344: What if you spent 7 years in a Thai prison?

This Is Actually Happening

Wondery

True Crime, Tiah, Documentary, Society & Culture

4.6 • 9.9K Ratings

🗓️ 17 December 2024

⏱️ 67 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

After developing a severe heroin addiction as a teenager, a woman winds up incarcerated in Thailand, facing unimaginable conditions.

Today’s episode featured Holly Deane-Johns. You can email her at [email protected] or [email protected].

Holly’s Socials

Facebook: @hollydeanejohns

Instagram: @hollydeanejohns

LinkedIn: Holly Deane-Johns - Motivational Speaker - Self-employed | LinkedIn

Holly Deane-Johns is a motivational speaker with lived experience of heroin addiction and recovery. She grew up in the well-to-do Perth suburb of Mount Lawley and heroin addiction entered her family’s life after her parents separated. She was first arrested at the age of 20 and she has spent a total of 17 years in prisons in Australia and Thailand for drug crimes. She has been drug-free since 2001. Three members of her family lost their lives to heroin overdoses. Holly is a qualified youth worker and counsellor who has suffered from severe PTSD. She shares her story to help others to overcome addictions and trauma.

WEBSITE: https://www.hollydeanejohns.com.au/

BOOK: Holly's Hell: Seven Years in a Thai Prison

Podcast guestings and events here: https://www.hollydeanejohns.com.au/news-and-events

Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz

Content/Trigger Warnings: heroin/drug abuse and addiction, death due to drug overdose, suicide & suicide attempts, domestic violence/abuse, child SA, arrest, prison, explicit language

Social Media:

Instagram: @actuallyhappening

Twitter/X: @TIAHPodcast

Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com

Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com

Website for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com

Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: 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 wondery.com/plus

Shop 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.com

Intro Music: "Illabye" – Tipper

Music Bed: Uncertain Outcomes

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 and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988

National Alliance on Mental Illness: 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.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Wondry Plus subscribers can listen to exclusive episodes of This Is Actually Happening
0:05.0	by joining Wondry Plus in the Wondry app or on Apple Podcasts.
0:09.0	This Is Actually Happening features real experiences that often include traumatic events.
0:14.0	Please consult the show notes for specific content warnings on each episode
0:17.0	and for more information about support services.
0:27.1	Hi listeners.
0:31.6	Today's episode is the last new episode before our three-week winter break.
0:36.8	Over the next three weeks, stay tuned as we rebroadcast some of our older favorite episodes. We'll return with new episodes on Tuesday, January 14th.
0:41.4	From all of us at this is actually happening, we wish you safe and happy holidays,
0:45.9	and we look forward to bringing you fresh new episodes in 2025.
0:50.2	But today, we bring you the harrowing story of Holly Dean Johns.
0:53.9	For today's episode, what if you spent seven years in a Thai prison?
1:02.0	I felt like my brain was an elastic band that was just getting wound tighter and tighter as each day went on.
1:12.9	I felt that I was very, very close to snapping.
1:17.1	And that was so scary because I knew that if that happened, I wouldn't be the same anymore.
1:22.7	I'd be gone.
1:23.9	I wouldn't be me.
1:33.4	Music I wouldn't be me. From Wondery, I'm Witt Mizzledine.
1:37.0	You're listening to This Is Actually Happening.
1:48.8	Episode 34.
2:11.6	What if you spent seven years in a Thai prison? Hey podcast listeners. Have you heard, you can listen to your favorite podcasts ad-free?
2:19.8	Good news. With Amazon music, you have access to the largest catalog of ad-free top podcasts included with your prime membership.
	...

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