda Eller
Amanda just wanted to go for a short trail run. Life had something else in store for her. 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 W…
Brandon is a 911 dispatcher
What do heart attacks, car accidents, and murder usually have in common? Most of the time, when any of these things happen, someone calls 911. It’s one of the most reliable things we have – whenever there’s any kind of emergency, here in …
What did you throw away that you wish you had kept?
Every 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 you throw away that you wish you had kept? …
Listen now: Liberty Lost
In Evangelical homes across the United States, sex outside of marriage is a sin against God. So, when Abbi becomes pregnant at 16, her devout parents hide her away at the Liberty Godparent Home, a little-known facility for pregnant teens on…
Dan is a pre-prison consultant
There was a time in his life when Dan was in a pretty difficult situation. He was facing something that most people don’t ever have to go through. Even though he was not a violent person, and he certainly was not any kind of career crimin…
Maggie saved her dog
When you live up north, where the winters are really cold, one of the best times of the year is the day when you feel spring coming. That first hint of warmer temperatures. With the time change, there’s longer sunlight at the end of each …
TQ39: What's the most amazing coincidence you've experienced?
Every 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 amazing coincidence you've experienced…
Raw Audio 50
Raw Audio 50 is now live! In this episode: 1. A courthouse shooting 2. A father calls 911 for his son 3. Non-emergency calls I really appreciate your support of the show! Scott Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc…
When children scare parents
If there’s one thing children are good at, it’s their ability to give their parents a good scare. When our son David was about 2 years old, we were at home, just a regular day, not much going on. At some point, either my wife or I, I don’…
Cesar was attacked
Have you ever had something bad happen, while you were actually trying to do something good? It’s kind of that old phrase – no good deed goes unpunished. There was a thread about this online. This is what one person wrote: “I ran in t…
TQ38: What did you say that caused you to think “I never thought I would say that”?
Every 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 you say that caused you to think “I never tho…
STAS4: Rachel Hoffman
To the Tallahassee Police, Rachel Hoffman was just a pawn to be used in their war on drugs. 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…
Rachel rescued her children
Many years ago, I had a small pickup truck. It was kind of a junker. Mostly, I just used it for when I had some stuff to haul to the town dump. It wasn’t pretty but it mostly served my purposes. But this little truck had a problem. It…