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This is a What It Was Like Special

Produced by Superreal

Hosted by Julian Morgans @julianmorgans

Find us on TikTok: @whatitwaslikepodcast

Find us on YouTube: @whatitwaslikepodcast

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

We start our story with Small Q, a young Ugandan rapper and singer who thought he was traveling to Thailand for a dream job. However, everything changed the moment he stepped off the plane. In this episode, we follow Q's abduction to illustrate how nearly half a million people have been sold into slavery to run scams.

Please help Small Q rebuild his life by donating to his GoFundMe here

This is a What It Was Like Special

Produced by Superreal

Hosted by Julian Morgans @julianmorgans

Find us on TikTok: @whatitwaslikepodcast

Find us on YouTube: @whatitwaslikepodcast

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

We start this episode with another story of abduction. Cataleya is a Filipino mother who was sold into slavery by a friend. We then compare Cataleya and Small Q's stories of how they ran scams. It's a fascinating look at the way scamming has been scaled for mass production.

This is a What It Was Like Special

Produced by Superreal

Hosted by Julian Morgans @julianmorgans

Find us on TikTok: @whatitwaslikepodcast

Find us on YouTube: @whatitwaslikepodcast

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

In the first half of this episode, we explore the anatomy of a scam via the story of Troy Gochenour, an American man who lost $25K to Myanmar scammers in 2021. Then we check in on Small Q, who devises a risky plan to get an SOS message to the outside world.

Please help Small Q rebuild his life by donating to his GoFundMe here

This is a What It Was Like Special

Produced by Superreal

Hosted by Julian Morgans @julianmorgans

Find us on TikTok: @whatitwaslikepodcast

Find us on YouTube: @whatitwaslikepodcast

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

Small Q's efforts to escape have landed him in the 'the dark room,' a modern-day torture chamber designed to instill fear in scammers to keep them in line. Q shares how he survived, while some of his friends weren't so lucky.

Please help Small Q rebuild his life by donating to his GoFundMe here

This is a What It Was Like Special

Produced by Superreal

Hosted by Julian Morgans @julianmorgans

Find us on TikTok: @whatitwaslikepodcast

Find us on YouTube: @whatitwaslikepodcast

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

Judah Tana has rescued around 1,000 people from scammer farms. He shares how he got into this work and some of the shocking things he's witnessed. Plus, we hear Cattleya's story of escaping home to her family in the Philippines.

Please help Judah and his team continue to rescue victims by donating at https://www.globaladvanceprojects.org/donate.

This is a What It Was Like Special

Produced by Superreal

Hosted by Julian Morgans @julianmorgans

Find us on TikTok: @whatitwaslikepodcast

Find us on YouTube: @whatitwaslikepodcast

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

After six harrowing months in slavery, Small Q finally breaks free. A sweeping international effort helps him return to Uganda—but thousands remain trapped in scammer farms. In this conclusion, we explore what it will take to shut them down. Featuring a rare interview with a UN expert on the front lines of the fight.

Please help Judah and his team continue to rescue scammer farm victims by donating at https://www.globaladvanceprojects.org/donate

And please help Small Q rebuild his life by donating to his GoFundMe at https://gofund.me/26697324

This is a What It Was Like Special

Produced by Superreal

Hosted by Julian Morgans @julianmorgans

Find us on TikTok: @whatitwaslikepodcast

Find us on YouTube: @whatitwaslikepodcast

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