374: What if a brutal assault saved your life?

This Is Actually Happening

Wondery

True Crime, Tiah, Documentary, Society & Culture

4.6 • 9.9K Ratings

🗓️ 5 August 2025

⏱️ 65 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

After being violently attacked outside a bar, a man who spent his life motivated by loneliness and rage, begins forging a new path to peace and healing through Buddhism and awakening to the thread that connects us all.

Today’s episode featured Cesar Cardona. If you’d like to reach out to Cesar, you can email him at [email protected].

Cesar’s socials: IG- @beautyinthebreakpod // @TikTok - Beautyinthebreak

Find out more about Cesar at his website: https://cesarcardona.com/

A special thanks to Scott Johnson, Host of the What Was That Like podcast

“real people in unreal situations”: WhatWasThatLike.com, who brought us Cesar’s story.

Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Cathy Sitzes

Content/Trigger Warnings: divorce, gang activity, criminal activity including drugs and violence with weapons, racism, brutal assault including kicking & stomping, severe facial injuries in the mouth, punctured organ injury, heavy alcohol use, explicit language

Social Media:

Instagram: @actuallyhappening

Twitter: @TIAHPodcast

Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com

Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com

Website for Cathy Sitzes: cathysitzes.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: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott Velasquez

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.
0:15.5	Hi listeners.
0:17.1	Today will be the last new episode of Season 14 of the show. and next week we'll begin our annual five-week summer break.
0:25.2	We're excited to let you know that over this hiatus will be bringing you two rebroadcast episodes per week of past listener favorites.
0:32.4	This season has been one of the most eye-opening for me, with stories throughout the season, including a
0:37.7	restorative justice series that challenged me to open my mind and heart more than any other.
0:42.9	I want to give enormous gratitude for all the storytellers that have the courage to share their
0:47.0	stories with us. And as always, a huge thank you to all of you as listeners for showing up each
0:52.2	week to open your own ears, hearts, and minds.
0:55.4	Your willingness to sit with these stories with deep empathy and connection is a rare gift.
1:00.4	I can't wait to share a new season with you all in five weeks, starting September 16th.
1:05.7	But for now, the final new episode of Season 14.
1:09.5	What if a brutal assault saved your life?
1:15.1	I had been telling myself these things of I'm at fault. I'm not worthy. The life that I live
1:21.7	is a waste. I realized they were thoughts, feelings, and emotions. And then I realized, I thought this was just my skin.
1:30.5	But it's actually a t-shirt.
1:33.2	I wonder if I can take this thing off.
1:43.1	From Wondery, I'm Whit Misseldine.
1:46.6	You're listening to This Is Actually Happening.
1:53.2	Episode 374.
1:57.2	What if a brutal assault saved your life?
	...

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