I Was Moments Away From Being Executed | Minutes With Podcast |

In 2008, Sean Langan was captured by the Taliban whilst making a television documentary. He spent 12 weeks being held hostage in one of the most dangerous places on the planet. We hear how close Sean came to being killed and the difficult decisions he had to make along the way.
Extraordinary Lives is a podcast from the team behind LADbible’s Minutes With.
We speak to remarkable people who each have a unique story to tell - spies, terrorists, hackers, gangsters, killers, people with particular conditions, and those who’ve lived unreal experiences. These are the stories that resonated the most with LADbible’s audience when they were originally told on Minutes With.
In this podcast, LADbible’s Ben Powell-Jones sits down with those individuals for a more in-depth conversation, revealing untold tales for the first time.
Host: Ben Powell-Jones, Twitter: @BenPowellJones
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[@FurioussBear]

Out of all the interviews. This has to be the greatest. No gangster calling himself a businessman bullshit. This is a proper survival story.

[@bluenose1744]

As for that gangster, Iam fascinated by his story but he is totally deluded thinks he is a businessman. He is a violent thug, doesn’t matter if he did it to their own people, it is still violence. How did this guy get on to the honours list? But then you remember just how many criminals their are doling these favours out.

[@bluenose1744]

Meant to say you can’t compère him to this brave man’s story, million miles apart.

[@Puppy_Puppington]

Right? Ignorant people romanticizing horrible sociopathic or greedy people… acting like it’s a guy Ritchie film. It’s Irl dudes.

[@ChuckChuckWood]

😂 "Oim a biznussman whoooze buzinuss is crime".. yeah right shut up you old wanker.

[@Mr5foxy]

Crazy respect to this guy, not only was he kidnapped but he also refused to leave unless his fixer was also allowed to be free'd with him... Most people would have just been selfish and thought about themselves which also would have been understandable given the situation.

[@wehatemancs4393]

typical Mancs

[@KayosHybrid]

I found it really compelling and honest that after weeks of being kidnapped and threatened with execution that he admitted he was close to breaking on that demand. Because I think that is true for anyone under duress, true duress, and you’ve been keeping yourself alive by a thin thread and clinging to ways to survive the ordeal. To be given an out and then threaten your escape by being insubordinate is extremely brave, but also to admit in the current moment that he was going to cave in if they didn’t agree. He wanted to go home that badly, was that afraid and broken, he may have left someone to die. It’s very, very honest to admit such a thing. Thank goodness they both survived.

[@Importman2009]

He done what was right. Looking out for his guys.

[@teemo2mill]

Yeah it's a tricky thing. Kenji Goto ventured off looking for his friend, it didn't turn out well for him. Really depressing, this guy got lucky. Although if it had been Isis he woulda been dead.

[@hambo6969]

These interviews are the best content LADbible has ever done. I hope you guys are paying the interviewer well because he is worth a great deal. Very good work.

[@fixienglish]

Absolutely! couldn't agree more 😊 top-notch content 👌🏼

[@kyledonachie212]

😮

[@greensnake00]

Lad bibles really gone down hill but these podcasts are great

[@DubaiReno]

Agreed. The guy interviewing is doing an amazing role. Asking the right questions and without interruptions.

[@user-ub5qp8sq1w]

Hes working for free. Ladbible kidnapped him

[@srawat27]

Absolutely Loving these longform in-depth interviews...really extraordinary stories

[@shaodynasty1017]

Already heard this guy's story before, but this was so good I listened again. Great story teller, great interviewer.

[@nickfosterxx]

Quite honestly the most remarkable, and frank, interview I have ever seen, or could even ever imagine. Thank you. And perhaps you should start a new series of interviews, with his wife. And please, let's not forget the story of the fixer and what he must have gone through.

[@lobsangtsering5989]

I love this channel. As a father, I can felt him when his son said “daddy I am 4 now “ I teared.

[@Vampirika1]

Ben is really great at asking questions in these long-form interviews. Well done! :)

[@Louisdoms]

These interviews are literally changing my perspective of the world... Keep it up lad bible!

[@geckotoe]

I absolutely love Sean Langan. His story and his perspective during and after hits so hard. I tried listening to this while working and ended up getting ZERO work done! He is absolutely brilliant. Thank you so much for bringing this man and his story to our attention.

[@thfrustratedidealist]

Wait til hea busted with CP like his good friend James Gordon Meek, you'll feel differently then.

[@liamnorth555]

I remember watching his reports a good 15 years ago just recently stumbled across him again and I must say the man has incredible courage to get into the situations he was in, and on purpose! Respect!

[@Cyberdaggy]

Amazing what the body is capable of in the face of death. His mind sifting through his memories and experiences to find a solution, what a great story.

[@SameerScane]

Excellent work Ladbible ❤️

[@rickybojangles162]

Love these long interviews. Hnestly, the longer the better, the more in depth the better!

