Tell Me What Happened

OnStar
  • 4.7 (391)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Every day we wake up not knowing exactly what will happen: A sportswriter finds himself drowning in a frozen canal, a hiker gets hit by lightning, and a service tech rolls his van off the road and into a cemetery. What they all have in common is that they were all saved by a stranger. Tell Me What Happened, the award-winning original podcast by OnStar, returns for a sixth season of stories about people helping people. Each episode also includes a conversation with an expert to provide context and advice about what to do if you find yourself in a dangerous situation.

  1. An Unlikely Avalanche

    FEB 9

    An Unlikely Avalanche

    Janet He likes to ski. She does the blue runs and a few of the blacks, but she sticks to the in-bounds slopes and always minds weather warnings. None of that mattered one morning in Lake Tahoe. Out of nowhere, she heard a thunderous roar. Within seconds, Janet was buried alive under an avalanche. If not for the quick action of a passing skier, she never would have survived. We also talk with Leslie Desrosiers, an injury prevention expert and doctor of Physical Therapy with ACL Strong. She will provide tips for high-level and recreational skiers. Guests include: Janet He Loren Ennis Leslie Desrosiers For more about the series, check out https://www.onstar.com/podcast.

    23 min
  2. A Jogger, His Dog, and an Icy Canal

    JAN 26

    A Jogger, His Dog, and an Icy Canal

    As a sports columnist in Washington, D.C., Mike Wise loved unwinding with a run along the C&O Canal with his dog Looly. One fiercely cold night, Looly chased a stick onto a thin layer of ice and fell through. Soon, they were both in the frigid water and in danger of drowning, despite being blocks from the shops and restaurants of Georgetown. We also talk with Jay Ingram about the special bond between people and their pets. Guests include: Mike Wise — https://www.facebook.com/mike.wise.5621/ Jason Coates Jay Ingram — https://www.jayingram.ca/ For more about the series, check out https://www.onstar.com/podcast.

    25 min
  3. A New Season of Uplifting Stories

    SEASON 6 TRAILER

    A New Season of Uplifting Stories

    Tell Me What Happened is back for a sixth season with eight new heroic, true stories of people helping people. This season, we’ll take you to a raging river in Alaska, the searing heat of Arizona’s Superstition Mountains, the chaos of the Los Angeles fires, the icy waters of a Washington, D.C., canal and beyond. Each episode features a harrowing tale told by the people who were there and includes an expert who can offer practical tips that could help keep you and your loved ones safe. Tell Me What Happened, the award-winning original podcast by OnStar, returns January 26. Tell Me What Happened was created by OnStar to showcase the importance of a human connection when you are in trouble. The series launched in 2021, has been downloaded more than 1 million times and has a back catalog of more than 35 episodes. Enjoy! For more about the series, check out https://www.onstar.com/podcast.

    2 min
  4. Hiker Rescues Bridesmaids from Hurricane

    08/18/2025 · BONUS

    Hiker Rescues Bridesmaids from Hurricane

    Six hundred miles from where Hurricane Helene slammed into the Florida coast, a group of bridesmaids found themselves trapped on a mountainside. Kayla Donnelly is getting married in a couple months… but before her big day, she’s planned a bachelorette weekend to remember. She’s booked a cabin in the mountains of North Carolina for herself and her 10 best friends. Her idyllic plans turn disastrous when the remnants of Hurricane Helene flatten the surrounding forest and flood the nearby city of Asheville. They are trapped with no food, water, or electricity, and they have no idea how to escape. But thanks to a stranger, who was actually looking for other people who might need help, they get what they need to find their way home. We also talk to travel influencer Johnny Jet about travelling during hurricane season. Kayla Donnelly and her friends started a GoFundMe page to raise money to send to the citizens of Asheville, NC. https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-families-stranded-on-asheville-mountainside Ben Moore still lives in the Asheville area. He continues to help with the recovery efforts. Johnny Jet has flown millions of miles and visited over 75 countries. If something can go wrong while travelling, it has probably happened to him! https://johnnyjet.com/ For more about the series, check out https://www.onstar.com/podcast.

