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 chasing a ball sometimes. But I know they are in their golden years so I’m trying to appreciate every minute I have with them.

I think anyone who’s a dog lover can identify with wanting to protect your dog from any type of harm that might come their way. I mean, I don’t want them to run into the street, I don’t want them to eat something that might be harmful, and I surely don’t want them to get into a fight with another dog.

My guest today goes by the nickname “T”. Not the word “tea”, just the letter “T”. She found herself in a situation where her dog was in trouble. And she had to make a split-second decision.

And I’m gonna do something here that I don’t normally do – I’m gonna tell you ahead of time that today, T and her wonderful dog are doing fine. The story does have a happy ending. I don’t usually have spoilers here in the opener, but I know some listeners would not want to hear a story if the dog doesn’t make it. And I don’t blame you – I wouldn’t want to hear that either. But you’re safe with this one.

So I hope you enjoy the story of T, and how she saved her dog’s life.

Teachers Pay Teachers -

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/take-on-triangles

Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:

https://WhatWasThatLike.com/258

Graphics 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.

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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 app

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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 your order and 365-day returns!

Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod

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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.com/

Meredith’s podcast is The Curious Introvert:

https://MeredithForReal.com

To check out the new Tuesday Question and get in the discussion, join us at WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook.

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 first order, plus a FREE $60 gift just for signing up.

Go to Quince.com/whatwas for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!

Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod

Try Mint Mobile for 3 months, for just 15 bucks a month - MintMobile.com/WHAT

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift just for signing up.

Go to Quince.com/whatwas for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!

Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod

Try Mint Mobile for 3 months, for just 15 bucks a month - MintMobile.com/WHAT

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 of young people have this vision of how they think their life is going to play out. And at that age, we don’t really have enough experience to know that those things almost never actually play out exactly as you expect them to. I mean, just by listening to the guests that I talk to here on the podcast, we know that things happen that we never would have imagined – and life can take a completely different path.

My guest today is Mae. In high school, she had her life planned out. She had already met and was in love with her life partner, and they were going to get married as soon as they could, and they were going to have children, and live happily ever after.

That’s not what happened. This episode has a content warning for domestic abuse and graphic sexual violence, because the fairy tale life Mae had planned gradually turned into a nightmare. Until she finally decided that she’d had enough.

Resources:

Crisis Center brochure (Castle Rock, CO):
https://whatwasthatlike.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Crisis-Center-Brochure.pdf

Domestic violence safety planning:
https://whatwasthatlike.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Domestic-Violence-Safety-Planning.pdf

How does domestic violence affect kids?
https://whatwasthatlike.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/How-Does-Domestic-Violence-Affect-Kids.pdf

Keeping your children safe:
https://whatwasthatlike.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Keeping-Your-Children-Safe.pdf

The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1.800.799.7233

National Resource Center for Domestic Violence: 1.844.762.8483

Local in Colorado: Rose Andom Center: 720.337.4400

Local in Colorado: Porch Light: 720.853.8850

Local in Colorado: Gateway Domestic Violence Services: 303.343.1851

Location in Colorado: SafeHouse Denver: 303.318.9989

If you’d like to contact Mae:
email: [email protected]

Mae’s website: https://MaeScottOfficial.com

Mae’s book, An Embarrassment of Pandas: Exposing an Abusive Family and a Flawed System, is available here:
https://www.amazon.com/Embarrassment-Pandas-Exposing-Abusive-Family/dp/B0G548WTHP

Her FB:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577182454783

Her Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/maescottofficial/

Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:

https://WhatWasThatLike.com/257

Graphics 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 app

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 first order, plus a FREE $60 gift just for signing up.

Go to Quince.com/whatwas for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!

Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod

Try Mint Mobile for 3 months, for just 15 bucks a month - MintMobile.com/WHAT

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

emeals:

https://emeals.com/

Financial Peace University:

https://www.ramseysolutions.com/money/financial-peace

Meredith’s podcast is Meredith The Curious Introvert:

https://MeredithForReal.com

To check out the new Tuesday Question and get in the discussion, join us at WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook.

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 first order, plus a FREE $60 gift just for signing up.

Go to Quince.com/whatwas for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!

Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod

Try Mint Mobile for 3 months, for just 15 bucks a month - MintMobile.com/WHAT

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 the podcast about four years ago. It’s the story of her mother’s decision, and it’s both wonderful and heartbreaking.

And stick around after, because I was able to record a chat with Courtney to get an update on what’s happened since we last spoke.

If you’d like to contact Courtney: [email protected]

Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:

https://WhatWasThatLike.com/256

Graphics 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 app

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 first order, plus a FREE $60 gift just for signing up.

Go to Quince.com/whatwas for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!

Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod

Try Mint Mobile for 3 months, for just 15 bucks a month - MintMobile.com/WHAT

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. And there was a man riding in the back – in the open bed of the truck. He was standing, facing forward, just hanging out. All of a sudden that truck went to the right, off the road, right into a power pole. I don’t know what caused the driver to lose control, but fortunately there were no serious injuries. Even the guy in the truck bed was mostly okay. But it just happened so fast.

My guest today is Jayson. He was having a pretty normal day, just running some errands.

Then he found himself unexpectedly witnessing an attempted murder.

If you’d like to contact Jayson, you can do that through his website:

http://www.jaysoncross.com/

You can also find him on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok: @jaysoncrosscomedy

On X (Twitter): @jcrosscomedy

Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:

https://WhatWasThatLike.com/255

Graphics 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 app

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 first order, plus a FREE $60 gift just for signing up.

Go to Quince.com/whatwas for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!

Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod

Try Mint Mobile for 3 months, for just 15 bucks a month - MintMobile.com/WHAT

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

How to diagram a sentence:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deiEY5Yq1qI

Meredith’s coloring book of farting animals:

https://a.co/d/06gcYpCP

RideSafer travel vest for kids:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmlD0C61_bY

Meredith’s podcast is The Curious Introvert:

https://MeredithForReal.com

To check out the new Tuesday Question and get in the discussion, join us at WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook.

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 first order, plus a FREE $60 gift just for signing up.

Go to Quince.com/whatwas for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!

Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod

Try Mint Mobile for 3 months, for just 15 bucks a month - MintMobile.com/WHAT

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 first order, plus a FREE $60 gift just for signing up.

Go to Quince.com/whatwas for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!

Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod

Try Mint Mobile for 3 months, for just 15 bucks a month - MintMobile.com/WHAT

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 keeper, and Dan, who prepares people for their first time going to prison, and Jen – who works as a professional bridesmaid. You can scroll through all the back episodes and find those and a few more.

So today I’m speaking with Elaina. As a young person, she was hired to work at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World – as Mickey Mouse. You know, when you’re at Disney World, and you’re walking around trying to decide if you go ride the Space Mountain roller coaster, or take a break in the air conditioning and watch the Country Bear Musical Jamboree, and all of a sudden you see standing right in front of you is – Mickey Mouse. Waving, signing autographs, and just making people happy.

Yeah, that’s what Elaina did. She also played Minnie Mouse, and a few other characters sometimes. We talked about how she ended up getting that job, what it’s like to wear the costume, what would get you fired, and the celebrities she crossed paths with. And of course, what everyone wants to know about – the infamous tunnels UNDER Disney World. You’re gonna get all the behind-the-scenes stuff today.

And why is this episode titled “Elaina was FRIENDS with Mickey”? She’ll explain that too.

If you’d like to contact Elaina, she’s in the Facebook group -
https://WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook

Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:

https://WhatWasThatLike.com/254

Graphics 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 app

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 first order, plus a FREE $60 gift just for signing up.

Go to Quince.com/whatwas for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!

Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod

Try Mint Mobile for 3 months, for just 15 bucks a month - MintMobile.com/WHAT

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-324-the-hoarder-within-us-the-psychology-of/id1483941440?i=1000743021329

Meredith’s siphon pump:
https://a.co/d/09RqMx0O

Scott’s recommendation – find out if text was written by a human or by AI:

https://GPTzero.me

Meredith’s podcast is Meredith For Real – the Curious Introvert:

https://MeredithForReal.com

To check out the new Tuesday Question and get in the discussion, join us at WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook.

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 first order, plus a FREE $60 gift just for signing up.

Go to Quince.com/whatwas for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!

Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod

Try Mint Mobile for 3 months, for just 15 bucks a month - MintMobile.com/WHAT

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices