In this second episode of If Only, we turn to the story of Harry R. Truman—the man who lived in the shadow of Mount St. Helens and refused to leave when the mountain began to stir.

As a boy, he grew up in the rugged hills of Appalachia.

As a young man, he hustled through Prohibition, running liquor and scraping a living on his own terms.

He built a lodge on the edge of Spirit Lake and carved out a life defined by stubborn independence.

And in May 1980, when scientists warned of an impending eruption, he made his choice: to stay.

His life was marked by the defiance that carried him through hardship, but also the defiance that sealed his fate. If only he had listened. If only he had left. If only he had chosen safety over pride.

This is a story about the double edge of human will—how the same grit that sustains us can sometimes blind us. It asks the hard question: when does courage become recklessness, and when does defiance become surrender to fate?

🎙️ Host: Paul Johnson 🎧 Produced by: Get Some 🎵 Music and Sound Design: Epidemic Sound

📸 Show Notes, Photos & More: getsomepodcast.com ▶️ Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@RealGetSome

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