This Is Actually Happening

After coming out and finding self-acceptance, a man faces his greatest physical and emotional struggle yet when a celebratory skydive takes a terrifying turn.   Today’s episode featured Brad Guy. If you’d like to reach out to him, you can email him at hello@bradguy.com , or you can find him on Instagram and TikTok @bradjguy. Visit bradguy.com to order his memoir “Freefall” and to book hi...

After facing years of abuse, a determined woman dedicates her life to the pursuit of success, becoming a renowned broadcaster, fundraiser and cyclist; but after a grueling, multi-continental bike ride, she faces ultimate darkness, forcing her to confront the deepest wounds of all.     Today’s episode featured Charlie Webster. If you’d like to reach out to her, you can visit her webs...

After healing from a major trauma as a teenager, featured in Episode 111 of this show, our storyteller returns to share a dramatic follow up. In this episode, in the wake of his grandmother’s death, he begins taking a volatile medication cocktail and suffers a severe manic break, living on the streets among society’s most disregarded, confronting his deepest shadows and being forced to piece his l...

A teenage boy comes of age through an eclectic mentor, but ends up in the arms of a predator. Producer:  Whit Missildine Social Media:  Instagram: @actuallyhappening Website:  www.thisisactuallyhappening.com Support the Show:  Support The Show on Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/happening Shop at the Store:  The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officiall...

Growing up in poverty with an absent father, a boy finds family in a gang, but after his best friend is murdered, he unravels into a spiral of rage, violence, prison, and ultimately, an unexpected forgiveness.    Today’s episode featured Chris Diep. If you’d like to reach out to him, you can email him at  chrisdiep2023@gmail.com , or you can find him on LinkedIn as Christopher Diep....

An ambitious mother settles with her two sons into the quiet, idyllic life of her dreams, but after losing her son in a massacre that shakes the nation, she dedicates her life to carrying on her son’s message of love.   Today’s episode featured Scarlett Lewis. Scarlett founded the Choose Love Movement after her six-year-old son, Jesse, was murdered during the Sandy Hook Elementary School...

A Port Authority employee narrowly escapes from the 68th floor after a plane hits the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001, but the most devastating impact comes from the psychological wounds that haunt her life for decades after.  Today's episode featured Kayla Bergeron. In addition to serving as chief of public and government affairs for The Port Authority of New York a...

A horrific accident leaves a man severely disabled, but after hitting rock bottom in his recovery a new life opens he could never have imagined   Today’s episode featured Dustin Reynolds. Since this interview, Dustin has made it down to Colombia, and is planning on heading to Panama, Galapagos, and Polynesia before returning to Hawaii. To find out more about Dustin, see pictures and follow hi...

A mother faces the ultimate tragedy at the hands of those who are supposed to protect and serve.   Today’s episode featured Taun Hall. To find out more about Taun and Miles and the Miles Hall Foundation, go to  justiceformileshall.org . There you can see the video mentioned in the episode, donate to the campaign, learn more about the case or get involved. You can also join the commu...

Growing up in a home of abandonment and neglect, a teenager finds a grand, new reality in the rabbit hole of addiction until they can no longer find their way back. Today’s guest prefers to remain anonymous, but if you’d like to reach out to them, you can email at  artichoke.heart456@gmail.com Producers:  Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits Social Media: Instagram: @actuallyhappening Twitter:...

Growing up in the projects and a broken home, a man learns survive on the streets through dealing drugs and brutal violence, when a desperate moment leaves him with a choice that changes everything.  Today’s episode featured Kenneth Ginlack, Sr. Kenneth has been the Director of Outpatient Programs for Milwaukee County Behavior Health Division (BHD), an ad-hoc instructor at the University of W...

This episode is a recording of a live event held at Manny’s in San Francisco on July 24th, 2024. In this live recording of the event, Whit Missildine hosts conversations with two of the storytellers in the 82 Percent series, David Jay and Koe Creation, as well as with members of the Modern Family Institute including Lily Lamboy, Heath Schechinger and Marlon Williams.  If you’d like to find ou...

An obstetrician must find healing and forgiveness after an unexpected tragedy opens old wounds.   Producers:  Whit Missildine, Jason Blalock   Social Media: Instagram: @actuallyhappening Twitter: @TIAHPodcast    Content/Trigger Warnings:  sexual molestation of a minor, incest,   death, infant death, pregnancy trauma, medical trauma, explicit language Website:&nbs...

