What Was That Like - a storytelling podcast with amazing stories from real people

Scott Johnson & Glassbox Media.

Amazing stories from real people

  • 1 hour 20 minutes
    203: Diana's plane crashed

    Lexington, Kentucky. 1 pm on a Friday, Labor Day weekend.

    Diana, a medical flight nurse, was sitting in a Lear jet. The pilot was unconscious. The co-pilot could not move because he had a broken back. Diana’s patient had died on impact.

    The plane was sitting on Versailles Rd in Lexington, after it had just slid across the road on its belly. The landing gear was gone. The right wing had been ripped off the plane. And now that it had come to a stop, Diana knew she had to get the door open and get people out, because she could hear the crackling of fire, and the cabin was filling with smoke.

    Except she couldn’t stand up, because she had a broken back and two broken legs.

    This is a Flashback episode. Diana told this story on the podcast more than 5 years ago. So after you hear her amazing story, I’ll play a recent conversation we had so you can see what’s happened with her since then.

    If you’d like to contact Diana, her email is: [email protected].


    Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:

    https://WhatWasThatLike.com/203


    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:

    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/WHAT


    Go 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/ #oneskinpod


    Cancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to RocketMoney.com/whatwas.

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

    17 January 2025, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 21 minutes
    202: Kelli got a call from daycare

    For many parents, having a child in daycare is just part of the daily routine.

    And choosing a daycare provider for your child can be a pretty involved process. You obviously want to make sure the environment is safe and clean, with staff who are qualified, and that the ratio of caregivers to children is reasonable. And there are a ton of other things to consider, because you are trusting this place with your baby or your toddler – you have to be able to trust that they will make good decisions while caring for your child.

    Kelli had two children in daycare, and she didn’t have any reason to not fully trust that they were both safe. Until one day when she was at work, and she got a phone call.

    Also, partway through our conversation, I had a surprise for Kelli. She never saw it coming.

    Note: This episode includes discussion about the death of a child.

    Resources:

    https://www.aap.org/?srsltid=AfmBOoqyf7QNutD7mPa639vbew7TtRqdp2YIUK9ml_DHxvYHASW41Hth


    https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/


    https://www.cpsc.gov/



    If you’d like to contact Kelli, her email is [email protected] 


    Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:

    https://WhatWasThatLike.com


    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:

    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/WHAT


    Go 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/ #oneskinpod


    Cancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to RocketMoney.com/whatwas.

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

    10 January 2025, 8:00 am
  • 21 minutes 29 seconds
    TQ28: What's the best gift you've ever been given?

    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 best gift you’ve ever been given?


    Links for this episode:

     

    Barbie and the Rockers:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbie_and_the_Rockers


    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:

    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/WHAT


    Go 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/ #oneskinpod


    Cancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to RocketMoney.com/whatwas.

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

    7 January 2025, 8:00 am
  • 3 hours 26 minutes
    201: The Listener Stories of 2024

    We are at the end of 2024. It’s been a great year for me, and I hope it has been for you too.

    As you probably know, every episode of What Was That Like ends with a Listener Story. This is just a 5-10 minute personal story, sent in by a listener. I’m always looking for new listener stories, so I’d love for YOU to send one in. Just record it on your phone in a quiet environment and email to me – [email protected].

    And these stories are a very popular part of the show. They’re always the very last thing in an episode, so it’s worth staying around til the end!

    And our tradition is, for the last episode of the year, which is today, I put together all of the Listener Stories for that year into one full episode. So today you have more than 3 hours of storytelling. I know you probably can’t sit down and listen to all 3 hours at one time, but these are short stories so it’s easy to break the episode into bite-size pieces and just listen when you have a chance.

    So – enjoy these stories, and get ready for the new year because I’m working on a bunch of amazing episodes and crazy stories. Looking forward to seeing you here in 2025.


    Full show notes for this episode are here:

    https://WhatWasThatLike.com/201


    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:

    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/WHAT


    Go 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/ #oneskinpod


    Cancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to RocketMoney.com/whatwas.

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

    27 December 2024, 8:00 am
  • 21 minutes 29 seconds
    TQ27: What's your biggest pet peeve about listening to podcasts?

    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 your biggest pet peeve about listening to podcasts?


    Links for this episode:


    Meredith’s episode 256 about homelessness in California:

    https://www.meredithforreal.com/podcast-episodes/episode/7c8ceb56/ep-256-or-homelessness-in-california-hopeless-crisis-or-solvable-situation


    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:

    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/WHAT


    Go 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/ #oneskinpod


    Cancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to RocketMoney.com/whatwas.

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

    24 December 2024, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 43 minutes
    200: Jeff lost his arm

    Have you ever seen stories of someone who was born with no arms?

    I’ve seen videos and I think maybe even a documentary like that. Usually they will profile one particular person, who is now an adult, and this person lives a full, happy life - with no arms. Which means, of course, that they do a lot of things with their feet.

    And these people are amazing – they have learned to do almost anything with their feet, that the rest of us rely on our hands for. They cut up their kids’ food for them, they drive cars, they compete athletically… it’s just their normal, so they’ve learned how to get stuff done in spite of having no arms.

    Jeff was not one of those people. He was actually born with both arms. But as a teenager, working a summer job, he was involved in an accident that meant one of his arms was pretty violently pulled off.

    In this Flashback episode, Jeff talks about how that happened, and what he did in the minutes immediately following the accident. And here’s what’s kind of funny – Jeff told this story a few years ago here on the podcast, and in spite of how horrifying it is, I have had so many listeners tell me they loved hearing it because Jeff is so funny!

