What Was That Like - a storytelling podcast with amazing stories from real people
Society & Culture:Personal Journals
James had a childhood that would have indicated future success. He grew up in southern California, and his father is a scientist. His mother is a registered nurse. They lived in an affluent neighborhood in San Diego.
But by the time he was in middle school, James began to display some mental health issues. He tried to take his own life at age 11.
But he did graduate from high school, and also completed a bachelor’s degree at the University of California Riverside. He then decided to move to Colorado and work toward a graduate degree in neuroscience. By outward appearances, he seemed to be on the right track.
But he continued to battle depression, and for several years, he was obsessed with the idea of killing. One day, he acted on that obsession. He walked into a movie theater with multiple guns and started firing into the crowd of people watching a movie.
My guest today is Hali. She knows exactly what it’s like to be in that situation, to be the target of an active shooter. On that day, in Aurora, Colorado, Hali was in that theater.
If you’d like to contact Hali, her email is HaliandBear@gmail.com.
The Silent Retreat that Hali talked about is at dhamma.org.
Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here:
https://WhatWasThatLike.com/165
Graphics for this episode by Bob Bretz. Transcription was done by James Lai.
Want to discuss this episode and other things with thousands of other WWTL listeners? Join our podcast Facebook group at WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook (many of the podcast guests are there as well)
Get every episode ad-free, AND get all the Raw Audio exclusive episodes to binge, by joining the other listeners at What Was That Like PLUS.
Try What Was That Like PLUS free:
iPhone: at the top of the What Was That Like podcast feed, click on “Try free”
Android: on your phone, go to WhatWasThatLike.com/PLUS and click to try it free on any app
Sponsor deals:
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at BetterHelp.com/whatwas and get on your way to being your best self.
Go to cookunity.com/What or enter code What before checkout for 50% off your first week.
Go to Seed.com/WHAT and use code 25WHAT to get 25% off your first month.
Go to rakuten.com or get the Rakuten app to start saving today!
To get 15% off your next gift, go to UNCOMMONGOODS.com/WHATWAS
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
136: Sarah's arrest photo went viral
135: Bonus - the James Bigby murders
134: Lex couldn't stop bleeding
133: Ashley's daughter fell in the pool
132: Bonus - the Listener Stories from 2021
131: Jacqueline was attacked by dogs
130: Anika's apartment was destroyed
129: Sally watched her house burning
128: Jayna's hotel was a crime scene
127: Bonus - the Listener Stories from 2022
126: Hayley witnessed two murders
125: Kylie heard a gunshot
124: Josh was struck by lightning
123: Alice's brother went missing
122: Ella was trampled by an elephant
121: Bonus episode - Raw Audio WWTL 121
120: Todd was stranded in a snowstorm
119: Ashley's baby couldn't breathe
118: Fabiana won The Price Is Right showcase
117: Summer was stuck in Peru
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West
Innovation in Compliance with Tom Fox
Kate’s Take
The Shameless Mom Academy: Motherhood, Motivation, and Mindset Tips for Busy Moms
HORSES IN THE MORNING
Wise Traditions