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

Managing mental health starts with awareness. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , we talk with writer Jennifer Tzeses about the power of tracking symptoms, sleep, and moods to better manage depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety. From keeping a simple journal to using digital apps and wearable tech, we explore practical ways to notice early warning signs, prevent relapses, and work...

Stigma around depression and mental illness is not just about feeling misunderstood—it has life-threatening consequences. In this episode, we conclude our three-part series on stigma by exploring how shame, judgment, and fear keep people from reaching out for help. You’ll hear from past guests who describe how stigma delayed their diagnoses, deepened their suffering, and in some cases, nearly cost...

Stigma is more than an abstract concept—it can mean the difference between life and death. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , we explore how shame, judgment, and misunderstanding about mental illness keep people from seeking help, delay treatment, and increase suicide risk. Through the voices of past guests, we hear firsthand how stigma silenced them, deepened their struggles, and nea...

Stigma keeps too many people silent—and too many people suffering. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Terry and Bridget continue their exploration of stigma with powerful reflections from past guests who reveal the very real consequences of judgment, silence, and discrimination around depression. From hiding struggles at work, to being misunderstood in faith and family circles, to wai...

Stigma is more than a word—it’s a barrier to treatment, recovery, and even survival. In this episode, we continue our series on the stigma of mental illness, featuring real voices who share how discrimination, shame, and silence have shaped their lives with depression. Terry and Bridget revisit past conversations with guests who reveal the painful realities of stigma—from hiding depression at work...

How do we fight mental health stigma in a meaningful way? Research shows it’s not just about education—it’s about connection. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , we explore the transformative power of sharing personal stories. Featuring insights from Dr. Patrick Corrigan, one of the world’s leading stigma researchers, this conversation highlights why lived experiences of depression mat...

Does educating people about mental illness actually reduce stigma? According to Dr. Patrick Corrigan, one of the world’s leading researchers on stigma, the answer is no. In fact, teaching that depression is a “brain disease” may unintentionally make stigma worse. So what does work? Sharing real stories of lived experience —stories that include the struggle and the recovery. In this powerful conver...

If you've ever struggled with the decision to start antidepressants—or know someone who has—this episode offers honest insights that might change the conversation. Sports broadcaster and mental health advocate Michael Landsberg shares his personal journey through depression, his resistance to medication, and the lessons he learned after multiple relapses. Michael’s candid reflections challeng...

Why is there still so much resistance to taking antidepressants when they can be life-changing for people living with depression? In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , we talk with Michael Landsberg, founder of the mental health initiative Sick Not Weak , about his personal journey with depression, the stigma surrounding antidepressants, and why acknowledging depression as an illness — n...

Depression often robs us of hope, making it feel impossible to believe things can get better. In this candid episode of Giving Voice to Depression , licensed psychotherapist Lauren Bittner joins Bridget and Terry to talk about why hope matters, how to find it when you feel like giving up, and the small but powerful ways we can anchor ourselves during overwhelming times. Lauren shares practical str...

What does it really mean to be living with depression and bipolar II ? In this intimate rebroadcast, Kristin, a published poet and artist, shares her journey through recurring deep depressions, hospitalizations, and the daily fight against suicidal thoughts. She describes how writing, poetry, and art helped her give voice to depression — and how community, medication, and self-expression provided...

In this powerful episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Jordan shares his deeply personal journey through depression, alcoholism, and recovery. For years, he wore a mask of strength, hiding his pain from friends and family while secretly struggling with overwhelming sadness and anxiety. Turning to alcohol for relief only worsened his depression, leading to a downward spiral of hospitalizations, j...

For many, Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year. If you’re grieving, battling depression, or simply struggling to make it through the holidays, this episode is for you. Written and read by John Pavlovitz , this heartfelt message speaks directly to those carrying heavy burdens during a season that often amplifies loneliness and loss. Whether you’re mourning a loved one, facing addict...

For most of his life, Dan lived with depression in silence — hiding his pain from friends, family, and even himself. It wasn’t until a mental health crisis and hospitalization that he realized secrecy was costing him more than depression itself. In this moving conversation, Dan shares his first public story of living with depression, suicidal thoughts, and shame — and how finally talking about it...

2020 was a year unlike any other. The pandemic, political division, racial injustice, and social isolation created what mental health professionals call a collective trauma — leaving many of us struggling with depression, anxiety, and loneliness. In this year-in-review episode, psychologist Dr. R. Kwaku-Smith joins Giving Voice to Depression to reflect on the mental health challenges of 2020 and s...

What does it look like to live through bipolar disorder, depression, addiction, and suicidal thoughts —and still find hope? In this episode, comedian and rapper Zane Thomas shares his raw and unfiltered story of mental illness and recovery. From battling substance abuse to learning how to “talk back” to depression, Zane uses humor and honesty to break stigma and show what healing really looks like...

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Ambrose, a coach specializing in movement, nutrition, and mindfulness, shares how breathwork can be a powerful tool for managing anxiety, depression, and stress. From understanding the biological connection between breathing and emotional regulation, to learning simple, actionable techniques like “straw breath,” listeners will walk away with practica...

The holiday season can be one of the hardest times of year for those living with depression and anxiety. Expectations of joy and celebration often clash with grief, loneliness, and stress—especially in the aftermath of the pandemic. In this episode, psychologist Dr. Maggie Mulqueen offers compassionate insights and actionable strategies for coping with holiday depression. She discusses the importa...

How can civilians better support veterans living with PTSD, depression, and suicidal thoughts? In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , psychiatrist and veteran Dr. Mike McBride shares insights on the unique challenges veterans face after service — from the military culture of hiding pain to the stigma that prevents many from seeking help. Dr. McBride explains how civilians can bridge the c...

In this Veterans Day conversation, psychiatrist and veteran Dr. Mike McBride joins the podcast to discuss the unique mental health challenges facing those who served. Drawing from his experience in the Army and Navy as well as his work at the Milwaukee V.A., Dr. McBride explains why PTSD, depression, and suicide risk are critical issues for veterans — and how both medical professionals and civilia...

Millions of children grow up with a parent struggling with depression or another mental illness. This episode explores the hidden impact parental mental illness can have on kids, including the silence, guilt, and self-blame they often carry. Guest Michelle Dickinson shares her story of growing up with a mother with bipolar disorder and how it shaped her childhood and adulthood. Clinical psychologi...

In this bonus episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Dr. Barbara Moser—trained in Mindful Self-Compassion and a passionate mental health advocate—guides listeners through a short self-compassion break . This accessible meditation draws from Kristin Neff’s foundational work and integrates the three pillars of self-compassion: mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness . The practice is design...

Most of us would never speak to a friend the way we speak to ourselves. Yet for people living with depression, negative self-talk and constant self-criticism can feel relentless and exhausting. In this episode, we explore how to challenge the inner critic and begin building a voice of self-compassion instead. You’ll hear real stories from people who struggle with the daily cycle of “I’m not enough...

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Dr. Barbara Moser—a retired physician and suicide prevention advocate—guides us through practical, evidence-based mindfulness and self-compassion techniques . These simple yet powerful exercises can help you calm your nervous system, lower stress, and create space for resilience when depression or anxiety feels overwhelming. From mindful breathing to...

How do you deal with depression in isolation ? In this powerful conversation, Hobbs shares how the pandemic amplified his depression, turning simple check-ins like “how are you?” into impossibly complicated questions. He describes the exhaustion of constant change, the loneliness of lost routines, and the mood swings that can shift within hours. Through honesty and vulnerability, Hobbs reveals the...