265: Ryan prepped a child for court

265: Ryan prepped a child for court

Author: Scott Johnson & Glassbox Media. August 14, 2026 Duration: 1:20:54
I’ve never had to testify in court. If I’m ever in a courtroom, I hope it will be as a juror. That hasn’t happened yet, but I’m still hopeful. For many people, having to appear in court, in front of a judge, and a jury, and maybe a room full of people, can be really nerve-wracking. Every word you say is going into the official record, and you’re under oath – what if you say something wrong, or you remember something incorrectly? There could be a lot at stake, and it could depend on YOUR testimony. But lawyers know that. And the lawyer that’s on your side, whether you’re the plaintiff or the defendant, is probably going to give you some helpful advice about how to handle the situation. For my guest today, Ryan, that was part of his job. Today he’s gonna tell the story of when he had to prepare someone to testify in court. This young person was the victim of a sexual assault, so yes, there’s a content warning for this episode. For Ryan, it’s difficult enough to prepare an adult for what to expect in a courtroom. In this case, he was working on behalf of a seven year old child. And what he learned after prosecuting this case is something he never would have expected. If you’d like to contact Ryan: Website:  https://thebaggagepodcast.com/ Universal link: https://thebaggagepodcast.com/listen Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559706070847 Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thebaggagepodcast/ YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheBaggagePodcast Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here: https://WhatWasThatLike.com/265 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: Quince - Go to Quince.com/whatwas for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns! Find the best deals on what you need at Dupe.com Boll & Branch - get 15% off your first order AND free shipping: BollandBranch.com/WHATWAS Nutrafol - Get $10 off your first month’s subscription, and free shipping: use promo code WHATWAS at Nutrafol.com 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
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…
TQ65: What's the nicest thing a stranger has done for you? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:19
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 nicest thing a stra…