In this special bonus episode, Whit Missildine interviews Alex Chen. Alex Chen is the Founding Director of the Harvard Law School LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic and a founding member of Polyamory Legal Advocacy Coalition. In this conversation we discuss the legal and historical roots of the nuclear family, monogamy and the challenges and successes in the fight for rights for diverse family structures.&nbs...

At 21 years old, Kris marries Brandon, the love of her life, but after Brandon suffers a severe traumatic brain injury, Kris must restructure everything about how she imagined what her family would be.   Today’s episode featured Kris Amstrong. You can donate to the Go Fund Me effort to purchase Brandon Smith a new sports wheelchair at gofund.me/d34ed0ea . You can contact Kris at KArmstro...

Assigned female at birth, Kayden Coleman navigates abuse, racism, housing insecurity, and a deep questioning of gender, but after finally accepting who he is and transitioning fully to being a man, he finds out he’s pregnant.  Today’s episode featured Kayden Coleman. You can find out more about him on Instagram and TikTok @kaydenxofficial. If you’d like to reach out to him, you can email at K...

After immigrating from Brazil to the US, a man struggles with isolation, depression, faith and sexual orientation, when one day an awakening leads him on a path to celibacy and to a family he never thought he’d have.  Today’s episode featured Art Pereira. If you’d like to reach out to Art, you can email him at art@revoice.org or find him on Instagram @art_per. Art Pereira is the director of e...

In this special bonus episode, Whit Missildine interviews Jessica Fern. Jessica Fern is a renowned psychotherapist, trauma and relationship expert, and the author of two books: Polysecure: Attachment, Trauma and Consensual Non-Monogamy, and Polywise: A Deeper Dive into Navigating Open Relationships. In her international private practice, Jessica works with individuals, couples, and people in multi...

Growing up in the crack epidemic surrounded by gangs, drugs, and violence a man begins repeating these patterns of abuse and infidelity in his relationships, but after a family tragedy, he finds a new path, opening his marriage and his heart. Today’s episode featured Adrian McCoy.  This episode is the third of a six-part miniseries called the 82 Percent: Modern stories of love and family, pro...

As a child growing up in a polyamorous family and community, Koe Creation learns to navigate the beauty and complications of their upbringing, but once they begin to find and express their own voice, they face society’s larger shadows. Today’s episode featured Koe Creation. You can find out more about Koe at their website, koecreation.com and on Instagram @koecreation. You can also learn more...

In this special bonus episode, Whit Missildine interviews Heath Schechinger and Lily Lamboy of the Modern Family Institute @modernfamilyinstitute, collaborators on our six-part miniseries, “The 82%: Modern Stories of Love and Family.” In this conversation we discuss the historical roots of the nuclear family and monogamy, how family and relationship structures have changed over the 20th century, t...

A man grows up waiting for his sexuality to bloom, but after that moment never comes, he feels a longing for intimacy that leads him to transform the meaning of partnership, family and fatherhood for himself and for society. Today’s episode featured David Jay. David is the founder of asexuality.org. David’s new book, titled “Relationality: How moving from transactional to transformational relation...

A woman growing up in worn torn Colombia comes to the US and builds a new life, but when she suffers a freak accident and loses her sense of self, a new beginning transforms the scars of her past.  Today’s episode featured Ingrid Rojas-Contreras. If you’d like to learn more about Ingrid you can find her on Instagram @i__rojascontreras, on Twitter @ingrid_rojas_c and on her website: ingridroja...

After a childhood feeling unworthy of love and belonging, a man finds his path to the Coast Guard and a solid marriage, but after a minor back injury, he’s prescribed painkillers that send him on a tragic spiral of addiction.  Today’s episode featured Jamie. If you’d like to reach out to him, you can email at japo081@gmail.com. Listen to exclusive episodes of This is Actually Happening ad-fre...

Growing up in the remote Ozark mountains with a mother who believed she was God and a father with deeper abuses, a man paves his own rocky healing path to become a healer for others.  Today’s episode featured Merle Yost. You can find out more about Merle on his website,  merleyost.com  , and about his workshop, Unspoken Boundaries, at  unspokenboundaries.com . If you’...