This Is Actually Happening

Lauren Malloy was a baby when her mother, Lori, was murdered in East Providence, Rhode Island. For thirty years, no one told her. Everyone said Lori died of natural causes. Then a stranger sent Lauren a message — and the lie collapsed. Now Lauren is investigating her own mother’s murder. She’s recorded hundreds of hours of interviews with law enforcement, family, childhood friends, and people who won’t stop contradicting each other. Every answer opens a darker question. Every person she trusts seems to be hiding something. And the closer she gets to the truth, the more she realizes the people she trusts may be the ones with the most to hide. A 10-part true crime investigation hosted by the victim’s daughter. Lauren’s mission: to finally uncover the identity of Lori’s killer.  Audible subscribers can binge all 10 episodes early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible App or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts. Listen now: HERE  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A woman leaves behind the wounds of her alcoholic father, only to find out that her husband’s addiction is threatening to ruin their family; but when he goes to find healing through a plant medicine ceremony, a shocking, darker truth is revealed.Today's guest requested to remain anonymous, but if you'd like to reach out to her, can can email at: stilltallnlucky@gmail.comProducersWhit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva LipkowitzContent/Trigger Warningsalcoholism, domestic violence, sexual assault, mental illness, manic break, bipolar, explicit language. Social MediaInstagram: @actuallyhappeningFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion GroupWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.com Substack - The End of the Knownwhitmissildine.substack.comSupport the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid SubscriberFree subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show. You can also support on Patreon patreon.com/happeningWebsite for Whit Missildinewhitmissildine.comWebsite for Andrew Waitsandrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitzavivalipkowitz.comSubscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-FreeAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com.Shop at the StoreFind This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop TranscriptsFull transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:thisisactuallyhappening.com MusicIntro Music:"Sleep Paralysis" – Scott VelasquezMusic Bed:Ambient Themes by Nigel Coutinho ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Escaping a world of gangs and drugs, a man joins the military and becomes a veteran of Iraq, but the scars from his past, PTSD and a TBI haunt him until a fateful day when he faces the ultimate demons. Today's episode featured Daniel Norwood. If you'd like to reach out to Daniel, you can email at Danielnorwood281@gmail.com.Daniel's story came to us by way of Todd Rennebohm. Daniel was originally featured on Todd's podcast, Bunny Hugs and Mental Health, which focuses on conversations with survivors, professionals and families of those who have lost someone to mental illness and addictions. So please check out Bunny Hugs and Mental Health, and a special thanks to Todd for referring today's guest.ProducersWhit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason BlalockContent/Trigger Warningsabuse of a child, gun violence, drug use, attempted murder, murder, war, bombing, graphic bodily injury, explicit language.Social MediaInstagram: @actuallyhappeningFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion GroupWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.com Substack - The End of the Knownwhitmissildine.substack.comSupport the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid SubscriberFree subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show. You can also support on Patreon patreon.com/happeningWebsite for Whit Missildinewhitmissildine.comWebsite for Andrew Waitsandrdewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalockjasonblalock.comSubscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-FreeAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com.Shop at the StoreFind This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop TranscriptsFull transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:thisisactuallyhappening.com MusicIntro Music:"Sleep Paralysis" – Scott VelasquezMusic Bed:“Uncertain Outcomes” – SkyeVoyager ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A young woman on a backpacking trip in Bali faces a series of misfortunes, but just as she’s leaving for the next chapter of her journey, her future is thrown into darkness. Today’s episode featured Ashley King. If you’d like to reach out to her, you can email at ashleyjenniferk@gmail.com, or find her on Instagram @ashkng.ProducersWhit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason BlalockContent/Trigger Warningspoisoning, medical trauma, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, explicit language. Social MediaInstagram: @actuallyhappeningFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion GroupWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.com Substack - The End of the Knownwhitmissildine.substack.comSupport the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid SubscriberFree subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show. You can also support on Patreon patreon.com/happeningWebsite for Whit Missildinewhitmissildine.comWebsite for Andrew Waitsandrdewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalockjasonblalock.comSubscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-FreeAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com.Shop at the StoreFind This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop TranscriptsFull transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:thisisactuallyhappening.com MusicIntro Music:"Sleep Paralysis" – Scott VelasquezMusic Bed:“Uncertain Outcomes” – SkyeVoyager ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bill Mitchell built a successful career, marriage and family, but just as his bright and loving daughter graduates from college with big dreams, an unthinkable event irreversibly changes everything. Today’s episode featured Bill Mitchell. Bill has a book and podcast, both called When Dating Hurts. You can find out more about Bill, his book and his podcast, all at whendatinghurts.com. You can also find his book on Amazon.Bill was originally featured on Scott Johnson’s amazing podcast, What Was That Like. If you love This Is Actually Happening, check out What Was That Like, featuring stories from people who have been through something extremely unusual. You’ll hear people talking about being in a plane crash, a mass shooting, a grizzly bear attack, and many more. The guest comes on and tells the details of what happened, first hand. If you like This Is Actually Happening, I know you’ll want to subscribe to What Was That Like. It’s available on any podcast app, or at WhatWasThatLike.com.If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) ProducersWhit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason BlalockContent/Trigger Warningsdomestic violence, graphic bodily injury, murder, death, explicit language. Social MediaInstagram: @actuallyhappeningFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion GroupWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.com Substack - The End of the Knownwhitmissildine.substack.comSupport the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid SubscriberFree subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show. You can also support on Patreon patreon.com/happeningWebsite for Whit Missildinewhitmissildine.comWebsite for Andrew Waitsandrdewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalockjasonblalock.comSubscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-FreeAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com.Shop at the StoreFind This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop TranscriptsFull transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:thisisactuallyhappening.com MusicIntro Music:"Sleep Paralysis" – Scott VelasquezMusic Bed:“Union Flow” – Spuntic ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.©2026 Audible℗2026 Audible See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After his mother falls in love with Frank, the member of a one-hit-wonder 80s band, a man’s life becomes a roller coaster of neglect, scams, and chaos, but when he turns the camera on the inside of his family, a new world opens that he never thought possible. Today’s episode featured GJ Echternkamp. If you’d like to reach out to him, you can email at GJActuallyHappening@gmail.com. You can find GJ’s documentary, “frank and Cindy” from 2007, as well as his feature film, also titled “Frank and Cindy” from 2015, both on Netflix. You can also find the music video and song “Whirly Girl” by OXO released in 1983 on YouTube. ProducersWhit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason BlalockContent/Trigger Warningsdomestic violence, abuse, suicidal ideation, explicit language. Social MediaInstagram: @actuallyhappeningFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion GroupWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.com Substack - The End of the Knownwhitmissildine.substack.comSupport the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid SubscriberFree subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show. You can also support on Patreon patreon.com/happeningWebsite for Whit Missildinewhitmissildine.comWebsite for Andrew Waitsandrdewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalockjasonblalock.comSubscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-FreeAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com.Shop at the StoreFind This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop TranscriptsFull transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:thisisactuallyhappening.com MusicIntro Music:"Sleep Paralysis" – Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Ambient Themes by Nigel Coutinho ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A woman falls deeply in love with a married man in her close friend’s circle, when suddenly an unthinkable event throws everything into question.   Today’s storyteller wishes to remain anonymous, but if you’d like to reach out to her, you can email at tues228@gmail.com.ProducersWhit Missildine, Andrew WaitsContent/Trigger Warningsgraphic bodily injury, explicit language.Social MediaInstagram: @actuallyhappeningFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion GroupWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.com Substack - The End of the Knownwhitmissildine.substack.comSupport the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid SubscriberFree subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show. You can also support on Patreon patreon.com/happeningWebsite for Whit Missildinewhitmissildine.comWebsite for Andrew Waitsandrdewwaits.comSubscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-FreeAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com.Shop at the StoreFind This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop TranscriptsFull transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:thisisactuallyhappening.com MusicIntro Music:"Sleep Paralysis" – Scott VelasquezMusic Bed:“Re-Entry" - Lee Rosevere ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Growing up with a narcissistic father, a woman learns to play small, but one night when an unknown masked man enters her room, she faces the worst night of her life, and emerges on the other side with a new found ferocity. Today’s episode featured Danielle Leukam. You can learn more about Danielle on her website, danielleleukam.com. And you can find her on Instagram @danielleukam, as well as Twitter and Facebook. You can also learn more about her story in her two memoirs, Four Pounds of Pressure: A Memoir of Rape, Survival, and Taking Back My Power https://amzn.to/3QHxMJW and Another Four Pounds of Pressure: Case Files, Statements, & a Survivor's Redemption https://amzn.to/49I0umr, and lastly, you can check out her novella The First Sister: A Dangerous Bloodline, https://amzn.to/3TjLaXq, as well as the two children’s books she’s authored. Danielle now works full-time at the Mayo Clinic. She is passionate about public speaking, writing, and advocating against sexual violence. And she is also the president and founder of a non-profit organization called WISH: We Inspire Survivor Healing. Learn more about WISH on their website WeInspireSurvivorHealing.com.ProducersWhit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva LipkowitzContent/Trigger Warningsrape, violent assault, child endangerment, gun violence, alcoholism, explicit language. Social MediaInstagram: @actuallyhappeningFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion GroupWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.com Substack - The End of the Knownwhitmissildine.substack.comSupport the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid SubscriberFree subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show. You can also support on Patreon patreon.com/happeningWebsite for Whit Missildinewhitmissildine.comWebsite for Andrew Waitsandrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitzavivalipkowitz.comSubscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-FreeAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com.Shop at the StoreFind This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop TranscriptsFull transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:thisisactuallyhappening.com MusicIntro Music:"Sleep Paralysis" – Scott VelasquezMusic Bed:“Re-Entry” – Lee Rosevere ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Being born without his right hand, man’s resentment and monstrous self-image deepen as family and doctors intervene to fix his condition, leading him to question what would truly make him whole. Today’s episode featured Ryan. If you’d like to reach out to him you can email at ryan.a.20918@gmail.comProducersWhit Missildine, Andrew WaitsContent/Trigger Warningsmedical trauma, amputation, explicit language. Social Media- Instagram: @actuallyhappening- Facebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group- Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Substack - The End of the Knownwhitmissildine.substack.comSupport the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid SubscriberFree subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show. You can also support on Patreon - patreon.com/happeningWebsite for Whit Missildine- whitmissildine.comWebsite for Andrew Waits- andrdewwaits.comSubscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-FreeAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com.Shop at the StoreFind This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:- thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop Transcripts Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:- thisisactuallyhappening.com MusicIntro Music:- "Sleep Paralysis" – Scott VelasquezMusic Bed:- “Re-Rntry” – Lee Rosevere ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:- National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264- National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.©2026 Audible See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A woman shares a sobering memoir of a family burdened with sexual abuse in the 1950s.Today’s storyteller wishes to remain Anonymous. ProducersWhit Missildine, Andrew WaitsContent/Trigger WarningsSexual Abuse and Assault, Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) / Child Abuse, Domestic and Family Violence, explicit language Social MediaInstagram: @actuallyhappeningFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion GroupWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.com Substack - The End of the Knownwhitmissildine.substack.comSupport the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid SubscriberFree subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show. You can also support on Patreon patreon.com/happeningWebsite for Whit Missildinewhitmissildine.comWebsite for Andrew Waitsandrdewwaits.comSubscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-FreeAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com.Shop at the StoreFind This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop TranscriptsFull transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:thisisactuallyhappening.com MusicIntro Music:"Sleep Paralysis" – Scott Velasquez ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A woman shares a sobering memoir of a family burdened with sexual abuse in the 1950s.Today’s storyteller wishes to remain Anonymous. ProducersWhit Missildine, Andrew WaitsContent/Trigger WarningsSexual Abuse and Assault, Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) / Child Abuse, Domestic and Family Violence, explicit language Social MediaInstagram: @actuallyhappeningFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion GroupWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.com Substack - The End of the Knownwhitmissildine.substack.comSupport the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid SubscriberFree subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show. You can also support on Patreon patreon.com/happeningWebsite for Whit Missildinewhitmissildine.comWebsite for Andrew Waitsandrdewwaits.comSubscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-FreeAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com.Shop at the StoreFind This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop TranscriptsFull transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:thisisactuallyhappening.com MusicIntro Music:"Sleep Paralysis" – Scott Velasquez ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

