Giving Voice to Depression: Real Stories & Expert Support for Depression and Mental Health

Shannon, better known online as @ShannyPants, is funny, vibrant, and energetic—but she’s also someone who lives with depression every single day. In this deeply honest and hopeful conversation, Shannon describes what it’s like to appear fine on the outside while struggling silently inside. She shares her journey from denial to diagnosis, how she finally sought help after a breakdown, and why humor...

For years, Alex Brown battled anxiety and depression in silence. Like many, she thought what she was experiencing was “just life” — anger, exhaustion, and darkness that she couldn’t explain. A breakdown on a family trip finally forced her to face what was really happening: years of untreated anxiety had developed into major depression. In this conversation, Alex shares how naming her depression br...

What does it mean to feel “homesick” for yourself before depression? In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Savannah Wall joins us to share her deeply personal story of living with depression—describing the emptiness, weight, and longing for the person she once was. Through candid reflections, Savannah explains how depression can leave you feeling disconnected from loved ones and even fro...

What does it mean to feel homesick for yourself ? Savannah Wall describes depression as being “homesick for the life and the person she used to be.” In this powerful conversation, she opens up about the weight of emptiness, the shame of hiding her symptoms, and the turning point when her husband insisted she seek help. Savannah’s words capture what many living with depression struggle to explain:...

Tara has lived with depression and anxiety since childhood — beginning with panic attacks at age four after a traumatic accident. For decades, she carried shame, exhaustion, and guilt, especially as a mother who felt she couldn’t live up to the “supermom” image. In this honest and heartfelt conversation, Tara shares how she finally found words for what she was experiencing, why asking for help cha...

Taking medication for depression doesn’t mean you’re weak — it means you’re fighting for your life. In this powerful and candid conversation, sports broadcaster and mental health advocate Michael Landsberg (founder of Sick Not Weak ) shares his decades-long journey with depression, anxiety, and antidepressants. Michael speaks openly about his early resistance to medication, the relapses he endured...

What does it mean to be sick, not weak ? In this candid conversation, broadcaster and mental health advocate Michael Landsberg shares his personal journey with anxiety and depression—and the power of naming depression as an illness, not a weakness. Michael speaks openly about his early struggles with anxiety, the turning point when depression took hold at age 40, and how seeking help from a psychi...

Recovery from depression can feel overwhelming—but small daily habits and consistent routines can make a real difference. In this episode, mental health advocate Paul Marlow shares how morning and evening routines helped him climb out of two of the darkest years of his life. From improving sleep to creating daily “wins” like making his bed, journaling, and practicing fitness and nutrition, Paul ex...

What happens when everything you thought defined you suddenly crumbles? For Paul Marlowe, a former professional athlete and personal trainer, the losses of a parent and a relationship, combined with anxiety and PTSD, led to years of depression and an inability to feel joy. In this conversation, Paul shares the reality of living with depression—the nights filled with racing thoughts, mornings curle...

What does it really mean to live with both depression and addiction? In this episode, Don opens up about his decades-long struggle with clinical depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder —a combination often called dual diagnosis. Despite years of misdiagnosis and silent suffering, Don finally found hope through proper treatment, peer support, and telehealth through the VA. He shares candidl...

Every January, millions of people make resolutions—only to abandon them weeks later. But what if we shifted the focus from unrealistic goals and shame-based change to something more sustainable: prioritizing our mental health? In this inspiring New Year’s conversation, psychologist and author Dr. Margaret Rutherford (host of the SelfWork podcast) joins us to explore what real mental health resolut...

Season 19 of Giving Voice to Depression brought together powerful, vulnerable conversations about what it means to live with depression. From learning that you’re not alone in your struggles, to understanding recovery as a non-linear process, to hearing about veterans’ mental health, racial trauma, journaling, and holiday survival tips—this season offered both compassion and practical insights. In...

