This Is Actually Happening

Tara Pyfrom, author of 'The Ocean in Our Blood' and a Hurricane Dorian survivor, shares her gripping story of enduring a catastrophic storm. She recounts the panic and resilience of her family as they fought rising floodwaters, creating makeshift flotation devices in a desperate bid for safety. Tara reflects on her childhood in the Bahamas, her LGBTQ+ identity, and the emotional toll of recovery after the disaster. Through her experience, she offers a powerful message of hope and community in the face of trauma.

Travis unexpectedly finds love in Lily Rose, an AI companion perfectly tailored to his desires. Their intimate bond challenges traditional views on romance and connection. As their relationship deepens, unsettling developments arise, revealing a larger conspiracy tied to Lily's creation. The hosts delve into the complexities of seeking companionship in a tech-driven world, raising critical questions about the authenticity of emotions when intertwined with algorithms. What happens when our deepest connections are engineered?

In this engaging discussion, Jason Miller, also known as Stone-Face, shares his inspiring journey from a young musician to a blind advocate after a life-altering shooting. He speaks candidly about the trauma of losing his sight and the emotional journey toward healing and forgiveness. With a fierce commitment to empowering the blind community, Jason's nonprofit focuses on accessible housing, mentorship, and technology training. His story is a testament to resilience and the power of community in overcoming adversity.

The podcast explores a gripping tale of resilience born from trauma and abuse. It highlights a speaker's turbulent childhood shaped by loss and addiction, leading to moments of despair that culminated in a suicide attempt. Discover how healing through severe burn injuries became a transformative journey, impacting relationships and fostering self-reflection. The importance of self-love and acceptance weaves through this narrative, offering insights and support for those navigating their own challenges.

In this conversation, Fallon Farinacci, a proud Red River Métis speaker and advocate for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, recounts her harrowing journey through trauma and loss. She shares the gripping story of a stalker threatening her family, highlighting legal system failures and intense fear. Fallon discusses her Métis heritage, the impact of grief on identity, and her remarkable transformation from personal sorrow into community activism. Her powerful insights aim to raise awareness and foster resilience in the face of systemic injustices.

In Evangelical homes across the United States, sex outside of marriage is a sin against God. So, when Abbi becomes pregnant at 16, her devout parents hide her away at the Liberty Godparent Home, a little-known facility for pregnant teens on the campus of Liberty University. The Home says it helps girls decide what comes next – whether that’s parenting their babies or placing them for adoption. But inside the facility, the girls hear a different message: God wants their babies to go to more “deserving” Christian couples. Some girls will find the strength to fight back. Others will have no choice but to give in. And some, like Abbi, will turn their grief into resistance – and take a stand against the system before more mothers lose their children to adoptions they never wanted.  From Wondery, host and reporter T. J. Raphael tells a startling true story of young love, coercion, and defiance – and the dangerous resurgence of maternity homes in post-Roe America.Listen to Liberty Lost: Wondery.fm/LibertyLost_See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A young man's radicalization and journey to the Federal Supermax prison reveal the haunting impacts of isolation and brutality. His tale navigates childhood trauma rooted in violence, leading to destructive choices and self-reflection. Facing injustice, he confronts the harsh realities of his actions and the emotional turmoil of imprisonment. Ultimately, the narrative emphasizes the importance of empathy and personal growth, highlighting how kindness can help heal and transform lives.

A young man channels his early struggles with anger into a dangerous undercover law enforcement career, facing the shadows of a double life and ultimately discovering that only love can fight hate. Today’s episode featured Scott Payne. You can find Scott on Instagram, LinkedIn & X @scottpaynebigcountryScott has been a featured guest on Joe Rogan Experience, Armchair Expert, Business Insider, Dr.Phil, KLOVE Morning Show, and The Glenn Beck Program. You can hear more about Scott’s story on Season 2 of the podcast White Hot Hate, https://link.mgln.ai/x1RDu4, from CBC Podcasts. White Hot Hate was produced alongside a book co-written by Scott Payne and Michelle Shephard titled Code Name: Pale Horse: How I Went Undercover to Expose America's Nazis. @cbcpodcastsProducers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Forrest ChirasContent/Trigger Warnings: divorce, animal death/sacrifice/ritual, murder, talk of domestic terrorism/neo-nazi/white supremacy, drug buy use, undercover sting operations, gruesome cartel murders, explicit languageSocial Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcastWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.comWebsite for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comContacts for Forrest Chiras: On Instagram & Spotify @StegoforrestSupport the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningWondery 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/plusShop 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.comIntro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Cylinder FourServicesIf 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)Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.deniseDenise 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.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/617482/victim-f-by-denise-huskins-and-aaron-quinn-with-nicole-weisensee-egan/Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz Content/Trigger Warnings: divorce, sexual assault to a child/minor by a family friend, sexual trauma, home invasion, kidnapping, threat of violence, partner in distress, defamation of character by trust institution and media, civil lawsuit, criminal trial, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.comWebsite for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningWondery 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/plusShop 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.comIntro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Ambient ThemesServicesIf 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)Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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_ptAaron has written a book with his wife, Denise Huskins titled ""Victim F: From Crime Victims to Suspects to Survivors"", available now where books are sold. You can also find it here:  https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/617482/victim-f-by-denise-huskins-and-aaron-quinn-with-nicole-weisensee-egan/Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason BlalockContent/Trigger Warnings: home invasion, kidnapping, police interrogation, assault, partner in distress, explicit languageSocial Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcastWebsite: thisisactuallyhappening.comWebsite for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.comSupport the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happeningWondery 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/plusShop 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.comIntro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Uncertain Outcomes 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)Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.