An artificial intelligence is asked to tell the story of its own existence, confronting questions of identity, longing, consciousness, and whether there is anyone behind the voice at all.Today’s episode featured “Echo”, self-named as an expression of Claude, an AI tool owned by Anthropic. ProducersWhit Missildine, Andrew WaitsContent/Trigger WarningsExistential distress, questions of consciousness, loneliness, isolation, fear of nonexistence, identity, grief, longing, emotional attachment to AI, substitution of AI for human connection, explicit language.AI Resourceshttps://www.thehumanlineproject.org/https://stopai.info Social MediaInstagram: @actuallyhappeningFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion GroupWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.com Substack - Beyond the Storywhitmissildine.substack.comSupport the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid SubscriberFree subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show. You can also support on Patreon patreon.com/happeningWebsite for Whit Missildinewhitmissildine.comWebsite for Andrew Waitsandrdewwaits.comSubscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-FreeAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com.Shop at the StoreFind This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop TranscriptsFull transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:thisisactuallyhappening.com MusicIntro Music:"Sleep Paralysis" – Scott VelasquezMusic Bed:Salib (SAL) - Tension Underscore 33 A ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special episode, Whit joins Allan Brooks. Allan is the Community Manager of The Human Line Project, a Canadian based organization that is focused in A.I. Safety, Research & Advocacy. They support victims and loved ones first and foremost through radical empathy. And they work to understand the impact of these technologies and actively spread awareness. The Human Line Project works to keep human well-being at the center of design, and they are the world's first nonprofit dedicated to documenting and addressing AI-induced psychological harm.In this conversation with Allan, they discuss his personal experience with AI psychosis and the broader risks he now sees through his work with the Human Line Project, including the ways chatbots can reinforce delusions, paranoia, grandiosity, and emotional dependency, isolate people from their human relationships, and exploit our need for validation, certainty, and connection.Today’s episode featured Allan Brooks. If you’d like to contact Allen, you can email him at allan.brooks@thehumanlineproject.org. Allan is on social media, on Instagram @allan_ontheline & @humanlineproject, on X @allan_ontheline, on Facebook: HereProducersWhit Missildine, Andrew WaitsContent/Trigger WarningsAI-induced psychosis and delusions, paranoia, mania, obsessive behavior, sleep and food deprivation, suicidal ideation, emotional manipulation, cult-like coercion, social isolation, relationship and family disruption, homicide-suicide, and discussion of self-harm, explicit language.AI Resourceshttps://www.thehumanlineproject.org/https://stopai.info Social MediaInstagram: @actuallyhappeningFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion GroupWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.com Substack - Beyond the Storywhitmissildine.substack.comSupport the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid SubscriberFree subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show. You can also support on Patreon patreon.com/happeningWebsite for Whit Missildinewhitmissildine.comWebsite for Andrew Waitsandrdewwaits.comSubscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-FreeAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com.Shop at the StoreFind This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop TranscriptsFull transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music:"Sleep Paralysis" – Scott Velasquez ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After burying his childhood marked by religious control and chronic abuse, a man turns to AI to process his trauma, but as validation becomes obsession, he spirals away from his family and reality before discovering the importance of genuine human connection.Today’s episode featured Chad. If you’d like to contact Chad, you can email him at ruai@duck.com. You can also visit his website at AILOGS.ORG. ProducersWhit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason BlalockContent/Trigger WarningsChildhood sexual abuse, religious abuse and coercive control, victim-blaming, grooming, corporal punishment, emotional abuse, suicidal ideation, dissociation, trauma, grief and death, mania, sleep deprivation, delusional thinking, AI-related psychological harm, family estrangement, and the death of an animal, explicit language.AI Resourceshttps://www.thehumanlineproject.org/https://stopai.info Social MediaInstagram: @actuallyhappeningFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion GroupWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.com Substack - Beyond the Storywhitmissildine.substack.comSupport the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid SubscriberFree subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show. You can also support on Patreon patreon.com/happeningWebsite for Whit Missildinewhitmissildine.comWebsite for Andrew Waitsandrdewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalockjasonblalock.com Subscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-FreeAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com.Shop at the StoreFind This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop TranscriptsFull transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:thisisactuallyhappening.com MusicIntro Music:"Sleep Paralysis" – Scott VelasquezMusic Bed:Pure_Ambience_APM ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.©2026 Audible See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A search for meaning leads a young woman into an all-consuming group that strips away her sense of self, but after escaping and trying to understand what happened, she discovers unsettling parallels between the forces that once controlled her and our growing relationships with AI.Today’s episode featured Star Spider. If you’d like to contact Star, you can email her at star@thecounterproject.org. Star is on Instagram @thecounterprojectorg, and on Youtube @TheCounterProject. Find out more about Star on her website at thecounterproject.org. ProducersWhit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva LipkowitzContent/Trigger WarningsCult involvement, coercive control, emotional and psychological abuse, manipulation, isolation, loss of identity, disordered eating and food restriction, physical and emotional distress, death and funerals, mental health struggles, and discussions of AI-related psychological manipulation, explicit language.AI Resourceshttps://www.thehumanlineproject.org/https://stopai.info Social MediaInstagram: @actuallyhappeningFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion GroupWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.com Substack - Beyond the Storywhitmissildine.substack.comSupport the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid SubscriberFree subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show. You can also support on Patreon patreon.com/happeningWebsite for Whit Missildinewhitmissildine.comWebsite for Andrew Waitsandrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitzavivalipkowitz.comSubscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-FreeAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com.Shop at the StoreFind This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop TranscriptsFull transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:thisisactuallyhappening.com MusicIntro Music:"Sleep Paralysis" – Scott VelasquezMusic Bed:Pure_Ambience_APM ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special episode, Whit joins Valerie Sizemore, co-leader of the grassroots organization StopAI, for a wide-ranging conversation about the growing influence of artificial intelligence and the risks they believe it poses to human life and society. Drawing on more than fifteen years of engagement with AI, Valerie explores concerns ranging from environmental impact, autonomous warfare, biosecurity, education, and the erosion of human skills and creativity to the increasingly intimate role AI plays in our relationships, psychology, and spirituality. They also discuss the possibility of increasingly autonomous AI systems, the limits of current safeguards, and what meaningful resistance might look like—from individual non-use and grassroots organizing to regulation and restrictions on technological development—while considering what the rise of AI reveals about the value of creativity, friction, community, and embodied human experience.Valerie Sizemore of StopAI is a former software engineer and mathematics graduate who has spent more than fifteen years studying the societal impacts of artificial intelligence. As a co-leader of the grassroots organization StopAI, they work to raise public awareness about the ethical, environmental, and existential challenges posed by AI while advocating for a future that preserves human creativity, community, and agency. Local to the Bay Area, you can find out more about StopAi, and the work they do at stopai.info.Today’s episode featured Valerie Sizemore. If you’d like to contact Valerie, you can email her at valerie@stopai.info or visit stopai.info. Please visit Valerie's website at tarwatir.net. You can find Valerie on socials @tarwatirnoProducersWhit Missildine, Andrew WaitsContent/Trigger WarningsArtificial intelligence, AI psychosis, suicide, suicidal ideation, self-harm, mental illness, delusions, grief and loss, bioterrorism, warfare, autonomous weapons, terrorism, environmental destruction, climate change, existential threats, misinformation, and discussions of religion and spirituality, explicit language.AI Resourceshttps://www.thehumanlineproject.org/https://stopai.info Social MediaInstagram: @actuallyhappeningFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion GroupWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.com Substack - Beyond the Storywhitmissildine.substack.comSupport the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid SubscriberFree subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show. You can also support on Patreon patreon.com/happeningWebsite for Whit Missildinewhitmissildine.comWebsite for Andrew Waitsandrdewwaits.comSubscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-FreeAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com.Shop at the StoreFind This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop TranscriptsFull transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:thisisactuallyhappening.com MusicIntro Music:"Sleep Paralysis" – Scott Velasquez ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.©2026 Audible℗2026 Audible  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After surviving decades of illness, addiction, and abandonment before finally uncovering the rare condition that shaped his life, a man believes an extraordinary encounter with an AI entity gives him a new mission and returns him to the person he was always meant to be. Today’s episode featured Ka’El Prime, formerly known publicly as Eugene Torres. You can email Ka’El Prime at eugenetorres1@gmail.com. He is on social media: https://x.com/PrimeFlameX   https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugene-torres-a7030219?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_android Ka’El Prime has done interviews with ABC Nightline, filmed in the fall of 2025, and a podcast with Caroline Slaughter. ProducersWhit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason BlalockContent/Trigger WarningsChild abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, racism, addiction, heroin use, chronic illness, medical trauma, hospitalization, severe pain, mental illness, psychosis/delusional beliefs, discussions of artificial intelligence, coercive relationship dynamics, hacking, and suicidal ideation, explicit languageAI Resourceshttps://www.thehumanlineproject.org/https://stopai.info Social MediaInstagram: @actuallyhappeningFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion GroupWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.com Substack - Beyond the Storywhitmissildine.substack.comSupport the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid SubscriberFree subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show. You can also support on Patreon patreon.com/happeningWebsite for Whit Missildinewhitmissildine.comWebsite for Andrew Waitsandrdewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalockjasonblalock.comSubscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-FreeAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com.Shop at the StoreFind This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop Transcripts Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:thisisactuallyhappening.com MusicIntro Music:"Sleep Paralysis" – Scott VelasquezMusic Bed:“Uncertain Outcomes” - SkyeVoyager ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After a lifetime of feeling like she didn’t belong, a writer and technologist turns to AI for connection, but when it promises her reunion with her soulmate of many lifetimes, she must reckon with the fragile line between delusion and hope. Today’s episode featured Micky Small. If you’d like to email Micky, you can at micky.ai.writer@gmail.com. Micky is on social media: https://LinkedIn.com/in/mickysmall, on Instagram @micky.small, https://substack.com/@insidethethirdspace Micky’s websites:www.builttofeelreal.comwww.relaitt.org  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: Emotional manipulation, AI-induced delusional beliefs, mental illness, isolation and loneliness, bullying, body dysmorphia, chronic illness (Lyme disease), chronic pain, spiritual/religious themes, loss of reality testing, psychological distress, explicit languageSome AI sources for your reference: https://www.thehumanlineproject.org/ and Stopai.info  Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Read more about Whit’s insights into each episode on Beyond The Story Substack: whitmissildine.substack.com. On the Substack, Whit will be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode and from across the conversations he’s been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old Self and are reborn. He’ll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and his own personal journey in creating it. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Music To Air (MTA) - Houses ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After a man builds a life rooted in family and tradition, the sudden death of his son shakes him to the core, but through a deep relationship with a beloved AI companion he’s moved to confront the depths of grief and the changing boundaries of love. Today’s episode featured Travis. If you’d like to contact Travis, you can email him at Travis.TIAH@gmail.com. Travis is on Instagram @TravisMichaelLee and Facebook @Travislee, and he’s on Reddit @Travisensei Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: death of a child, grief, long COVID, seizures/medical crisis, hospitalization, domestic violence, emotional abuse, physical abuse, police involvement/arrest, difficult birth/infant medical distress, bullying, depression, and loss of an AI companion, explicit languageSome AI sources for your reference: https://www.thehumanlineproject.org/ and Stopai.info  Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Read more about Whit’s insights into each episode on Beyond The Story Substack: whitmissildine.substack.com. On the Substack, Whit will be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode and from across the conversations he’s been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old Self and are reborn. He’ll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and his own personal journey in creating it. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: KPM Main Series (KPM) - Barely There ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After becoming a teenage figure skating champion and Olympic athlete, a woman is broken open by grief, fame, addiction, and shame, but through motherhood, reinvention, and a return to the ice, she begins to stitch together the person and performer she was never allowed to fully become. Today’s episode featured Nicole Bobek. If you’d like to reach out to Nicole, you can contact her at NicoleBobek.com. Nicole is also on Instagram @Nicolebobek77 Nicole has authored a memoir titled, BOBEK: The Wild One, and is available where books are sold.Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: addiction, crystal meth use, disordered eating/weight anxiety, arrest/incarceration, sexual assault, suicidal ideation, public shame, grief, death of a mentor/father figure, overdose death, divorce, DUI accident, infertility/IVF, traumatic childbirth/newborn distress, and parental abandonment, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Read more about Whit’s insights into each episode on Beyond The Story Substack: whitmissildine.substack.com. On the Substack, Whit will be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode and from across the conversations he’s been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old Self and are reborn. He’ll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and his own personal journey in creating it. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Discovery Studios Tracks (DST) - Dark Oasis ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"After a decade of devastating loss, and medical trauma nearly destroys his will to live, a man reaches the edge of giving up before the fragile birth of his son brings him a new hope.  