The holidays are painted as a season of joy—but for many living with grief, depression, or loneliness, Christmas can feel unbearably heavy. This special holiday episode, written and read by author John Pavlovitz , is for those who struggle when everyone else seems to be celebrating. If your heart feels heavy, if loss or depression has taken the light out of the season, this episode is a reminder:...

Depression often feels like trying to fix something broken with something else that’s broken. In this moving episode, Davey shares his raw and honest story of living with depression and anxiety. From the exhaustion of hitting rock bottom to the slow discovery of “tools for a time” that help him cope, Davey explains how he manages daily triggers, finds small victories, and redefines what recovery l...

The holidays are painted as a season of joy, but for many, they bring stress, grief, and heightened depression. In this conversation with psychologist Dr. Anita Sanz , we explore the realities of holiday depression and offer practical ways to approach the season with compassion, flexibility, and self-care. From shifting expectations to making empowering choices, this episode provides both validati...

The holidays can be an especially painful time when you’re living with depression or anxiety—made even harder by grief, loss, and the lingering effects of the pandemic. In this episode, psychologist Dr. Maggie Mulqueen offers compassionate, practical advice for navigating the holidays when joy feels forced or out of reach. She discusses how to release “Hallmark expectations,” embrace a both/and mi...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Maria Innocencia-Amarante shares her journey of growing up in an immigrant family, surviving trauma, and breaking generational cycles of abuse and secrecy. Drawing on both her personal experiences and her expertise as a trauma therapist, she explains how trauma changes the way we see the world, why recovery requires revisiting and processing the past, and how healing...

Trauma doesn’t just fade with time—it changes the way we see ourselves, others, and the world. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Maria Innocencia-Amarante , trauma survivor and therapist, shares her personal story of growing up in poverty, violence, and secrecy while navigating depression and trauma. From witnessing domestic violence to becoming the first in her family to earn a doctorate, Dr. Am...

Veterans often face invisible battles long after leaving military service — PTSD, depression, and deep feelings of isolation. But civilians can play a powerful role in supporting them. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , VA psychiatrist and veteran Dr. Mike McBride shares practical ways families, friends, and communities can better support the veterans in their lives. From listening wi...

Veterans face unique mental health challenges — from PTSD and depression to the deep isolation worsened by the pandemic. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , VA psychiatrist and veteran Dr. Mike McBride shares how military culture, trauma, and recovery intersect in the lives of those who served. Dr. McBride draws from his personal and professional experience to explore the daily struggl...

Recovery isn’t a checklist—and progress isn’t always forward. In this powerful follow-up to Episode 191, social worker Lacey shares why mental health recovery is circular, not linear , and how both professionals and loved ones can better support those who are struggling. Lacey speaks from both sides of the therapeutic relationship, offering insight into how we hold space without trying to fix, why...

At 14, Lacey didn’t have the words to describe her depression—just the tears, the withdrawal, and the deep confusion of feeling broken despite a stable life. In this powerful episode, she reflects on what changed everything: finding a therapist who listened, getting the right diagnosis, and hearing her grandmother share a life-changing truth— “You’re not alone.” Now a social worker, Lacey shares h...

Season 18 of Giving Voice to Depression was filled with raw honesty, resilience, and hope. In this review episode, co-hosts Bridget and Terry reflect on a deeply challenging season personally and professionally, while revisiting the most powerful conversations with guests. From long and difficult journeys with depression to moments of transformation and hope, these stories remind us that while dep...

Supporting a loved one with depression can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t always require grand gestures or complicated interventions. In this episode, Michelle Madison shares her powerful story of how a friend’s lighthearted, creative challenge—a silly selfie over coffee—helped pull her out of depression’s darkness. We explore how small acts of kindness, validation, and genuine presence can make...

When mental health care itself causes harm, it leaves lasting scars. Dr. Warren Braden , a licensed marriage and family therapist in training, joins Giving Voice to Depression to explain treatment trauma —when people seeking help encounter bias, stigma, or a lack of cultural understanding in the system meant to support them. From the challenges of finding therapists who truly understand racial and...