OUR RATING:
Around since 2013, which is frankly, eons in the podcasting world, “This Is Actually Happening” remains one of the most compelling and emotionally interesting podcasts in the true story genre. Hosted by Whit Missildine, the show presents first-person accounts of extraordinary life events, ranging from medical emergencies and accidents to profound psychological experiences and life-altering encounters.
Each episode features a single narrator recounting their story in their own words, creating an intimate and unfiltered listening experience that cuts straight to the human heart of remarkable circumstances.
With over 360 episodes and counting, this podcast’s charm lies in its ability to showcase the resilience and complexity of the human spirit. Stories range from survivors of severe accidents and medical conditions to individuals who have experienced unusual psychological phenomena, cult involvement, or dramatic life transitions. What is on display then, is a portrait of people navigating unimaginable circumstances with courage, confusion, determination, and often grace. The narrators don’t present themselves as heroes or victims, but simply as humans trying to make sense of experiences that defy easy categorization.
The diversity of experiences featured on the show is another feather in its cap. One episode might explore someone’s recovery from a traumatic brain injury, while another investigates a person’s escape from an abusive relationship or their journey through a rare medical condition. The podcast happily plumbs the depths of difficult topics, including mental health crises, addiction, family trauma, and encounters with violence. This breadth ensures that nearly every listener will find stories that they can relate to, challenge their assumptions, or provide new perspectives on the human condition.
The format’s simplicity proves to be its greatest asset. By allowing narrators to tell their stories without interruption or editorial commentary, the podcast creates space for nuance and complexity that might be lost in more structured interview formats. Listeners hear not just what happened, but how the storyteller processed, understood, and integrated their experience. The pauses, inflections, and emotional weight in their voices add layers of meaning that pure facts cannot convey.
But this type of storytelling isn’t exactly novel from a myriad of podcasts that employ a similar conceit. “This Is Actually Happening” however, leaves its focus on the psychological and emotional aftermath of extraordinary events. Rather than simply recounting dramatic incidents, the show explores how these experiences fundamentally changed the narrators’ understanding of themselves, their relationships, and their place in the world. Many stories grapple with questions of identity, purpose, and meaning in ways that feel deeply personal and universally relevant.
The podcast serves as a powerful reminder of both human vulnerability and human strength. Stories of survival often reveal how quickly life can change and how little control we actually have over our circumstances. (But I continue to argue with friends about the nature of free will), Yet they also demonstrate remarkable adaptability and the capacity to find meaning and growth even in the darkest experiences. This duality creates a listening experience that is simultaneously humbling and inspiring.
One of the most striking aspects of the show is that many of the narrators describe feeling isolated by their experiences, unable to relate to people who haven’t faced similar challenges. The podcast creates a space where these stories can be heard and validated, potentially reducing that sense of isolation for both storytellers and listeners who may have had similar experiences.
The emotional impact of “This Is Actually Happening” cannot be overstated. These are not stories you listen to casually in the background. They demand attention and often leave lasting impressions. Some episodes are difficult to hear, dealing with profound suffering and loss. Others are ultimately uplifting. All of them offer something valuable: authentic human connection through shared storytelling.
This podcast succeeds because it treats extraordinary experiences with the respect and complexity they deserve. It doesn’t sensationalize or oversimplify, instead allowing space for the messy, complicated reality of how people actually live through and beyond remarkable events. For listeners seeking genuine human stories that expand empathy and understanding, this podcast offers a deeply moving experience that lingers long after each episode ends.
Where to listen to This Is Actually Happening
Episodes.fm | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast | Pocket Casts | Castro
Discover the best episodes of This Is Actually Happening