This Is Actually Happening

After his mother falls in love with Frank, the member of a one-hit-wonder 80s band, a man’s life becomes a roller coaster of neglect, scams, and chaos, but when he turns the camera on the inside of his family, a new world opens that he never thought possible.

Today’s episode featured GJ Echternkamp. If you’d like to reach out to him, you can email at GJActuallyHappening@gmail.com. You can find GJ’s documentary, “frank and Cindy” from 2007, as well as his feature film, also titled “Frank and Cindy” from 2015, both on Netflix. You can also find the music video and song “Whirly Girl” by OXO released in 1983 on YouTube.

Producers
Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason Blalock
Content/Trigger Warnings
domestic violence, abuse, suicidal ideation, explicit language.
Social Media
Instagram: @actuallyhappening
Facebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group
Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com

Substack - The End of the Known
whitmissildine.substack.com

Support the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid Subscriber

Free subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.
Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show.

You can also support on Patreon
patreon.com/happening

Website for Whit Missildine
whitmissildine.com

Website for Andrew Waits
andrdewwaits.com
Website for Jason Blalock
jasonblalock.com

Subscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-Free
Audible 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
Find This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:
thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop

Transcripts
Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:
thisisactuallyhappening.com

Music

Intro Music:
"Sleep Paralysis" – Scott Velasquez

Music Bed:
Ambient Themes by Nigel Coutinho

Services
If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:
National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264
National 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 falls deeply in love with a married man in her close friend’s circle, when suddenly an unthinkable event throws everything into question.
Today’s storyteller wishes to remain anonymous, but if you’d like to reach out to her, you can email at tues228@gmail.com.

Producers
Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits
Content/Trigger Warnings
graphic bodily injury, explicit language.
Social Media
Instagram: @actuallyhappening
Facebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group
Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com

Substack - The End of the Known
whitmissildine.substack.com

Support the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid Subscriber

Free subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.
Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show.

You can also support on Patreon
patreon.com/happening

Website for Whit Missildine
whitmissildine.com

Website for Andrew Waits
andrdewwaits.com

Subscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-Free
Audible 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
Find This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:
thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop

Transcripts
Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:
thisisactuallyhappening.com

Music

Intro Music:
"Sleep Paralysis" – Scott Velasquez

Music Bed:
“Re-Entry" - Lee Rosevere

Services
If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:
National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264
National 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.

Growing up with a narcissistic father, a woman learns to play small, but one night when an unknown masked man enters her room, she faces the worst night of her life, and emerges on the other side with a new found ferocity.

Today’s episode featured Danielle Leukam. You can learn more about Danielle on her website, danielleleukam.com. And you can find her on Instagram @danielleukam, as well as Twitter and Facebook.

You can also learn more about her story in her two memoirs, Four Pounds of Pressure: A Memoir of Rape, Survival, and Taking Back My Power https://amzn.to/3QHxMJW and Another Four Pounds of Pressure: Case Files, Statements, & a Survivor's Redemption https://amzn.to/49I0umr, and lastly, you can check out her novella The First Sister: A Dangerous Bloodline, https://amzn.to/3TjLaXq, as well as the two children’s books she’s authored.

Danielle now works full-time at the Mayo Clinic. She is passionate about public speaking, writing, and advocating against sexual violence. And she is also the president and founder of a non-profit organization called WISH: We Inspire Survivor Healing. Learn more about WISH on their website WeInspireSurvivorHealing.com.

Producers
Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz
Content/Trigger Warnings
rape, violent assault, child endangerment, gun violence, alcoholism, explicit language.
Social Media
Instagram: @actuallyhappening
Facebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group
Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com

Substack - The End of the Known
whitmissildine.substack.com

Support the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid Subscriber

Free subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.
Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show.

You can also support on Patreon
patreon.com/happening

Website for Whit Missildine
whitmissildine.com

Website for Andrew Waits
andrdewwaits.com

Website for Aviva Lipkowitz
avivalipkowitz.com

Subscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-Free
Audible 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
Find This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:
thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop

Transcripts
Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:
thisisactuallyhappening.com

Music

Intro Music:
"Sleep Paralysis" – Scott Velasquez

Music Bed:
“Re-Entry” – Lee Rosevere

Services
If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:
National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264
National 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.

Being born without his right hand, man’s resentment and monstrous self-image deepen as family and doctors intervene to fix his condition, leading him to question what would truly make him whole.

Today’s episode featured Ryan. If you’d like to reach out to him you can email at ryan.a.20918@gmail.com

Producers
Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits
Content/Trigger Warnings
medical trauma, amputation, explicit language.
Social Media
- Instagram: @actuallyhappening
- Facebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group
- Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com

Substack - The End of the Known
whitmissildine.substack.com

Support the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid Subscriber

Free subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.
Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show.

You can also support on Patreon
- patreon.com/happening

Website for Whit Missildine
- whitmissildine.com

Website for Andrew Waits
- andrdewwaits.com

Subscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-Free
Audible 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
Find This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:
- thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop

Transcripts
Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:
- thisisactuallyhappening.com

Music

Intro Music:
- "Sleep Paralysis" – Scott Velasquez

Music Bed:
- “Re-Rntry” – Lee Rosevere

Services
If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:
- National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264
- National 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.

©2026 Audible

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A woman shares a sobering memoir of a family burdened with sexual abuse in the 1950s.

Today’s storyteller wishes to remain Anonymous.

Producers
Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits
Content/Trigger Warnings
Sexual Abuse and Assault, Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) / Child Abuse, Domestic and Family Violence, explicit language

Social Media
Instagram: @actuallyhappening
Facebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group
Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com

Substack - The End of the Known
whitmissildine.substack.com

Support the Show on Substack by becoming a Paid Subscriber

Free subscribers get access to Whit’s weekly episode reflections and some show updates.
Paid subscribers get access to AMAs with the team, follow up interviews with past guests, frequently asked questions, deeper insights into the creative process of the show and live events. A paid Substack subscription is also the best way to support the show.

You can also support on Patreon
patreon.com/happening

Website for Whit Missildine
whitmissildine.com

Website for Andrew Waits
andrdewwaits.com

Subscribe on Audible to Listen Ad-Free
Audible 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
Find This Is Actually Happening branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop:
thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop

Transcripts
Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website:
thisisactuallyhappening.com

Music

Intro Music:
"Sleep Paralysis" – Scott Velasquez

Services
If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:
National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264
National 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.