This Is Actually Happening - podcast cover

This Is Actually Happening

Wonderywondery.com

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 edge of your seat waiting to hear what happens next.

Listen to exclusive episodes of This is Actually Happening ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/this-is-actually-happening/ now.

Episodes

365: What if they believed you staged your own kidnapping? Part 2: Denise

A young woman is kidnapped, assaulted and released by perpetrators, but a far greater trauma lurks as the powers meant to protect her do not believe any of it happened. Today’s episode featured Denise Huskins Quinn. If you’d like to reach out to Denise, please find her on Instagram @huskins.denise Denise has written a book with her husband, Aaron Quinn titled ""Victim F: From Crime Victims to Suspects to Survivors"", available now where books are sold. You can also find it here: https://www.peng...

Jun 03, 20251 hr 8 minSeason 14Ep. 365

Wondery Presents: How to Survive Against the Odds

Inspired by Wondery’s hit podcast Against the Odds —learn how to survive whatever nature can throw at you through gut-twisting true stories of survival on the brink How to Survive Against the Odds places you at the center of fifteen real life-or-death scenarios. Each story explores the physiological responses of the human body under unbearable conditions, how to counteract them, and strategies for survival from doctors and psychologists. Through these tales, we see the grit, willpower, and know-...

Jun 02, 20256 min

364: What if they believed you staged your own kidnapping? Part 1: Aaron

A privileged young man, on the cusp of reconciling with his true love, is tied up in a home invasion and his girlfriend is kidnapped with her whereabouts unknown, but a far greater trauma lurks as the powers meant to protect him frame him as the monster. Today’s episode featured Aaron Quinn. If you’d like to reach out to Aaron, please find him on Instagram @aaron_quinn_pt Aaron has written a book with his wife, Denise Huskins titled ""Victim F: From Crime Victims to Suspects to Survivors"", avai...

May 27, 20251 hrSeason 14Ep. 364

363: What if you dedicated your life to ending human trafficking?

Dedicated to eradicating human trafficking, a purpose-driven young man's world is shattered by a politician's unwarranted lawsuit, destroying his reputation and forcing him to find a new path forward. Today’s episode featured Raymond Bechard. If you’d like to reach out to Ray, please email him at [email protected] . You can also find him here: Contact Raymond For Raymond’s Socials & a link to his book: https://linktr.ee/daggerwingmedia His book: "The Berlin Turnpike: A True Story of H...

May 20, 20251 hr 2 minSeason 14Ep. 363

362: What if you wrote your way out of prison?

Cultivating rage as a solution to inherited trauma, a young man commits murder over a five-dollar dispute, but once in prison, he devotes his life to liberation from systems of oppression and the jailor within himself. Today’s episode featured Emile Suotonye DeWeaver. If you’d like to contact Emile, please email him at [email protected] or find him on social media: Substack: @reframeconsults Instagram: @emilesuotonyedeweaver Bluesky: Bluesky LinkedIn: LinkedIn Emile’s first book, Ghost in t...

May 13, 20251 hr 16 minSeason 14Ep. 362

361: What if your sister’s death was an unsolved mystery?

Driven by her sister's mysterious death, a woman's life transforms into a struggle for understanding and justice, as the truth remains elusive. Today’s episode featured Jana Guyewski-Lautigar. If you’d like to reach out to Jana, please email her at [email protected]. You can find Jana and her sister’s cause on social media: Facebook, Tiktok, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram @JusticeforCrystalMcCroryJones. Jana’s Instagram @jana_marie_1989 Jana has written a book that is waiting to be published tit...

May 06, 202555 minSeason 14Ep. 361

360: What if you were lost in an Arctic blizzard?

A man’s elective amputation sets him free to be the adventurer he’s always wanted to be, but the trip of a lifetime to the Canadian Arctic profoundly tests the limits of his new body. Today’s episode featured Stephen Evans. If you’d like to reach out to Stephen, you can email him at [email protected].  You can also find him on social media: Instagram: @stephenandevans & @peglegstudio  Facebook: Stephen Evans Find out more about what Stephen makes at www.peglegstudio.com.  Pro...