    31 min
  5. Musicians Rescue Hundreds on Sinking Ship

    05/05/2025

    Musicians Rescue Hundreds on Sinking Ship

    As a luxury cruise ship sinks, unlikely heroes come to the rescue. Rose-Marie Howe was shocked when her cruise was interrupted by a blackout. But she soon realized the loss of power was the least of her concerns. The ship was sinking, and no one seemed to know what to do. Moss Hills, a guitarist in the ship’s band, decided to go to the lounge to investigate. He found instruments thrown about the stage and realized he couldn’t hear the ship’s engines. He also couldn’t find the captain or any of the senior crew. This is the story of how a guitarist, a bass player and two magicians saved hundreds of lives. We also talk to marine historian Mallory Haas about what we can learn from disasters at sea. Rose-Marie Rowe maintains a blog dedicated to the disaster. Moss Hills is still working on cruise ships and is currently a cruise director for Silversea Cruises. He maintains a webpage dedicated to the disaster. Mallory Haas is the director of The SHIPS Project, a volunteer non-profit organization that undertakes research and exploration of maritime historical sites and events. For more about the series, check out https://www.onstar.com/podcast.

    35 min
  6. Pulled Free and Paid Forward

    04/21/2025

    Pulled Free and Paid Forward

    A simple drive home becomes a life-or-death struggle. The weather wasn’t great, but Bryan Pederson was just a few blocks from home on a street he had driven a thousand times. Still, the wind was howling and rain was pouring down. Sitting at a traffic light, he heard a loud crack. Instantly, he was trapped in a car being crushed by a tree. Ten cars drove past the scene, peering through the rain at the crumpled SUV and the tree blocking the road. Nine of them turned around and drove away. This is the story of the driver who didn’t: a single mom with three kids in the car. Later, Bryan would have an opportunity to thank her in an unexpected way. Also, we talk with David Bennett, a driving safety expert who explains the importance of your tires when it comes to making your vehicle “road ready.” Bryan Pederson and Veronica Marin have remained close friends. David Bennett is the manager of repair systems for AAA. For more about the series, check out https://www.onstar.com/podcast.

    24 min
  7. One Hug, Two Lives Changed

    04/07/2025

    One Hug, Two Lives Changed

    From a crowd of onlookers, one person steps forward to help. A teenage girl named Maddie walked to a highway overpass and stopped. As dozens of cars sped past, she climbed a railing, looked over the edge and considered stepping off. A few cars stopped then and people began to gather, but only person, David Johnson, sat down and talked to Maddie. That conversation led to a scream, a laugh and eventually a hug. This is the story of how someone was saved and someone else was changed. We also speak with Martha Thomas, the mother of a young woman who took her own life and the co-founder of an organization called “The Defensive Line.” Maddie is now in college and wants to work in the mental health field to help people who find themselves in a situation like hers. David Johnson is now a mental health counselor. (https://yourmindinmyhand.com/). Martha and Chris Thomas and their son Solomon Thomas, a defensive lineman in the NFL, have founded The Defensive Line. (https://thedefensiveline.org/) It is an organization focused on reducing stigma and creating connections to save young lives. For more about the series, check out https://www.onstar.com/podcast.

    25 min
  8. River Outing Takes a Twist

    03/24/2025

    River Outing Takes a Twist

    A leisurely float with friends nearly ends in tragedy. On a hot summer afternoon, Abi Sherman and some friends decided to cool off by floating down the Snoqualmie River in Washington. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, she had plenty of experience in rivers. This time, however, everything went wrong. Her tube got stuck on a stump and she slipped into the freezing cold water. Without a life jacket, she was unable to stay afloat in the fast-moving river and her friends were too far downstream to help. As she was tossed by rapids and smashed into rocks, a stranger came to her rescue. We also talk with Peg Phillips, a boat safety expert, about what you can do to stay safe in and around the water. Abi Sherman is now a high school special education teacher. Hannah Hailee is a counselor with Meadow Counseling. Peg Phillips is the executive director of the National Safe Boating Council. For more about the series, check out https://www.onstar.com/podcast.

    25 min
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4.7
out of 5
391 Ratings

About

Every day we wake up not knowing exactly what will happen: A sportswriter finds himself drowning in a frozen canal, a hiker gets hit by lightning, and a service tech rolls his van off the road and into a cemetery. What they all have in common is that they were all saved by a stranger. Tell Me What Happened, the award-winning original podcast by OnStar, returns for a sixth season of stories about people helping people. Each episode also includes a conversation with an expert to provide context and advice about what to do if you find yourself in a dangerous situation.

Information

  • Creator
    OnStar
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2021-2026
  • Show Website
    Tell Me What Happened

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