What happens when a magician’s assistant takes revenge in front of an audience that has no idea what is happening, a doctor hears voices coming from an empty hospital hallway, and a six-week IT assignment becomes 31 months in captivity?
On Episode 14 of I Used To Work There, seven true workplace stories take us from laughing behind the curtain to wondering how anyone could survive what comes next.
Day Shift opens with a magician’s assistant whose onstage smile hides a very personal act of revenge. In an Ohio dental office, an innocent instruction becomes something a dental assistant will never live down. At an Alberta campground, an abusive customer refuses to leave, only to discover that karma apparently works the night shift. And Dr. Shawna Pandya shares what happens when a spacesuit test aboard a zero-gravity flight takes an extremely uncomfortable turn.
When Day Shift ends, Night Shift introduces us to a newly qualified lawyer whose boss sends him into court without mentioning one important detail: he is about to be asked to handle an attempted-murder trial. Then, in Galveston, Texas, a doctor looking for a snack hears a conversation in a hospital unit that should be empty. What she later discovers above that floor makes the experience even harder to explain.
Finally, we meet Peter Moore, an IT worker who travelled to Iraq for a six-week assignment and was taken from his workplace at gunpoint. Held hostage for two years, seven months and one day, Peter shares an extraordinary account of captivity, uncertainty and survival, with moments of humour you would never expect. He also remembers the men who did not make it home, and the advice they gave him that helped him stay alive.
It is one of the most powerful stories we have shared on this show.
Every story you hear on I Used To Work There comes from real people and real workplaces because the truth is almost always stranger than fiction. Whether you have had a terrible boss, an unbelievable customer, a paranormal experience, or a day at work you will never forget, this show is built around stories just like yours.
If you are enjoying the show, please follow us on your favourite podcast app, leave us a five-star rating and written review on Apple Podcasts, and text this episode to someone who loves a great story. To the more than 9,000 people already following us on Apple Podcasts, thank you for helping this show grow.
🎙️ Have a story? You can submit it two ways.
Pull out your phone, open the Voice Memos app, tell us what happened, and email your recording to [email protected].
Prefer to be interviewed? Complete our guest intake form.
You can share your story openly or remain completely anonymous.
🏆 Employee of the Month Night Shift Story Competition
What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you at work?
Presented by Edmonton’s Best Hotels, the Night Shift Story Competition is open for submissions from September 1 through October 31, 2026.
Submit your true scary workplace story for your chance to win a $1,000 USD cash prize. The winner will be announced during the first episode of November.
Haunted buildings, unexplained encounters, terrifying customers, dangerous situations, or anything that still gives you chills years later. Your story does not have to involve a ghost or happen at night. It just needs to be a frightening experience connected to work.
Voice memo and interview submissions are both welcome, and you may share your story anonymously. Submit using the email address or guest intake form above.
🏨 Night Shift Story Competition Sponsor
The Employee of the Month Night Shift Story Competition is proudly presented by Edmonton’s Best Hotels.
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Find hotel discounts and discover things to do this fall through Edmonton’s Best Hotels.
Support Foxx’s Fight
If you have been looking for a way to support Foxx, Shelby, Kelly and their family, the greatest gift you can give is sharing their GoFundMe. Every share helps their story reach someone new and means more than words can express.
Support Foxx’s Fight and share their story.
🚗 Title Sponsor
I Used To Work There is proudly brought to you by Atlas Elite Lifts.
Building car lifts so cool they would make Batman jealous, Atlas Elite Lifts delivers premium automotive lifting solutions for home garages, professional shops and serious automotive enthusiasts across North America.
Whether you are restoring classics, wrenching on weekend projects, or running a professional service facility, Atlas Elite Lifts has a lift built for the job.
Learn more at www.atlaselitelifts.com.
Connect With Our Storytellers
Tommy Savitt: Learn more about Tommy’s comedy and connect with him at tommylama.com or on Instagram @thetommylama.
Peter Moore: Peter welcomes questions about his story and has offered to answer them in the episode comments. You can also reach him on X at @bd504840.