Apr 29, 202555 minSeason 14Ep. 360

Listen Now: Death County, PA

Lamont Jones leaves Dauphin County Prison for the last time, a free man ready to move on with his life. But when his young cousin dies in that same jail, he learns that this is not the only mysterious death that has plagued Dauphin County Prison. The search for the truth will put him at odds with a reality TV show coroner who claims to speak for the dead and people in power who all have something to hide.  Listen to Death County, PA: Wondery.fm/DCPA_FD See Privacy Policy at https://art19.co...

Apr 28, 20256 min

359: What if you nearly froze to death?

A police cadet takes a risky shortcut home one evening, only to find herself trapped and helpless as night falls in a brutal Canadian winter.  Today’s episode featured Hilary. If you’d like to reach out to her, please email her at [email protected].  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Forrest Chiras Content/Trigger Warnings: divorce, parental abandonment and estrangement, death of a pet, alcohol intoxication, accidental death of a young person, accident or mishap outside in fre...

Apr 22, 202541 minSeason 14Ep. 359

358: What if you were recruited to fight an invisible war?

A young actor, who seeks a greater purpose, is recruited into a clandestine war for humanity's soul, and is forced to confront his desire for belonging at the cost of his sanity. Today’s episode featured Max Lebow. You can email Max at [email protected] .  You can also reach him on his socials:  @thefinalwarpod on Instagram @thefinalwarpodcast on Tik Tok r/finalwarpodcast on Reddit Max’s own multi-episode podcast, The Final War, can be found on Spotify, Apple and wherever you get...

Apr 15, 202547 minSeason 14Ep. 358

357: What if you were the girl locked upstairs?

A vulnerable girl, having already endured abuse from her schizophrenic mother, loses her freedom and innocence when a trusted adult lures her into an unthinkable decade of captivity.  Today’s episode featured Tanya Kach. You can email Tanya at [email protected] or find her on social media via the following:  Facebook @Tanya Nicole Kach (Mimi) Instagram @libragirl1481 Tanya wrote an autobiography “Memoir of a Milk Carton Kid”, available where books are sold. She’s done many speaking enga...

Apr 08, 202557 minSeason 14Ep. 357

356: What if they stole a year of your life?

Abandoned after his parents’ devastating divorce, a neglected teenage son is committed to a psychiatric facility, whose barbaric practices reveal a far more sinister agenda.  Today’s episode featured Banning Lyon. You can email Banning at [email protected] or contact him on Instagram @banningwrites You can find out more about Banning, his book “The Chair And The Valley” and how to contact him at banninglyon.com.  A special thanks to Todd Rennebohm of the Bunny Hugs & Mental ...

Apr 01, 20251 hr 24 minSeason 14Ep. 356

355: A World Beyond Revenge: What if you identified the wrong man?

After a brutal assault in the 1980s, a young woman identifies the wrong man as her attacker, but once DNA evidence proves his innocence, they form an unlikely bond, determined to right their paths of justice. This episode is the fifth and final in our five part series, “A World Beyond Revenge” featuring five powerful stories of people on both sides of tragic incidents of unimaginable harm who found healing through the groundbreaking process of Restorative Justice.    Today’s episode fe...

Mar 25, 20251 hr 14 minSeason 14Ep. 355

354: A World Beyond Revenge: What if your son was killed by a distracted driver?

A turbulent father-son relationship shatters completely when the son is killed by a distracted driver, and the father is left to confront his own profound guilt and the man who caused his son's needless death. This episode is the fourth in our five part series, “A World Beyond Revenge” featuring five powerful stories of people on both sides of tragic incidents of unimaginable harm who found healing through the groundbreaking process of Restorative Justice.    Today’s episode featured A...

Mar 18, 202544 minSeason 14Ep. 354

353: A World Beyond Revenge: What if you were the common denominator?

After committing acts of extreme violence as a teenager, a man is unable to shed his rage and find healing, until he’s able to face the roots of the harm he has caused.  This episode is the third in our five part series, “A World Beyond Revenge” featuring five powerful stories of people on both sides of tragic incidents of unimaginable harm who found healing through the groundbreaking process of Restorative Justice.    Today’s episode featured Troy Williams. You can reach him thro...

