Episode Overview

Podcast: What It Was Like
Host: Julian Morgans
Episode Title: I Cooked and Ate My Own Foot
Date: October 17, 2025

In this episode, Julian Morgans talks with "Shiny" (a pseudonym), a Texan who experienced a motorcycle accident leading to the surgical amputation of his foot—and then cooked and ate a portion of it with friends. The conversation explores the origins of taboos, the psychology of extreme experience, the value of friendship, and the philosophical curiosity that led Shiny to break one of society’s deepest cultural boundaries. What could have been just a sensational story becomes a surprisingly thoughtful meditation on mortality, transformation, and authenticity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Motorcycle Accident and Its Aftermath

• Accident Details: On Memorial Day, Shiny was hit by a car while riding his motorcycle in the mountains, resulting in a catastrophic foot injury ([07:35–09:11]).
  • "There was a car stopped in the road... as I got right up to them, they hit the gas and right into the side of the motorcycle... I flipped over and hit a tree on the way through, and that's what caused the injury to my foot." (Shiny, 08:04)
• Medical Response and Psychedelic Experience:
  • Morphine was ineffective; Shiny was administered ketamine in the medevac helicopter, leading to a vivid, transcendent experience:
    "What I do remember was transcending time and space in a sea of geometric colors and contemplating life and death, which I kind of attribute to my sunny disposition thereafter." (Shiny, 10:11)
• Life Pivot: The experience became a wake-up call prompting Shiny to pursue more meaning and intentionality.
  • "If I get through this, I'm going to get my shit together and make my life better." (Shiny, 11:56)

2. The Foot—A Curious Proposal

• Doctor’s Negotiations & Foot Ownership:

  • Shiny insisted on being given his amputated foot, a process which required negotiation with hospital administrators ([15:35–16:36]).
  • "I'm getting this thing back, and then my buddy showed up and I was like, hey, man, we should eat some of it... That way it's not really gone. It's still a part of me." (Shiny, 15:35)

• Origins of the Cannibal Discussion:

  • Years earlier, Shiny and friends had joked about trying "ethical and safe" human meat. The amputation brought the possibility into reality.
  • "Everybody says yes because they don't ever think the opportunity is ever going to rise.” (Shiny, 15:19)

3. Organizing an Unforgettable Brunch

• Building the Guest List:
  • Only friends open-minded enough were invited; Shiny’s family never knew about the plan ([22:09–22:41]).
• Retrieving and Prepping the Foot:
  • The hospital returned the foot to Shiny in a red bag: "They gave me an amputated foot in a red bag, and that's all it was... I stuff it in a backpack, and I walk out of the hospital." (Shiny, 23:42)
  • He cut a muscle from the shin, experienced existential weirdness:
    "I can't tell you the existential weirdness of holding your own leg and going, well, let's chop this chunk of meat off right here." (Shiny, 24:13)
• Brunch Setup:
  • A chef-friend marinated and cooked the foot, serving it with tortillas, chimichurri, and tapas-style sides amid a beautifully set table.
  • "It was lovely. She [the host] is a fantastic party planner... It was this lovely little situation... and the awkwardness was palpable around that table." (Shiny, 25:58–27:01)

4. The Act: Eating the Foot

• Experience and Emotional Reaction:

  • Each of the 10 friends (plus Shiny) had a small piece (approx. 2 cm square).
  • "While it was tasty, it was incredibly, incredibly chewy. People were chewing on me for three, four minutes. I had one friend who had to spit me out. She said, 'I'm so sorry, I can't do it. It's gotten too weird.'" (Shiny, 28:26)

• Flavor Profile:

  • "People always talk about it... 'It tastes like pig.' But it didn't taste like any pig I've ever had. It was beefy. It was incredibly beefy. It's like bison or wild game... and my God, was it chewy." (Shiny, 29:25)
  • Rating: "Flavor, great flavor. 8 out of 10. But the fact that it was so chewy... Unless you’re in a survival situation, it’s terrible." (Shiny, 30:52)
  • Cooking tip: "If ever you’re going to eat people, make sure you cook it low and slow. You gotta treat that meat properly." (Shiny, 31:38)

• Mood and Aftermath:

  • The group shared dark jokes: "That was the time I was inside 10 people at once." (Shiny, 31:57)
  • Shiny soon left for a new life in Texas, met his future wife, and saw the incident as a turning point.

