389: What if you were pushed into the path of an oncoming train?
This Is Actually Happening
Audible
4.6 • 10.4K Ratings
🗓️ 13 January 2026
⏱️ 52 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
After surviving a stranger’s shove into the path of a subway train, a man confronts his mortality and viral fame, and finds himself transformed by community, clarity, and the everyday poignancy of being alive.
Today’s episode featured Joe Lynskey. You can email Joe at upfromthetracks@gmail.com.
Joe is on Instagram @lynskey.joe.
You can find news articles about Joe and his DJ career at his link tree: https://linktr.ee/lynskey.joe.
Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits
Content/Trigger Warnings: Violence, Attempted murder, Graphic injury, PTSD, Death of a parent, Childhood bullying, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Drug addiction, Self-harm risk behaviors, Family dysfunction, Medical trauma, Viral exposure / public scrutiny, Crime and criminal justice system, explicit language
Social Media:
Instagram: @actuallyhappening
Twitter: @TIAHPodcast
Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com
Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com
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Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott Velasquez
Music Bed: Ambient Themes
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)
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This Is Actually Happening features real experiences that often include traumatic events. |
| 0:04.4 | Please consult the show notes for specific content warnings on each episode, |
| 0:07.4 | and for more information about support services. |
| 0:16.0 | Hi, listeners. |
| 0:17.6 | We're so happy to be back with a brand new episode today as we return from the holiday |
| 0:22.1 | break. You may have heard of today's storyteller, Joe Linsky, or seen the video of him |
| 0:27.2 | last year on TikTok, but today we get to hear the full story of his experience and what has |
| 0:32.0 | happened in the year since. So without delay, here is the unthinkable story of Joe Linsky. |
| 0:38.1 | For today's episode, what if you were pushed into the path of an oncoming train? |
| 0:45.8 | What do I want to do with the rest of my life? |
| 0:49.0 | Because I could die tomorrow. |
| 0:51.6 | It's as simple as that. |
| 0:53.1 | It can all be taken away from you like that. |
| 1:02.6 | From Wondery, I'm Witt Misseldine. You're listening to This Is Actually Happening. |
| 1:13.0 | Episode 389. |
| 1:16.4 | What if you were pushed into the path of an oncoming train? |
| 1:26.9 | Wondry Plus subscribers can listen to exclusive episodes of This Is Actually Happening |
| 1:31.8 | by joining Wondry Plus in the Wondry app or on Apple Podcasts. My family has roots in Miami back to about 1920. My mother's father did a bit of work with Henry |
| 1:56.7 | Flagler, who basically created the city of Miami. |
| 2:04.3 | My father opened his own real estate sales business. |
| 2:09.5 | My father was sort of like a Don Draper in the 60s and 70s and early 80s. |
| 2:13.5 | My father, I've seen his passports just hundreds and hundreds of stamps. |
... |
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