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Artwork for This Is Actually Happening

This Is Actually Happening

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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes519Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for This Is Actually Happening

Latest Episodes

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 co... more

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... more

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 societ... more

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... 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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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 17.9k ratings
  • Love to hate it

    I enjoy a lot of these stories, but every now and then there’s one that feels like listening to an older aunt. Tell a long rambling story you realize it’s boring, but by then you’ve already committed to hearing the whole thing. The one that really threw me off and it kind of bothered me was a psychic episode about Annette Bricca. I couldn’t find any articles about her alleged kidnapping or her claim about assisting the FBI. She made it very difficult to believe, kind of reminded me of Sylvia Bro... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Yahhairamore
    United Statesa month ago
  • this is the best podcast ever full stop

    i've listened to thousands of podcasts and this right here is the best. particularly the episode with woman with cp who had the tbi

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    slikkboy129
    United States2 months ago
  • Cuban-American drug smuggler

    Love the podcast generally but miss me with narcissistic boomers who make bad choices and blame their four children for not speaking to them?! Demanding birthright respect after causing the family to lose everything?Yeah no. And I find it pretty tone deaf to set the stage for his crimes with a relatively privileged immigrant experience in these dark days.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Except why
    United States2 months ago
  • What if you first saw your own abduction?

    5

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    adlesirc013
    United States2 months ago
  • Usually good, most recent episode seemed like a grifter’s story

    I tend to like this podcast, it seems like people telling true stories about their life. However, the latest episode with the psychic who survived a horrible abduction as a child did not seem like a real story to me. Apologies if I’m off base here but I feel like there should be more thorough fact checking.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Ndnsnsn
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans appreciate authentic, vulnerable storytelling and the host's empathetic interviewing.
Critics note strong content but sometimes question guest selections or perspective balance in certain episodes.
Listeners praise the show's depth and emotional resonance, highlighting its therapeutic value and storytelling quality.

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?

This show curates intensely personal true-life stories told directly by the people who lived them, focusing on moments of crisis, resilience, and recovery. Episodes commonly center on survival—from dangerous ordeals to psychological traumas—alongside the aftermath: coping, meaning-making, and healing through therapy, mindfulness, or community. A notable strength is the intimate, unvarnished storytelling paired with mindful reflection, often shedding light on complex issues like abuse, trauma, and identity. The format tends to attract listeners who crave deep, character-driven narratives and practical takeaways on resilience, mental health, and navigating extreme life events.

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

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How many listeners does This Is Actually Happening get?

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What are the audience demographics for This Is Actually Happening?

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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 Weekly

How many episodes of This Is Actually Happening are there?

This Is Actually Happening launched 15 years ago and published 519 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.

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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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