Mar 11, 202558 minSeason 14Ep. 353

Restorative Justice in the UK vs the US: A Conversation with Keeva Baxter

As part of our series, “A World Beyond Revenge” on Restorative Justice, today’s episode features Keeva Baxter. She is the Communications and Campaigns Manager at Why Me UK.  Why Me? are a national charity in the UK, promoting access to Restorative Justice for people affected by crime or conflict. They also support people who have been through the Restorative Justice process to share their stories. If you want to find out more about Restorative Justice, visit their website www.why-me.org . I...

Mar 06, 202553 min

352: A World Beyond Revenge: What if they got the wrong guy?

After an unsuspecting man is brutally beaten in a surprise attack, he faces crippling anxiety, rage and homelessness for decades until he is able to meet the man who harmed him. This episode is the second in our five part series, “A World Beyond Revenge” featuring five powerful stories of people on both sides of tragic incidents of unimaginable harm who found healing through the groundbreaking process of Restorative Justice.    Today’s episode featured Will Gilluley. If you’d like to r...

Mar 04, 202545 minSeason 14Ep. 352

The Framework of Restorative Justice: A Conversation with Yoana Tchoukleva

As part of our series, “A World Beyond Revenge” on Restorative Justice, today’s episode features Yoana Tchoukleva. She is an attorney, community organizer and restorative justice practitioner. She has held dozens of restorative justice accountability processes, both inside of carceral institutions and in the community.  Most recently, she served as Assistant District Attorney in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office where she expanded access to Restorative Justice Diversion for youth...

Feb 27, 20251 hr 5 min

351: A World Beyond Revenge: What if your brother was murdered in a hate crime?

A woman’s brother, David, is murdered in a hate crime, and she spirals into a cycle of revenge, resentment, and anger until she meets with the man who killed him.  This episode is the first in our five part series, “A World Beyond Revenge” featuring five powerful stories of people on both sides of tragic incidents of unimaginable harm who found healing through the groundbreaking process of Restorative Justice.   Today’s episode featured Heather Thompson. If you’d like to cont...

Feb 25, 20251 hrSeason 14Ep. 351

350: What if nothing could tear us apart? Part 2: Daniel

A young man searching for acceptance and purpose falls into a life of crippling addiction and loses his son to CPS and the love of his life to a violent psychopath; but among the shattered pieces of his life, he finds a path to recovery, forgiveness and joy.   Today’s episode featured Daniel Hearn. This episode is part of a two-part mini-series, featuring Daniel and his wife Donna, whose story aired last week as #349.  You can email Daniel Hearn at [email protected]. Please...

Feb 18, 202554 minSeason 14Ep. 350

349: What if nothing could tear us apart? Part 1: Donna

A young woman swept up in a whirlwind romance spirals into drug addiction, which takes everything from her, but when a “friend” comes to help her pick up the pieces, she finds herself in the grip of a psychopath and must find her way back to freedom, recovery, and the love of her life.   Today’s episode featured Donna Gilchrist. You can reach out to her at [email protected] Check out Daniel's and Donna's podcast "Hard Knox Talks: Your Addiction Podcast": https://linktr.ee/hardknoxtalk...

Feb 11, 20251 hr 5 minSeason 14Ep. 349

348: What if you survived the Burundian genocide?

During the 1993 mass killing of Tutsis in Burundi, a young man raised in a tight-knit community becomes a target of ethnic cleansing, but as he faces his final, horrifying moments, he runs for his survival, awakening to a new life.    Today’s episode featured Gilbert Tuhabonye. You can reach out to him at [email protected]. You can also find him on the following socials: Instagram @gtuhabonye Facebook @Gilbert Tuhabonye Tiktok @runlikeagazelle YouTube: www.youtube.com/@gilbe...

Feb 04, 202550 minSeason 14Ep. 348

347: What if you were held captive in plain sight?

