Episodes

  • 385: What if you found healing through saving abandoned dogs?

    385: What if you found healing through saving abandoned dogs?
    Nov 25 2025

    When a woman is brought to her knees by unimaginable grief, she finds her way forward by transforming her pain into a sanctuary for forgotten dogs.

    Today’s episode featured Tamara Corbitt. If you’d like to reach out to Tamara, you can email her at tamara.corbitt@yahoo.com. You can find her and her rescue, Travieso Dog Sanctuary on Facebook and Instagram @Traviesodogsanctuary


    To see dogs available for adoption or to donate, please visit the website for Travieso Dog Sanctuary at http://traviesodogsanctuary.com.


    Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason Blalock

    Content/Trigger Warnings: Child loss, Fatal car accident, Grief and traumatic bereavement, Parental abuse (physical and emotional), Substance use as coping, Animal illness and death (parvo, puppy loss), Rescue of abused/abandoned animals, Family estrangement, Descriptions of emotional distress and trauma processing, explicit language

    Social Media:

    Instagram: @actuallyhappening

    Twitter: @TIAHPodcast

    Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com


    To Pre-Order the Limited Edition BOOK, hand-numbered and signed by Whit for shipping by December 8: https://www.thisisactuallyhappening.com/the-book

    Website for Andrew Waits: andrewwaits.com

    Website for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.com

    Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening

    Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus

    Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.

    Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com

    Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott Velasquez

    Music Bed: Uncertain Outcomes

    Services

    If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:

    National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988

    National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

    National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    48 mins
  • 384: What if you were run over three times?

    384: What if you were run over three times?
    Nov 18 2025

    After being run over three times and left pinned beneath a car, a woman emerges into a world she no longer recognizes and must piece together a new identity from the ruins of the old one.


    Today’s episode featured Naseem Rochette. You can email Naseem at nas@misfitblue.com. She is on Instagram @nasrocs. You can find out more about Naseem on her website at naseemrochette.com.


    Her book, The Unexpected Benefits of Being Run Over is available on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-Benefits-Being-Run-Over/dp/B0BW4MZ517



    Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Sara Marinelli

    Content/Trigger Warnings: Suicide attempt, Suicidal ideation, Racial discrimination / identity-based shame, Graphic accident description, Being run over by a vehicle (multiple times), Traumatic brain injury, Medical trauma, Child witnessing parent in medical crisis, Emotional dysregulation / screaming at children, PTSD symptoms, Alcohol use / self-medication, Courtroom confrontation, Lack of remorse from perpetrator, Themes of mortality and near-death experience, explicit language

    Social Media:

    Instagram: @actuallyhappening

    Twitter: @TIAHPodcast

    Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com

    Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com

    Website for Sara Marinelli: saramarinelli.com

    Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening

    Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus

    Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.

    Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com

    Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott Velasquez

    Music Bed: Music To Air (MTA) - Houses

    Services

    If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:

    National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988

    National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

    National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)



    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    50 mins
  • 383: What if you survived Jeffrey Epstein?

    383: What if you survived Jeffrey Epstein?
    Nov 11 2025

    When a young model finally escapes Jeffrey Epstein’s world of coercion, gaslighting and abuse, her battle to reclaim her self-worth becomes a testament to resilience and truth.

    Today’s episode featured Lisa Phillips. If you’d like to reach out to Lisa, you can email her at lisa@lisaphillips.la. She is on Instagram @iamlisaphillips and @fromnowonpod

    Lisa is also on YouTube https://tr.ee/FLEx90p6Ss and TikTok https://tr.ee/P1oWtIWF9D


    You can visit Lisa’s website as well https://www.lisaphillips.la/press


    Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits

    Content/Trigger Warnings: sexual abuse, grooming, manipulation, trauma, self-worth struggles, emotional abuse, discussion of Jeffrey Epstein, and recovery from exploitation, explicit language

    Social Media:

    Instagram: @actuallyhappening

    Twitter: @TIAHPodcast

    Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com

    Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com

    Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening

    Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus

    Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.

    Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com

    Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott Velasquez

    Music Bed: KPM Main Series (KPM) - Barely There

    Services

    If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:

    National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988

    National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

    National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    53 mins
  • Listen Now: Against The Odds | Tsunami In Thailand

    Listen Now: Against The Odds | Tsunami In Thailand
    Nov 5 2025

    Humans are resilient. In our toughest moments, we will fight, we will struggle, and we will triumph...often against the odds.

    In this immersive series from Wondery, host-adventurers Mike Corey and Cassie De Pecol will share thrilling stories of survival. From the daring rescue of a soccer team trapped in an underwater cave in Thailand, to a woman taken hostage by Somali pirates, these stories made headlines around the world.

    Against The Odds will make you feel as though you’re living these experiences with our heroes as they push themselves to their limits. Listen to Against The Odds: Tsunami In Thailand: https://Wondery.fm/ATO_IFD

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    5 mins
  • 382: What if you spent four months as a doctor in Gaza?

