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

In this rerun episode of Giving Voice to Depression , hosts Terry and Dr. Anita Sanz revisit The Spoon Theory , a popular metaphor created by Christine Miserandino to explain life with chronic illness. The conversation explores how the theory applies to depression and mental health , providing listeners with a way to explain their limited energy to others and make mindful daily choices. The hosts...

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Eric shares his deeply personal journey of living under the crushing weight of depression and how he found a path toward healing. Instead of fighting against his pain, Eric discovered the transformative power of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, which allowed him to engage with his depression in a new, compassionate way. Through personifying his...

In this powerful episode of Giving Voice to Depression , J.J. Singleton shares his journey of living with terminal colorectal cancer and battling depression. After enduring over 170 rounds of chemotherapy, J.J. opens up about the toll cancer has taken not just on his body but on his mental health. He discusses the stigma men face in expressing vulnerability, his initial resistance to therapy, and...

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Dr. David Jacobi of Rogers Behavioral Health explains how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) works as an evidence-based treatment for depression. Together with hosts Terry and Anita, Dr. Jacobi breaks down the CBT “triangle” of emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, and explains why behavioral activation — doing something different, even small — can help...

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Dr. Anita Sanz joins Terry and Carly to discuss the importance of seeking therapy as a proactive step for mental health, not just during times of crisis. Together, they break down what therapy actually looks like, why the stigma around it persists, and how people can find the right therapist for their needs. From analogies comparing therapy to car rep...

One caring adult can make the difference between life and death. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Chloe shares how her teacher noticed warning signs of her depression and suicidal thoughts — and stepped in to have a direct, lifesaving conversation. Her story is a powerful reminder that teachers, coaches, and mentors play a critical role in suicide prevention. By noticing changes in...

Depression can convince us that healing is impossible. But recovery doesn’t come all at once — it shows up in small, powerful signs of change. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Cara McErlain from Belfast shares her lived experience of depression, therapy, and gradual healing. She opens up about the darkest moments of her journey and the hopeful signs that showed her recovery was poss...

Depression doesn’t just impact mood — it can also steal your memories of joy. In this episode, mental health advocate and author Natasha Tracy shares her lived experience with bipolar depression and how it robs her of the ability to recall happy times. She explains the cruel cycle of memory loss and depression, how “state memory” keeps us trapped in negative thought patterns, and practical strateg...

When people talk about maternal mental health, postpartum depression often gets the spotlight. But what about the depression that begins during pregnancy? In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Isabelle shares her experience with antepartum depression — the deep sadness, hopelessness, and stigma she felt while expecting both of her children. She describes how little people talk about depr...

What happens when the pain of childhood is never spoken aloud — or validated? For Trina Kennedy, it meant carrying an invisible backpack of heavy rocks: unresolved grief, shame, and loneliness. That burden grew into depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Trina shares her journey of living with the weight of childhood trauma — and how finding saf...

Many people living with depression are told to “get better” for their families, their partners, or their friends. But what happens when you realize you deserve to recover for yourself? In this powerful episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Ari Cohen shares her lifelong journey with depression, from being diagnosed at age 11 to navigating suicidal thoughts, family loss, and the pressure to heal f...

Men are less likely than women to seek therapy — but not because they don’t need it. Stigma, cultural expectations, and outdated ideas about masculinity often keep men silent when they’re struggling with depression or grief. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , mental health counselor Ethan Getchell shares his personal story of losing his brother to suicide and how it inspired him to ch...

Recovery from depression doesn’t always come through major breakthroughs. Sometimes it begins with the smallest shift — a single degree of change that sets you on a new path. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Lori shares her raw experience of persistent depression and how discovering the “power of yet” helped her reclaim hope. With support from Dr. Anita Sanz, she explains how connec...

Persistent depression doesn’t just come and go. It lingers — shaping daily routines, relationships, energy, and even self-worth. In this raw and honest episode of Giving Voice to Depression , our guest shares what it feels like to “live at 60 percent,” carrying the weight of chronic depression every day. From constant fatigue to feelings of hopelessness, she describes the signs and symptoms of liv...

What does depression really feel like — and how is it different from ordinary sadness? In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , psychologists Dr. Robert Duff, Dr. Margaret Rutherford, and Dr. Maduka Trivedi help clarify one of the most misunderstood topics in mental health. While sadness is a temporary emotional state, depression is a serious and persistent illness that can impact every par...

What difference does it make when families actually talk about depression instead of hiding it? In this episode, Jesse reflects on growing up in a family where mental illness was openly discussed at home, long before society embraced those conversations. She shares what it was like to watch her mother struggle with depression, how honesty helped reduce shame, and how those early conversations shap...

What if the right question could shift how you see yourself, your struggles, and your recovery journey? In this farewell episode, clinical psychologist Dr. Anita Sanz shares the three most powerful questions she’s used with clients — and in her own life — to challenge the lies of depression and uncover new paths forward. After three years as co-host of Giving Voice to Depression , Dr. Sanz leaves...

Depression recovery rarely happens in one breakthrough moment—it’s usually a series of small, almost invisible steps that slowly add up to change. For The Tors Band , those moments of light became the foundation of their viral song “Anything Can Happen” and their journey of speaking openly about mental health. In this episode, Matt Weedon shares how sleeping through the night for the first time in...

Coping with depression often means searching for ways to turn struggle into something that helps you keep going. For Matt Weedon of The Tors , that outlet was music. In this heartfelt conversation, Matt shares how the band’s song “Anything Can Happen” was written during a season of deep depression. He describes what it felt like to carry both pain and numbness, why even simple tasks felt impossibl...

Depression doesn’t just bring sadness—it can strip away hope, motivation, and even the will to fight for recovery. For Johnny Crowder, frontman, mental health advocate, and founder of Cope Notes, depression became the most debilitating part of his long list of diagnoses, which also included anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. In this deeply honest conversation, Johnny shares how dep...

What happens when everything falls apart at once?  Musician and mental health advocate Johnny Crowder recently faced that exact reality—losing his home, his band, and his relationship (with the woman he expected to marry,) all within days. In this 25-minute episode, he talks about the depression that followed ("a bear he has wrestled many times before,") and the mindset shift that helped...

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Gwen shares her lived experience of supporting her husband and children while navigating the challenges depression brings into a family home. She discusses the importance of ground rules, open communication, and small acts of kindness that help maintain connection during hard times. Gwen also emphasizes self-care for caregivers, the value of finding...

Supporting a partner with depression is an act of love, but it can also feel overwhelming and isolating. In this episode, Gwen shares her lived experience navigating marriage, parenting, and family life while her husband struggles with treatment-resistant depression. She offers candid insights about setting boundaries, managing responsibilities, and practicing self-care—without letting depression...

In this episode, we share Margaret’s story of living with a partner who struggles with treatment-resistant depression and anxiety while raising a child. Margaret opens up about the challenges of feeling unsupported, navigating parenting, and maintaining connection in the face of a mental health disorder. Clinical psychologist Dr. Anita Sanz provides insights on recognizing when depression — not th...

After losing his teenage daughter to suicide, Chris Coulter turned his grief into a mission: demanding real change in how schools and parents address teen mental health. In this powerful episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Chris shares the lessons he learned too late — about prevention, emotional intelligence, grief, and the dangerous indifference many parents and schools show toward mental hea...