An Unlikely Avalanche

Minko Nikolov is an avid rock climber. Bouldering? Big vertical walls? He does it all. But he’s no risk-taker. In fact, on this day, he was only hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. The weather didn’t look good, so Minko turned around and was heading back to his car when he was struck by lightning. When hikers found him, his body was smoking. We will also talk with Katie Flanagan about the dangers of lightning strikes and dispel a few myths in the process. Guests include: Minko Nikolov Philip Magistro Katie Flanagan — http://www.lightningsafetycouncil.org/LSC-About%20Katie%20Flanagan.html For more about the series, check out https://www.onstar.com/podcast.

Blaine Russell-Webster was going about his day when he suffered sudden cardiac arrest, lost consciousness, and rolled his work truck in front of a cemetery in Buffalo, New York. People rushed to help, even breaking the front windshield to pull him out. But what Blaine needed was someone who knew CPR, and he needed them fast.We also talk with Drew Ashley about the time he used lifesaving techniques to save a fellow passenger on an airplane.Guests include:Blaine Russell-WebsterSarah BrownDrew Ashley — https://thelifesaviours.com/ For more about the series, check out https://www.onstar.com/podcast.

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 HeLoren EnnisLeslie Desrosiers For more about the series, check out https://www.onstar.com/podcast.

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 CoatesJay Ingram — https://www.jayingram.ca/ For more about the series, check out https://www.onstar.com/podcast.

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.

Season 6 will debut on Monday, January 26th, 2026.Big news! Eight new Tell Me What Happened episodes are coming in 2026. During Season 5, we celebrated 1 million downloads. Now, Season 6 is teeing up true stories of people helping people in places like Rocky Mountain National Park, Arizona’s Superstition Mountains, the fiery hills of Los Angeles and a frozen canal in Washington, D.C.Every story features a stranger stepping up to help someone whose day has gone wrong. And every story is told by those people in their words. Each episode wraps with a conversation between our host, Torah Kachur, and an expert, someone who can share practical tips that could help keep you safe.If you’re looking for a reminder that people are good and that a human connection still matters — especially when things go sideways — stay tuned for Season 6 of Tell Me What Happened, presented by OnStar. For more about the series, check out https://www.onstar.com/podcast.

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-mountainsideBen 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.

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.

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.

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.