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This Is Actually Happening

Audible
Mental Health
Trauma
Family Dynamics
Childhood Trauma
Survival Stories
Death
Survival
Restorative Justice
Sexual Abuse
Recovery
Obstetrics
Artificial Intelligence
2004 Tsunami
Drug Trafficking
Thailand
Natural Disasters
Crack Cocaine
Cocaine
Substance Abuse
Substance Use Disorder

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes536Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for This Is Actually Happening

Latest Episodes

After growing up with financial instability, a fiercely independent man builds the successful life he always dreamed of, but when his behavior begins to change in frightening and inexplicable ways, his mind, marriage, and everything he’s worked for b... more

A Hollywood stuntwoman turned personal injury attorney. A handsome disbarred lawyer with a dark past. And an elaborate scheme that leads to murder.

Vanessa Motta gives up a career of fake car crashes for real ones. But her law career in New Orleans g... more

After a childhood shaped by her father’s unpredictable volatility, a young woman faces an unimaginable act of violence and must come to terms with complicated grief, shame and an erratic path to healing.

Today’s episode featured Lucia. If you’d like... more

Audible True Crime is a dedicated podcast feed where we bring you the best podcasts in true crime, with episodes dropping every single week.

Just in time for spooky season, we’re releasing a show called Ghost Story, a series about a hidden family s... 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.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Betrayal Season 6
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Recent Guests

Tristan Redman
Journalist and narrator of Ghost Story
Episode: Listen Now: Audible True Crime – Ghost Story
Dan Frolec
Author of The Cave, survivor of the Croatia cave incident
Author, The Cave
Episode: 408: What if your friend was lost in an underwater cave?
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]

Host

Whit Missildine
Host of This Is Actually Happening

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 18.1k ratings
  • Good show

    Podcast Addict
    5
    AaronO
    14 days ago
  • This entire show is just a platform for furthering the gay agenda. 80% of the episodes will eventually reveal someone is gay.

    Podchaser
    1
    smith19197
    19 days ago
  • Don’t skimp on extraordinary enlightenment.

    The reason this podcast has been valuable is because of its “formula” — an ordinary person (someone not necessarily chosen for being a semi-known personality), undergoing an extraordinary experience (not a semi-extreme version of what any listener might have gone through), and, as a result, reaching a resolution of sorts or an “enlightened” place (despite the individual being ordinary and the experience being extraordinary). A couple episodes I recently heard seem to have violated that compellin... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Elisabeth-Ann
    United States22 days ago
  • “Actually” ???

    When I first started listening a couple of years ago, these were stories of something incredible that actually happened to a person like you or me— exceptional, amazing, terrifying, exhilarating, humbling, unexpectedly transformative.

    Things that happen out of nowhere. Storytellers whose life course turned straight into the unknown by uncommon circumstance.

    Now I can’t get through even one episode; these are repetitive common stories that sadly happen to countless people, and the new mode seem... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Spring7Boy
    United States25 days ago
  • The Most Human Podcast

    My all-time favorite Podcast. I have been listening for years. Gripping, compelling and at the same time human.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cocosun90
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Many fans value the empathetic approach to trauma and resilience, though some critique shifts toward AI-centric topics.
Listeners appreciate the intimate, survivor-centered storytelling and the emotional depth of episodes.
The show is praised for high production quality and compelling guest conversations, even as opinions on topics vary.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Introducing Unreal: When AI Becomes Us
Q: Are there questions you're not comfortable answering?
I'm comfortable discussing most things; if you have questions about specific topics, feel free to ask.
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.

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?

A compelling anthology of deeply personal survival stories and explorations of extraordinary life events. Episodes skew toward trauma, resilience, and the human psyche, featuring survivors, authors, and thinkers who recount harrowing experiences—from near-death cave rescues to post-trauma healing, identity struggles, and the ethics of AI representations. The show often blends investigative storytelling with reflective commentary, creating intimate, high-stakes narratives that challenge listeners to consider vulnerability, accountability, and growth. Notably, the program frequently centers survivor voices and transformative journeys, offering both visceral storytelling and meaningful takeaways for listeners who seek human-centric narratives ... more

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How many listeners does This Is Actually Happening get?

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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. The Secret Room | True Stories
3. Something Was Wrong
4. What Came Next
5. Betrayal Season 6

How many episodes of This Is Actually Happening are there?

This Is Actually Happening launched 15 years ago and published 536 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.

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What guests have appeared on This Is Actually Happening?

Recent guests on This Is Actually Happening include:

1. Tristan Redman
2. Dan Frolec
3. Mirsad Solakovic
4. Mike Wolo
5. Lisa Phillips
6. Emily Caldwell
7. Azzah Ahmad
8. Katherine McElhinney

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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