What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.

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73: Matt crashed his plane in the wilderness Feb 26, 2021

Show notes

Personally, I’ve never had a fear of flying. In fact, I really like it. I’m not sure if it’s the flying itself, or maybe it’s the fact that the flying just means I’m probably going somewhere to see people or have fun. But I’ve never had that feeling like “Oh…what if the plane just falls from the sky and we all die.” I don’t think I’ve ever worried about that. Which might be kind of odd, since I do have a fear of heights, but that only started after I fell off a roof. But that’s another story.

And if you’re on a flight and you’re sitting next to someone who is just terrified, it doesn’t really matter if you tell them how safe it is to fly in an airplane. I mean, there are around 100,000 flights that happen every single day all around the world. There’s really nothing to be afraid of.

But what if you’re on a flight…and there is actually cause for concern? Like, the pilot sees a thunderstorm ahead that you’ll be flying through, or maybe something is not working right on the plane, and he makes the announcement that the plane might be in trouble. That would probably scare most people.

That’s what happened on a commercial flight from Phoenix to Dallas a couple of years ago. The pilot didn’t say what the problem was specifically, but he came over intercom and gave the passengers the instructions to brace for impact.

Fortunately, the pilot was able to land the plane safely and no one was injured. But I’m guessing a few prayers went up, and some phone calls were made to loved ones. Can you imagine how happy those passengers must have been when they finally felt the wheels touch down on that runway, and they knew they were safe.

My conversation today is with Matt. Matt is a licensed airplane pilot. And there was one day when he was flying a small plane, and it was just him – no passengers. He took off and got up to cruising altitude, and for a while everything seemed fine. What Matt didn’t know was…that plane would never touch down on an airport runway again.

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72: Bonus episode - Q&A Feb 19, 2021

Show notes

If this is your first time discovering the What Was That Like podcast, you need to know that this is NOT a normal episode.

On this show, each episode is usually a conversation with a regular person who has been through some type of extremely unusual situation (such as a plane crash or a mass shooting). The guest comes on the show and tells the story of what happened, first hand. Check out some of the past episodes – I think you’ll like it.

But this is a bonus episode, and it’s different. A bunch of listeners called in their questions for me, and I answered them.

A couple of things that came up, in case you’re interested:

Big thanks to all those who sent in their questions! We’ll do this again sometime.

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71: Deneen dodged a derailing train Feb 12, 2021

Show notes

Trains are a big part of American culture, because they are really fascinating in so many ways. If you stand next to one, you realize – they are just so BIG.

And they have so much power, to be able to pull all that weight. And wow, are they LOUD. Not just the sound of the engine, and the steel wheels on the track, but that horn – you can hear it even if you’re nowhere near the railroad tracks.

Kids and adults of all ages are fascinated by trains. And they are fun to watch, as they rumble by. Maybe you get a wave from the engineer. It’s great entertainment, as long as everything works like it’s supposed to work.

Deneen was with her two little girls one day, at a railroad crossing, watching the train go by just a few feet from the front of their car. Then she realized that something was very wrong, and that train was about to crash.

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70: Aaron survived a tsunami Jan 29, 2021

Show notes

December 26, 2004. That was the day a huge earthquake happened.

In fact, it’s the third-largest earthquake ever recorded, and it had the longest duration of faulting that has ever been observed – between eight and ten minutes.

But there was something different about this earthquake. It happened underwater. It took place in the Indian Ocean. The epicenter was off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The result of this enormous earthquake happening under the ocean was that it created massive waves of water, up to 100 feet, or about 30 meters, high. These waves arrived without warning. More than 227,000 people woke up that morning and went through their normal routine, not realizing it was their last day to be alive.

I remember when it happened. It was a Sunday, the day after Christmas. Of course it was the leading news story all over the world. I heard how the story unfolded, how the underwater earthquake happened, and the unbelievable numbers as the death toll kept rising. It was an incredible tragedy. But I was in the US, and that horrific scene was on the other side of the world. It didn’t seem real.

But for my guest today, Aaron, that scene was very real.

He was there.

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69: Kira was attacked by a serial rapist Jan 15, 2021

Show notes

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.

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68: Dan was mauled by a grizzly bear Jan 01, 2021

Show notes

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 old

I 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 view

ChorusI 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 you

VerseWhen 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 OK

ChorusI 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 solo

OutroOh, 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

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67: Steven was hit by a truck Dec 18, 2020

Show notes

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/

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66: Mariah lost her brother Dec 04, 2020

Show notes

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.

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65: Brandon was dragged by a horse Nov 20, 2020

Show notes

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).

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64: Monika's life was destroyed by a stranger Nov 06, 2020

Show notes

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, Alabama

Mechanolith by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4031-mechanolith

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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