Jill Brown sets ambitious goals for herself. For example, one summer she decided she would paddle across the country from Oregon to Florida. Along the way she faced physical dangers such as rapids, broken bones and rattlesnakes, but also deep personal challenges such as hunger and loneliness. Just when Jill was at her limit, a chance encounter changed the path of her journey. We also speak to Dr. Cratissa Schley, a clinical psychologist at Deeply Rooted Psychological Services, about why people help others in crisis situations. Dr. Schley explores why a stranger would go above and beyond in helping someone they didn’t know — not just offering shelter but also becoming a trusted confidant — and provides suggestions about how anyone can mentally prepare ahead of time for a trip and overcome challenges on the road.

An Epic Journey Proves Too Painful

Things don’t always go as planned: Sometimes a drive in the mountains, or a swim in the ocean, suddenly turns into a dangerous situation. Other times it might be a medical emergency, or a family lost in a foreign country. These are the true stories of people helping people during the most pivotal moments in their lives.

Each episode also includes a conversation with an expert to provide added advice around crisis situations. Featured guests from the first two seasons include a psychologist, a search-and-rescue expert offering practical tips for surviving a blizzard when you are caught in a remote area, an emergency management expert and many more. Tell Me What Happened is brought to you by OnStar.

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Justin Downey had a choice — change his life or die. At 16, he was addicted to heroin. In his 20s, he was in and out of prison. While serving a three-year sentence, Justin’s kids were taken into state custody. He knew he had to become a new man for his family and for himself. Getting clean was the first step. But he also had to find purpose, community and a way to support himself. Margo Walsh started drinking when she was 15. By the time she graduated from college, she was an alcoholic. After she got sober, she founded MaineWorks — a company that helps people with substance issues and felony convictions reintegrate into society. There, Justin found what he needed. We also speak with Nancy Dauphinais, a licensed mental health counselor and addiction professional, about the signs someone is struggling with substance use and how to support them. For a limited time, OnStar is offering a special promotion for eligible Tell Me What Happened listeners with an OnStar equipped vehicle – 20% off a new annual plan. To get activated, call us at 1-888-466-7827 or push the blue OnStar button in your vehicle to speak to an advisor and be sure to give them the promo code OnStarPodcast. Terms and conditions apply, offer excludes data plans. Please visit onstar.com or speak to an advisor for service details and information about plans and pricing.

After Addiction, a Chance to Do Right

On September 11, 2001, Stanley Praimnath went to work on the 81st floor of the south tower of the World Trade Center, same as he always did. When a plane struck the north tower, Stanley and many others began their evacuation. But when he reached the lobby, he was told his building was safe and to return to work. He was back in his office minutes later when a plane hit the south tower and tore through his floor. Brian Clark’s office was three floors up from Stanley on the 84th floor. When the tower was hit, Brian and a few of his co-workers headed to the stairwell to escape. When they reached the 81st floor, Brian heard a voice crying out for help.  We also speak with NYFD firefighter Regina Wilson about how to prepare for an evacuation in the office or at home. For a limited time, OnStar is offering a special promotion for eligible Tell Me What Happened listeners with an OnStar equipped vehicle – 20% off a new annual plan. To get activated, call us at 1-888-466-7827 or push the blue OnStar button in your vehicle to speak to an advisor and be sure to give them the promo code OnStarPodcast. Terms and conditions apply, offer excludes data plans. Please visit onstar.com or speak to an advisor for service details and information about plans and pricing.

A 9/11 Miracle

In April 2023, Liv Titor visited Dreamtime beach on Australia's Gold Coast. What happened to her that day felt like a nightmare. After a quick swim, Liv walked out onto a sandbar beside some rocks. Then she felt a pull at her legs and fell into the water. Liv stepped into a rip current that quickly pulled her out to sea towards massive waves and jagged rocks.  John Gordon, a local surfer, was making the most of the big swells at the beach when he saw Liv get swept away. He knew if he didn’t act quick, she would drown so he ran into the ocean, hopped on his surfboard and paddled towards the deadly current with the hopes of rescuing a stranger. We also speak with Kelsey Cummings, a lifeguard with the California Surf Life Saving Association to talk about ocean safety. For a limited time, OnStar is offering a special promotion for eligible Tell Me What Happened listeners with an OnStar equipped vehicle – 20% off a new annual plan. To get activated, call us at 1-888-466-7827 or push the blue OnStar button in your vehicle to speak to an advisor and be sure to give them the promo code OnStarPodcast. Terms and conditions apply, offer excludes data plans. Please visit onstar.com or speak to an advisor for service details and information about plans and pricing

Rip Current Rescue

Lani Williams and her mother, Sincerity, could smell smoke, but that wasn’t rare on Maui. Brush fires happen with some regularity. This fire, they quickly learned, was different.  Five hundred miles to the south, Hurricane Dora had kicked up unusually troublesome winds. In Lahaina, Hawaii, where Lani and Sincerity lived, those winds downed power lines and whipped sparks into a full-blown wildfire that was closing in on them. They tried to escape the blaze by car, but the main roads were either closed or blocked by a crush of panicked drivers trying to leave town. They were stuck between the fire on one side and the ocean on the other. Benny Reinicke smelled smoke that morning too and found himself in the same logjam of frightened drivers desperately trying to flee Lahaina. Amidst smoke and flames and exploding cars, he spotted Lani struggling to help her mom climb the seawall and get to safety. He took it upon himself to make sure they made it. We also speak with wildfire expert Michele Steinberg from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) about how you can identify hazards and strategies to help protect against wildfires. If you’d like to help the residents of Lahaina and others impacted by natural disasters, you can donate to the American Red Cross at redcross.org/donate/cm/onstar-pub.html/ For a limited time, OnStar is offering a special promotion for eligible Tell Me What Happened listeners with an OnStar equipped vehicle – 20% off a new annual plan. To get activated, call us at 1-888-466-7827 or push the blue OnStar button in your vehicle to speak to an advisor and be sure to give them the promo code OnStarPodcast. Terms and conditions apply, offer excludes data plans. Please visit onstar.com or speak to an advisor for service details and information about plans and pricing.

Escaping the Hawaii Wildfires

Bob Tillotson knew the avalanche danger was high when he set out with friends into the Utah backcountry on his snowmobile. But he also knew which areas to avoid. Or so he thought. On January 13, 2024, an avalanche hit Bob without warning, carrying him down the mountain in a wave of snow. When he stopped, he was completely buried and separated from his group. Dustin Sweeten was snowmobiling with a separate crew that day. Just before he was ready to head home, he saw what looked like an avalanche in the distance and went to go check it out. When he got there, he saw two people from Bob’s group. They told him their friend was buried. Then they saw a glove poking out of the snow.  We also speak with Sandra Riches, the executive director of British Columbia AdventureSmart, about outdoor winter safety and what to do if you or someone you’re with is in an avalanche. For a limited time, OnStar is offering a special promotion for eligible Tell Me What Happened listeners with an OnStar equipped vehicle – 20% off a new annual plan. To get activated, call us at 1-888-466-7827 or push the blue OnStar button in your vehicle to speak to an advisor and be sure to give them the promo code OnStarPodcast. Terms and conditions apply, offer excludes data plans. Please visit onstar.com or speak to an advisor for service details and information about plans and pricing. Video credit: Ammon Sweeten / YouTube @MountainWolf-ut.

An Epic Journey Proves Too Painful

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