Tell Me What Happened: An OnStar podcast featuring true stories of people making a difference
The multiple award-winning podcast Tell Me What Happened returns for its fifth season to chronicle inspiring moments of kindness and bravery. When the unimaginable happens, strangers step up and help save the day.
Go ahead. Dive in.
Season 5 trailer
What would you do if a grizzly attacked? If a cruise ship was sinking? If a night out on the other side of the world ended in a ravine? If a stranger was in peril and only you could help? Preview Season 5 of Tell Me What Happened.
Tell Me What Happened: Illustrated
To highlight the power of people helping people, we asked a chalk artist to visualize the Season 4 episode, “Rip Current Rescue.” See how it looked and what people had to say as they stepped into the rescuer’s role.
Facing a Hungry Grizzly
At the age of 45, Colin Dowler decided to finally hike the mountain named after his grandfather. What should have been a two-day hike turned into a fight for his life when he encountered a massive grizzly bear. WARNING: This episode describes a graphic and violent attack that may be disturbing to some listeners. Download transcript
From Tragedy, a Love Story
Chantal Melanson was a country girl from Canada. Austin Monfort was a college student from California. They met at a country bar in Las Vegas the night before the worst mass shooting in American history. WARNING: This episode describes gun violence and mass panic. Download the transcript
Rescued From a Ravine
Stacey Eno loves to travel. Her friend Mikey does too, and so they made plans to meet up and explore Bali. Their fun ended in the bottom of a ravine. A freelance writer thousands of miles away led to their rescue. Download the transcript
River Outing Takes a Twist
On a hot summer afternoon, Abi Sherman and some friends decided to cool off by floating down a Pacific Northwest river. It was fun — until she slipped into the freezing cold water and struggled to stay afloat. Then a stranger stepped in. Download transcript
One Hug, Two Lives Changed
Standing on the edge of an overpass watching traffic race below, a teenage girl named Maddie thought about taking one last step. Instead, David Johnson stepped from a growing crowd, sat beside her and started to talk to her. Download transcript
Pulled Free and Paid Forward
Bryan Pederson was just a few blocks from home, sitting in his car at a traffic light in the middle of a storm, when he heard a loud crack and was instantly trapped by a downed tree. One woman stopped to help, an act Bryan was later able to repay. Download the transcript
Musicians Rescue Hundreds on Sinking Ship
Rose-Marie Howe was shocked when her cruise was interrupted by a blackout. She soon realized the ship was sinking. That’s when Moss Hills, a guitarist in the ship’s band, and other entertainers stepped up to save the passengers. Download the transcript
Badly Burned in Iceland
Nicole Rakowski arrived in Iceland looking for adventure. She left in a wheelchair. Stepping onto the bank of a thermal river after a long hike, she began to sink into scalding mud. Fortunately, a retired firefighter heard her scream. Download transcript
Trapped in a Flooding Elevator
When Gabriel Otrin and Klever Freire went to check on Freire’s car in the basement garage of their office building, the last thing they expected was to get stuck in the elevator with water rising around them and no way to escape. Download transcript
Under an Avalanche
Bob Tillotson knew the avalanche danger was high when he set out into the Utah backcountry on his snowmobile. But he also knew which areas to avoid. Or so he thought. When a wall of snow knocked him down the mountain, the race to rescue him began. Download transcript
Escaping the Hawaii Wildfires
Lani Williams and her mother, Sincerity, could smell smoke, but that wasn’t rare on Maui, where brush fires happen with some regularity. But this was different. Soon, they were stuck on their escape route with fire on one side and the ocean on the other. Download transcript
Rip Current Rescue
In April 2023, Liv Titor visited Dreamtime Beach on Australia’s Gold Coast. She ended up in a nightmare when a rip current pulled her off her feet, away from safety and toward massive waves and jagged rocks. Download transcript
A 9/11 Miracle
On September 11, 2001, Stanley Praimnath fled from his office on the 81st floor of the south tower of the World Trade Center, only to be told the building was secure and to head back to work. He was back in his office when a plane tore through his floor. Download transcript
A Chance to Do Right
At 16, Justin Downey was addicted to heroin. By his 20s, he was in and out of prison and lost custody of his kids. Margo Walsh battled her own addictions before getting sober and founding MaineWorks, a company designed specifically to help people like Justin. Download transcript
Learning to Land on the Fly
