249: Elena's work jet crashed

249: Elena's work jet crashed

Author: Scott Johnson & Glassbox Media. March 20, 2026 Duration: 50:04
For a lot of people, flying is a really scary thing. And that fear can come from a few different factors. You’ve heard stories about planes that have crashed (even though it’s rare). You’re gonna be in this metal tube a few miles above the ground. And you’re putting your life in the hands of people you don’t even know. Part of flight attendant training is learning how to handle a passenger who has anxiety about flying. If someone steps on to the plane and tells them, “Hey, I’m pretty nervous about this”, they have ways to deal with it. They need to keep that passenger comfortable, and everyone on the plane safe. One thing a fearful passenger can do is ask to meet the pilot. This might not always be possible, but in many cases the pilot is happy to meet a nervous flier and provide some reassurance. Then, a few minutes later when the plane is taking off, you can think “this feels a little scary, but I met the person who’s flying the plane, and they seemed to know what they’re doing”. But takeoff is just the first part – you still have to get back to earth. What if the plane is landing, and no one – not even the pilot – knows that anything is wrong... Until you hit the ground. Full show notes for this episode are here: https://WhatWasThatLike.com/249 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

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: 50

What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.
Podcast Episodes
263: Larry gave away everything [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:12
I want to tell you about my friend Larry. Larry is pretty well known in the podcast world as a content creator, a consultant, and a subject matter expert for journalists. I’ve seen lots of times where he’s appeared on lo…
TQ68: What was a time when you wish you had spoken up? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:38
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 a time when you wish…
262: Jami was the jury foreman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:04
One of my favorite movies is Twelve Angry Men. The original was made in 1957 starring Henry Fonda, then it was remade for TV in 1997 starring Jack Lemmon. It’s a true-crime courtroom drama, but most of the action takes p…
261: Patrick broke his neck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:47
I’ve never had an injury that was serious enough to be what I would think of as “life changing” but some people have. It’s a pretty deep idea to think about. I came across this post online recently. Here’s what this woma…
TQ67: What was the best surprise you've ever arranged? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:45
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 best surprise you…
STAS 17: Utsa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:28
Utsa 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…
260: Raw Audio full episode [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:03
This is Scott, host of the show. On most episodes of What Was That Like, we talk to a regular person who has been through something extremely unusual – like a rattlesnake bite, a plane crash, a housefire rescue – we have…
TQ66: What makes you CRINGE every time you hear someone say it? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:16
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 CRINGE every ti…
259: Emily was caught by airport security [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:04
Do you remember the TV show called Locked Up Abroad? It’s no longer in active production, but you can still see past seasons on some different platforms like Hulu and Apple TV. Every episode of the show was a true story…
258: T saved her dog [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:11
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…