34 episodes

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.
Hosted by Julian Morgans
A Superreal Production

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What It Was Like Superreal

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.4 • 430 Ratings

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.
Hosted by Julian Morgans
A Superreal Production

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    I Caught Serial Killer Ivan Milat

    I Caught Serial Killer Ivan Milat

    Between 1992 and 1993, seven decomposing bodies were discovered in bushland south of Sydney. The ensuing media storm prompted the state to hastily assemble a police taskforce. Our guest, former-homicide detective Stuart Wilkins, explains how this task force sifted through hundreds of suspects to arrest a road worker named Ivan Milat.
    TikTok
    Youtube
    Hosted by Julian Morgans
    A Superreal production

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 58 min
    Rain Spencer Will Probably Be Extremely Famous

    Rain Spencer Will Probably Be Extremely Famous

    In 2022, we interviewed a Hollywood producer who predicted that unknown actress Rain Spencer would be the next big thing. Back then, Rain was in an indie film and had 100k followers. Now, she's on her third season of a streaming hit and has nearly a million followers. Today, we ask Rain what it's like slowly becoming a celebrity.
    TikTok Youtube
    Hosted by Julian Morgans
    A Superreal production

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 36 min
    The Hurricane That Swallowed a Cargo Ship

    The Hurricane That Swallowed a Cargo Ship

    In 2015, Hurricane Joaquin roared over the Bahamas and sank a cargo ship called the El Faro, drowning all 33 people onboard. It was a mystery how a modern US-flagged ship could sail into a hurricane until its black box was found. In this episode, Julian examines the black box transcript to discover a crew that ignored all their own instincts.
    Transcript from the El Faro's black box is here.
    The US Coast Guard's report is here.
    And here is an article and a book that was hugely helpful in researching this case:
    “The Clock Is Ticking”: Inside the Worst U.S. Maritime Disaster in Decades by William Langewiesche
    Into the Raging Sea: Thirty-Three Mariners, One Megastorm, and the Sinking of El Faro by Rachel Slade
    TikTok Youtube
    Hosted by Julian Morgans
    A Superreal production

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 46 min
    Catching My Sister's Killer

    Catching My Sister's Killer

    In 1985, a 17-year-old girl named Shari Smith was abducted from her own driveway and the family's phone started to ring. It was the kidnapper, his voice electronically distorted. He called repeatedly and it fell on Shari's 21-year-old sister Dawn to answer. In this episode, Dawn Smith Jordan recalls what she learned that week about her parents, her sister and her own resilience.
    TikTok Youtube
    Hosted by Julian Morgans
    A Superreal production

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 58 min
    I Photograph Private Jets for Mega-Billionaires

    I Photograph Private Jets for Mega-Billionaires

    When someone in the Saudi royal family buys a private plane, they usually want someone to photograph their new toy. And that's where Nick Gleis comes in. For over 40 years he's been photographing private jets for the world's richest people. On today's ep, Nick shares some stories about his clients and talks about the time he accidentally flew into a tornado.
    Check out Nick's photos of obscene luxury on his site, here.
    TikTok Youtube
    Hosted by Julian Morgans
    A Superreal production

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 34 min
    Living Next Door to Mass Killer Martin Bryant

    Living Next Door to Mass Killer Martin Bryant

    On April 28, 1996, a man named Martin Bryant fatally shot 35 people at the Port Arthur historical site in Tasmania. For siblings Lorraine and Mick Davies, who had grown up next-door to Bryant, the massacre was not entirely surprising. In this episode, they recount the tragedy's long build-up.
    Mick Davies is also an actor and comedian. You can follow his work on Instagram.
    TikTok Youtube
    Hosted by Julian Morgans
    A Superreal production

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 1 hr

Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5
430 Ratings

430 Ratings

Jenbluerose ,

Excellent Content

Content & guests are brilliant
A little work on how the host responds & shows empathy could be more valuable & allow the story to go deeper into the guests heart & souls as some of these experiences are very intense life experiences..

carrieboosh ,

Boring presentation

Dull delivery. Host has no personality or insight into how to conduct an interview. Just shock value, no depth or insight.

Kittykatcrooks ,

An amazing storyteller

I just finished listening to the Hurricane that Swallowed a Ship - one I had skipped past before and I have to say I regret not listening to it sooner. Julian does a brilliant job of bringing the transcript to life and interpreting the feelings on the ship. I was so invested! It’s hard to find a presenter who thinks and interprets situations in the same way you do where you’re not mentally disagreeing with their opinions all the time.
He asks intelligent and interesting questions to guests to help them tell their story in an interesting and fluid way. Thanks for giving me something new to binge on!

Top Podcasts In Society & Culture

Mamamia Out Loud
Mamamia Podcasts
Conversations
ABC listen
Shameless
Shameless Media
Life Uncut
Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne
MID
Mamamia Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
iHeartPodcasts

You Might Also Like

True Crime Conversations
Mamamia Podcasts
Australian True Crime
Bravecasting
The Mushroom Cook
True Crime Australia
Catching Dad's Killer
Podshape
Nellie's Baby
RNZ
Prayed Upon
The Courier Mail