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What It Was Like

Superreal
Mental Health
Serial Killers
PTSD
Hollywood
Social Media
Survival
Murder
Australia
Forgiveness
Trauma
Grief
Bali Bombing
Sex Work
Robert William Fisher
Order Of the Solar Temple
Relationships
Mass Shooting
New South Wales
Storm Chasing
Dirty Dancing

Conversations with people who have lived through extreme events. Some stories are dark and twisted, others are light and funny. In all cases, we get an intimate portrait of 'what it was like' to be there.

Find us on TikTok: @whatitwaslikepodcast

Find us on Youtube: @whatitwaslikepodcast

Follow us on Instagram: whatitwaslikepodcast

Hosted by Julian Morgans

This is a Superreal production

Hosted o... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes194Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for What It Was Like

Latest Episodes

In 1981, an Israeli backpacker named Yossi Ghinsberg met a man in Bolivia who told him about a lost city of riches buried in the jungle. Four of them went into the Amazon to search for the city. Two came out. Yossi tells us how he survived and what h... more

YouTube

On the eve of his 38th birthday in 1998, a lawyer named Stanley Alpert was plucked off the street by three armed men. For the next 25 hours he sat blindfolded in a corner of their Brooklyn apartment, listening to their strange lives play out around h... more

YouTube

In May 1999, police found eight bodies decaying in barrels in a disused bank vault in Snowtown. Four men were eventually jailed for 12 murders. Former senior constable Gordon Drage was the first to discover the vault and tells us what he saw.. We're ... more

YouTube

Todd Maguire was happy-go-lucky Australian policeman until his girlfriend died by suicide and everything changed. From there, Todd became a heavy drinking undercover cop chasing life-and-death situations to bury his trauma. This is Todd’s story of go... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Gordon Drage
Former South Australian Police officer; first to discover Snowtown bodies
South Australian Police
Episode: I Discovered Snowtown's Bodies in Barrels (Classic)
Todd Maguire
Former undercover cop and memoir author
Self
Episode: I Was an Undercover Cop With a Death Wish
Patrick Tomlinson
Science fiction writer and stand-up comedian from Milwaukee
Tor Books
Episode: How Do You Survive a Cyber-Stalking Cult?
Matt Thomas
Former Shincheonji recruit and recruiter
Shincheonji Church of Jesus (Australia)
Episode: How I Became a Cult Recruiter
Jon Romano
Mental health advocate and survivor of a 2004 school shooting attempt
Episode: I Committed a School Shooting
Jayson Blair
Former New York Times reporter, subject of the episode
New York Times (historical)
Episode: I Got Caught Fabricating Stories for the New York Times
Judy Stropus
Timekeeper and race car team member for the 1972 Cannonball Run; prominent female figure in racing
Cannonball Run participant
Episode: Pink Jumpsuits, a Limo, and the Wildest Race in America
Edna Cowell Martin
Ted Bundy's cousin
Episode: Growing Up With My Cousin, Ted Bundy
Brett Grimes
Blue-collar worker who took the Mount Shasta digging job
Individual
Episode: Dig a Secret Hole on a Volcano and Don't Ask Questions. That Was the Job

Host

Julian Morgans
Host of What It Was Like, interviewer guiding intimate conversations about extreme events

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 2.4k ratings
  • School shooting confusion

    I may have missed something as I was cleaning whilst listening to the school shooting episode. But how on earth did a psychologist, a psychiatrist and a mum think it was a good idea for this boy to go out shooting guns with the older brother who had sexually assaulted him?????? No wonder months later he did what he did.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Women like great films too!
    Australia21 days ago
  • Fantastic

    This guy gets some really incredible guests to come on, and asks great questions. There’s a lovely inquisitive nature without it being invasive. The guests all seem totally up for it too. Which considering some of their situations, is what really makes this special.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ffeerrtt
    United States23 days ago
  • Fascinating to hear these stories

    Amazing stories and often helpful in considering about my own life and how I chose to face things

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wigglestalk
    United Kingdom23 days ago
  • Can’t get enough

    I’m enjoying this podcast so sincerely! Every episode is compelling and eye opening. I went to school to learn how to connect with people, and Julian inspires me to perform better in my job. One of the best podcasts out there!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Yelyah4455
    United Statesa month ago
  • Cringe

    Has potential. But the style with the host feels so awkward and outdated and performative.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SunnyF2000
    Australiaa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many describe the storytelling as respectful, humane, and thought-provoking.
Some listeners wish for more airtime for co-guests and critique the pacing or interview technique.
Listeners praise the host's calm, empathetic interviewing style and the depth of guest stories.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

I Discovered Snowtown's Bodies in Barrels (Classic)
Q: How did the team handle the media and public attention as the investigation progressed?
There was a deliberate effort to keep things low-key initially, with unmarked cars and careful management of information to avoid a media circus while the investigation expanded and more victims were identified.
I Was an Undercover Cop With a Death Wish
Q: So becoming an undercover cop, to me sounds like some sort of black magic. I mean, what does that course teach you?
Todd explains that training is as much about on-the-ground adaptation and deception as it is about learning through real cases, with testing moments in social settings and bars, but the real learning happens on the job where you must think fast and improvise.
I Committed a School Shooting
Q: What led you to decide to go through with it that day?
A feeling of abandonment and a long history of feeling unheard by the school and system, plus the belief that this act would force people to confront my pain and finally acknowledge me and what I'd been through.
I Committed a School Shooting
Q: Just walk me through it in as much detail as you remember. What happened next?
I carried the shotgun into the school, stood in the bathroom, waited for the moment, then stepped out into the hall where a student and teacher were nearby; I fired twice as fear and adrenaline collided with the reality of the situation, and then I surrendered after being tackled by the assistant principal.
Mutiny on the Sex Raft
Q: How did you feel about the scientific basis of the project as it unfolded?
There was growing skepticism as the data collection revealed personal agendas and ethical concerns, casting doubt on whether the research was genuinely objective or merely a stage for conflict.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About What It Was Like

What is What It Was Like about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on intimate conversations with people who have endured extreme events, offering a human-centered view of trauma, resilience, and survival. Episodes blend first-hand policing, journalism, survivor narratives, and behind-the-scenes professionals, often highlighting ethical questions, media impact, and the psychology of adversity. A notable attribute is the host's calm, curious interviewing style and the breadth of guest backgrounds—from law enforcement to writers, athletes, and trauma survivors—creating a mosaic of hard-hitting real-life experiences told with empathy. Potential listeners may be drawn to meticulous storytelling, serious inquiry into difficult topics, and the opportunity to hear personal perspectives that illum... more

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Which podcasts are similar to What It Was Like?

These podcasts share a similar audience with What It Was Like:

1. True Crime Conversations
2. Secrets We Keep
3. Australian True Crime
4. This Is Actually Happening
5. Unravel

How many episodes of What It Was Like are there?

What It Was Like launched 4 years ago and published 194 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on What It Was Like?

Recent guests on What It Was Like include:

1. Gordon Drage
2. Todd Maguire
3. Patrick Tomlinson
4. Matt Thomas
5. Jon Romano
6. Jayson Blair
7. Judy Stropus
8. Edna Cowell Martin

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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