This Is Actually Happening

A woman, who ignores her instincts, enters a marriage that soon spirals into betrayal and control. When the truth finally comes to light, she must choose between devastation and the chance to reclaim her life.   Today’s episode featured Amy Irvine. If you’d like to reach out to Amy, you can email her at pinkishfx@gmail.com [pinkishfx@gmail.com].  You can find Amy on social media @pinkish_7 and/or @pinkish_77 on Instagram  A special thanks to Todd Renenbohm of the Bunny Hugs & Mental Health Podcast for referring Amy to us.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz   Content/Trigger Warnings: Child emotional abuse and neglect, Body shaming and eating-related control, Sexual coercion and marital rape, Drugging and sexual assault, Domestic violence and attempted strangulation, Psychological and emotional manipulation, Infidelity and betrayal, Threat to animals, Discussion of multiple victims of sexual assault, Trauma recovery and PTSD, explicit language   Social Media: Instagram: @actuallyhappening Twitter: @TIAHPodcast   Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com [http://www.thisisactuallyhappening.com/]   Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com [http://www.andrdewwaits.com/] Website for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com [http://avivalipkowitz.com/]   Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening [https://www.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 [https://wondery.com/plus]   Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop [https://www.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 [http://www.thisisactuallyhappening.com/]   Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott Velasquez Music Bed: Union Flow   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 [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

After losing himself to meth and a double life as a federal informant, a man’s world collapses after one of his buyer’s overdoses, and recovery begins as he confronts the child within.   Today’s episode featured Sean Hemeon. His forthcoming memoir, The Good Little Drug Lord, does not yet have a set publication date, but you can follow him for updates. You can email Sean at hemeonauthor@gmail.com [hemeonauthor@gmail.com]. Sean is on Instagram @Sean_Hemeon. Follow his website seanhemeon.com [http://seanhemeon.com/] for updates on his forthcoming memoir.  And a special thanks to Todd Renenbohm of the Bunny Hugs & Mental Health podcast for referring Sean to our show. Todd has an 8 part documentary podcast series out on Oct 1 entitled Transgression - My search for the REAL trans agenda in Saskatchewan. You can find out more about this series on instagram @Transgressionseries Check out the trailer here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transgression/id1841926991 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transgression/id1841926991] Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason Blalock   Content/Trigger Warnings: Child sexual abuse / molestation, Physical violence / assault, Homophobia / slurs, Suicide attempt / suicidal ideation, Addiction and drug use, Overdose and death, Parental neglect / emotional abuse / parentification, Moral injury and guilt, Religious trauma, explicit language   Social Media: Instagram: @actuallyhappening Twitter: @TIAHPodcast   Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com [http://www.thisisactuallyhappening.com/]   Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com [http://www.andrdewwaits.com/] Website for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.com [http://jasonblalock.com/]    Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening [https://www.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 [https://wondery.com/plus]   Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop [https://www.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 [http://www.thisisactuallyhappening.com/]   Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott Velasquez Music Bed: Re-Entry   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 [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

When a sudden car crash shatters her world, a woman’s grief and struggle to keep living leads her to an unexpected rebirth of love. Today’s episode featured Polly Vickery. If you’d like to contact Polly, you can email her at pollyvickery81@gmail.com [pollyvickery81@gmail.com].  Polly is on Instagram and Facebook @PollyVickery     Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Ellen (Elly) Westberg, Aviva Lipkowitz Content/Trigger Warnings: Child death, Spousal death, Graphic accident details,  Medical trauma, Grief and bereavement, Suicidal ideation, Survivor’s guilt, Anxiety/PTSD, explicit language Social Media: Instagram: @actuallyhappening Twitter: @TIAHPodcast   Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com [http://www.thisisactuallyhappening.com/]   Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com [http://www.andrdewwaits.com/] Website for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com [http://avivalipkowitz.com/] Website for Ellen Westberg: shedatespodcast.com [http://shedatespodcast.com/]   Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening [https://www.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 [https://wondery.com/plus]   Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop [https://www.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 [http://www.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 [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

After a prominent life filled with passion and adventure ends with the death of her brilliant but volatile husband, a woman journeys to Guatemala to heal, only to be captured, and her fight to survive transforms her life forever.    Today’s episode featured Brenda Coffee. You can email Brenda at bcoffee@1010parkplace.com [bcoffee@1010parkplace.com]. She is on Instagram @1010ParkPlace. Visit her website at brenda-coffee.com [http://brenda-coffee.com/]. Brenda is the author of MAYA BLUE: A Memoir of Survival, published 05/25, a memoir that reads like a thriller. It is Working Girl meets Taken. A true story of love, cocaine, Big Tobacco, abduction, and survival. Nominated for the 2025 Kirkus Prize and included on Maria Shriver's 2025 Summer Reads list.   Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz   Content/Trigger Warnings: parentification, domestic violence, intimate partner abuse, drug making and using, addiction, gun violence, sexual assault/attempted rape, child exploitation, cancer & illness, death & grief, explicit language   Social Media: Instagram: @actuallyhappening Twitter: @TIAHPodcast   Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com [http://www.thisisactuallyhappening.com/]   Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com [http://www.andrdewwaits.com/] Website for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com [http://avivalipkowitz.com/]   Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening [https://www.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 [https://wondery.com/plus]   Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop [https://www.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 [http://www.thisisactuallyhappening.com/]   Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott Velasquez Music Bed: Ambient Themes   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 [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

While hunting in the Canadian wilderness, a man accidentally comes between a grizzly bear cub and its mother, and a terrifying fight for his life ensues that will change him forever. Today we bring you the final episode of our annual 5-week summer rebroadcast series. We will return with all new episodes starting next Tuesday, September 16, 2025 . Today’s rebroadcast episode “What if you were mauled by a grizzly bear?” originally aired as episode 262 on January 24, 2023.    Today's episode featured Jeremy Evans. You can find many more details about Jeremy and this story in his incredible memoir, 'Mauled: Lessons Learned from a Grizzly Bear Attack', published by Rocky Mountain Books. To contact Jeremy you can reach out to his Publicist at genevieve@rmbooks.com or contact Jeremy directly at Grizzlydude01@gmail.com   Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits   Content/Trigger Warnings: very graphic bodily injury, graphic description of blood and medical situations, attempted suicide, violence inflicted on a child, explicit language   Social Media: Instagram: @actuallyhappening Twitter: @TIAHPodcast   Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com [http://www.thisisactuallyhappening.com/]   Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com [http://www.andrdewwaits.com/]   Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening [https://www.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 [https://wondery.com/plus]   Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop [https://www.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 [http://www.thisisactuallyhappening.com/]   Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott Velasquez Music Bed: “Union Flow” – Spuntic   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 [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].