This Is Actually Happening

Anonymous, a private storyteller who endured lifelong hormonal turmoil, recounts how PMDD and perimenopause upended decades of stability. She describes resurging symptoms, a late-in-life shift in sexual attraction, the ethical turmoil with family and marriage, and a year of therapy, medical care, and new love as she rebuilds an authentic life.

After years working as a humanitarian aid worker in war zones and disaster areas around the world, a man is forced to confront the psychological toll of witnessing a broken world he could never fix.   Today’s episode featured Gray Doyle.  If you’d like to email Gray, you can reach him at graydoyle@meetmeinzanzibar.com. You can purchase Gray’s book on his website, https://meetmeinzanzibar.com/.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason Blalock Content/Trigger Warnings: War and armed conflict, Genocide, Mass casualties, Sexual violence / rape, Child soldiers, Violence against children, Severe physical injury and medical trauma, Death and dying, Bombings and explosions, Kidnapping and torture, Humanitarian disaster / extreme suffering, PTSD and psychological trauma, Emotional distress and rage, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.comTo subscribe, find Beyond the Story on Substack by going to whitmissildine.substack.com.  Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. 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: Discovery Studios Tracks (DST) - Dark Oasis 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.

After surviving the 2015 ISIS terrorist attacks at a Paris café, a woman begins the painful work of confronting buried childhood trauma and reclaiming a life she had never fully allowed herself to live. Today’s episode featured Mandy Palmucci. You can email Mandy at mandypalmucci@gmail.com. Mandy is on Instagram @palmuccim  Mandy is currently working on a book about her experience.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: Childhood sexual abuse, Terrorism / mass shooting, Graphic violence and death, Severe injury, Survivor’s guilt, PTSD / trauma responses, Self-hatred and shame, Emotional abuse in childhood, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter/X: @TIAHPodcastFacebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningAudible subscribers can listen to all episodes of THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app or visit Audible.com. 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.

Dave Muller, a South African sailor and author who survived capture by RENAMO child soldiers, tells a harrowing survival story. He and his family face armed teenage fighters, march inland, live in a rebel camp, and endure attacks before a dramatic naval rescue. Later he returns to Mozambique, writes Not Child's Play, and works to process and give back after trauma.

After overcoming addiction and rebuilding her life around motherhood, a woman's world is shattered when her son kills her daughter, forcing her to grieve one child while fighting to protect the other and learning how to survive an unbearable moral and emotional divide. Today’s episode featured Charity Lee. If you’d like to email Charity, you can reach her at bawmedia@gmail.com. You can also find her on Facebook @IAmCharityLee Charity has authored a book entitled, How Now, Butterfly? A Memoir of Murder, Survival, and Transformation, available where books are sold.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: Child abuse and neglect, Domestic violence, Substance abuse and addiction, Suicide and suicide attempts, Self-harm, Child homicide, Graphic violence, Intrafamilial violence, Mental illness, Incarceration and juvenile detention, Grief and traumatic loss, Emotional abuse, Parental abandonment, Trauma and PTSD, Near-death experience / overdose, Religious and spiritual distress, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @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 VelasquezMusic Bed: Salib (SAL) - Tension Underscore 33 A 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.

After the sudden death of his father leaves him drowning in guilt, a man unknowingly spirals into a manic break that strips him of his freedom, his relationships, and his grip on reality, forcing him to confront bipolar disorder and rebuild his life from the ground up. Today’s storyteller wishes to remain Anonymous. However, you can reach out to him at anytom2020.t@gmail.com.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason Blalock Content/Trigger Warnings: Suicide and suicide by cop, Parental death, Alcoholism, Bipolar disorder, Manic episode and psychosis, Self-harm, Arrest and incarceration, Homelessness, Police confrontation involving firearms, Mental health crisis, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite 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 VelasquezMusic Bed: Pure_Ambience_APM 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.

A woman navigates a high-risk identical twin pregnancy complicated by twin-to-twin transfusion and emergency preterm labor. She faces legal barriers that limit medical options and describes traumatic delivery, hemorrhage, and the jarring differences in how each infant is treated. The story follows her subsequent grief, PTSD, renewed faith struggles, and the founding of a charity to support families after infant loss.

Kai Zen Bickle, who blew the whistle on his father and helped draft reform with Child USA, tells a harrowing personal story. He describes witnessing abuse, the gaslighting and moral crisis that followed, and the legal and jurisdictional roadblocks to holding a powerful perpetrator accountable. He also discusses going public, personal cost, and pushing for systemic change to help survivors.

Pardeep Singh Kaleka, clinical director and anti-hate advocate who lost his father in the Oak Creek Sikh Temple attack, shares his journey. He recounts arriving at the scene, grief and PTSD, and choosing relentless optimism. He describes partnering with a former neo-Nazi to teach youth about hate, forgiveness, healing, and community rebuilding.

In this poignant narrative, a private storyteller recounts the harrowing experience of causing a fatal drunk-driving accident. She reflects on her family's background, the pressures of relationships, and the allure of party culture. After the tragedy, she grapples with guilt, legal uncertainties, and profound grief while seeking forgiveness. Through therapy and routine, she starts to rebuild her sense of self, embracing accomplishments like running ultramarathons, all while yearning for peace and understanding of her past actions.