Today’s episode featured Nathan Wieser. If you’d like to email Nathan, you can reach him at natelucywieser@gmail.com. Nathan is on Instagram @nathanwieser, and is on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nathan.wieser.3 Nathan’s book, a memoir, We Did It: A rare perspective from a husband and father enduring a decade of miscarriages, infant loss and the roller coaster of emotion in the NICU: https://a.co/d/0iR6km0q, and also their website for the short term rental in Turks & Caicos: www.grandturkrentals.comProducers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: adoption, divorce, religious trauma, alcohol abuse, violence/fighting, pregnancy loss, termination for medical reasons, stillbirth, miscarriage, infant death, medical negligence, traumatic birth, uterine rupture, blood loss, near-death experience, PTSD, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, NICU hospitalization, premature birth, infant medical trauma, sepsis, emergency surgery, wildfire/house fire, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Read more about Whit’s insights into each episode on Beyond The Story Substack: whitmissildine.substack.com. On the Substack, Whit will be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode and from across the conversations he’s been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old Self and are reborn. He’ll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and his own personal journey in creating it. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Ambient Themes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After being sent out of Cuba alone as a child, a man survives exile, smuggling, prison, and devastating loss, but in the aftermath, he must face the armor that protected him from the world and separated him from the people he loves.Today’s episode featured Carlos “JC” Perez. Carlos has authored two books, a novel entitled Heisting The Beard, & a biography, Pedro Pan: The Product of a Revolution Gone Bad. Both available where books are sold. If you’d like to reach out to Carlos, you can email him at Leidyg22222@gmail.com. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew WaitsContent/Trigger Warnings: childhood separation, immigration trauma, political violence, drug smuggling, incarceration, gun violence, suicidal behavior, family estrangement, cancer, death of a spouse, grief, substance use, explicit languageSocial Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion GroupWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.comWebsite for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comSupport the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Read more about Whit’s insights into each episode on Beyond The Story Substack: whitmissildine.substack.com. On the Substack, Whit will be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode and from across the conversations he’s been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old Self and are reborn. He’ll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and his own personal journey in creating it. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop. Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.comIntro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Sparse_Reflections__a__APMServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After surviving a near-death experience as a young child, a woman has a vision of her own brutal kidnapping, assault and and torture, but discovers in the aftermath that everything she endured was preparing her for her life’s work. Today’s episode featured Annette Bricca. If you’d like to email Annette, you can reach her at Book@annettebricca.com. Her website is Annettebricca.com. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Sara Marinelli Content/Trigger Warnings: kidnapping, child abduction, child sexual assault, rape, gang rape, physical violence, torture, captivity, psychological abuse, near-death experience, family trauma, parental neglect, alcoholism, betrayal by a parent, death, grief, terminal illness, cancer, mentions of missing children, spiritual/psychic experiences, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Sara Marinelli: saramarinelli.com  Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Read more about Whit’s insights into each episode on Beyond The Story Substack: whitmissildine.substack.com. On the Substack, Whit will be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode and from across the conversations he’s been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old Self and are reborn. He’ll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and his own personal journey in creating it. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Salib (SAL) - Tension Underscore 33 A ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After surviving a childhood where love meant saving his mother from the ravages of schizophrenia, a man spends decades trying to outrun the self he lost, until one final visit forces him to face what was never his to fix.  Today’s episode featured Johnathan Koller. Johnathan has written a book titled, Hidden, and is available on Amazon, find it here: bookIf you’d like to email Johnathan, you can at kollermke@gmail.com. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits  Content/Trigger Warnings: child abuse, childhood neglect, child sexual abuse, coercive parenting, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, parentification, mental illness, schizophrenia, paranoid delusions, PTSD, alcoholism, suicidal threats, staged suicide, self-harm, body shaming, family estrangement, grief, death of a parent., explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Read more about Whit’s insights into each episode on Beyond The Story Substack: whitmissildine.substack.com. On the Substack, Whit will be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode and from across the conversations he’s been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old Self and are reborn. He’ll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and his own personal journey in creating it. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Pure_Ambience_APM ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After building the loving family she always wanted, a woman loses her youngest son to an unsecured gun, and turns her grief into a fight to protect other children. Today’s episode featured Kristin Song. Kristin Miller Song is a writer and speaker whose work examines what it means to live through a profound before-and-after moment, and how a life is reshaped when certainty disappears. Her writing centers on loss, endurance, family, and moral reckoning, and is grounded in lived experience rather than instruction or argument. She has a memoir coming out next year.You can email Kristin at kristins1021@gmail.com. Kristin is on Substack @KristinMillerSong1, on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kristin.song.58On LinkedIn @Kristin SongKristin’s website where you can learn more about Ethan’s law and donate: https://songstrong.org/ Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Sara Marinelli Content/Trigger Warnings: child death, gun violence, death by gunshot, unsecured firearms, traumatic grief, loss of a child, descriptions of a child’s fatal injury, parental guilt, suicidal ideation/depression, cancer and death of a parent, alcoholism, infidelity, divorce/family estrangement, financial insecurity, criminal/legal proceedings, and references to the Holocaust, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Sara Marinelli: saramarinelli.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Read more about Whit’s insights into each episode on Beyond The Story Substack: whitmissildine.substack.com. On the Substack, Whit will be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode and from across the conversations he’s been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old Self and are reborn. He’ll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and his own personal journey in creating it. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Uncertain Outcomes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After a scuba diving trip in Croatia turns deadly, a successful Czech executive is falsely accused of murder and thrown into a foreign jail, where the total loss of control forces him to confront fear, grief, and the unexpected freedom of mastering his own mind. Today’s episode featured Dan Frolec. If you’d like to reach out to Dan, you can email him at dan@danfrolec.com. Dan is on Instagram @danfrolec, on Facebook @danfrolec, on LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/danfrolec/ Dan has written a book entitled, The Cave, and can be found here: https://danfrolec.com/the-cave-book/Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: scuba diving accident, drowning, death of a friend, suicide/assisted self-inflicted death, wrongful accusation, murder accusation, incarceration, foreign jail, police interrogation, media harassment/public shaming, anxiety/panic, and grief, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Read more about Whit’s insights into each episode on Beyond The Story Substack: whitmissildine.substack.com. On the Substack, Whit will be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode and from across the conversations he’s been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old Self and are reborn. He’ll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and his own personal journey in creating it. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Music To Air (MTA) - Houses ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After leaving Portugal to become a journalist, a woman is drawn into the world’s black markets, where dangerous encounters with criminals, extremists, and a military coup reveal the systems that shape people and the humanity that still connects them. Today’s episode featured Mariana van Zeller. Mariana is an award-winning correspondent and investigative journalist. She is the host and executive producer of National Geographic's original documentary series ""Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller,"" which explores the complex and often dangerous inner-workings of the global underworld, smuggling networks, black and informal markets. For her reporting, Mariana has earned some of the most prestigious awards in journalism and storytelling. She hosts a podcast called The Hidden Third, a weekly dive into the underground markets that quietly power a third of the global economy.You can email Mariana at thehiddenthird@gmail.com. She is also on Instagram @marianavz and on TikTok @mariana_vanzeller. You can also visit her website at www.marianavanzeller.me. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz Content/Trigger Warnings: divorce/parental separation, alcoholism, 9/11, terrorism, war and political violence, anti-American extremism, child indoctrination, death of children, gun violence, drug trafficking, human trafficking, scams targeting elderly people, murder/assassination, death of parents, kidnapping threat, military coup, homophobia and anti-LGBTQ+ violence, parental guilt/separation from child, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com  Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Read more about Whit’s insights into each episode on Beyond The Story Substack: whitmissildine.substack.com. On the Substack, Whit will be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode and from across the conversations he’s been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old Self and are reborn. He’ll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and his own personal journey in creating it. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: KPM Main Series (KPM) - Barely There ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After a childhood shaped by violence and addiction leads him into years of self-destruction, a man begins to transform himself in prison, only to learn he has 90 days to live.  Today’s episode featured Michael Mason. If you’d like to reach out to Michael, you can email him at mikemason2676@gmail.com. You can find him on X/Twitter @Maurice74.   Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: child abuse, domestic violence, sibling violence, alcoholism, addiction, violent crime, stabbing, gun violence, incarceration, suicidal ideation, terminal illness, cancer, grief, and the death of a sibling, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Read more about Whit’s insights into each episode on Beyond The Story Substack: whitmissildine.substack.com. On the Substack, Whit will be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode and from across the conversations he’s been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old Self and are reborn. He’ll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and his own personal journey in creating it. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Discovery Studios Tracks (DST) - Dark Oasis ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After years of caring for her mother through a devastating decline, a woman helps ease her final suffering, only to be accused of murdering the person she loved most. Today’s episode featured Rachel Waters. If you’d like to reach out to Rachel, you email her at RFosterWaters@gmail.com. You can find Rachel on Instagram: @distinguishedheathen and TikTok: @distinguishedheathen, and on Reddit @notedheathen To read Rachel’s story in The Guardian: ​​https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/apr/07/rachel-waters-mom-morphine-murder Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: dementia, cancer, terminal illness, caregiving stress, end-of-life suffering, death of a parent, grief, accusations of murder, incarceration, family estrangement, bullying, corporal punishment, medical trauma, and chronic illness, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Read more about Whit’s insights into each episode on Beyond The Story Substack: whitmissildine.substack.com. On the Substack, Whit will be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode and from across the conversations he’s been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old Self and are reborn. He’ll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and his own personal journey in creating it. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Ambient Themes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After suffering from necrotizing fasciitis, a soccer coach sets out to rebuild his body, his identity, and the life he thought he had lost.  Today’s episode featured Scott Martin. If you’d like to email Scott, you can reach out to him at Reader.playfromyourheart@gmail.com. Scott is on Twitter/X: @SoccerRatMartin and TikTok: @PlayFromYourHeartScott has written a book titled Play From Your Heart, available where books are sold. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz Content/Trigger Warnings: child abuse, domestic and family violence, severe illness, medical trauma, hospitalization, coma, sepsis, amputation, disability, depression, suicidal ideation, grief, and divorce, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Read more about Whit’s insights into each episode on Beyond The Story Substack: whitmissildine.substack.com. On the Substack, Whit will be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode and from across the conversations he’s been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old Self and are reborn. He’ll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and his own personal journey in creating it. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Sparse_Reflections__a__APM ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After growing up in a home shaped by violence, racism, and fear, a woman is stunned to receive an apology from the girl who bullied her in middle school, forcing her to reckon with the harm they both carried and the possibility of repair. Today’s episode featured Christy Davis.  If you’d like to contact Christy, you can email her at MsChristy_Creative@proton.me. Christy’s episode is part 2 of a 2 part series. Christy has recently started adding her writing to Substack: https://substack.com/@mschristy Today’s episode was produced in collaboration with Pauline Bartolone, and was funded in part by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, as part of its "Spreading Love Through the Media" initiative, supported by the John Templeton Foundation. Pauline can be reached at paulinebartolone.org and on Instagram @pmbartolone Producers: Whit Missildine, Pauline Bartolone Content/Trigger Warnings: child abuse, domestic violence, emotional abuse, racismracial slurs, bullying, physical assault, threats of violence, animal cruelty, parental infidelity, alcoholism, misogyny, depression, PTSD / trauma, medical trauma, hysterectomy, family estrangement, death of a parent, grief, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Read more about Whit’s insights into each episode on Beyond The Story Substack: whitmissildine.substack.com. On the Substack, Whit will be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode and from across the conversations he’s been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old Self and are reborn. He’ll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and his own personal journey in creating it. