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: 100

What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.
Podcast Episodes
228: September 11 hero Betty Ong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:26
Do you know, with certainty, how you would react in a time of extreme stress or crisis? As a 22 year old woman in San Francisco, Betty had not yet decided on a career path. So, while she was figuring out what she wanted…
TQ45: What under-$100 item has been the best thing you've bought? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:15
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 under-$100 item has been…
STAS 7: Geraldine Largay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:36
Geraldine was alone on a 6-month Appalachian Trail hike, with a poor sense of direction. Sponsor deals: If you’re 21 or older, get 25% OFF your first order + free shipping @IndaCloud with code [WHATWAS] at https://inda.s…
227: Bathroom emergencies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:00
Quite a few of the episodes here on What Was That Like involve emergencies. Today we’re talking about a different kind of emergency. If you’re new to the podcast, this is definitely not a typical episode. You might want…
TQ44: Who was your celebrity crush when you were young? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:08
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: Who was your celebrity crush when yo…
226: Bill's daughter was murdered [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:02
Sometimes, you see a phone call coming in and you just know that something bad has happened. I remember back several years ago, when my dad was still alive. He was in pretty poor health. He could still walk around, sort…
225: David couldn't find the cabin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:40
My favorite author is Jack London. His style of writing paints a very vivid picture in my mind. As I read his stories, it feels like I’m right there in the middle of it. One of his most well-known works is titled To Buil…
TQ43: Describe one of your most memorable birthdays [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:42
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: Describe one of your most memo…
STAS 6: Marlene Warren [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:19
Marlene answered the door, and there was a clown holding a gun. 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 Th…
224: Naseem was run over 3 times [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:11
If you have children, you’ve probably thought at some point, “Am I a good parent?” It’s natural to question our own abilities sometimes. Do I spend enough time with my kids? Do they feel safe? Do they feel loved? Are the…