What happens when a car vending machine turns into a nightmare, a haunted hotel has guests convinced they're not alone, and a startup CEO vanishes overnight leaving employees to deal with the fallout? On Episode 9 of I Used To Work There, we've packed together one of our wildest lineups yet. From fast food pranks that unexpectedly change a life to one of the strangest things an employee has ever taken after being fired, mistaken identities, ghosts, helicopters, near disasters, and one unforgettable workplace mystery, these are the real stories people still can't believe happened at work.

Every story you hear on I Used To Work There comes from real people and real workplaces because the truth is almost always stranger than fiction. Whether you've had a terrible boss, an unbelievable customer, a paranormal experience, or a day at work you'll never forget, this show is built around stories just like yours. If you're enjoying the show, please follow us on your favorite podcast app and leave us a 5 star rating, especially on Apple Podcasts.

🎙️ Have a story? You can submit it two ways.

Pull out your phone, open the Voice Memos app, tell us what happened, and email your recording to HR@IUsedToWorkThere.com.

Prefer to be interviewed? Submit the guest intake form here: https://form.jotform.com/260164378157057

Both voice memo submissions and interview submissions are eligible. All stories with a signed guest release submitted before July 31st will be entered into our Employee of the Month story competition for a chance to win $500 USD and be featured on a future episode.

🚗 Title Sponsor

I Used To Work There is proudly brought to you by Atlas Elite Lifts.

Building car lifts so cool they would make Batman jealous, Atlas Elite Lifts delivers premium automotive lifting solutions for home garages, professional shops, and serious automotive enthusiasts across North America.

Whether you're restoring classics, wrenching on weekend projects, or running a professional service facility, Atlas Elite Lifts has a lift built for the job.

Learn more at www.atlaselitelifts.com.

What do a business trip to South Korea, a fake phone booth, an entire workplace quitting before someone's first shift, a Russian liquor store, and a Hollywood movie shoot mistaken for a real gunfight have in common? They all happened to real people, and they're all waiting for you in Episode 8 of I Used To Work There. From laugh-out-loud moments to stories that will have you shaking your head in disbelief, this is one of our strongest episodes yet. The truth really can be stranger than fiction.

Before you go, we need your help in three simple ways:

First, submit your true workplace story for our Employee of the Month Story Competition. Stories submitted between June 15th and July 31st, 2026 are eligible. Just record your story as a voice memo, email it to HR@IUsedToWorkThere.com, and complete the guest release for your chance to win $500 USD and have your story featured on the show.

Second, please hit Follow on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Third, if you’re enjoying I Used To Work There, please leave us a 5-star rating and written review on Apple Podcasts.

Those three things help us find new stories, reach new listeners, and keep growing this incredible community.

🚗 Title Sponsor

I Used To Work There is proudly brought to you by Atlas Elite Lifts.

Building car lifts so cool they would make Batman jealous, Atlas Elite Lifts delivers premium automotive lifting solutions for home garages, professional shops, and serious automotive enthusiasts across North America.

Whether you're restoring classics, wrenching on weekend projects, or running a professional service facility, Atlas Elite Lifts has a lift built for the job.

Learn more at www.atlaselitelifts.com.

What do a construction worker chained inside a porta potty, a photographer who accidentally destroyed a $90,000 movie prop, a haunted church, and a Canadian trapped in Belarus have in common? They're all part of another unforgettable shift on I Used To Work There. In this episode, you'll hear eight incredible stories from real people who lived them, including a habanero pepper disaster that went horribly wrong, a government-funded porn inspection job, a gas station customer nobody could forget, a Blockbuster theft unlike anything you've ever heard, and a business trip that turned into a three-week international survival mission.

Before we get started, I also want to say thank you. The support for this show has been absolutely unbelievable. In just a few short months, we've grown into a Quill Award-winning podcast, welcomed thousands of new listeners, and built an incredible community of storytellers from around the world. It's been a wild ride so far, and we're not even at Episode 10 yet.

I Used To Work There is a listener-driven show built entirely around the stories you never forget. If you're enjoying the podcast, please hit Follow on Apple Podcasts and leave a review telling us what you love most about the show. Your support helps more people discover these incredible stories. And if you've got a work story you'll never forget, we'd love to hear it. Send your story to HR@iusedtoworkthere.com for a chance to be featured on a future episode.

We'll see you next shift.

🚗 Title Sponsor

I Used To Work There is proudly brought to you by Atlas Elite Lifts.

Building car lifts so cool they would make Batman jealous, Atlas Elite Lifts delivers premium automotive lifting solutions for home garages, professional shops, and serious automotive enthusiasts across North America.

Whether you're restoring classics, wrenching on weekend projects, or running a professional service facility, Atlas Elite Lifts has a lift built for the job.

Learn more at www.atlaselitelifts.com.