214: Scott was an undercover FBI agent

214: Scott was an undercover FBI agent

Author: Scott Johnson & Glassbox Media. May 2, 2025 Duration: 1:17:30
Hey, this is Scott and you’re listening to What Was That Like.   And the name of the podcast, What Was That Like, was chosen very specifically – because that’s what I ask people who are guests on the show. They’ve just been through something really unusual, like being attacked by a monkey, or saving the life of a stranger, or some other crazy situation. And I ask them to tell all of us – what was that like. All the details. So that’s what we do here, every other Friday.   But sometimes I like to find someone who has a really unusual job, and ask them the same question.   Today I’m talking to Scott Payne. For many years, he worked for the FBI as an undercover agent. He would pretend to be a criminal, in order to join white supremacist groups or biker gangs – including the notorious Outlaws group. As you can imagine, this guy has some stories.   I asked him lots of questions about this job, and then he answered a few questions from What Was That Like listeners. He’s an open book, and I learned some things, and I hope you do too. Please enjoy this conversation with undercover FBI agent, Scott Payne.     Scott socials: Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/scottpaynebigcountry/ X – https://x.com/Scott_D_Payne   Scott’s book – Code Name: Pale Horse: How I Went Undercover to Expose America’s Nazis https://www.amazon.com/dp/1668032902     Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here: https://WhatWasThatLike.com/214   Graphics for this episode by Bob Bretz. Transcription was done by James Lai.   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: Head to http://Lumen.me/WWTL for 20% off your purchase. 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! Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a moment in many lives when everything changes in an instant-a sudden encounter, a split-second decision, a catastrophic event. What Was That Like-True Stories. Real People. is built entirely around those moments. Host Scott Johnson, alongside Meredith Hackwith Edwards, steps back to let people narrate their own extraordinary experiences in their own words. This isn’t a narrated documentary or a dramatized re-enactment; it’s raw, first-person testimony. You’ll hear the intricate details of surviving a grizzly bear attack, the chilling silence after an engine fails mid-flight, or the profound disorientation of being caught in a public tragedy. Each conversation delves deep, not just into the event itself, but into the emotional and psychological journey that followed. The focus is on the human spirit’s resilience, exploring how individuals process trauma, find courage they never knew they had, and ultimately rebuild. This podcast sits at a compelling intersection of personal journal, societal study, and true human drama, offering an intimate window into realities most of us can scarcely imagine. By listening, you’re granted a privileged seat at a kitchen table conversation where someone is finally ready to share the full, unvarnished truth of what they endured and how it shaped them.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.
Podcast Episodes
TQ39: What's the most amazing coincidence you've experienced? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:51
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…
218: When children scare parents [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:39:11
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…
217: Cesar was attacked [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:08
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 wrot…
STAS4: Rachel Hoffman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:39
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 Tha…
216: Rachel rescued her children [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:43
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…
TQ37: What's it like to have a panic attack? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:45
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 it like to have a panic attac…
215: Amy's office exploded [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:05
On the morning of April 19, 1995, a former US Army soldier parked a rented Ryder truck in front of the Alfred P Murrah Federal Building, located in downtown Oklahoma City. Inside the truck was everything he needed to car…
TQ36: What's a common social etiquette rule that makes no sense? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:23
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 a common social etiquette rul…
STAS3: George Pickering [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:09
George Pickering Sr heard his son’s medical prognosis, but he wasn’t ready to accept it. Sponsor deals: Head to http://Lumen.me/WWTL for 20% off your purchase. Go to bluenile.com to shop Blue Nile, the original online je…