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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
Desperation
Student Loan Debt
Law Enforcement Action Partnership
Drug Policy Reform
Burger Bar Boys
Heroin

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes491Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureDocumentary

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Artwork for This Is Actually Happening

Latest Episodes

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

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 an... more

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 ... more

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. Hel... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

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?
Keeva Baxter
Communications and Campaigns Manager at Why Me UK, a national charity promoting restorative justice
Why Me UK
Episode: Restorative Justice in the UK vs the US: A Conversation with Keeva Baxter
Yoana Tchoukleva
Attorney, community organizer, and restorative justice practitioner
Berkeley Law
Episode: The Framework of Restorative Justice: A Conversation with Yoana Tchoukleva

Host

Whit Missildine
Host known for storytelling and guiding the narrative throughout the episodes, focusing on dramatic and intense human experiences.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 17.7k ratings
  • Brilliant

    I stumbled across this podcast and can’t stop listening. Stories are harrowing and confronting and inspiring. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Aussie0312
    Australia22 days ago
  • Review

    Amazing podcast. Gives me an insight on so many things I never could have thought of before. Truly an eye opening podcast. Some episodes have me bawling my eyes out but still one of my favorite podcasts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dontdodisney
    United States23 days ago
  • Response to the woman who killed her friend’s brother, the cyclist.

    I love this podcast and listening to people’s stories and lessons they took away from it.

    However, I found this episode difficult to listen to; the narrative felt largely self-referential, and the insights shared bordered on narcissistic. While I believe in the power of second chances, it appears the guest’s personal growth hasn’t extended much further than her sobriety. If the opportunity arises, I would strongly urge against contacting the family. Approaching them seems motivated more by per... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nicinny
    United States25 days ago
  • Kai

    Oh Kai, please give my sympathy to Kai. What a brave soul. Money, corrupt, but I did not corrupt him. I could feel his heartbreaking in your story. And he truly has helped so many people. Please make sure you get this message to him. He’s done a lot to protect the innocent and I hope he feels proud of that. What his father did has no reflection on him. I bet now deep down his father, even admires him for being such a good man. I am so proud of Kai and I know it wasn’t easy and I know it bro... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Melissa080808
    United Statesa month ago
  • You’re Back!!!!

    These shows are so good. I cannot get enough. My favorite ones are the really the oddities not your typical abuser and victim scenarios but some of those are good as well. It really helps me connect with my own personal traumatic me feel not so alone but the ones just blow my mind that human break free and move on from atrocities that have happened in their lives. Keep it up the show

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dclarepdx
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Reviewers admire the production quality, mentioning how well-crafted and gripping the stories are, even while others struggle with specific episodes due to audio issues or content.
Listeners express deep appreciation for the emotional depth and personal storytelling, often citing it as incredibly impactful and healing.
Several comments suggest that the content may not appeal to those looking for light-hearted themes, as the emotional stories can be very intense and confronting.
There is a recurring theme of critiques regarding political bias in certain episodes, suggesting that some feel the narratives push specific agendas.

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?

The content focuses on extraordinary true stories from individuals facing life-altering events. Listeners can expect gripping narratives that cover a wide range of harrowing experiences, such as surviving cult trafficking, violent assaults, natural disasters, and personal struggles with mental health and trauma. Each episode features firsthand accounts, allowing the audience to connect deeply with the participants and their unique journeys toward resilience and recovery. The format highlights both the psychological and physical challenges faced by the storytellers, offering profound insights into the human condition amid extreme circumstances.

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 491 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?

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What guests have appeared on This Is Actually Happening?

Recent guests on This Is Actually Happening include:

1. Lisa Phillips
2. Emily Caldwell
3. Azzah Ahmad
4. Katherine McElhinney
5. Dr. Amanda Eller
6. Gladden Rangel
7. Crystal Raye
8. Keeva Baxter

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.

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