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This Is Actually Happening

238: What if you were tortured in an Iranian prison?

This Is Actually Happening

Wondery

True Crime, Tiah, Documentary, Society & Culture

4.69.9K Ratings

🗓️ 7 June 2022

⏱️ 73 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

“You were in this abyss of darkness and the hardest part was not knowing…not knowing at all if you’re going to live or die or when or how.”

 

Today's episode featured Marina Nemat. You can find out more about Marina and her story by going to marinanemat.com. There you can find contact information and more about her two books, 'Prisoner of Tehran', and 'After Tehran: A Life Reclaimed.' Her books are also available on Amazon, Simon & Schuster and Bookshop.org.

 

Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits

 

Episode Summary: A teenage Russian immigrant in Iran is jailed and tortured during the Iranian Revolution of 1979, but when a prison guard falls in love with her, she’s forced to weigh the price of her freedom.

 

Social Media:

Instagram: @actuallyhappening

This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/201783687561039/

 

Website: www.thisisactuallyhappening.com

 

Website for Andrew Waits: www.andrdewwaits.com

 

Content/Trigger Warnings: torture, prison abuse, rape, sexual abuse, murder, graphic violence, psychotic episodes, explicit language

 

Episode Sponsors: GoodRX: goodrx.com/happening; Catalina Crunch: catalinacrunch.com/happening; The Jordan Harbinger Show: jordanharbinger.com/start

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

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 officially open. Follow this link: https://www.thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop. 

 

Intro Music: "Illabye" – Tipper

Music Bed: “Cylinder Four/Five” – Chris Zabriskie

 

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 Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 

National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

Crisis Text Line: Within the US, text HOME to 741741

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

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This is actually happening features real experiences that often include traumatic events.

0:04.2

Please consult the show notes for specific content warnings on each episode

0:07.6

and for more information about support services.

0:18.1

You were in this abyss of darkness.

0:23.1

And the hardest part was not knowing.

0:26.3

Not knowing at all if you're going to live or die or win or how.

0:31.6

And nothing made sense, nothing made sense at all.

0:43.2

From laundry, I'm Whit Missildine.

0:45.4

You are listening to this is actually happening.

1:07.4

Hey prime members, you can listen to this is actually happening.

1:11.2

Add free on Amazon Music. Download the app today.

1:15.6

Hi, I'm David Brown, the host of Wonder E's podcast business wars.

1:19.0

In our latest series, two visionary automakers each believe they can beat Detroit

1:24.6

and build America's favorite cars.

1:27.2

Listen to business wars on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts.

1:32.4

It's hard to imagine losing a loved one, a wife, a husband, a child.

1:36.8

For many, it's their biggest fear. Amarissa Jones, host of The Vanished.

1:41.2

A podcast that tells the stories of often overlooked and unsolved missing persons cases.

1:46.0

In an effort to uncover the truth.

1:48.1

Listen to The Vanished on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts.

1:58.1

I was born in 1965 in Tehran, Iran.

2:09.7

Both of my grandmother's had escaped the 1917 Russian Revolution and had somehow

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