[@sean7098]

Love these longer podcast style videos

[@johneden3810]

Another fantastic interview 👍

[@patrickatkinson2202]

brilliant interview, loved his story. top bloke

[@mcchicken7531]

These videos are so interesting to hear crazy stories of these people

[@Squarepeg57]

Fantastic work. Great interview 👍. An emotional rollercoaster! That last line though 😂

[@marleenvanderlinden8189]

The longer you speak about it,the scarder i got.Respect. 🙏❤💯

[@zureyaodula5348]

It was heartfelt and gripping. 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

[@kyvanthrone]

What a fascinating tale, loved the way he articulated it

[@rhin]

extraordinary stuff

[@jonhelmer8591]

One of the most fascinating interviews I have ever listened to.

[@bxz-um9mg]

I’m not a person who gets emotional often but Sean’s story left me very emotional. especially when he talked about his 4 year old. I have kids so I know how powerful & beautiful one’s relationship is when they’re little. I was left misty eyed when Sean spoke about his little boy letting him know he had turn 4 when they met at the Airport! job well done sir! we’re happy you made it thru alive. What an experience… when do you go back to AFG? Lol… I’m only kidding. Happy your alive & I’m sure the experience has left you a different man…

[@lazy_lefty]

I really liked the part he talked about people that aren't in the "western world" have a desire to be wanted and understood.

[@jamescamlibel1448]

Was not expecting his last sentence! 😂

[@karlcolgan]

Great work ppl.

[@mmascotty1079]

Seen this guys docs they are really raw and good

[@alzz4657]

people dont understand how lucky this guy is

[@wehatemancs4393]

Mancs 🙄

[@gerrykelly4591]

I’m pretty sure they do

[@liamnorth555]

@@wehatemancs4393 why are you saying mancs?

[@boogiewookie77]

​@@liamnorth555Brummies 🙄

[@MannBazza]

Oh wow. I used to love Sean Langan’s documentary films. He was fantastic and the shows were amazing. Seems to have disappeared from our screens after his kidnapping, unsurprisingly I suppose. Great to see he is doing well

[@Oooo-bi7bi]

What’s the difference between God and a DJ. God doesn’t think he’s a DJ. Great interview and guest as always on Lad bible. Thanks for the channel and upload.

[@karrisajoss4271]

Had wanted to be a tv anchor for a living, but could not get hired. Glad, you were fortunate to do what you enjoyed.

[@marshareed1438]

The women took care of him made my heart soar! Brought tears to my eyes! Thank God for releasing them!

[@mikeb6085]

Amazing, this was my favorite interview of this series that I've watched. I found him hilarious and his insights incredibly profound. How we're unable to truly envision our death, the higher part of your brain turns off during trauma. fight or flight instict mode, comparing it to a car crash or something. That, and his reasoning for your life flashing before your eyes. Like flipping through a flip book, everything from first day of school, to something useful to survival like a movie he watched with an escape scene. I also found him and the story hilarious. Shooting AKs in the air for BBC, Mr Bean, his characterizations of his kidnappers. I love hearing the mundane details about things that are so dramatized by all forms of media, and elaborately fantasized in our minds. Like, anything from terrorists to spies, they're all just bumbling human beings with all of their little idiosyncrasies. I feel like these are the types of quirks I'd notice if I was in his situation, and giggle to myself. I also think part of his reason for laughing when recalling it now is obvious, a coping mechanism possibly. Just like he handled the situation differently than others, it affects him afterwards differently. By his admission, not for being stronger or braver than anyone, guess our brains are just wired differently.

[@garethburke9943]

I’ve watched one of his documentary’s about the Royal Marines great stuff

[@adventureswithfriends]

That ending caught me off gaurd!!

[@SarahSmith-di4mo]

what a hero!

[@irenedemarco1354]

Wow....the fear factor thats present for that length of time is soul destroying... Thankfully, the taliban did not destroy the empathy and calmness, nor the subtle sense of humour He hung in there... and insisted his offsider was released as well... that was so brave... Thank you for sharing... 💞✌️🙏

[@djy5645]

The last line is brilliant😂 don't blame him

[@suzeauster2223]

Greetings ✨ From Florida 🐬 Riveting Interview ‼️ Thank God 🙏 Sean ✨and Associate ✨are Home 🏡 Safe and Sound ❤️ Happy Thanksgiving 🍁 Everyone 🙌

[@cristinasempereneira245]

I did my thesis about the fixers in Iraq. It’s a crazy job.

[@liamnorth555]

You published any of that publicly? Sounds fascinating.

