What if you could never be what they wanted? [Rebroadcast #246]
This Is Actually Happening
Wondery
4.6 • 9.9K Ratings
🗓️ 2 September 2025
⏱️ 49 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Always feeling she had failed the ideals of her strict Muslim, South Asian family and community, a woman struggles to navigate trauma, shame and self-expression, when unexpected news forces her into a powerful reckoning.
Today we bring you the seventh episode of our annual 5-week summer rebroadcast series, airing 2 episodes a week. We will return with all new episodes starting Tuesday, September 16, 2025 . Today’s rebroadcast episode “What if you could never be what they wanted?” originally aired as episode 246 on September 13, 2022.
Today‘s episode featured Azzah Ahmad. You can find out more about Azzah by visiting her Instagram page @Lifeazziknowit
Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Sara Marinelli
Content/Trigger Warnings: sexual abuse of a minor, suicidal ideation, explicit language
Social Media:
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Twitter: @TIAHPodcast
Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com
Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.com
Website for Sara Marinelli: saramarinelli.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
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Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com
Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott Velasquez
Music Bed: “Re-Entry” – Lee Rosevere
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
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| 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. |
| 0:09.6 | This Is Actually Happening features real experiences that often include traumatic events. |
| 0:13.9 | Please consult the show notes for specific content warnings on each episode |
| 0:17.0 | and for more information about support services. |
| 0:32.6 | Hi listeners. Today we continue our annual five-week summer rebroadcast series. We'll return with all new episodes for season 15, starting September 16th. Today's rebroadcast episode, What If You Could Never Be What They Wanted, |
| 0:41.4 | originally aired as episode 246 on September 13th, 2022. |
| 0:50.5 | When you feel like somebody has punched you and the life has been sucked out of your mouth, |
| 0:59.4 | it was that but tenfold. |
| 1:02.8 | It was a complete out-of-body experience. |
| 1:08.2 | ... body experience. From Wondery, I'm Wit Misseldine. |
| 1:18.6 | You're listening to This Is Actually Happening. |
| 1:22.6 | Episode 246. |
| 1:29.6 | What if you could never be what they wanted? |
| 1:39.2 | Your first great love story is free when you sign up for a free 30-day trial at audible.com. |
| 1:44.5 | Dot U.K.S. Wondery. That's audible.com. |
| 1:48.0 | dot UK slash Wondery. |
| 1:50.4 | It's your man, Nick Cannon. I'm here to bring you my new podcast, Nick Cannon, at night. |
| 1:54.8 | Every week, I'm bringing out some of my celebrity friends and the best experts in the business |
| 1:59.2 | to answer your most intimate relationship questions. |
| 2:02.0 | So don't be shy. Join the conversation and head over to YouTube to watch Nick Cannon at night |
| 2:06.4 | or subscribe on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcast. I was born in Canada. My parents and my eight siblings were born in India. That's where my parents are from. They came from quite a poor village. They had an |
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