    382: What if you spent four months as a doctor in Gaza?
    Nov 4 2025

    A humanitarian aid doctor enters Gaza at the height of the conflict, and emerges with a sobering reality that shatters everything he believed about medicine, morality, and human nature.

    Today’s episode featured Travis Meleen. If you’d like to email Travis, you can reach him at melin.trav@gmail.com, You can also find him on Instagram @ravenilem


    Travis is available for sharing his experiences in a speaking engagement setting. Please reach out to him for more information and/or to schedule!

    Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz

    Content/Trigger Warnings: War and armed conflict, Mass casualties and graphic medical trauma, Violence against children / child death, Gun violence, Hospital bombings / attacks on medical facilities, Famine, Starvation, and Medical scarcity, Death and grief, Suicide (partner’s death by suicide, mentioned), PTSD, Moral injury, and Psychological distress, Dehumanization, Propaganda, and references to Genocide, explicit language

    Social Media:

    Instagram: @actuallyhappening

    Twitter: @TIAHPodcast

    Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com

    Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com

    Website for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com

    Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening

    Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus

    Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.

    Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com

    Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott Velasquez

    Music Bed: "Dark Oasis" - Discovery Studios Tracks

    Services

    If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:

    National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988

    National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

    National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    59 mins
  • 381: What if you opened a portal to the world next door?

    381: What if you opened a portal to the world next door?
    Oct 28 2025

    When a woman begins waking up to a supernatural entity crawling behind her, she realizes the door she opened as a child was never closed.

    Today’s episode featured Emilie Lemire. If you’d like to reach out to Emilie, you can find her on Instagram @fitnurse_em

    Producers: Whit Missildine, PRX and Echoverse, a next-generation studio that creates premium sci-fi, supernatural and fantasy audio content. If you’d like to find out more about Echoverse and check out their slate of amazing scripted and non-scripted podcasts, please go to echoverse.com. A special thanks to Mark Stern and the PRX team.


    Content/Trigger Warnings: Supernatural / paranormal experiences, Sleep paralysis, Night terrors, Fear and panic attacks, Psychological distress, Childhood trauma, Spiritual / occult themes (Ouija board), Emotional isolation, Anxiety and insomnia, explicit language


    Social Media:


    Instagram: @actuallyhappening


    Twitter: @TIAHPodcast

    Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com

    Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com


    Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening


    Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus


    Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.


    Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com


    Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott Velasquez


    Music Bed: Cylinder Four


    Services


    If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:


    National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988


    National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264


    National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    35 mins
  • 380: What if you had a spontaneous awakening?

    380: What if you had a spontaneous awakening?
    Oct 21 2025
    Growing up in the notorious commune of Rajneeshpuram, and haunted by abandonment and addiction, a woman’s spontaneous awakening reveals that every wound was a doorway to remembering who she truly is. Today’s episode featured Anonymous. If you’d like to reach out to her, you can email her at RosesLifeBook@gmail.com. To learn more about the Rajneeshee movement and the events at Rajneeshpuram, check out the Rajneesh Artifacts and Ephemera Collection in the Oregon archives, which includes documents and memorabilia from the commune’s time in Oregon Archives West. The Oregon Historical Quarterly’s retrospective article Revisiting Rajneeshpuram offers a sharp, scholarly review of the commune’s rise and fall Oregon Historical Society. For the bioterror episode tied to the group, the CDC’s official report A Large Community Outbreak of Salmonellosis Caused by Intentional Contamination remains the definitive source CDC Stacks. Finally, Netflix’s Wild Wild Country has made the story accessible and vivid, combining interviews, archival footage, and local perspectives en.wikipedia.org+1. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz Content/Trigger Warnings: Child abandonment, Emotional neglect, Parental alcoholism, Drug use and addiction (heroin), Homelessness, Prostitution, Domestic abuse / emotional abuse, Narcissistic relationship dynamics, Spiritual / psychological crisis, Religious cult involvement, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop. Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Ambient Themes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    55 mins
  • 379: What if you witnessed your client’s execution?

    379: What if you witnessed your client’s execution?
    Oct 14 2025

    A man shaped by cruelty devotes his life to defending the condemned, discovering that real courage lies not in victory, but in standing beside the most despised.

    Today’s episode featured Clive Stafford Smith. If you’d like to reach out to Clive, you can email him at clive@justiceleague.org.uk. You can find Clive on X/Twitter @CliveSS and on Instagram @clivestaffordsmith


    To find out more about the work Clive does, visit https://justiceleague.org.uk/.


    Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason Blalock

    Content/Trigger Warnings: Child abuse, Child Molestation, Child Murder, Physical violence, Emotional neglect, Execution, Capital punishment, Racism, Racial violence, Torture, State violence, Mental illness, explicit language

    Social Media:

    Instagram: @actuallyhappening

    Twitter: @TIAHPodcast

    Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com

    Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com

    Website for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.com

    Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening

    Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus

    Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop.

    Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com

    Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott Velasquez

    Music Bed: Uncertain Outcomes

    Services

    If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:

    National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988

    National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

    National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    53 mins