On May 10, 2022, Darren Harrison was one of two passengers flying home to Florida from the Bahamas. When the pilot suffered a medical emergency over the Atlantic Ocean, Harrison had to take the controls. That’s when Robert Morgan went to work. Download transcript
Internet Sleuth Saves Lost Hiker
René Compeán set out for a quick hike on a local trail only to end up lost on a mountainside, thinking he might not survive the night. Fortunately, a stranger was sitting at his computer, ready to put a unique digital skill set to use and save the day. Download transcript
Face-to-Face With a Great White Shark
Phil Mummert experienced a sufer’s worst nightmare — a shark attack. He’s alive today because of some quick thinking, a broken surboard and three strangers who paddled straight into danger. Download transcript
Hero Battles Hurricane, Finds New Family
When Hurricane Ian hit Florida, Kristy Millar and her family escaped from their rapidly flooding home, but the storm had turned their street into a river. Kristy and her 3-year-old son were going to have to swim. Enter Kevin Ott. Download transcript
A Lost Wheel, a Daring Landing
Taylor Hash, a student pilot, had just taken off on her third solo flight when her front wheel fell off and went bouncing down the runway. That left her in the air alone and facing a dangerous emergency landing. Download transcript
Frozen and Fading in the Buffalo Blizzard
On Christmas Eve morning, Joe White set out on foot through a blizzard to his job in Buffalo, New York. Severely frostbitten and disoriented, Joe, who's autistic, stumbled into snowdrifts and called out for help. A stranger heard his plea. Download transcript
A Panic Attack and a Calming Voice
Saved from the Nazis, Rescued from Ukraine
In 1941, the Bogancha family saved two young Jewish girls from Nazi soldiers in Ukraine. That act of kindness would ripple across time and, amazingly, lead to helping the Boganchas’ descendants after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Download transcript
12 Hours Trapped in Quicksand
A couple went hiking in Zion National Park on Valentine’s Day, only to get stuck in quicksand on the trail. Luckily, a park ranger answered their call for help. Download transcript
R U OK? Virtual Friend Saves Gamer’s Life
Like many teenagers, Aidan Jackson enjoys playing video games and has made friends from around the globe. He had no idea one of these friends would end up saving his life. Download transcript
Mountain of Mud Buries Motorists
A couple’s first road trip ended abruptly when a mudslide swept them off a cliff, and four motorists risked it all to rescue them. Download transcript
Walking Through Fire to Save 65 Horses
Sixty-five horses were saved from deadly wildfires in Northern California thanks to the help of a stranger with a unique skillset. Download transcript
Heroic Bystander Saves Handler From Alligator Death Roll
During a child’s birthday party at a local zoo, a standard feeding went wrong when a trainer’s hand ended up in the alligator’s mouth. A quick-thinking bystander jumped in to help. Download transcript
Slackliner Saves Skier Hanging From Chairlift
It was a perfect powder day to head to the mountain — when a man’s backpack got caught on a chairlift. He was stuck hanging 30 feet in the air. With no time to spare, a professional slackliner came to the rescue. Download transcript
Human Trafficking Survivor Gets New Life and Thrives
Suamhirs was only a teenager when he was abducted and forced into sex trafficking. Since being saved, he has used his experience to change the lives of others. Download transcript
An Epic River Journey Proves Too Painful
Sometimes you have to quit while you’re ahead before you make a decision that you later regret. Thanks to a stranger who offered advice and a place to rest, Jill made the right call. Download transcript
A New Kidney and a Big Surprise
A retired police officer in rural Alabama was running out of time for a life-saving kidney transplant, and his only hope was a stranger. Well, not exactly a stranger. Download transcript
A Mother’s Intuition Leads to Rescue
The Pacific Crest Trail is a challenge for those who are determined to push their limits. For some, it can be a life-or-death experience. Download transcript
A Helping Hand When a Winter Road Trip Goes Awry
A military family driving to Alaska got stranded in a remote part of northern Canada in the middle of winter. Luckily, another member of the armed forces swooped in to save the day. Download transcript
With Floodwaters Rising, Help Swoops In
When a flash flood hit the town of Waverly, Tennessee, all Debra Ashton could do was pray. As she and other residents stood atop buildings watching the rising waters, a helicopter pilot answered their plea for help. Download transcript
They Nearly Drowned, Then Fell in Love
When a relaxing swim turned dangerous, one woman was grateful for help that sparked a life-changing romance. Download transcript
Trapped by Fire, He Texts Goodbye
When a man driving through the mountains is caught in a forest fire, he only has a minute to write a goodbye text to his mother. Download transcript
