This Is Actually Happening probes extraordinary true stories that dramatically altered the lives of ordinary people. Hosted by Whit Missildine, a PHD in Social Psychology, these riveting, moving stories will stick with you long after you listen.

In the wake of her uncle’s untimely death, a woman bears the brunt of her mother’s long mental health decline, struggling to keep her safe from herself, and in the wake of tragedy, finds a way to help thousands of others like her. Today’s episode featured Katrina Brees. You can find Katrina on Instagram @katrinabrees, and if you’d like to find out more about her legislation and donate or support, you can do so on the website www.donnaslaw.com Producers: Whit Missildine, Sara Marinelli, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings:  suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, death, suicide, gun violence, mental illness, explicit language Social Media: Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: www.thisisactuallyhappening.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon https://www.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 https://wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: https://www.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: ""Illabye" – TipperMusic Bed: “Cylinder Four/Five” – Chris Zabriskie 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.

This Is Actually Happening

278: What if you couldn't keep her safe?

From an idyllic childhood in communist Yugoslavia, as a teenager, Mirsad’s world becomes a living nightmare as the Bosnian War brings shelling, torture, murder and ethnic cleansing to his village, leaving deep scars that haunt and transform his life. Today's episode featured Mirsad Solakovic. If you would like to contribute to help the Solak Gym (a charitable organization) that Mirsad helped create, you can donate through PayPal at solakgym@hotmail.com. You can see and find out more about the gym on Instagram @solakgym. You can also find out more about Mirsad on Instagram @mickey_solak and on Twitter @MirsadSolakovic, there you can find links to his memoir "The Boy Who Said Nothing" Producers: Whit Missildine Content/Trigger Warnings:  war, murder, ethnic cleansing, graphic violence, torture of a minor, graphic bodily injury, rape, suicidal ideation, explicit language Social Media: Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: www.thisisactuallyhappening.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon https://www.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 https://wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: https://www.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: ""Illabye" – TipperMusic Bed: "Union Flow" - Spuntic 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.

277: What if you survived the Bosnian genocide?

A woman buries a series of childhood traumas and falls into a chaotic world of drugs and abuse, but when things turn from darkness to horror, she must make split second, life or death decisions that ultimately bring everything to the surfaceToday's episode featured Kathy Robertson. You can find out more about her on Instagram @kathyrobertson.homefire. You can also reach out to her over email at homefireartistry@yahoo.com. Kathy also wanted to remind everyone out there, especially if you are currently struggling, that you can text or call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the US at the number 988. Producers: Whit Missildine, Sara Marinelli, Jason Blalock Content/Trigger Warnings:  domestic violence, sexual abuse of a minor, gun violence, child endangerment, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, explicit language Social Media: Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: www.thisisactuallyhappening.comWebsite for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.comWebsite for Sara Marinelli: saramarinelli.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon https://www.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 https://wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: https://www.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: ""Illabye" – TipperMusic Bed: “Re-Entry” – Lee Rosevere 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.

276: What if you left your kids held hostage?

After divorcing her first husband and starting a new life, a woman meets The One, but when one night he doesn’t come home, she calls the police and her world is turned upside down.  Today's episode featured Amanda Quick. You can contact her on Instagram @amandaquickhealing. You can read more about the many layers of her story in her memoir "The Sex Trafficker's Wife: A Story of Truth, Faith, and Trust in Self" - Available on Amazon and wherever books are sold. You can also find more links and reach out on her website at: thesextraffickerswife.com Producers: Whit Missildine, Jason Blalock, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings:  sexual abuse of a minor, sex trafficking, sex trafficking of minors, explicit language Social Media: Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: www.thisisactuallyhappening.comWebsite for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.comWebsite for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon https://www.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 https://wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: https://www.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: ""Illabye" – TipperMusic Bed: Ambient Themes by Nigel Coutinho ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Crisis Text Line: Within the US, text HOME to 741741See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

275: What if the demons were too large to see?

Struggling to prove himself and find his identity growing up, a man eventually builds a career and begins occasionally helping out a friend with his granite import business, when one day, the dangers of the job become all too real.Today's episode featured Mike Wolo. You can find him on Instagram @Titanium_Mike110. You can read more about his story, and see photos on his website TheOtherSideofTheRock.com, and you can email him at TitaniumMike110@gmail.com.  Producers: Whit Missildine, Jason Blalock, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: graphic bodily injury, medical trauma, explicit language Social Media: Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: www.thisisactuallyhappening.comWebsite for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.comWebsite for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon https://www.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 https://wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: https://www.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: ""Illabye" – TipperMusic Bed: “Embers/Uncertain Outcomes” - SkyeVoyager ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Crisis Text Line: Within the US, text HOME to 741741See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

274: What if you were crushed by 10,000 pounds of stone?

Growing up in a supportive, suburban family, Sheridan Orr shares an idyllic childhood with her brother Kevin, but when he suffers a series of head injuries, things take a turn for the worse and the family suffers the ultimate nightmare as his descent into mental illness results in the spree shooting of Rancho Tehama in 2017. Today’s episode is Part Five, the final episode of our limited series, “Point Blank,” featuring five stories of people impacted by the spree killing of Rancho Tehama California in 2017. This series is co-produced by This Is Actually Happening creator and host, Whit Missildine and Connor Sheets, investigative journalist with the Los Angeles Times, with special thanks to Jason Blalock, and Andrew Waits. A GoFundMe has been set up thanks to an outpouring of support from listeners to help support Jessie Sanders, the guest in Part 4 of the Point Blank series. Here is the link to “Help Jessie Sanders Recover”: https://gofund.me/9d7346a3. 100% of proceeds will be gifted to Jessie; so please donate if you can, and if you can’t, you’re welcome to send him a message of support and we will deliver those to him as well with the funds collected. A special thanks to all of you for reaching out to help Jessie, and to Ellen Westberg for organizing the effort on behalf of listeners. Producers: Whit Missildine, Connor SheetsEditors: Whit Missildine Content/Trigger Warnings: death, severe mental illness, head trauma, gun violence, child endangerment, explicit language Social Media: Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Connor SheetsTwitter: @ConnorASeets Website: www.thisisactuallyhappening.comWebsite for Jason Blalock: www.jasonblalock.com Show Sponsors: Betterhelp: This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/HAPPENING and get on your way to being your best self.” Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon https://www.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 https://wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: https://www.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: ""Illabye" – TipperMusic and Sound Design by: Marcelino Villalpando ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Crisis Text Line: Within the US, text HOME to 741741See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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