Inside Mental Health

Would you even think to bring a sex toy to rehab? Even if you tried to, most rehab facilities don’t allow them, as it turns out. Today’s guest, comedian Pam Gaslow, tells us how she learned that you can’t take a vibrator, or teddy bear for that matter, to rehab. (Spoiler alert: She didn’t learn the hard way.) We’ll explore the ups and downs of Pam’s journey to sobriety. While addiction isn’t funny...

To an outsider looking in, it may seem like singer Casey McQuillen has it all — she was a contestant on season 13 of American Idol, and went on to have a successful career in singing. Yet despite her success, she still struggles with a negative, nagging sense of self-doubt that she attributes to the bullying she endured in middle school. These difficult early experiences left such a mark that she...

It seems like every story of mass violence or a school shooting includes speculation about what mental illness the alleged perpetrator has. Why is that? What can we do about it? Join us as Emmy Award winning journalist Elizabeth Vargas contests these thoughts and shares the media’s point of view. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page. Guest Bio Emmy Awar...

Over 70 million Americans are neurodivergent or live with learning and thinking differences. What does that mean? Is it a mental disorder, and what can be done? What type of prognosis do these folks have? Join us as today’s guest, Understood.org’s Dr. Andrew Kahn, who identifies as neurodivergent, explains how to help neurodivergent children find academic and lifelong success. To learn more -- or...

"Mine" is one of the first words babies learn. By the time we grow up, the idea of ownership seems natural, whether we’re buying a cup of coffee or a house. But who controls the space behind your airplane seat: you reclining or the squished laptop user behind? Why is plagiarism wrong but it's OK to copy a recipe or a dress design? After a snowstorm, why does a chair in the street hold your parking...

Have you ever noticed that there always seems to be a new “miracle food” that will improve our lives if we just eat more of it? Like some magic supplement or exotic green that is going to cure mental illness forever? Today’s guest explains why that kind of thinking is what keeps us sick. Join us as Dr. Drew Ramsey tells us all about nutrition psychiatry and how what we eat can influence our mental...

Often the way we talk to ourselves internally is drastically different from how we speak to others. If a friend lost their job, you’d likely console them and lend encouragement and a helping hand. If it was you, would the conversation be the same? Or would you belittle yourself, fill with doubt, and feel angry? Turns out, self compassion is a skill most of us could use more of. Join us as today’s...

“I’m glad my mom died,” said almost no one. Except it’s the title of a new book by Jennette McCurdy, Nickelodeon actress turned author. Our host Gabe Howard simply had to know: Is McCurdy truly glad her mom died? And if so, Why? Listen now to learn the circumstances behind McCurdy's book and what lead the iCarly star to share her feelings with the world.  To learn more -- or read the transcript --...

It might be hard to remember the last time you got really angry with someone who respects you. That’s because of the unique role that respect plays in our emotional regulation and interactions with others.  Dr. Joseph Shrand, a triple board certified psychiatrist, explains how this feeling can change your interactions with everyone from complete strangers to those you’re closest with. We’ll also d...

Asian American stereotypes are no secret: successful white collar professionals, like doctors and engineers, who are also quiet, hardworking, and dedicated to their families. It all sounds good, right? Even though these may seem positive, Dr. Jenny Wang explains how these stereotypes limit the options of people in these communities and exert unnecessary pressure on them. When you add the history o...

Ignacia Soto-Aguilar is a prominent Hollywood makeup artist (FX's “The Bear” / TNT’s “Claws”) who grew up with a mother with severe and persistent mental illness. Join us as she shares what it was like to grow up in a household where the most important thing was protecting the secret of her mom’s illness and the trauma caused by not openly discussing the elephant in the room.  Soto-Aguilar also sh...

“Joey Gladstone” is practically a household name, everyone knows the fun-loving Full House character. But Dave Coulier, the actor’s actual name, may not ring a bell. Even fewer people may recall that Dave is a recovering alcoholic. Earlier this year, he took to Instagram to publicly announce his addiction, and that he’s been sober for more than two years. In this episode, Coulier describes the mom...