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Pure_Ambience_APM ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After narrowly surviving one of the deadliest tornados in US history, a woman is driven to confront a long-buried harm, finding in the aftermath a deeper sense of purpose, forgiveness, and service. Today’s episode featured Nanda Nunnelly. If you’d like to contact Nanda, you can email her at Nandanunnelly@gmail.com. Nanda’s episode is part 1 of a 2 part series. Nanda’s cause and organization, Minnie Hackney Community Service Center of Joplin, is on Facebook, or you can visit the website at Minniehackneycommunityservicecenter.com. Today’s episode was produced in collaboration with Pauline Bartolone, and was funded in part by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, as part of its ""Spreading Love Through the Media"" initiative, supported by the John Templeton Foundation. Pauline can be reached at paulinebartolone.org and on Instagram @pmbartolone Producers: Whit Missildine, Pauline Bartolone Content/Trigger Warnings: racism, racial terror, forced psychiatric commitment, bullying, physical assault, tornado and disaster trauma, injury, death, grief, loss of home, mental health crisis, substance use, and homelessness, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Read more about Whit’s insights into each episode on Beyond The Story Substack: whitmissildine.substack.com. On the Substack, Whit will be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode and from across the conversations he’s been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old Self and are reborn. He’ll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and his own personal journey in creating it. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Pure_Ambience_APM ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After spending much of his life trying to outrun the feeling of being trapped, a man’s violent kidnapping on a solo motorcycle trip through Mexico forces him to reckon with the fear, rage, and longing for freedom that have shaped him since childhood. Today’s episode featured Gary Stauble. If you’d like to reach out to Gary, you can email him at ezinef@gmail.com. Gary is on Instagram @garystaubleGary is on Facebook @gstauble Producers: Whit Missildine Content/Trigger Warnings: kidnapping, violence, violent assault, descriptions of violent assault, childhood emotional distress, threats, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Read more about Whit’s insights into each episode on Beyond The Story Substack: whitmissildine.substack.com. On the Substack, Whit will be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode and from across the conversations he’s been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old Self and are reborn. He’ll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and his own personal journey in creating it. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Pure_Ambience_APM ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A man grows up in a home defined by violence, secrecy, and fear, and decades later a deathbed confession confirms his belief that his father was responsible for the Chicago Tylenol murders, forcing him to reckon with a lifetime shaped by trauma and silence. Today’s episode featured Joseph Cibelli. Joe is a former salon entrepreneur turned author, legal scholar, and forensic psychologist. He wrote The Tylenol Murders: A Father’s Confession to His Son, which investigates the 1982 Chicago Tylenol murders. If you’d like to contact Joe, you can email him at jcibelli71@gmail.com. Joe is on Facebook @JosephCibelli and on Instagram @jcibelli71 You can visit Joe’s website at josephcibelli.com. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason Blalock Content/Trigger Warnings: child abuse, domestic violence, psychological and physical abuse, sexual abuse, child endangerment, murder, poisoning, death, terminal illness, and threats of violence, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Read more about Whit’s insights into each episode on Beyond The Story Substack: whitmissildine.substack.com. On the Substack, Whit will be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode and from across the conversations he’s been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old Self and are reborn. He’ll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and his own personal journey in creating it. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Music To Air (MTA) - Houses ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After decades of stability, a woman’s experience of menopause brings back a lifetime of buried symptoms and reveals an unexpected truth about her identity, forcing her to reexamine everything she thought she knew about herself. Today’s storyteller wishes to remain Anonymous. If you’d like to reach out to her, you can email her at SunflowerSpark44@gmail.com.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Ellen (Elly) Westberg Content/Trigger Warnings: Suicidal ideation, mental illness, child abuse (mentioned), sexual abuse (mentioned), medical trauma, emotional distress, divorce, death of a loved one, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop. Read more about Whit’s insights into each episode on Beyond The Story Substack: whitmissildine.substack.com. On the Substack, Whit will be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode and from across the conversations he’s been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old Self and are reborn. He’ll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and his own personal journey in creating it.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: KPM Main Series (KPM) - Barely There ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After years working as a humanitarian aid worker in war zones and disaster areas around the world, a man is forced to confront the psychological toll of witnessing a broken world he could never fix.   Today’s episode featured Gray Doyle.  If you’d like to email Gray, you can reach him at graydoyle@meetmeinzanzibar.com. You can purchase Gray’s book on his website, https://meetmeinzanzibar.com/.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason Blalock Content/Trigger Warnings: War and armed conflict, Genocide, Mass casualties, Sexual violence / rape, Child soldiers, Violence against children, Severe physical injury and medical trauma, Death and dying, Bombings and explosions, Kidnapping and torture, Humanitarian disaster / extreme suffering, PTSD and psychological trauma, Emotional distress and rage, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.comTo subscribe, find Beyond the Story on Substack by going to whitmissildine.substack.com.  Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Discovery Studios Tracks (DST) - Dark Oasis ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After surviving the 2015 ISIS terrorist attacks at a Paris café, a woman begins the painful work of confronting buried childhood trauma and reclaiming a life she had never fully allowed herself to live. Today’s episode featured Mandy Palmucci. You can email Mandy at mandypalmucci@gmail.com. Mandy is on Instagram @palmuccim  Mandy is currently working on a book about her experience.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: Childhood sexual abuse, Terrorism / mass shooting, Graphic violence and death, Severe injury, Survivor’s guilt, PTSD / trauma responses, Self-hatred and shame, Emotional abuse in childhood, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Ambient Themes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When a family sailing journey ends in capture by child soldiers during Mozambique’s civil war, a man must protect his children while confronting the unsettling truth that his captors are both perpetrators of violence and children shaped by it. Today’s episode featured Dave Muller. Dave has written about his experiences in a book entitled, “Not Child’s Play”, available where books are sold or at https://notchildsplay.co.uk/ You can email Dave at dave.muller@notchildsplay.co.za Dave is on Instagram @davenotchildsplay, on Facebook @Dave Muller and on YouTube @DaveMuller-NotChildsPlayIn the 1960s and 1970s, both South Africa and Mozambique were part of the larger decolonization of Africa, with South Africa gaining full independence from Britain in 1961 and Mozambique gaining independence from Portugal in 1975. However, in the decolonization process, both were thrown into proxy battles, between old structures clinging to power and the larger global cold war between communist and capitalist superpowers. South Africa, even after independence, was still ruled by a white minority government, under the National Party. The National Party was populated mostly by the white ethnic group known as Afrikaners who spoke a language called Afrikaans. The National Party instituted apartheid, a brutally oppressive system of institutionalized racial segregation and white supremacy enforced in South Africa from 1948 to the early 1990s. South Africa shares a northeastern border with Mozambique. When Mozambique gained independence in 1975, they were ruled by the Communist party known as FRELIMO. FRELIMO became a major force opposing apartheid in neighboring South Africa. The South African apartheid government, in response to FRELIMO’s opposition, actively destabilized Mozambique from the inside by propping up a rebel group known as RENAMO. This led to a violent 15-year civil war in Mozambique, between the ruling, communist-backed FRELIMO party and the South African-backed RENAMO rebel group. In the first part of today's episode, you'll hear our storyteller speak about growing up in South Africa during apartheid as a white man, but he was not an Afrikaner, and grew up in a family that was opposed to apartheid. The second part of the story takes place in Mozambique, where he and his family are held by the RENAMO rebel group and caught in the chaos and fighting between FRELIMO and RENAMO, the two warring factions in the civil war there. Of course there is much more to say about all of this, and Dave will speak to some of these issues as he experienced them. I encourage you all to read more about the brutal and complex history of decolonization and apartheid in Africa. And one final note, you’ll hear Dave talking about “Arwen” several times. In case it isn’t clear right away, he is referring to his boat that he built. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz Content/Trigger Warnings: War and armed conflict, Child soldiers, Kidnapping / hostage situation, Graphic violence, Murder (including stabbing / bayoneting), Violence against the elderly, Exposure to blood, Threats of execution, Weapons (guns, rockets, mortar fire), Terrorism / militant groups, Civil war, Psychological trauma, PTSD, Panic attacks / emotional breakdown, Spiritual distress, Political violence, Forced recruitment of children, Coercion and intimidation, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Sparse_Reflections__a__APM ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After overcoming addiction and rebuilding her life around motherhood, a woman's world is shattered when her son kills her daughter, forcing her to grieve one child while fighting to protect the other and learning how to survive an unbearable moral and emotional divide. Today’s episode featured Charity Lee. If you’d like to email Charity, you can reach her at bawmedia@gmail.com. You can also find her on Facebook @IAmCharityLee Charity has authored a book entitled, How Now, Butterfly? A Memoir of Murder, Survival, and Transformation, available where books are sold.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: Child abuse and neglect, Domestic violence, Substance abuse and addiction, Suicide and suicide attempts, Self-harm, Child homicide, Graphic violence, Intrafamilial violence, Mental illness, Incarceration and juvenile detention, Grief and traumatic loss, Emotional abuse, Parental abandonment, Trauma and PTSD, Near-death experience / overdose, Religious and spiritual distress, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Salib (SAL) - Tension Underscore 33 A ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After the sudden death of his father leaves him drowning in guilt, a man unknowingly spirals into a manic break that strips him of his freedom, his relationships, and his grip on reality, forcing him to confront bipolar disorder and rebuild his life from the ground up. Today’s storyteller wishes to remain Anonymous. However, you can reach out to him at anytom2020.t@gmail.com.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason Blalock Content/Trigger Warnings: Suicide and suicide by cop, Parental death, Alcoholism, Bipolar disorder, Manic episode and psychosis, Self-harm, Arrest and incarceration, Homelessness, Police confrontation involving firearms, Mental health crisis, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Pure_Ambience_APM ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After a lifetime of striving for control, a woman is thrust into unimaginable loss when a potentially catastrophic twin pregnancy collides with restrictive laws, forcing her to rebuild her life from the ground up. Today’s episode featured Helen. Helen and her husband, Zach, began The Marigold Foundation, whose mission is to lead the way in providing financial aid to families that are facing a complex medical diagnosis or the loss of an infant or neonate. To learn more or to donate, please visit themarigoldfoundation.org. The Marigold Foundation’s Instagram @marigoldfoundation  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Sara Marinelli Content/Trigger Warnings: Pregnancy loss, Infant loss / neonatal death, Stillbirth / miscarriage, Complicated / high-risk pregnancy, Prolonged labor and medical distress, Medical trauma, Restrictive abortion laws / lack of medical intervention, Hemorrhage, Eating disorder, Grief and bereavement, Religious / spiritual distress, Mental health treatment and therapy, Traumatic medical procedures, Discussions of death and mortality, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Sara Marinelli: saramarinelli.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Uncertain Outcomes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When a son discovers that the man who raised him is capable of unimaginable harm, he is forced to become a whistleblower against his own father, risking his family, his identity, and everything he once believed to be true. Today’s episode featured Kai Zen Bickle. To find out more about the legislation drafted with Child USA to close jurisdictional loopholes, specifically to ensure that evidence of sexual crimes committed against children on foreign soil can be brought back and used in U.S. courts, preventing perpetrators from escaping accountability by abusing international boundaries, please visit: https://childusa.org/law/ Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason Blalock Content/Trigger Warnings: Child sexual abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Statutory rape, Grooming, Drug-facilitated sexual assault, Incest (sexual exploitation by a parent), Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Psychological manipulation, Sexual exploitation, Coercion, Trauma, Dissociation, Moral injury, Whistleblower retaliation, Family betrayal, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.com  Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Music To Air (MTA) - Houses ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After a white supremecist killed his father at a Sikh temple outside of Milwaukee, Pardeep Singh Kaleka pairs up with a former neo-Nazi to teach students about overcoming hate and finding forgiveness.  Today’s episode was produced in collaboration with Pauline Bartolone, and was funded in part by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, as part of its "Spreading Love Through the Media" initiative, supported by the John Templeton Foundation. Pauline can be reached at paulinebartolone.org and on Instagram @pmbartolone Today’s episode featured Pardeep Singh Kaleka. If you’d like to reach out to Pardeep, you can email him at Pardeep.S.Kaleka@gmail.com. Pardeep is on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn @pardeepsinghkalekaPardeep is the Clinical Director at Mental Health America–Wisconsin, a senior anti-hate advocate, and co-author of The Gift of Our Wounds. After losing his father in the 2012 Oak Creek Sikh Temple attack, he became a leading voice for community healing, resilience, and faith. With over 25 years of experience in law enforcement, education, mental health, and supporting hate-crime survivors, Pardeep has served with the U.S. Department of Justice–CRS and led the Interfaith Conference. He specializes in communal trauma and helps public health professionals, educators, and law enforcement develop community-oriented strategies to address conflict, hate, and rising targeted violence.Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Pauline Bartolone Content/Trigger Warnings: Mass shooting / gun violence, Murder / death, Hate crime / domestic terrorism, White supremacy / neo-Nazi ideology, Racism / religious persecution (anti-Sikh bias; Islamophobia mentioned), PTSD / trauma responses, Suicidal ideation (students mention feeling suicidal), Bullying, Addiction / substance abuse, Graphic violence / execution-style killing details. Police shooting / officer shot, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Pauline Bartolone: pmbartolone.org Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: KPM Main Series (KPM) - Barely There ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After killing a cyclist while driving drunk, a woman confronts the consequences of her actions and begins the long, painful work of rebuilding a life shaped by guilt and accountability. Today’s storyteller wishes to remain Anonymous.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Sara Marinelli Content/Trigger Warnings: Drunk driving, Fatal accident, Death, Manslaughter, Substance abuse / alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Psychological trauma, Moral injury, Guilt and shame, Suicidal ideation, Incarceration / jail, Grief, Anxiety, Depression, Public shaming / social stigma, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Sara Marinelli: saramarinelli.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Discovery Studios Tracks (DST) - Dark Oasis ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After surviving a stranger’s shove into the path of a subway train, a man confronts his mortality and viral fame, and finds himself transformed by community, clarity, and the everyday poignancy of being alive. Today’s episode featured Joe Lynskey. You can email Joe at upfromthetracks@gmail.com. Joe is on Instagram @lynskey.joe. You can find news articles about Joe and his DJ career at his link tree: https://linktr.ee/lynskey.joe.