What if you signed a billion-year contract? [Rebroadcast #243]
This Is Actually Happening
Wondery
4.6 • 9.9K Ratings
🗓️ 28 August 2025
⏱️ 61 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
After a woman’s Mormon family falls apart following the death of her father, her mother brings her to a Scientology Center where she leaves everything behind.
Today we bring you the sixth 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 signed a billion-year contract?” originally aired as episode 243 on August 23, 2022.
Today’s episode featured Katherine Mcelhinny. If you’d like to reach out to her, you can email at [email protected]. She also has a gofundme page. If you’d like to donate to her, you can do so here: https://gofund.me/3ab57d56
Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Sara Marinelli
Content/Trigger Warnings: abuse of a minor, parental neglect, sexual assault, suicidal ideation, explicit language
Social Media:
Instagram: @actuallyhappening
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
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: “Cylinder Four/Five" – Chris Zabriskie
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. |
| 0:09.6 | 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. |
| 0:32.2 | 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, |
| 0:38.9 | What If You Signed a Billion Year Contract, |
| 0:41.5 | originally aired as episode 243 on August 23, 2022. |
| 0:51.7 | You were once on solid footing, |
| 0:53.6 | and then the world starts to shake beneath you. |
| 0:56.0 | Now your world is completely different. |
| 0:58.0 | Your landscape, everything you ever knew is completely different. |
| 1:01.0 | Like somebody reached down in your life, like you're in a snow globe, |
| 1:05.0 | and someone just shakes it up, and so now there's just chaos all around you, |
| 1:09.0 | and you don't know how to handle it. |
| 1:19.6 | From Wondery, I'm Whit Misseldine. |
| 1:22.4 | You're listening to This Is Actually Happening. |
| 1:29.0 | Episode 243. |
| 1:32.5 | What if you signed a billion-year contract? |
| 1:42.0 | Shop with Rackerton, and you'll get it. What's it? It's the best deal. Great cashback rates and more |
| 1:50.7 | savings on your shopping. So join Raggeton and start getting cash back at a variety of brands like |
| 1:57.1 | Marks and Spencer, Mango and Selfridges. You can even shop the sales and still get cash back. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Wondery, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Wondery and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.