Rephonic
Artwork for This Is Actually Happening

This Is Actually Happening

Audible
Mental Health
Trauma
Death
Obstetrics
Survival
Cocaine
Crack Cocaine
Substance Use Disorder
Drug Trafficking
Adventurous Spirit
Polyamory
Grief
Addiction
Hiking
Substance Abuse
Student Loan Debt
Desperation
Law Enforcement Action Partnership
Drug Policy Reform
United Kingdom

What if you were trafficked into a cult...or were mauled by a grizzly bear...or were stabbed 27 times by a serial killer - what would you do? This is Actually Happening brings you extraordinary true stories of life-changing events told by the people who lived them. From a man who woke up in the morgue to a woman stranded in a Mexican desert fighting to survive, these stories will have you on the e... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes494Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for This Is Actually Happening

Latest Episodes

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 w... more

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 lik... more

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 c... more

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... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Something Was Wrong
Something Was WrongBroken Cycle Media
What Came Next
What Came NextBroken Cycle Media
Betrayal Season 5
Betrayal Season 5iHeartPodcasts and Glass Podcasts

Recent Guests

Mirsad Solakovic
Bosnian genocide survivor, founder of Solak Gym
Solak Gym / survivor
Episode: What if you survived the Bosnian genocide? [Rebroadcast Ep277]
Mike Wolo
Survivor of a granite accident and subsequent reconstructive journey
Granite importing business (family connection)
Episode: What if you were crushed by 10000 pounds of stone? [Rebroadcast Ep274]
Lisa Phillips
Survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse
Episode: 383: What if you survived Jeffrey Epstein?
Emily Caldwell
Episode: What if you didn’t sleep for 120 hours? [Rebroadcast #170]
Azzah Ahmad
Individual sharing her experiences of cultural pressure, abuse, and self-acceptance journey
Episode: What if you could never be what they wanted? [Rebroadcast #246]
Katherine McElhinney
A woman recounting her childhood experiences and struggles with the Church of Scientology.
Episode: What if you signed a billion-year contract? [Rebroadcast #243]
Dr. Amanda Eller
A survivalist whose story of being lost in the forest became a national news sensation.
amandellerpt.com
Episode: What if you went missing? [Rebroadcast #196]
Gladden Rangel
An artist and DJ who shares his poignant story of survival during a traumatic incident in Mexico's drug underworld.
Episode: What if you entered the belly of the NARCO beast? [Rebroadcast #281]
Crystal Raye
Survivor of a traumatic childhood and a life-threatening incident involving flames
Episode: 369: What if you lit yourself on fire?

Host

Whit Missildine
Host of This Is Actually Happening

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 17.7k ratings
  • Waking up two months later

    This is my sister in the podcast. She is sick and none of what she said happened. She was drunk and almost killed herself and talks about me saying and doing things I never did. I'm sure a lot of the stories are true but this one is all a lie.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    legends214
    United States20 days ago
  • Hard to find a better lesson than this one

    I listen to a lot of storytelling podcasts – honestly they’re a better reflection of the state of the world than any news program. And this one’s my favorite of all of them. You can’t go wrong.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    skydoesMinecreft
    United States23 days ago
  • Love to hate it

    I love this show because the stories are incredibly interesting and compelling. At the same time, I sometimes find myself getting frustrated—especially when an episode hits close to home. It can bring back memories of what I went through and how I coped, and that can be really triggering and emotional for me.

    I also struggle when it feels like people minimize their actions or don’t fully take accountability. That part can be hard to listen to. Still, I understand that it’s all part of human emot... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Yahhairamore
    United States25 days ago
  • The family I had

    I instantly recognized the last guest’s voice. There’s a couple different documentaries about her story of what happened with her son in Paris. She’s a strong lady.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    antyjeny
    United Statesa month ago
  • Obsessed

    The only podcast I listen to!! I love these stories and how it’s just the people talking. So so so good thank you

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nothappy4242442
    Canadaa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many remark on the depth and variety of experiences, noting episodes can be emotionally intense.
Some reviews critique perceived narrative bias or agenda in certain episodes, but remain largely positive about storytelling quality.
Listeners praise the show for its harrowing, inspiring storytelling and therapeutic tone.
Audiences frequently mention the impact of personal growth and empathy inspired by stories of resilience.
The quality of interview guidance and guest preparation is a common compliment across reviews.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What if you ran through the pain? [Rebroadcast #208]
Q: How did you cope with the aftermath of your father's suicide?
The speaker explains how he utilized running as a form of therapy to process his emotions and find a constructive outlet for his grief.
What if you ran through the pain? [Rebroadcast #208]
Q: Can you tell us about the events leading up to your father's death?
The speaker recounts a call from his father where he expressed the intention to end his life, leading to a series of panicked actions and ultimately a tragic outcome.
Restorative Justice in the UK vs the US: A Conversation with Keeva Baxter
Q: What do you feel are the biggest challenges for restorative justice being more widely implemented?
Keeva identifies awareness as the main barrier, stating that even with services available, many victims do not know about restorative justice.
Restorative Justice in the UK vs the US: A Conversation with Keeva Baxter
Q: What got you into Restorative Justice?
Keeva talks about her initial interest stemming from exposure to a powerful TED talk and her educational background in criminal justice which fueled her passion for reform.
Listen Now: A Fine Mess in conversation with Whit Missildine
Q: What has your experience been since your near-death experience?
A lot of the early disruptions that were happening in the aftermath have sort of taken place.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Is Actually Happening

What is This Is Actually Happening about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Survivor-centered storytelling with a focus on extraordinary life events, each episode centers on resilience in the face of trauma—from natural disasters and accidents to abuse, captivity, and survival against the odds. Listeners repeatedly encounter intimate, first-person narratives guided by thoughtful interviews that emphasize healing, hope, and personal growth, making the show a go-to for those drawn to real-life resilience, coping strategies, and the psychology of extreme experiences. A notable strength is the careful storytelling and editing that let gripping, harrowing details emerge without sensationalism, though some episodes have sparked debates about narrative focus versus broader context. The show's breadth across disaster, viol... more

Where can I find podcast stats for This Is Actually Happening?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for This Is Actually Happening. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to This Is Actually Happening and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does This Is Actually Happening get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for This Is Actually Happening, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for This Is Actually Happening?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for This Is Actually Happening, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does This Is Actually Happening have?

To see how many followers or subscribers This Is Actually Happening has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to This Is Actually Happening?

These podcasts share a similar audience with This Is Actually Happening:

1. What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.
2. Something Was Wrong
3. The Secret Room | True Stories
4. What Came Next
5. Betrayal Season 5

How many episodes of This Is Actually Happening are there?

This Is Actually Happening launched 14 years ago and published 494 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact This Is Actually Happening?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for This Is Actually Happening?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for This Is Actually Happening from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for This Is Actually Happening?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of This Is Actually Happening. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on This Is Actually Happening?

Recent guests on This Is Actually Happening include:

1. Mirsad Solakovic
2. Mike Wolo
3. Lisa Phillips
4. Emily Caldwell
5. Azzah Ahmad
6. Katherine McElhinney
7. Dr. Amanda Eller
8. Gladden Rangel

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days