A mental health professional in a turbulent marriage makes a fresh start in Hawaii, but after befriending a charming older man she finds herself trapped in an unthinkable nightmare that leads her to question everything.    Today’s episode featured Naazh. You can reach out to her at [email protected] , and you can find out more about her at naazh.org.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Forrest Chiras   Content/Trigger Warnings: racism, Native American trauma, alcohol...

Jan 28, 202559 minSeason 14Ep. 347

346: What if you risked your freedom to liberate the animals?

A bullied boy finds companionship in his animal friends, but as he grows up and finds himself trapped in a soulless career, he discovers a new purpose: freeing animals from captivity and facing the dire consequences.   Today’s episode featured Wayne Hsiung. You can reach out to Wayne at [email protected] or on Instagram, YouTube and Substack @waynehhsiung.  Wayne Hsiung is an animal cruelty investigator, former faculty member at Northwestern School of Law, and co-founder and Executi...

Jan 21, 20251 hr 5 minSeason 14Ep. 346

345: What if you were a political hostage in Iran?

After accidentally crossing the border into Iran on a hike with her friend and her partner, a woman is detained and held for over a year in solitary confinement, awakening to the sobering realities of oppression and the fight for a new path to justice. Today’s episode featured Sarah Shourd. Sarah Shourd is an award-winning narrative change leader and a somatic coach trained in trauma transformation. She is an author, playwright, trauma-informed investigative journalist, former Stanford John S. K...

Jan 14, 20251 hr 9 minSeason 14Ep. 345

What if you survived a serial killer? [Rebroadcast #259]

While pregnant and navigating a rocky relationship, a woman coming home from a local fair stops for a soda one night and suddenly faces the brutal terror of a notorious serial killer. Today's episode featured Jane Boroski. Jane is the only survivor of the Connecticut River Valley killer who murdered at least seven people, whose identity still remains unknown and the case remains unsolved. Jane has started her own podcast called "Invisible Tears" in which she shares more of her own story, explore...

Jan 07, 202558 min

What if you ran the ER five blocks away? [Rebroadcast #202]

On September 11th, 2001 an ER Doctor finds himself in charge of the closest emergency room to the Twin Towers. Today's episode featured Tony Dajer. Tony was born in New York City, grew up in Puerto Rico, and has been practicing as an ER Doctor in New York for 30 years. You can read one of Tony's articles called "Vital Signs" featured in Discover Magazine at www.discovermagazine.com/health/vital-signs-37. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Special Thanks : To all who helped make this series...

Dec 31, 202450 min

What if nine bullets shattered your dreams? [Rebroadcast #240]

Growing up with a single mother and a father in jail, a dancer’s life is forever changed when one night, while doing a favor for a friend, two unknown shooters open fire. Today’s episode featured Diamond Garrett. Diamond is currenting starting a small business to provide products, services, and resources for disabled individuals to make their lives easier as wheelchair users. If you’d like to donate to support her vision and her small business, go to gofund.me/444f5605. You can also find out mor...

Dec 24, 202457 min

344: What if you spent 7 years in a Thai prison?

After developing a severe heroin addiction as a teenager, a woman winds up incarcerated in Thailand, facing unimaginable conditions.    Today’s episode featured Holly Deane-Johns. You can email her at [email protected] or  [email protected] .  Holly’s Socials Facebook: @hollydeanejohns  Instagram: @hollydeanejohns LinkedIn: Holly Deane-Johns - Motivational Speaker - Self-employed | LinkedIn Holly Deane-Johns is a motivational speaker with lived expe...

Dec 17, 20241 hr 2 minSeason 14Ep. 344

343: What if you were caught in a spiral of violence?

A young woman, haunted by anxiety, cycles through toxic relationships, culminating in a harrowing witness to a lover's final act.   Today’s episode featured Julianne. You can reach out to her at [email protected] .  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason Blalock   Content/Trigger Warnings: domestic abuse/violence, gun violence, suicide by gun, divorce, extra-maritial affair, explicit language   Social Media: Instagram: @actuallyhappening Twitter: @TIAHPodcast ...

Dec 10, 202454 minSeason 14Ep. 343
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