[@Rachelleah3]

I watch/listen a lot of these type of stories, I find the courage of these people really inspiring but I cant help but feel with this one he put himself in this situation time and time again… he made some strange decisions… I find it hard to feel sorry for him.. not that he’s looking for that…anyway I’m glad he lives to tell the tale

[@laurenanderson7330]

I see what you mean but without journalists like this we’d have very limited understanding of conflicts

[@TheAnthoula14]

I feel similarly. Part of me understands the need for someone to take these risks so that we understand what the hell is going on. The other part of me wonders if some of these people are adrenaline junkies who If they weren't doing this kind of work, would they do something else really risky. They're not just putting their own lives at risk, the special forces teams that are asked to rescue some of these people are also put on the line.

[@kyvanthrone]

That's some scary stuff, he's lucky to be alive

[@Upgraydez]

Best part was the Frog Prince story!

[@twomenonabank8991]

I couldn’t imagine being in this brave man’s shoes. I doubt I would have been.

[@thekarmicbrat]

1:19:41 it is true, actually, most often they just choose to ignore it, other times they ignore it because of social conventions/expectations.

[@billysbains]

so crazy

[@wendybello116]

Thank you for presenting this TRUE story. 🇪🇬 who is a ally of 🇺🇸, do that to their own citizens.

[@user-ub5qp8sq1w]

Can you try and find his fixer?

[@JohnSmith-le5oe]

Shaun's voice and appearance has changed so much since 9/11

[@JJ-pl5cj]

I wonder if he’s still in contact with his fixer.. would love to kniw

[@aiyubpatel9165]

Very good interview. The reality is there is alot of underhand clandestine work done by most governemnts. Lets not kid ourselves.

[@Samboy666]

I'd like him to meet David McMillan they'd have some interesting conversations

[@bloochoob]

I wonder if he said ‘It’s all gone Pete Tong ‘ at the moment of getting kidnapped

[@izzojoseph2]

My mom and I were just discussing trauma. He has time to process this when he was there. WWII vets came home on ships and it took months. Now, people are in the Shit where it’s complete boredom or total chaos and then you’re home. No decompression. No chance to find who you are post trauma. I think vets should get the chance to come home slowly, over months rather than days.

[@TheAnthoula14]

This is probably one of the worst things the military does these days. The lack of transition plan for combat vets. It blows my mind they let these young men just go straight from the trauma of war and killing, to a day or two later coming home without some structured decompression process is bananas to me. Would you yank a scuba diver to the surface and then go, "weird! He's got the bends! Off you go to the doctor" It's just so cruel.

[@gamewithadam7235]

Hs is so noble but I can't imagine what would have happened if they had already killed the fixer and he refused to go without the fixer coming alive too.

[@splotbang8296]

"8 or 9 of my friends were killed". "Three or four of my teeth fell out". I like to think I would recall the exact numbers....

[@thfrustratedidealist]

Exactly. Maybe it's because he's gone AWOL like his good friend and copatriot Jamess Gordon Meek did, after he was busted with serious child p*rn. Now where is Sean? His social media shuttered, we can only guess we are waiting to hear the same result...

[@RobertGakumu]

"The unbearable Lightness of Being." Reference

[@Jason-mg2vj]

he looks like Benedict Cumberbatch's dad

[@mrichards4724]

Love the interview, it really had me hooked. Who doesn't love a Strawberry Daiquiri and a line of coke? 🤣 Keep them coming Lad Bible 👍

[@philip2774]

Its all gone pete tong

[@sy6550]

After the man says there was a hidden hand in control. The dummy interviewer follows with "It is funny how chaotic it is". They should have the interviewer in the background only asking questions. We do not to see him or hear any comments by him.

[@ant777live]

Don't be rude to Pete Tong

[@billpetersen298]

While we buy trinkets. Think of the people in Tibet and Xinjiang.

[@mrvan3491]

Think of the people in Guantanamo

[@billpetersen298]

@@mrvan3491 Ahhh, good old deflection.

[@mrvan3491]

@@billpetersen298 deflection where??? I'm bringing something to your attention just like you doing the same, What's your problem?.

[@billpetersen298]

@@mrvan3491 There is no comparison. One, the whole world is free to criticize the USA, for it's failings. While, the CP has a tight control over it's internal, and external narrative. The other is, Guantanimo is not a good place. But in scale it is a rain drop. Compared to invading Tibet, and Xinjiang. Then committing cultural, and physical genocide, of their peoples. Wiping out an entire people, or reducing them to a tourist attraction, because they are inconvenient. Can not be justified in any way.

[@firetv3248]

@@billpetersen298 there is nothing wrong with his comment. You seem to have some obsession with China. Let me tell you from first hand experience, what the western military from UK to US, France, Germany and all the others who went to the ME, what they left behind is pure evil also. They abandoned people after destroying and pillaging their countries.

[@-lone.wolf-]

Boo hoo earning off it now tho ain't ya.

[@thinker........]

The love Mr BEAN 😅😅😅