    And after his story, you’ll hear the brief modern-day conversation I recently had with Jeff to find out what he’s up to more these days – and it turns out, he’s STILL being funny.


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

    He’s also in the WWTL podcast Facebook group: WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook


    Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:

    https://WhatWasThatLike.com/200


    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:

    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/WHAT


    Go 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/ #oneskinpod


    Cancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to RocketMoney.com/whatwas.

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

    20 December 2024, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 5 minutes
    199; Fenna had a bizarre addiction

    Content warning for today’s episode, which includes a brief discussion of suicidal thoughts.

    When you think of the word “addiction”, what comes to your mind?

    I think for most people, the most common thought would be drugs or alcohol. For some people, it’s very easy to fall into that. I’m always thankful that I never was interested in smoking, because tobacco addiction is a really difficult thing to beat.

    And there are other categories – you can be addicted to eating, gambling, dieting, or even petty crimes such as compulsive shoplifting.

    Today’s guest is Fenna. She stumbled into her addiction without even realizing it. In fact, she works in mental health and she didn’t even realize that what she was experiencing WAS an addiction.

    Fenna was addicted to a person.


    Fenna’s YouTube channel:

    https://www.youtube.com/@followingfenna


    If you’d like to contact Fenna, you can do that through her website:

    https://FollowingFenna.com


    Subreddit for limerence:

    https://www.reddit.com/r/limerence/


    Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:

    https://WhatWasThatLike.com/199


    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:

    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/WHAT


    Go 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/ #oneskinpod


    Cancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to RocketMoney.com/whatwas.

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

    13 December 2024, 8:00 am
  • 31 minutes 31 seconds
    TQ26: What's something from your childhood that now no longer exists?

    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 is something from your childhood that now no longer exists?


    Links for this episode:

     

    Telephone party lines:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_line_(telephony)


    Jarts –

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawn_darts


    Magic mushrooms:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybin_mushroom


    Ketamine therapy:

    https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/blog/trip/what-is-ketamine-therapy/


    When Redbox got acquired:

    https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/redbox-deal-close-chicken-soup-for-the-soul-entertainment-1235338943/


    AAA TripTik – they still exist!

    https://triptik.aaa.com/home/index.html


    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:

    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/WHAT


    Go 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/ #oneskinpod


    Cancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to RocketMoney.com/whatwas.

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

    10 December 2024, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 7 minutes
    198: Robbie's daughter was a student at Sandy Hook

    Adam lived in Newtown, Connecticut. He was 20 years old, and had no criminal record. One December morning, before 9:30 am, Adam shot and killed his own mother, Nancy, while she was still in her bed. Her body was later found with four gunshot wounds to the head.

    Nancy was a gun enthusiast, and had quite a few rifles and handguns. After he killed her, Adam took some of those guns and drove his mother’s car to the Sandy Hook Elementary School. The front entrance doors were locked, but he shot his way through the glass panel. He then carried out one of the deadliest school shootings in US history.

    26 people were murdered at the school that day. Six of those were adult staff and faculty. The other twenty fatalities were children. All of them were age 6 or 7.

    One of those children was Emilie Parker, an amazing 6 year old girl.

    Today you’re going to hear from Robbie Parker, Emilie’s dad, about what happened to their family that day and afterward. And the famous radio personality that made their grief so much worse.


    Content warning: this episode includes discussion of child death as a result of a mass shooting


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

    https://RobbieParker.net


    Robbie’s book:

    https://www.amazon.com/Fathers-Fight-Taking-Jones-Reclaiming/dp/1635769833


    Alissa’s book:

    https://www.amazon.com/Unseen-Angel-Mothers-Story-Healing/dp/1629722790


    Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:

    https://WhatWasThatLike.com/198


    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:

    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/WHAT


    Go 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/ #oneskinpod


    Cancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to RocketMoney.com/whatwas.

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

    29 November 2024, 8:00 am
  • 27 minutes 56 seconds
    TQ25: What's your favorite family tradition?

    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 your favorite family tradition?


    Links for this episode:

     

    Thousand Schnapsen:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Schnapsen


    Scattergories:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scattergories



    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:

    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/WHAT


    Go 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/ #oneskinpod


    Cancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to RocketMoney.com/whatwas.

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

    26 November 2024, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 13 minutes
    197: Phil won $500,000

    In 1988, Phil had just moved to Los Angeles. And he was in a tough spot.

    At the time he had no job and very little money. So he was trying to come up with some kind of plan that could save him from being homeless. Since he had pretty vast knowledge in lots of different subject areas, he decided that he would try his hand at going on the TV game show, Jeopardy!

    He had to pass an initial test, which he did, then he went to the contestant interview, and he passed that as well. And he actually got on the show. It didn’t solve his money problems though – even though he did well, he lost to a 5-time champion – by two dollars. Rather than earning any actual money, his parting gift was a bedroom set which forever became known as the Jeopardy! bed.

    But twelve years later, he decided to try again, on a different show. In the year 2000, he was able to get on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, which at the time was hosted by Regis Philbin. This game show experience was very different.

    Phil’s appearances on Who Wants to be a Millionaire:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEPMGv0S9Hc&t=2257s

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QLq2Hq8_Dk


    Phil’s wrote a detailed account of his experience:

    https://www.ranker.com/list/behind-the-scenes-who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire/philgibbons?ref=profile_pub


    Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:

    https://WhatWasThatLike.com/197


    Graphics for this episode by Bob Bretz. Transcription was done by James Lai.


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    15 November 2024, 8:00 am
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