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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
Substance Abuse
Crack Cocaine
Cocaine
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes523Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for This Is Actually Happening

Latest Episodes

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 ... more

A woman shares a sobering memoir of a family burdened with sexual abuse in the 1950s.

Today’s storyteller wishes to remain Anonymous.

Producers

Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits

Content/Trigger Warnings

Sexual Abuse and Assault, Child Sexual Abuse M... more

A woman shares a sobering memoir of a family burdened with sexual abuse in the 1950s.

Today’s storyteller wishes to remain Anonymous.

Producers

Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits

Content/Trigger Warnings

Sexual Abuse and Assault, Child Sexual Abuse M... more

Something strange is happening to us. The intelligent machines we’ve built to serve us have started to sound like us, look like us and even think like us. The line between real and artificial is dissolving… so, what awaits us in the uncanny valley?

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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Recent Guests

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]
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]

Host

Whit Missildine
Host of This Is Actually Happening

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 18k ratings
  • Disappointing AI

    This podcast lost me when they AI generated an episode. Don’t want it. The AI series seems to refuse to take a stance on AI. Have a backbone. O stars.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    OxusArt
    United States8 days ago
  • Used to be a huge fan…

    I loved hearing real people tell their true experiences. Extremely disappointed by the pivot to fake stories by fake people.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Kato1993
    United States9 days ago
  • Stop with the AI episodes

    Long time listener, disappointing to see all new episodes are about AI

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Kellychromatic
    United States10 days ago
  • garbage

    Podcast Addict
    1
    Qmind
    13 days ago
  • This podcast used to be the GOAT

    Hands down, this used to be the greatest of all the podcasts. So well done. Stories were fascinating and had no political agenda. So sad that they have submitted to a certain narrative , and just when I thought it couldn’t get worse , they are no introducing whiney dummies who have been scammed by ai . Weird. Sure there has to be better stories than that . But OH WAIT , it has to have some sort of leftist edge right ?! That’s what you guys have turned into. Grow some balls and bring back the oth... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Azmsjojo
    United States13 days 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
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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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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 Weekly

How many episodes of This Is Actually Happening are there?

This Is Actually Happening launched 15 years ago and published 523 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. Dan Frolec
2. Mirsad Solakovic
3. Mike Wolo
4. Lisa Phillips
5. Emily Caldwell
6. Azzah Ahmad
7. Katherine McElhinney
8. Dr. Amanda Eller

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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