5. Friendship, Taboo, and Going Public

• Value of Community:

  • "It was really emotional and heartwarming... that many friends who are close enough to me and awkwardly weird enough to share in that experience... Now I'm a part of them in a very real way." (Shiny, 27:54)

• Coming Out—Kind Of:

  • Shiny only told a select group; the story eventually went viral after he posted it on Reddit.
  • On dating, he revealed the story to his (now) wife on their first date:
    • "'I’m not going to tell you the weirdest thing I've ever eaten, but I'll give you the second weirdest.' ...She’s like, 'No, I want to know.' ...She said, 'You're bullshitting me. You’re a liar. But I like where this is going.'" (Shiny, 36:51)

• Society’s Reaction:

  • Some negative responses: "People said it was demonic and against God and that I'm obviously insane and should seek help. I got a bunch of referrals off Reddit to anti-suicide lines..." (Shiny, 39:21)
  • Others were more open-minded: "If people are wrapped up in their own cultural issues, they're the ones who get hung up on it... It's not like a bunch of devil worshipers... There was no violence in this. It was just a nice, chill brunch." (Shiny, 39:53–41:58)

6. Taboos, Health, and Legality

• Risk & Research:
  • Shiny investigated both health and legal aspects:
    • "Obvious one is prion disease... [but] extremely low risk if you’re just eating one bite of meat... It’s not really illegal [in the US], except in Idaho and Alaska." (Shiny, 42:16–44:10)

7. Reflections and Takeaways

• On Anonymity and Identity:

  • Shiny opted not to use his real name: “If you get notoriety for one thing, that is what you are for the rest of your life as far as the Internet’s concerned… and there’s a lot more to me than just that.” (Shiny, 44:24)

• What He Learned:

  • "Life is fragile and fleeting and you need to appreciate it and do what you can to make the most out of it. And I've learned how to make good friends... invest in them... be open and be yourself completely with people—which is horribly, horribly nerve wracking to do... but you're gonna find people who, despite all your flaws, will enjoy you..." (Shiny, 45:43–48:04)

• Host's Reflection:

  • "I came to this story thinking it was going to be this bizarre thing. And we've ended with this really beautiful rumination about the nature of friendship or the value of authenticity." (Julian Morgans, 48:17)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I can’t tell you the existential weirdness of holding your own leg and going, well, let’s chop this chunk of meat off right here." — Shiny ([24:13])
• "Now I'm a part of them in a very real way." — Shiny ([27:23])
• "It was kind of like putting a pin in it and having a... wake for the foot is what it was." — Shiny ([27:54])
• "If ever you’re going to eat people, make sure you cook it low and slow." — Shiny ([31:38])
• "People chew on their nails all the time... All I did was take advantage of the meat part of it. And I think the icky part for people is... you don’t hear about that sort of cannibalism outside of... horror or violence. There was no violence in this." — Shiny ([40:11])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Motorcycle Accident & Hospital Experience: [07:35–12:32]
• Origin of the Ethical Cannibalism Idea: [13:23–17:01], [15:16–16:56]
• Foot Retrieval & Preparation: [22:52–25:07]
• The Foot Brunch: Cooking and Eating: [25:58–31:43]
• Cultural Reactions / Reddit Story: [35:42–41:58]
• Health & Legal Risks: [42:16–44:10]
• Reflections on Identity and Friendship: [44:24–48:17]

Tone & Language

• Shiny: Deadpan, darkly humorous, self-aware, philosophical; often deflects with jokes but reveals vulnerability and depth.
• Julian Morgans: Curious, sometimes incredulous, but empathetic and affirming; guides the conversation toward bigger life lessons.

Final Takeaway

Through a story that begins on the farthest outskirts of social convention, "I Cooked and Ate My Own Foot" becomes an exploration of what happens when you cross a taboo, but also how trauma and radical honesty can lead to community, transformation, and a richer appreciation for being alive. The episode challenges listeners to rethink their own taboos—and to cherish those rare, weird, and wonderful friends willing to sit at your table, no matter what is being served.