This Is Actually Happening is one of my favorite podcasts. They feature first-hand stories of people who have survived horrible things in a storytelling format.

Recently they launched a series that features five stories of people impacted by the mass shooting in Rancho Tehama, California in 2017.

There’s an episode that talks with the sister of the shooter, the man who used his body as a shield to protect elementary school children, the neighbors of the shooter, and more.

It’s incredibly well done and, I believe, a must-listen for everyone in America.

So often, the victims of these crimes don’t receive the support they need, continue to suffer with their physical, mental, and emotional injuries years later, and find themselves a part of a viral story that doesn’t capture the whole impact or truth of what happened.

This podcast series shows that tragic events, and the humans impacted, are not simply media fodder. These are real everyday people who had one of the worst things imaginable happen to them, and they survived.

You can listen to this podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.