244: Justin found his mom

244: Justin found his mom

Author: Scott Johnson & Glassbox Media. January 30, 2026 Duration: 54:17
Sometimes, there comes a moment in your life when everything changes. You might have a little warning ahead of time, or it might come as a complete surprise. It might be a surprise that makes your whole life better, or it could be news that’s devastating. We never know – that’s just how life works. Justin had a moment like that. He was adopted the day after he was born, so he never knew his birth mother. He had a wonderful childhood, and he loves his family, but he always wondered about the woman who actually gave birth to him. Then, that moment came – they found each other. Justin told this story on the podcast more than 7 years ago. And one of the things that I love about this episode is a surprise I had for him during our conversation. You’ll hear it right after the second ad break. I hope you love this story as much as I do. Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here: https://WhatWasThatLike.com/244 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 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

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
STAS11: Tom and Eileen Lonergan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:47
Tom and Eileen trusted others for their safety, but that trust was misplaced. Sponsor deals: 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…
242: Jessica sensed disaster coming [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:25
Have you ever had a feeling of impending doom? Like you just knew something bad was about to happen? Quite a few years ago, I was in New York City. I went with a friend to a late comedy show, and when it was over we got…
TQ54: What caused you to end a friendship? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:20
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 caused you to end a frien…
241: Victoria's dad kept a secret [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:57
Not everyone likes surprises. Personally, I love being surprised – as long as it’s a GOOD surprise. And even more than that, I love surprising people and just seeing their reaction. About 3-4 years ago, I got what I thin…
240: The Listener Stories of 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:18:19
Well here we are at the end of 2025. It’s been a crazy year in a lot of different ways. And it’s a tradition here for the What Was That Like podcast for the last episode of the year to be a collection of all of this year…
TQ53: What's the most NSFW thing you've witnessed in public? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:22
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 most NSFW thing you…
STAS 10: Jennifer Strange [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:08
Jennifer Strange entered a bizarre radio station contest. Sponsor deals: 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 @In…
239:  Dan slid over the edge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:47
Mountain climbing is safer when you do it with a climbing partner. If you want to see something really crazy, something that might even bring up some anxiety as you watch it, check out the documentary called Free Solo. T…
TQ52: What was the most traumatizing thing to happen at your school? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:18
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 was the most traumatizing…
238: Monica's unexpected wake-up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:57
Monica was divorced, and now a single mom with two little kids. She wasn’t looking for a relationship. Kevin was a nice guy, and he’d never been married. When they first met, there was a chemistry between them, but Monic…