Most survivors of childhood emotional abuse don’t cut free from their parents, but actor and author Wil Wheaton is an exception. He made the decision to completely disconnect from his parents as an adult. Join us as he explains why he took this major step, how he did it, and how it continues to impact his life and parenting.  Producer’s Note: We couldn’t fit all the amazing information from Wil’s...

You may have noticed the way your friend absentmindedly twirls their hair as they scroll on their phone, or how your sibling bites their nails. Maybe you’re prone to picking your skin, leading you to wonder why it’s hard to stop. These body-focused repetitive behaviors, or BFRBs, affect many of us. But when does something that might seem like a bad habit become a medical disorder? Join us as Luisa...

Greg Louganis, simply put, is the greatest diver of all time, and over 30 years later, his records remain unbroken. Even so, many people remember Louganis for hitting his head during a dive at the ’88 Olympics, for being HIV-positive, for being an out gay man in the ’80s, and for all the controversy surrounding these topics.  Join us as Louganis shares his struggles since retiring from diving, inc...

Today’s guest is Netflix and FX star Theo Rossi. Rossi is known for portraying Shades on “Luke Cage” and Juice on “Sons of Anarchy.” But what is he really like? He is a father of two and, in his own words, had a “rough go as a kid.” Listen in as he discusses how he is a proponent of microdosing, or using small amounts of psilocybin, to better understand himself and manage his mental health. To lea...

Alanis Morissette has been one of the most influential singer-songwriters of her generation. Join us as she talks about her experiences with anxiety and depression, and why she doesn’t dislike being labeled as angry — even though she’s “irretrievably Canadian and relational.”  Morissette also discusses her role as a feminist icon, the mental health lessons she has drawn after 25 years in the publi...

Do people who practice consensual non-monogamy or polyamory have higher rates of jealousy than those who are in monogamous relationships? What types of people are involved in these types of relationships?  Find the answers to these questions and more as our host interviews Dr. Mimi Winsberg, the co-founder of Brightside. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- visit the show's official episode...

Can you eliminate mental health stigma through TikTok? Obviously not, but you can spark a larger conversation about mental health, or just send a friend something cute to cheer them up. That’s exactly what today’s guest’s “bad animations” are all about. A self-described “bad animator,” Danny Casale, better known as Coolman_Coffeedan, has built up a huge following of people who love his characters...

Postpartum psychosis is commonly associated with wanting to harm, or even kill, your newborn baby. But can it present in any other ways? Join us as Sarah Wynter from the acclaimed TV shows "24" and "Flight of the Conchords" shares her personal experience with postpartum psychosis following the arrival of her twins. Guest Bio Glamorous and poised, Sarah Wynter has established herself as one of Holl...

Multiplatinum recording artist Jewel has won many awards and performed at the Super Bowl — but how much do you really know about her? She grew up with no running water, was a homeless teenager in San Diego, and turned all that into music for her album “Pieces of You,” which is one of the bestselling debuts of all time. In this episode, Jewel discusses her anxiety disorder, her past traumas, and wh...

One thing the internet especially loves to critique is other people’s parenting — especially mothers. What happens when mom lives with schizophrenia? Do people react differently? Join us as our host interviews Lauren Kennedy West, a woman who lives with schizophrenia and recently gave birth for the first time. She documented this on her popular YouTube channel, “Living Well with Schizophrenia.” La...

Join us as Wil Wheaton, who had leading roles in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “The Big Bang Theory,” discusses revisiting his 2004 memoir “Just a Geek,” which he recently re-released as “Still Just a Geek.” Every page is filled with footnotes and parenthetical comments talking to his younger self, and in many cases decrying his previous racism, homophobia, and misogyny. How did he manage t...

Many people believe that 6 weeks is the window when new mothers need to worry about postpartum depression. Today’s guest, NBC’s “The Endgame” star Ryan Michelle Bathé, shares how that misunderstanding was devastating to her and her family.  Bathé shares with us how much she struggled after the birth of her first child, despite having access to — and utilizing — medical professionals. She shares ho...

No one disputes that America has a problem with drugs. In 2021 alone there were almost 100,000 overdose deaths. This is why we need the government sponsored war on drugs, right?  Just imagine how bad things would be if no one was doing anything to resolve the various issues surrounding drug use. But is that true? Is there any data to support that our policies are even working? Join us as the late...