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
237: Mariela's pregnancy got complicated [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:07
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TQ51: What song always brings back a particular memory? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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STAS - A Piece of Steak [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Scott reads A Piece of Steak, by Jack London 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:…
236: Hannah jumped into the lake [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:42
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TQ50: What's your favorite smell? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:22
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 your favorite smell? Li…
235: Jen was held up at work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:20
A lot of weird things can happen when you work in a retail store. You can ask anyone who’s worked retail for a while, and they will have some stories. My daughter worked at a popular clothing store for a while here in Fl…
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Duration: 5:27
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234: Tessi was raped in the rain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:02
When you meet someone for the first time, do you trust them by default? I like to think that I just assume the best of a stranger, until they prove they aren’t worthy of my trust. But that can be dangerous in some cases.…
STAS 8: Tanya Skelton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:24
STAS 8: Tanya Skelton 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 t…