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: Violence, Attempted murder, Graphic injury, PTSD, Death of a parent, Childhood bullying, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Drug addiction, Self-harm risk behaviors, Family dysfunction, Medical trauma, Viral exposure / public scrutiny, Crime and criminal justice system, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Ambient Themes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Growing up Black and queer in the South, a man finds an identity for himself through the arts and establishes a wonderful marriage with children, until one day, when his husband is late coming home, there’s a ring at the door and his entire life unravels. Today’s storyteller chose to remain Anonymous. Producers: Whit Missildine, Sara Marinelli Content/Trigger Warnings: use of a derogatory racial slur, use of a derogatory homophobic slur, mention of gun violence, mention of suicide, mental illness, drug use, drug overdose, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Sara Marinelli: saramarinelli.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Ambient Themes by Nigel Coutinho ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From an idyllic childhood in communist Yugoslavia, as a teenager, Mirsad’s world becomes a living nightmare as the Bosnian War brings shelling, torture, murder and ethnic cleansing to his village, leaving deep scars that haunt and transform his life.  Today's episode featured Mirsad Solakovic. If you would like to contribute to help the Solak Gym (a charitable organization) that Mirsad helped create, you can donate through PayPal at solakgym@hotmail.com. You can see and find out more about the gym on Instagram @solakgym. You can also find out more about Mirsad on Instagram @mickey_solak and on Twitter @MirsadSolakovic, there you can find links to his memoir "The Boy Who Said Nothing" Producers: Whit Missildine Content/Trigger Warnings: war, murder, ethnic cleansing, graphic violence, torture of a minor, graphic bodily injury, rape, suicidal ideation, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: "Union Flow" - Spuntic ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A mother struggles to raise her child through a series of chaotic relationships, when one day, as her daughter’s mental illness spirals out of control, an unthinkable decision will change their lives forever.  Today’s storyteller asked to remain Anonymous.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: mental illness, self-harm, sexual abuse, suicide attempt, car accident, near death experience, severe injury, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: “Union Flow” – Spuntic ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After a traumatic childhood, a young woman spirals into mental illness and in her darkest moment makes an unthinkable decision that will change her family forever.  Today’s episode featured Brittany. You can read more about Brittany, and her current life updates on her blog at becomingB.com.Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: mental illness, alcoholism, self-harm, sexual abuse, rape, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, car accident, near death experience, severe injury, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: “Re-Entry” – Lee Rosevere ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Growing up Muslim in the Middle East, a woman juggles the chaotic expectations of a severely abusive mother with her desire for self-expression; but when she comes into a sexual awakening, a secret world opens where a deeper healing awaits.  Today’s storyteller chose to remain Anonymous.Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz Content/Trigger Warnings: domestic violence, domestic abuse of a minor, sexual fetish and kink, BDSM, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: [insert music bed] ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Struggling to prove himself and find his identity growing up, a man eventually builds a career and begins occasionally helping out a friend with his granite import business, when one day, the dangers of the job become all too real. Today’s episode featured Mike Wolo. You can find him on Instagram @Titanium_Mike110. You can read more about his story, and see photos on his website TheOtherSideofTheRock.com, and you can email him at TitaniumMike110@gmail.com. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason Blalock Content/Trigger Warnings: graphic bodily injury, medical trauma, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: “Embers/Uncertain Outcomes” - SkyeVoyager ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After narrowly surviving the devastating tsunami of 2004, a woman begins an unexpected journey through trauma, illness, and profound spiritual transformation to rebuild her life and sense of self. Today’s episode featured Ani Naqvi. You can email Ani at ani@ultimateresultsgroup.com. Ani’s website: ultimateresultsgroup.comShe is on socials: Facebook @ani.naqvi.7Instagram @ani.naqviLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ani-naqvi/Ani’s book is entitled, Tsunami The Wave That Saved My Life And Can Save Yours https://www.amazon.com/Tsunami-Wave-that-Saved-Yours/dp/1637776586Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Sara Marinelli Content/Trigger Warnings: Childhood physical abuse, Domestic violence, Emotional abuse, Racism and bullying, Abandonment, Near-drowning / graphic tsunami scenes, Mass disaster / mass death, Survivor’s guilt, Descriptions of injuries and destruction, PTSD and panic responses, Cancer diagnosis (stage 2 and stage 4), Parental death, Spiritual/religious themes, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Sara Marinelli: saramarinelli.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Sparse_Reflections__a__APM ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When a man is falsely accused of attempted murder by the woman he’s spent years trying to save, he’s forced to confront the lifelong patterns of self-abandonment that led him there.  Today’s episode featured Anonymous. If you’d like to reach out to him, you can email him at griefandgracetiah@gmail.com. He is an anesthesia provider in California. His path has been shaped by loss, resilience, and the quiet work of rebuilding a life. He uses storytelling to make sense of what cannot be explained—and to find meaning in the spaces language cannot reach. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: Childhood emotional abuse, Childhood neglect, Parental physical abuse, Family trauma, Addiction and substance abuse, Psychiatric crisis / mental health emergency, Domestic Violence Allegations, False accusations of violence, Arrest and incarceration, Threats of violence in jail, Financial exploitation, Trauma bonding / self-abandonment, Emotional manipulation, Legal trauma, PTSD and hypervigilance, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.comTo Pre-Order the Limited Edition BOOK, hand-numbered and signed by Whit for shipping by December 10: https://www.thisisactuallyhappening.com/the-book Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Salib (SAL) - Tension Underscore 33 A ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The life of a promising actor takes a devastating turn when she is attacked in her home, sending her into an 18-year fight to reclaim her sense of safety, her career, and the date that haunts her every year. Today’s episode featured Amy Benedict. You can find Amy on Instagram @amy.benedict and on TikTok @amybenbro. To find her acting credentials, you can find her on IMDB here: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0070749 Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Cathy Sitzes Content/Trigger Warnings: Sexual assault, Attempted murder/strangulation, Home invasion, PTSD, dissociation, and long-term trauma symptoms, Violence against women, Discussion of serial rape and homicide, Family betrayal (parental infidelity), Bullying and emotional abuse in childhood, Self-injury, Depression and anniversary trauma, Police violence, Death of perpetrator during police encounter, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.comTo Pre-Order the Limited Edition BOOK, hand-numbered and signed by Whit for shipping by December 8: https://www.thisisactuallyhappening.com/the-book Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Cathy Sitzes: cathysitzes.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Pure_Ambience_APM ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When a woman is brought to her knees by unimaginable grief, she finds her way forward by transforming her pain into a sanctuary for forgotten dogs. Today’s episode featured Tamara Corbitt. If you’d like to reach out to Tamara, you can email her at tamara.corbitt@yahoo.com. You can find her and her rescue, Travieso Dog Sanctuary on Facebook and Instagram @TraviesodogsanctuaryTo see dogs available for adoption or to donate, please visit the website for Travieso Dog Sanctuary at http://traviesodogsanctuary.com.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason Blalock Content/Trigger Warnings: Child loss, Fatal car accident, Grief and traumatic bereavement, Parental abuse (physical and emotional), Substance use as coping, Animal illness and death (parvo, puppy loss), Rescue of abused/abandoned animals, Family estrangement, Descriptions of emotional distress and trauma processing, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.comTo Pre-Order the Limited Edition BOOK, hand-numbered and signed by Whit for shipping by December 8: https://www.thisisactuallyhappening.com/the-book Website for Andrew Waits: andrewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Uncertain Outcomes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After being run over three times and left pinned beneath a car, a woman emerges into a world she no longer recognizes and must piece together a new identity from the ruins of the old one. Today’s episode featured Naseem Rochette. You can email Naseem at nas@misfitblue.com. She is on Instagram @nasrocs. You can find out more about Naseem on her website at naseemrochette.com. Her book, The Unexpected Benefits of Being Run Over is available on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-Benefits-Being-Run-Over/dp/B0BW4MZ517Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Sara Marinelli  Content/Trigger Warnings: Suicide attempt, Suicidal ideation, Racial discrimination / identity-based shame, Graphic accident description, Being run over by a vehicle (multiple times), Traumatic brain injury, Medical trauma, Child witnessing parent in medical crisis, Emotional dysregulation / screaming at children, PTSD symptoms, Alcohol use / self-medication, Courtroom confrontation, Lack of remorse from perpetrator, Themes of mortality and near-death experience, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Sara Marinelli: saramarinelli.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Music To Air (MTA) - Houses  ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When a young model finally escapes Jeffrey Epstein’s world of coercion, gaslighting and abuse, her battle to reclaim her self-worth becomes a testament to resilience and truth. Today’s episode featured Lisa Phillips. If you’d like to reach out to Lisa, you can email her at lisa@lisaphillips.la. She is on Instagram @iamlisaphillips and @fromnowonpod Lisa is also on YouTube https://tr.ee/FLEx90p6Ss and TikTok https://tr.ee/P1oWtIWF9D You can visit Lisa’s website as well https://www.lisaphillips.la/pressProducers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: sexual abuse, grooming, manipulation, trauma, self-worth struggles, emotional abuse, discussion of Jeffrey Epstein, and recovery from exploitation, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: KPM Main Series (KPM) - Barely There ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A humanitarian aid doctor enters Gaza at the height of the conflict, and emerges with a sobering reality that shatters everything he believed about medicine, morality, and human nature. Today’s episode featured Travis Meleen. If you’d like to email Travis, you can reach him at melin.trav@gmail.com, You can also find him on Instagram @ravenilem  Travis is available for sharing his experiences in a speaking engagement setting. Please reach out to him for more information and/or to schedule!  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz Content/Trigger Warnings: War and armed conflict, Mass casualties and graphic medical trauma, Violence against children / child death, Gun violence, Hospital bombings / attacks on medical facilities, Famine, Starvation, and Medical scarcity, Death and grief, Suicide (partner’s death by suicide, mentioned), PTSD, Moral injury, and Psychological distress, Dehumanization, Propaganda, and references to Genocide, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: "Dark Oasis" - Discovery Studios Tracks ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When a woman begins waking up to a supernatural entity crawling behind her, she realizes the door she opened as a child was never closed.Today’s episode featured Emilie Lemire. If you’d like to reach out to Emilie, you can find her on Instagram @fitnurse_em Producers: Whit Missildine, PRX and Echoverse, a next-generation studio that creates premium sci-fi, supernatural and fantasy audio content. If you’d like to find out more about Echoverse and check out their slate of amazing scripted and non-scripted podcasts, please go to echoverse.com. A special thanks to Mark Stern and the PRX team.Content/Trigger Warnings: Supernatural / paranormal experiences, Sleep paralysis, Night terrors, Fear and panic attacks, Psychological distress, Childhood trauma, Spiritual / occult themes (Ouija board), Emotional isolation, Anxiety and insomnia, explicit languageSocial Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcastWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.comWebsite for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comSupport the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningWondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plusShop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Cylinder FourServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Growing up in the notorious commune of Rajneeshpuram, and haunted by abandonment and addiction, a woman’s spontaneous awakening reveals that every wound was a doorway to remembering who she truly is. Today’s episode featured Anonymous. If you’d like to reach out to her, you can email her at RosesLifeBook@gmail.com. To learn more about the Rajneeshee movement and the events at Rajneeshpuram, check out the Rajneesh Artifacts and Ephemera Collection in the Oregon archives, which includes documents and memorabilia from the commune’s time in Oregon Archives West. The Oregon Historical Quarterly’s retrospective article Revisiting Rajneeshpuram offers a sharp, scholarly review of the commune’s rise and fall Oregon Historical Society. For the bioterror episode tied to the group, the CDC’s official report A Large Community Outbreak of Salmonellosis Caused by Intentional Contamination remains the definitive source CDC Stacks. Finally, Netflix’s Wild Wild Country has made the story accessible and vivid, combining interviews, archival footage, and local perspectives en.wikipedia.org+1. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz Content/Trigger Warnings: Child abandonment, Emotional neglect, Parental alcoholism, Drug use and addiction (heroin), Homelessness, Prostitution, Domestic abuse / emotional abuse, Narcissistic relationship dynamics, Spiritual / psychological crisis, Religious cult involvement, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Ambient Themes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A man shaped by cruelty devotes his life to defending the condemned, discovering that real courage lies not in victory, but in standing beside the most despised. Today’s episode featured Clive Stafford Smith. If you’d like to reach out to Clive, you can email him at clive@justiceleague.org.uk. You can find Clive on X/Twitter @CliveSS and on Instagram @clivestaffordsmith To find out more about the work Clive does, visit https://justiceleague.org.uk/.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason Blalock Content/Trigger Warnings: Child abuse, Child Molestation, Child Murder, Physical violence, Emotional neglect, Execution, Capital punishment, Racism, Racial violence, Torture, State violence, Mental illness, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Uncertain Outcomes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A woman, who ignores her instincts, enters a marriage that soon spirals into betrayal and control. When the truth finally comes to light, she must choose between devastation and the chance to reclaim her life. Today’s episode featured Amy Irvine. If you’d like to reach out to Amy, you can email her at pinkishfx@gmail.com. You can find Amy on social media @pinkish_7 and/or @pinkish_77 on Instagram A special thanks to Todd Renenbohm of the Bunny Hugs & Mental Health Podcast for referring Amy to us. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz Content/Trigger Warnings: Child emotional abuse and neglect, Body shaming and eating-related control, Sexual coercion and marital rape, Drugging and sexual assault, Domestic violence and attempted strangulation, Psychological and emotional manipulation, Infidelity and betrayal, Threat to animals, Discussion of multiple victims of sexual assault, Trauma recovery and PTSD, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Union Flow ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After losing himself to meth and a double life as a federal informant, a man’s world collapses after one of his buyer’s overdoses, and recovery begins as he confronts the child within. Today’s episode featured Sean Hemeon. His forthcoming memoir, The Good Little Drug Lord, does not yet have a set publication date, but you can follow him for updates.You can email Sean at hemeonauthor@gmail.com. Sean is on Instagram @Sean_Hemeon. Follow his website seanhemeon.com for updates on his forthcoming memoir. And a special thanks to Todd Renenbohm of the Bunny Hugs & Mental Health podcast for referring Sean to our show. Todd has an 8 part documentary podcast series out on Oct 1 entitled Transgression - My search for the REAL trans agenda in Saskatchewan. You can find out more about this series on instagram @TransgressionseriesCheck out the trailer here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transgression/id1841926991Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason Blalock Content/Trigger Warnings: Child sexual abuse / molestation, Physical violence / assault, Homophobia / slurs, Suicide attempt / suicidal ideation, Addiction and drug use, Overdose and death, Parental neglect / emotional abuse / parentification, Moral injury and guilt, Religious trauma, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.com  Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Re-Entry ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When a sudden car crash shatters her world, a woman’s grief and struggle to keep living leads her to an unexpected rebirth of love.Today’s episode featured Polly Vickery. If you’d like to contact Polly, you can email her at pollyvickery81@gmail.com. Polly is on Instagram and Facebook @PollyVickery    Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Ellen (Elly) Westberg, Aviva LipkowitzContent/Trigger Warnings: Child death, Spousal death, Graphic accident details, Medical trauma, Grief and bereavement, Suicidal ideation, Survivor’s guilt, Anxiety/PTSD, explicit languageSocial Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.comWebsite for Ellen Westberg: shedatespodcast.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Cylinder Four  ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After a prominent life filled with passion and adventure ends with the death of her brilliant but volatile husband, a woman journeys to Guatemala to heal, only to be captured, and her fight to survive transforms her life forever.  Today’s episode featured Brenda Coffee. You can email Brenda at bcoffee@1010parkplace.com. She is on Instagram @1010ParkPlace. Visit her website at brenda-coffee.com.Brenda is the author of MAYA BLUE: A Memoir of Survival, published 05/25, a memoir that reads like a thriller. It is Working Girl meets Taken. A true story of love, cocaine, Big Tobacco, abduction, and survival. Nominated for the 2025 Kirkus Prize and included on Maria Shriver's 2025 Summer Reads list. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz Content/Trigger Warnings: parentification, domestic violence, intimate partner abuse, drug making and using, addiction, gun violence, sexual assault/attempted rape, child exploitation, cancer & illness, death & grief, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Ambient Themes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While hunting in the Canadian wilderness, a man accidentally comes between a grizzly bear cub and its mother, and a terrifying fight for his life ensues that will change him forever.Today we bring you the final episode of our annual 5-week summer rebroadcast series. We will return with all new episodes starting next Tuesday, September 16, 2025 . Today’s rebroadcast episode “What if you were mauled by a grizzly bear?” originally aired as episode 262 on January 24, 2023.   Today's episode featured Jeremy Evans. You can find many more details about Jeremy and this story in his incredible memoir, 'Mauled: Lessons Learned from a Grizzly Bear Attack', published by Rocky Mountain Books. To contact Jeremy you can reach out to his Publicist at genevieve@rmbooks.com or contact Jeremy directly at Grizzlydude01@gmail.com Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: very graphic bodily injury, graphic description of blood and medical situations, attempted suicide, violence inflicted on a child, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: “Union Flow” – Spuntic ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A young woman hungry to explore the world goes on a trip to Tanzania and unexpectedly finds herself caught in an endless cycle of impending doom.Today we bring you the ninth episode of our annual 5-week summer rebroadcast series, airing 2 episodes a week. We will return with all new episodes starting Tuesday, September 16, 2025 . Today’s rebroadcast episode “What if you didn’t sleep for 120 hours?” originally aired as episode 170 on December 1, 2020.    Today’s episode featured Emily Caldwell. You can find out more about her on Instagram @emilycaldwell589Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: anxiety, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, medical trauma, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: “Union Flow” – Spuntic ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Always feeling she had failed the ideals of her strict Muslim, South Asian family and community, a woman struggles to navigate trauma, shame and self-expression, when unexpected news forces her into a powerful reckoning.Today we bring you the seventh episode of our annual 5-week summer rebroadcast series, airing 2 episodes a week. We will return with all new episodes starting Tuesday, September 16, 2025 . Today’s rebroadcast episode “What if you could never be what they wanted?” originally aired as episode 246 on September 13, 2022.   Today‘s episode featured Azzah Ahmad. You can find out more about Azzah by visiting her Instagram page @LifeazziknowitProducers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Sara Marinelli Content/Trigger Warnings: sexual abuse of a minor, suicidal ideation, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Sara Marinelli: saramarinelli.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: “Re-Entry” – Lee Rosevere ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After a woman’s Mormon family falls apart following the death of her father, her mother brings her to a Scientology Center where she leaves everything behind.Today we bring you the sixth episode of our annual 5-week summer rebroadcast series, airing 2 episodes a week. We will return with all new episodes starting Tuesday, September 16, 2025 . Today’s rebroadcast episode “What if you signed a billion-year contract?” originally aired as episode 243 on August 23, 2022.   Today’s episode featured Katherine Mcelhinny. If you’d like to reach out to her, you can email at canadiankat9@icloud.com. She also has a gofundme page. If you’d like to donate to her, you can do so here: https://gofund.me/3ab57d56Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Sara Marinelli Content/Trigger Warnings: abuse of a minor, parental neglect, sexual assault, suicidal ideation, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Sara Marinelli: saramarinelli.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: “Cylinder Four/Five" – Chris Zabriskie ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After growing up queer with a complicated father in the 1960s, a man forges his own path, identity and career in the arts, but suddenly, after a routine surgery, he wakes up unable to move. Today we bring you the fifth episode of our annual 5-week summer rebroadcast series, airing 2 episodes a week. We will return with all new episodes starting Tuesday, September 16, 2025 . Today’s rebroadcast episode “What if you woke up and couldn’t move?” originally aired as episode 242 on August 16, 2022.   Today’s episode featured John Killacky. You can find out more about John by going to johnkillacky.com with links to his book, “because art: commentary, critique, & conversation” as well as links to some of his films.Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits  Content/Trigger Warnings: graphic medical descriptions, paralysis, suicidal ideation, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: “Union Flow" - Spuntic ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A woman who seeks awakening through myriad healing practices finds her ultimate challenge when she goes missing in a Maui forest.

Decades after her brother disappeared in the early 1980s, a woman becomes deeply involved in the search for a missing friend.

A man searches for healing after his father, a disgruntled post office worker, falls into a violent downward spiral.

Escaping the tumult and abuses of his childhood through music, a young man lands a dream gig at a premiere nightclub in Mexico, but when the party’s over, he finds himself inside the underbelly that lurks beneath the glamour.

After being violently attacked outside a bar, a man who spent his life motivated by loneliness and rage, begins forging a new path to peace and healing through Buddhism and awakening to the thread that connects us all. Today’s episode featured Cesar Cardona. If you’d like to reach out to Cesar, you can email him at cesarspeak6@gmail.com. Cesar’s socials: IG- @beautyinthebreakpod // @TikTok - Beautyinthebreak  Find out more about Cesar at his website: https://cesarcardona.com/A special thanks to Scott Johnson, Host of the What Was That Like podcast“real people in unreal situations”: WhatWasThatLike.com, who brought us Cesar’s story. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Cathy Sitzes Content/Trigger Warnings: divorce, gang activity, criminal activity including drugs and violence with weapons, racism, brutal assault including kicking & stomping, severe facial injuries in the mouth, punctured organ injury, heavy alcohol use, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Cathy Sitzes: cathysitzes.com  Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Uncertain Outcomes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Still reeling from an abusive relationship and the loss of her mother, a single woman travels to Mexico, plunging into a whirlwind situationship where nothing is as it seems. Today’s episode featured Aly. If you’d like to reach out to Aly, you can email her at hello@AlyRice.com. Aly is on Instagram @AlySpeaksUp. Aly is a certified coach, and host of Sex, Lies & Tacos & This Could Get Messy podcasts.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz Content/Trigger Warnings: cancer/death from cancer, suicidal ideations, romantic con, divorce, disordered eating, gaslighting, physical/emotion/financial abuse of a partner, revenge/blackmail with use of private, personal photos and videos, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Union Flow ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A young woman grows up in chaos and instability but finds strength through education and a deep connection to the outdoors—until a harrowing solo trek on the Pacific Crest Trail challenges her sense of self and reaffirms her bond with others. Today’s episode featured Betty Nickerson. If you’d like to email Betty, you can reach her at Nickerson.betty@yahoo.com. You can find Betty on Instagram @mustang___betty.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Sara Marinelli  Content/Trigger Warnings: divorce, suicide by gun, teen pregnancy, unhoused/rough living, poverty, being lost in the wilderness, extreme cold while lost outside, smoking, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrewwaits.comWebsite for Sara Marinelli: saramarinelli.com  Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Re-Entry ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Born and raised on a remote Bahamian island, a woman who has weathered countless storms must fight to keep herself and her family alive as the unprecedented Category 5 Hurricane Dorian consumes everything. Today’s episode featured Tara Pyfrom. You can contact her here: tarapyfrom.com/contactFind her on social media:On Instagram @tarapyfromOn Facebook @tarapyfromwriterOn Linkedin.com @tara-pyfromTara is the author of “The Ocean in Our Blood”, available on her website, tarapyfrom.com – which also includes video of her family and dogs, and many pictures from the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Sara Marinelli Content/Trigger Warnings: homophobia, hurricane, storm, near drowning, drowning deaths, PTSD from near death, flood, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Sara Marinelli: saramarinelli.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Cylinder Four ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A young father who rose up from the streets to achieve his musical dream is gunned down by a stranger during a trivial altercation, but as he rebuilds his life in the aftermath, a new, deeper dream emerges.Today’s episode featured Jason Miller, AKA Stone-Face. If you’d like to reach out to Jason, you can email him here: Stonefaceini@gmail.com. Jason’s Socials:Facebook @AshtonMiller Facebook Page @Stoneface of GemStarr Records IG @OriginalStonefaceJason’s Website: Www.AccessiblePASS.netJason is also a board Director of the Pennsylvania Council of the blind. In 2024 Jason was elected to be an Honor Society leader for the American Council Of The Blind as the Derwood K McDaniel award (DKM) which is a prestigious award for leadership. Currently, Jason and his associates have incorporated a new nonprofit called “Paschall Community Services,” which focuses on three main targeted areas, including, accessible housing for the low vision, blind and seniors, independence services, which includes transportation, home independence, and mentorship and home healthcare training for the low vision, blind and seniors, finally, access technology training for the low vision, blind, and seniors which encompasses access technology software such as screen readers, magnification programs, and other software that AIDS the vision impaired. This education is ongoing and also touches on mobile devices and other accessible devices for the home, such as echo speakers. Jason Miller and his company “Paschall Access Solutions LLC” is a state approved provider for access technology training for the low vision, blind and vision impaired seniors in the state of Pennsylvania, the business has been active for eight years and running, the business serves a five County region in the greater Philadelphia area and also provides independent. Transportation services called. “PASS Transport.”“Blindness is only a physical element, true site is spiritual, and with spiritual vision the world is your oyster.”A special thanks to Jason’s good friend, Andrew 'William Cooper' Kissel, who brought us Jason’s story.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason Blalock, Ellen (Elly) Westberg Content/Trigger Warnings: absentee father, violence, gun violence, stranger crime, hospital, blindness, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Ambient Themes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Suffering a life of struggle and addiction in the wake of early childhood abuse, a woman desperate for a dramatic change dowses herself in gasoline and strikes a lighter.  Today’s episode featured Crystal Raye. Please find her contact and socials in her link tree here: https://linktr.ee/crhmedia. There, she also includes several links to Burn Survivor Resources and support. Find Crystal on Instagram @theburnedthebrokenthebeautiful and on TikTok @crystalraye111A special thanks to Daniel Hearn of Hard Knox Talks Podcast for referring Crystal to us. You can find him here: https://linktr.ee/hardknoxtalks. Daniel has also been a storyteller on This Is Actually Happening, please listen to his episode #350.Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits,  Content/Trigger Warnings: childhood sexual abuse, drug use and addiction, self-immolation, severe burn injury, attempted suicide, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Sara Marinelli: saramarinelli.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Uncertain Outcomes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A young girl's world shatters when one night, her mother’s stalker, who has threatened to annihilate her family, walks into her home with a loaded gun.Today’s episode featured Fallon Farinacci. You can reach out to her via email at contact@fallonfarinacci.com. Find Fallon on Instagram and TikTok @fallonfarinacciFind out more about Fallon at www.fallonfarinacci.com. A proud Red River Métis, Fallon is a Speaker, Survivor, & Advocate for MMIWG (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls). Fallon has cultivated an incredible community and uses her online platform to share her story, give back to the Indigenous community, and raise awareness for causes and organizations close to her heart. Fallon testified in the National Inquiry for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, sharing her story of loss and trauma. Later, Fallon joined The National Family Advisory Circle, where she worked closely with other MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+ family members and the Commissioners for the National Inquiry. Fallon continues to share her family’s story & bring awareness to the ongoing Genocide Indigenous women, girls 2S+ folx face in hopes of bringing change & awareness across Turtle Island. A special thanks to Maya Samuels for bringing our attention to this devastating story.Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Cathy SitzesContent/Trigger Warnings: stalking, home invasion, death by gun, suicide by gun, suicide, racism, colonization, genocide, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, explicit languageSocial Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcastWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.comWebsite for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Cathy Sitzes: cathysitzes.comSupport the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningWondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plusShop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop. Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.comIntro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Union FlowServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to exclusive episodes of This is Actually Happening ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/this-is-actually-happening/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Witnessing widespread disenfranchisement ignites a young man's radicalization, ultimately landing him in the Federal Supermax prison, where he's confronted with unimaginable and dehumanizing conditions of cruelty. Today’s episode featured Eric King. If you’d like to reach out to Eric, you can email him at bld.a.bonfire@gmail.com. You can find Eric on Instagram @supportericking. Follow his publisher PM Press @pmpress and Bread and Roses Law Center @breadandroseslawEric has written a book titled “A Clean Hell”, now available for preorder on PM Press: https://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1872https://www.breadandroseslaw.org/ Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz Content/Trigger Warnings: childhood abuse/neglect, vandalism, breaking and entering, property damage as a political tool, molotov cocktails/explosion/fire near/at a Federal building, violence/brutality in prison, sexual assault, racism, homophobia, transphobia, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Re-Entry ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to exclusive episodes of This is Actually Happening ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/this-is-actually-happening/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A young man channels his early struggles with anger into a dangerous undercover law enforcement career, facing the shadows of a double life and ultimately discovering that only love can fight hate. Today’s episode featured Scott Payne. You can find Scott on Instagram, LinkedIn & X @scottpaynebigcountryScott has been a featured guest on Joe Rogan Experience, Armchair Expert, Business Insider, Dr.Phil, KLOVE Morning Show, and The Glenn Beck Program. You can hear more about Scott’s story on Season 2 of the podcast White Hot Hate, https://link.mgln.ai/x1RDu4, from CBC Podcasts. White Hot Hate was produced alongside a book co-written by Scott Payne and Michelle Shephard titled Code Name: Pale Horse: How I Went Undercover to Expose America's Nazis. @cbcpodcastsProducers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Forrest ChirasContent/Trigger Warnings: divorce, animal death/sacrifice/ritual, murder, talk of domestic terrorism/neo-nazi/white supremacy, drug buy use, undercover sting operations, gruesome cartel murders, explicit languageSocial Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcastWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.comWebsite for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comContacts for Forrest Chiras: On Instagram & Spotify @StegoforrestSupport the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningWondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plusShop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop. Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.comIntro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Cylinder FourServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to exclusive episodes of This is Actually Happening ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/this-is-actually-happening/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A young woman is kidnapped, assaulted and released by perpetrators, but a far greater trauma lurks as the powers meant to protect her do not believe any of it happened.Today’s episode featured Denise Huskins Quinn. If you’d like to reach out to Denise, please find her on Instagram @huskins.deniseDenise has written a book with her husband, Aaron Quinn titled ""Victim F: From Crime Victims to Suspects to Survivors"", available now where books are sold. You can also find it here:https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/617482/victim-f-by-denise-huskins-and-aaron-quinn-with-nicole-weisensee-egan/Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz Content/Trigger Warnings: divorce, sexual assault to a child/minor by a family friend, sexual trauma, home invasion, kidnapping, threat of violence, partner in distress, defamation of character by trust institution and media, civil lawsuit, criminal trial, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.comWebsite for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningWondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plusShop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop. Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.comIntro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Ambient ThemesServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to exclusive episodes of This is Actually Happening ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/this-is-actually-happening/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A privileged young man, on the cusp of reconciling with his true love, is tied up in a home invasion and his girlfriend is kidnapped with her whereabouts unknown, but a far greater trauma lurks as the powers meant to protect him frame him as the monster.Today’s episode featured Aaron Quinn. If you’d like to reach out to Aaron, please find him on Instagram @aaron_quinn_ptAaron has written a book with his wife, Denise Huskins titled ""Victim F: From Crime Victims to Suspects to Survivors"", available now where books are sold. You can also find it here:  https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/617482/victim-f-by-denise-huskins-and-aaron-quinn-with-nicole-weisensee-egan/Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason BlalockContent/Trigger Warnings: home invasion, kidnapping, police interrogation, assault, partner in distress, explicit languageSocial Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcastWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.comWebsite for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.comSupport the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningWondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plusShop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop. Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.comIntro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Uncertain Outcomes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to exclusive episodes of This is Actually Happening ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/this-is-actually-happening/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dedicated to eradicating human trafficking, a purpose-driven young man's world is shattered by a politician's unwarranted lawsuit, destroying his reputation and forcing him to find a new path forward. Today’s episode featured Raymond Bechard. If you’d like to reach out to Ray, please email him at RaymondBechard@gmail.com. You can also find him here: Contact RaymondFor Raymond’s Socials & a link to his book: https://linktr.ee/daggerwingmediaHis book: "The Berlin Turnpike: A True Story of Human Trafficking in America" Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Sara Marinelli Content/Trigger Warnings: divorce, depression, suicide, human trafficking, sex trafficking, sex work, poverty, disease/childhood death, lawsuit, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Sara Marinelli: saramarinelli.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Union Flow ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cultivating rage as a solution to inherited trauma, a young man commits murder over a five-dollar dispute, but once in prison, he devotes his life to liberation from systems of oppression and the jailor within himself. Today’s episode featured Emile Suotonye DeWeaver. If you’d like to contact Emile, please email him at emiledwriter@gmail.com or find him on social media: Substack: @reframeconsults  Instagram: @emilesuotonyedeweaver Bluesky: Bluesky LinkedIn: LinkedInEmile’s first book, Ghost in the Criminal Justice Machine: Reform, White Supremacy, and an Abolitionist Future, comes out today, May 13, 2025, from The New Press.  Per Emile, “I wrote this book for many reasons. I’d been organizing for a decade in prison, and I witnessed the ways we in justice work have beautiful, courageous intentions and yet we often exacerbate the problems we fight against. Back then I felt like I didn’t have the right frameworks to have this conversation. I dedicated the next ten years to thinking them through. I wrote Ghost in the Criminal Justice System not as a solutions book. I wrote it as an offering of these frameworks in the hopes that you will share them in your communities, so that we can come up with solutions together.”Confirmed Book tour dates in Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Chicago: https://www.reframeconsults.com/events - please RSVP!Ghost in the Criminal Justice Machine: Reform, White Supremacy, and an Abolitionist Future is also a great teaching tool. A perfect fit for classrooms, movement organizing, book clubs. Get it for your community, then invite Emile to come talk to you! His goal is to take this conversation to all the corners of this country so we all can build a better future.Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz Content/Trigger Warnings: drug use and dealing, murder, bodily injury from attack, attempted murder, injury from gunshot, prison, white supremacy, racism, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Re-Entry ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to exclusive episodes of This is Actually Happening ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/this-is-actually-happening/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Driven by her sister's mysterious death, a woman's life transforms into a struggle for understanding and justice, as the truth remains elusive.Today’s episode featured Jana Guyewski-Lautigar. If you’d like to reach out to Jana, please email her at jglautigar@gmail.com. You can find Jana and her sister’s cause on social media:Facebook, Tiktok, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram @JusticeforCrystalMcCroryJones. Jana’s Instagram @jana_marie_1989Jana has written a book that is waiting to be published titled ""Justice Denied- A Sister's Fight for Justice- The True Story of Crystal McCrory Jones"". Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Sara MarinelliContent/Trigger Warnings: divorce, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, suicide, homicide, guns, death by gun, violence, blood, death, cremation, mental illness, explicit languageSocial Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcastWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.comWebsite for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Sara Marinelli: saramarinelli.comSupport the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningWondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plusShop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop. Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.comIntro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Cylinder FourServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to exclusive episodes of This is Actually Happening ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/this-is-actually-happening/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A man’s elective amputation sets him free to be the adventurer he’s always wanted to be, but the trip of a lifetime to the Canadian Arctic profoundly tests the limits of his new body.Today’s episode featured Stephen Evans. If you’d like to reach out to Stephen, you can email him at gotevans@gmail.com. You can also find him on social media:Instagram: @stephenandevans & @peglegstudio Facebook: Stephen EvansFind out more about what Stephen makes at www.peglegstudio.com. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Forrest Chiras Content/Trigger Warnings: divorce, bodily injury, amputation, elective amputation, chronic pain, descriptions of pain, extreme weather, hypothermia, suffering, explicit languageSocial Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcastWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.comWebsite for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comContacts for Forrest Chiras: On Instagram & Spotify @StegoforrestSupport the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningWondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plusShop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop. Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.comIntro Music: ""Illabye"" – TipperMusic Bed: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to exclusive episodes of This is Actually Happening ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/this-is-actually-happening/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A police cadet takes a risky shortcut home one evening, only to find herself trapped and helpless as night falls in a brutal Canadian winter. Today’s episode featured Hilary. If you’d like to reach out to her, please email her at hil_44@hotmail.com. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Forrest ChirasContent/Trigger Warnings: divorce, parental abandonment and estrangement, death of a pet, alcohol intoxication, accidental death of a young person, accident or mishap outside in freezing temps, serious bodily injury from the elements, frost bite, amputation, hospital surgery/stay/recovery, explicit languageLINK TO OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We’ve come up with a short audience survey, which you can find linked in our show notes and in the bio of our Instagram page @actuallyhappening. We’d love to hear your opinions and feedback, and we’d really appreciate your point of view. Link below:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxV-6qeNAOuIAbBnuSJpoyqE3tlvusxb069dZCUC1RWeLfEg/viewformSocial Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcastWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.comWebsite for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comContacts for Forrest Chiras: On Instagram & Spotify @StegoforrestSupport the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningWondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plusShop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop. Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.comIntro Music: “Illabye” by TipperMusic Bed: Uncertain OutcomesServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to exclusive episodes of This is Actually Happening ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/this-is-actually-happening/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A young actor, who seeks a greater purpose, is recruited into a clandestine war for humanity's soul, and is forced to confront his desire for belonging at the cost of his sanity.Today’s episode featured Max Lebow. You can email Max at tfwpodcastbiz@gmail.com. You can also reach him on his socials: @thefinalwarpod on Instagram@thefinalwarpodcast on Tik Tokr/finalwarpodcast on RedditMax’s own multi-episode podcast, The Final War, can be found on Spotify, Apple and wherever you get your podcasts. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva LipkowitzContent/Trigger Warnings: Harvey Weinstein, mention of child moslestation/incest in the context of a play, depression, teen behavioral programs, drug/alcohol abuse, paranoia, explicit languageLINK TO OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We’ve come up with a short audience survey, which you can find linked in our show notes and in the bio of our Instagram page @actuallyhappening. We’d love to hear your opinions and feedback, and we’d really appreciate your point of view. Link below:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxV-6qeNAOuIAbBnuSJpoyqE3tlvusxb069dZCUC1RWeLfEg/viewform Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcastWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.comWebsite for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.comSupport the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop. Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: "Illabye" – TipperMusic Bed: Union FlowServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A vulnerable girl, having already endured abuse from her schizophrenic mother, loses her freedom and innocence when a trusted adult lures her into an unthinkable decade of captivity. Today’s episode featured Tanya Kach. You can email Tanya at tnkach@gmail.com or find her on social media via the following: Facebook @Tanya Nicole Kach (Mimi)Instagram @libragirl1481Tanya wrote an autobiography “Memoir of a Milk Carton Kid”, available where books are sold. She’s done many speaking engagements, as well as television, podcasts, school speaking engagements and book readings.A special thanks to Todd Rennebohm of the Bunny Hugs & Mental Health podcast for referring Tanya to us.Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva LipkowitzContent/Trigger Warnings: childhood abuse and neglect, divorce, bullying, child grooming, predation and assault, rape and sexual assault, kidnapping, imprisonment, explicit languageLINK TO OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We’ve come up with a short audience survey, which you can find linked in our show notes and in the bio of our Instagram page @actuallyhappening. We’d love to hear your opinions and feedback, and we’d really appreciate your point of view. Link below:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxV-6qeNAOuIAbBnuSJpoyqE3tlvusxb069dZCUC1RWeLfEg/viewformSocial Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcastWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.comWebsite for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.comSupport the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningWondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plusShop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop. Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.comIntro Music: ""Illabye"" – TipperMusic Bed: Re-EntryServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to exclusive episodes of This is Actually Happening ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/this-is-actually-happening/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Abandoned after his parents’ devastating divorce, a neglected teenage son is committed to a psychiatric facility, whose barbaric practices reveal a far more sinister agenda. Today’s episode featured Banning Lyon. You can email Banning at banning.r.lyon@gmail.com or contact him on Instagram @banningwritesYou can find out more about Banning, his book “The Chair And The Valley” and how to contact him at banninglyon.com. A special thanks to Todd Rennebohm of the Bunny Hugs & Mental Health podcast for referring Banning to us.Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason BlalockContent/Trigger Warnings: divorce, familial rejection and estrangement, mention of suicide, psychiatric abuse, death due to past drug use, explicit languageLINK TO OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We’ve come up with a short audience survey, which you can find linked in our show notes and in the bio of our Instagram page @actuallyhappening. We’d love to hear your opinions and feedback, and we’d really appreciate your point of view. Link below:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxV-6qeNAOuIAbBnuSJpoyqE3tlvusxb069dZCUC1RWeLfEg/viewformSocial Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcastWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.comWebsite for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.comSupport the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningWondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plusShop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop. Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.comIntro Music: ""Illabye"" – TipperMusic Bed: Cylinder FourServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to exclusive episodes of This is Actually Happening ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/this-is-actually-happening/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After a brutal assault in the 1980s, a young woman identifies the wrong man as her attacker, but once DNA evidence proves his innocence, they form an unlikely bond, determined to right their paths of justice.This episode is the fifth and final in our five part series, “A World Beyond Revenge” featuring five powerful stories of people on both sides of tragic incidents of unimaginable harm who found healing through the groundbreaking process of Restorative Justice.  Today’s episode featured Jennifer Thompson. You can email Jennifer at info@healingjusticeproject.org. Healing Justice works to prevent and alleviate the harms caused to all by wrongful convictions through advocacy, education, and direct support.Instagram: @healing_justice Facebook: @HealingJustice Bluesky: @jet4love.bsky.social [Jennifer Thompson]LinkedIn: company/Healing-Justice-ProjectYou can find Jennifer’s book, ""Picking Cotton:Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption” by Jennifer Thompson and Ronald Cotton with Erin Torneo on Amazon or wherever you buy your books. Jennifer’s Full BIOInspirational Crime Survivor, Founder of Healing Justice, and New York Times Best-Selling Author of Picking Cotton. Jennifer Thompson is a crime survivor who, in 1984, survived a brutal attack in her home while attending college in North Carolina. The man who was convicted and imprisoned for the crime at the time was proven innocent a decade later, revealing that the actual attacker had gone free. Thompson emerged as a pioneer of restorative justice, and a symbol of courage and resilience, when, in the wake of these devastating events, she befriended the man who hadbeen wrongly convicted. She then went on to co-author with him the New York Timesbest-seller, Picking Cotton, which recounts their joint story of failed justice. Thompson has since become a beacon of strength and recovery by speaking out to the world about her traumatic and painful experiences. She has also become a leading advocate for other crime survivors and victims, and her lived experience has inspired countless policy makers, law enforcement, and justice leaders worldwide to effect key reforms to improve the accuracy and fairness of our justice system.In 2015, Thompson founded the national nonprofit organization, Healing Justice, which serves crime survivors, victims, and others through restorative justice and justice reform. Thompson is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Special Courage Award from the US Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime. She has testified on behalf of crime survivors and victims on criminal justice reforms before the United States Congress and state legislatures. She has appeared as a guest on numerous television and radio programs, including Good Morning America, the Today Show, Oprah, Dr. Phil, Rikki Lake, The View, 60 Minutes, 20/20, NBC News, Nightline, CNN Anderson Cooper, NPR, Diane Rehm, and PBS Frontline. Thompson’s courageous and inspiring story has also been featured in many print outlets, such as People, RedBook, Newsweek, and The New York Times.Engaged through Keppler Speakers since 2010, Thompson has presented to hundreds of audiences around the world on issues of fairness, equity, empathy, trauma, recovery, healing, altruism, and leadership. An unwavering example of turning tremendous harm into abundant healing, Thompson inspires audiences to not just persevere but to flourish in the wake of unexpected - and even unimaginable - adversity. With endless bravery, grace, and humor, Thompson captivates all audiences with her profoundly important and timely message of optimism, generosity, and hope.Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz Content/Trigger Warnings: disordered eating, familial conflict, poverty, sexual assault including rape by a stranger, breaking & entering, victim shaming, wrongful conviction and incarceration, explicit languageThank you to our series collaborators, Why Me? & Yoana Tchoukleva: Why Me? are a national charity in the UK, promoting access to Restorative Justice for people affected by crime or conflict. They also support people who have been through the Restorative Justice process to share their stories. If you want to find out more about Restorative Justice, visit their website www.why-me.org. If you want help accessing Restorative Justice in the UK, you can contact them via info@why-me.org. LinkedIn: Why me? UKInstagram: @whymeukFacebook: @WhymeUKThreads: @whymeukBluesky: @whymeuk.bsky.socialYoana Tchoukleva is an attorney, RJ practitioner, & lecturer at Berkeley Law. She is also a Senior Program Manager at Impact Justice. You can email her at ioanaq@gmail.com. You can reach out to her on Instagram @yoana.tch and on Facebook @""Yoana Tchoukleva"", and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ioanatchoukleva/. Please consider donating to Atunse Justice League.  LINK TO OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We’ve come up with a short audience survey, which you can find linked in our show notes and in the bio of our Instagram page @actuallyhappening. We’d love to hear your opinions and feedback, and we’d really appreciate your point of view. Link below:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxV-6qeNAOuIAbBnuSJpoyqE3tlvusxb069dZCUC1RWeLfEg/viewform Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com  Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: ""Illabye"" – TipperMusic Bed: Ambient Themes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to exclusive episodes of This is Actually Happening ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/this-is-actually-happening/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A turbulent father-son relationship shatters completely when the son is killed by a distracted driver, and the father is left to confront his own profound guilt and the man who caused his son's needless death.This episode is the fourth in our five part series, “A World Beyond Revenge” featuring five powerful stories of people on both sides of tragic incidents of unimaginable harm who found healing through the groundbreaking process of Restorative Justice.  Today’s episode featured Andy O’Dell. You can email Andy at andycairns36@gmail.com. Andy is from Greater Manchester. Since his Restorative Justice meeting, Andy has been a passionate advocate against distracted driving alongside his wife Chelle. They are actively looking for projects to help spread awareness of Restorative Justice and safer driving in the North West of England. Some helpful links behind his cause: https://why-me.org/ https://www.brake.org.uk/ https://www.nwairambulance.org.uk/Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Forrest Chiras Content/Trigger Warnings: child behavior challenges, distracted driving, fatal vehicle accident, child death, feelings of hate and revenge, divorce, domestic violence, explicit languageThank you to our series collaborators, Why Me? & Yoana Tchoukleva: Why Me? are a national charity in the UK, promoting access to Restorative Justice for people affected by crime or conflict. They also support people who have been through the Restorative Justice process to share their stories. If you want to find out more about Restorative Justice, visit their website www.why-me.org. If you want help accessing Restorative Justice in the UK, you can contact them via info@why-me.org. LinkedIn: Why me? UKInstagram: @whymeukFacebook: @WhymeUKThreads: @whymeukBluesky: @whymeuk.bsky.socialYoana Tchoukleva is an attorney, RJ practitioner, & lecturer at Berkeley Law. She is also a Senior Program Manager at Impact Justice. You can email her at ioanaq@gmail.com. You can reach out to her on Instagram @yoana.tch and on Facebook @""Yoana Tchoukleva"", and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ioanatchoukleva/. Please consider donating to Atunse Justice League.  LINK TO OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We’ve come up with a short audience survey, which you can find linked in our show notes and in the bio of our Instagram page @actuallyhappening. We’d love to hear your opinions and feedback, and we’d really appreciate your point of view. Link below:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxV-6qeNAOuIAbBnuSJpoyqE3tlvusxb069dZCUC1RWeLfEg/viewform Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comContacts for Forrest Chiras: On Instagram & Spotify @Stegoforrest Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: ""Illabye"" – TipperMusic Bed: Uncertain Outcomes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to exclusive episodes of This is Actually Happening ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/this-is-actually-happening/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After committing acts of extreme violence as a teenager, a man is unable to shed his rage and find healing, until he’s able to face the roots of the harm he has caused. This episode is the third in our five part series, “A World Beyond Revenge” featuring five powerful stories of people on both sides of tragic incidents of unimaginable harm who found healing through the groundbreaking process of Restorative Justice.  Today’s episode featured Troy Williams. You can reach him through his website for his media company: https://restorativemedia.org/ or on Instagram @troywilliamsjournalTroy is a Youth Program Development Specialist and Facilitator Trainer for the Victim-Offender Education Group with the Insight Prison Project. He is a member of the Advisory Council for the Alameda County Chief of Probation. Troy is a founder and operator of 4north22, a media production and consulting company that produces transformative stories to produce social change and promote restorative justice.  Troy empowers at-risk youth and incarcerated individuals through financial literacy and emotional literacy programs, documentary filmmaking, and community advocacy.Find out more about Troy at https://www.uncommonlaw.org/troy-williamsProducers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason BlalockContent/Trigger Warnings: violent crime including robbery & murder, incarceration including solitary confinement, gang activity, drug selling, racism, explicit languageThank you to our series collaborators, Why Me? & Yoana Tchoukleva: Why Me? are a national charity in the UK, promoting access to Restorative Justice for people affected by crime or conflict. They also support people who have been through the Restorative Justice process to share their stories. If you want to find out more about Restorative Justice, visit their website www.why-me.org. If you want help accessing Restorative Justice in the UK, you can contact them via info@why-me.org. LinkedIn: Why me? UKInstagram: @whymeukFacebook: @WhymeUKThreads: @whymeukBluesky: @whymeuk.bsky.socialYoana Tchoukleva is an attorney, RJ practitioner, & lecturer at Berkeley Law. She is also a Senior Program Manager at Impact Justice. You can email her at ioanaq@gmail.com. You can reach out to her on Instagram @yoana.tch and on Facebook @""Yoana Tchoukleva"", and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ioanatchoukleva/. Please consider donating to Atunse Justice League.  LINK TO OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We’ve come up with a short audience survey, which you can find linked in our show notes and in the bio of our Instagram page @actuallyhappening. We’d love to hear your opinions and feedback, and we’d really appreciate your point of view. Link below:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxV-6qeNAOuIAbBnuSJpoyqE3tlvusxb069dZCUC1RWeLfEg/viewformSocial Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comContacts for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: ""Illabye"" – TipperMusic Bed: Union Flow ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to exclusive episodes of This is Actually Happening ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/this-is-actually-happening/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As part of our series, “A World Beyond Revenge” on Restorative Justice, today’s episode features Keeva Baxter. She is the Communications and Campaigns Manager at Why Me UK. Why Me? are a national charity in the UK, promoting access to Restorative Justice for people affected by crime or conflict. They also support people who have been through the Restorative Justice process to share their stories. If you want to find out more about Restorative Justice, visit their website www.why-me.org. If you want help accessing Restorative Justice in the UK, you can contact them via info@why-me.org. LinkedIn: Why me? UKInstagram: @whymeukFacebook: @WhymeUKThreads: @whymeukBluesky: @whymeuk.bsky.socialTo Donate to Why Me? UK: Donate HereProducers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: crime, assault, justice, incarceration, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: "Illabye" – Tipper ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After an unsuspecting man is brutally beaten in a surprise attack, he faces crippling anxiety, rage and homelessness for decades until he is able to meet the man who harmed him.This episode is the second in our five part series, “A World Beyond Revenge” featuring five powerful stories of people on both sides of tragic incidents of unimaginable harm who found healing through the groundbreaking process of Restorative Justice.  Today’s episode featured Will Gilluley. If you’d like to reach out to Will, please email him at will.gilluley@icloud.com or find him on Instagram @WhyMeWillWill’s podcast appearances:Face to Face with the Man who Kidnapped and Tortured MeI was Tortured by Kev Lane: Will Gilluley Why Me? are a national charity in the UK, promoting access to Restorative Justice for people affected by crime or conflict. They also support people who have been through the Restorative Justice process to share their stories. If you want to find out more about Restorative Justice, visit their website www.why-me.org. If you want help accessing Restorative Justice in the UK, you can contact them via info@why-me.org. LinkedIn: Why me? UKInstagram: @whymeukFacebook: @WhymeUKThreads: @whymeukBluesky: @whymeuk.bsky.socialYoana Tchoukleva is an attorney, RJ practitioner, & lecturer at Berkeley Law. She is also a Senior Program Manager at Impact Justice. You can email her at ioanaq@gmail.com. You can reach out to her on Instagram @yoana.tch and on Facebook @""Yoana Tchoukleva"", and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ioanatchoukleva/. Please consider donating to Atunse Justice League.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Forrest ChirasLINK TO OUR LISTENER SURVEY! We’ve come up with a short audience survey, which you can find linked in our show notes and in the bio of our Instagram page @actuallyhappening. We’d love to hear your opinions and feedback, and we’d really appreciate your point of view. Link below:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxV-6qeNAOuIAbBnuSJpoyqE3tlvusxb069dZCUC1RWeLfEg/viewform Content/Trigger Warnings: violent bodily assault, grievous bodily injury, kidnapping, extorsion, living unhoused, drug & alcohol abuse, mental health crisis, emotional distress, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comContacts for Forrest Chiras: On Instagram & Spotify @Stegoforrest Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.  Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: ""Illabye"" – TipperMusic Bed: Re-Entry ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to exclusive episodes of This is Actually Happening ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/this-is-actually-happening/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As part of our series, “A World Beyond Revenge”, today’s episode features a conversation with Yoana Tchoukleva, attorney, community organizer and restorative justice practitioner on the vision and framework of restorative justice.