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This episode of Armchair Anonymous features host Dax Shepard, co-host Monica Padman, and callers sharing chaotic, harrowing, and bizarre stories from their college study abroad experiences. Blair recounts her 2005 Semester at Sea voyage across the Pacific Ocean, where a massive storm destroyed their bridge electronics, triggered 30 to 50-foot waves, and left them stranded and towed to Hawaii. Rachel shares her 2002 semester in Italy, during which a dinner at an isolated restaurant in Ischia turned into a terrifying encounter with local mobsters who locked her friends inside. Olivia describes a 2016 weekend trip to Stockholm from Barcelona, where a host's friend led them into a high-crime neighborhood and a cab driver aggressively locked them in the car. Finally, Noah recalls his 1994 high school exchange program in northern Russia, where he visited a neurosurgery ward operating under extreme poverty and witnessed a host student get stabbed by the mafia and stitched up by his neurosurgeon father.
The hosts welcome listeners, introduce the theme of study abroad, and present their first sponsor ads.
The hosts discuss Quince’s affordable cashmere and home goods, highlighting their fall wardrobe deals.
A brief promotion of YouTube Premium’s features, including background play and ad-free viewing.
Blair explains how he decided to study abroad on a cruise ship and the unique setup of the program.
Blair recounts the violent storm, the ship’s chaos, and the harrowing evacuation process.
Blair describes a dangerous encounter at an Italian restaurant where guests were threatened and the police were inaccessible.
Nina shares her unsettling experience in Sweden, detailing a controlling driver and a mysterious stop.
The hosts promote Helix mattresses, emphasizing comfort and customization for better sleep.
A brief pitch for BetterHelp, highlighting affordable mental health support and insurance options.
The hosts recount a bizarre and frightening night in Stockholm where a friend’s odd behavior and a dangerous situation unfold.
The hosts learn that the area they were taken to is notorious for crime, prompting shock and concern.
Semester at Sea Cruise Schoolstory
Blair explains how a small cruise ship was converted into a floating university with 600 students, sailing to ports around the world.
Giant Pacific Storm and Engine Failuredata
A massive storm in the middle of the Pacific Ocean generated 50-foot waves, shattered the bridge glass, shorted the electrical panel, and knocked out two engines.
Encountering the Godfather in Ischiastory
Five college women in Ischia were invited to dine with a table of older men whose leader was introduced as the father for everyone.
Trapped in a Locked Restaurantinsight
Rachel discovered the restaurant doors were locked from the inside, and the local hostel desk clerk refused to call the police because the men owned them.
Taxicab Kidnapping Scare in Stockholmstory
During a weekend trip to Stockholm, a strange local man and a cab driver forcibly drove three college women into a high-crime murder capital area.
Poverty and Neurosurgery in Russiadata
Noah describes living with a neurosurgeon in northern Russia in 1994 who earned only $2,000 a year while working in a severely impoverished hospital.
Stitched Up by a Neurosurgeonstory
After a teenage friend was stabbed by the Russian mafia outside a discotheque, his neurosurgeon father's teenage son secretly sewed him up in the office.
“I had to represent my, my college. And you're doing it well.”
“The whole control panel was electric, so it shorted out the control panel.”
“That's the most crime ridden part of Stockholm. We call it the murder capital.”
“She had a terminal brain injury and the gnarly thing about this is that they didn't put like a prosthetic back into her head.”
“He worked part-time for the Russian mafia in the city and he mugged people and gave a portion of the proceeds to the mob every week and got to keep part for himself.”
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us a crazy study abroad story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
12,347 words · 7 speakers
Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
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