398: What if you witnessed the best and the worst of humanity?
This Is Actually Happening
Audible
4.6 • 10.4K Ratings
🗓️ 17 March 2026
⏱️ 61 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
After years working as a humanitarian aid worker in war zones and disaster areas around the world, a man is forced to confront the psychological toll of witnessing a broken world he could never fix.
Today’s episode featured Gray Doyle. If you’d like to email Gray, you can reach him at graydoyle@meetmeinzanzibar.com.
You can purchase Gray’s book on his website, https://meetmeinzanzibar.com/.
Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Jason Blalock
Content/Trigger Warnings: War and armed conflict, Genocide, Mass casualties, Sexual violence / rape, Child soldiers, Violence against children, Severe physical injury and medical trauma, Death and dying, Bombings and explosions, Kidnapping and torture, Humanitarian disaster / extreme suffering, PTSD and psychological trauma, Emotional distress and rage, explicit language
Social Media:
Instagram: @actuallyhappening
Twitter/X: @TIAHPodcast
Facebook: This Is Actually Happening Discussion Group
Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com
To subscribe, find Beyond the Story on Substack by going to whitmissildine.substack.com.
Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com
Website for Jason Blalock: jasonblalock.com
Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening
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: 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: Discovery Studios Tracks (DST) - Dark Oasis
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 | Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of This Is Actually Happening, |
| 0:04.4 | ad free right now. |
| 0:06.4 | Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. |
| 0:09.5 | This Is Actually Happening features real experiences that often include traumatic events. |
| 0:13.7 | Please consult the show notes for specific content warnings on each episode, |
| 0:17.0 | and for more information about support services. |
| 0:19.9 | Hi listeners. |
| 0:26.6 | Today, I'm excited to announce that I'm launching a substack called Beyond the Story. On the substack, I'll be sharing personal reflections on the deeper themes that emerge from each episode |
| 0:31.6 | and across the conversations I've been immersed in for years, including the psychology of radical transformation, the power of |
| 0:38.7 | storytelling, the lessons of trauma and healing, and how we die to an old self and are reborn. |
| 0:44.3 | I'll share behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of the show and my own personal journey |
| 0:49.1 | in creating it. As the substack evolves, we'll also explore healing practices mentioned on the show, |
| 0:54.6 | therapeutic modalities and approaches to transformation. |
| 0:57.9 | We'll give updates on past guests and where their journeys have taken them, |
| 1:01.5 | as well as listener Q&A and eventually occasional live gatherings. |
| 1:05.9 | Beyond this story will be a space where you can hear more from me and from the team, |
| 1:09.8 | as well as a space to share |
| 1:11.4 | in community reflection and continue the spirit of empathetic connection we've cultivated here |
| 1:16.3 | on the show together over the last 400 episodes. To subscribe, find Beyond the Story on |
| 1:22.9 | Substack by going to whitmissildine.substack.com. You can also find the link in the show notes. |
| 1:29.6 | I look forward to this next chapter in the show |
| 1:31.6 | and to engaging more directly with you all there. |
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