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

How do we measure progress when living with a lifelong mental health condition? For Rebecca Lombardo , turning 50 offered the perspective to look back and recognize just how far she’s come. Ten years ago, she was in the hospital after a suicide attempt. Today, she’s celebrating a decade without self-harm, publishing books, connecting with community, and sharing her story to fight stigma. In this c...

When someone you love is diagnosed with a mental illness, it changes both of your lives. In this deeply honest and loving episode, Becca and Joe Lombardo invite us inside their 22-year marriage—one shaped by bipolar disorder, depression, suicide attempts, and a level of compassion and communication that could teach us all something. Together, they share how they moved from confusion and stigma to...

For years, Jordan lived with untreated depression that he hid behind success in sports, social life, and eventually alcohol. Drinking offered temporary relief but quickly spiraled into addiction, hospitalization, and even jail. After a suicide attempt and years of struggling, Jordan finally embraced treatment, medication, and sobriety. Now three years sober, he uses his lived experience as both a...

Stigma keeps people silent—and silence keeps people suffering. In this episode, therapist and author Juliet Kuehnle shares how she’s fighting stigma by openly discussing her own diagnoses of anxiety and persistent depressive disorder. Through both personal experience and professional expertise, Juliet explores how language, labels, and everyday choices either reinforce or break down stigma. She ou...

Stigma isn’t just hurtful—it’s dangerous. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , co-hosts Terry and Dr. Anita continue the stigma series by showing how reducing stigma not only improves mental health outcomes but can also literally save lives . Drawing on insights from past guests and lived experiences, this conversation explores how stigma keeps people silent for years, increases isolati...

Stigma doesn’t just hurt feelings—it delays help, worsens depression, and puts lives at risk. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Terry and Dr. Anita continue the stigma series with real stories from listeners and past guests who share how fear of judgment, shame, and misunderstanding shaped their mental health journeys. From being shunned at work for taking FMLA, to hiding depression...

Education alone doesn’t end stigma—stories do. In this powerful conversation, world-renowned stigma researcher Dr. Patrick Corrigan explains why sharing personal stories of lived experience is the most effective way to fight mental health stigma. Instead of relying on lectures or statistics, Corrigan’s research shows that real-life “on the way down and on the way up” stories—of both struggle and r...

When you're living with depression, knowing what to do before a mental health crisis hits can be life-saving. In this powerful and practical episode, psychotherapist Dr. Anita Sanz joins Terry to walk listeners through creating a Mental Health Crisis Plan —a personalized, written safety net to help you stay safe and supported when things start to fall apart. This conversation continues last w...

A mental health wellness plan isn’t just a worksheet—it’s a lifeline. In this episode, co-hosts Terry and Dr. Anita Sanz walk through the first part of creating a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) . This practical guide helps individuals living with depression and other mental health conditions identify the daily habits, warning signs, and stressors that affect their well-being. Through persona...

Who are you healing for? Yourself—or everyone else? In this deeply personal episode of Giving Voice to Depression , guest Ari Cohen shares her journey of living with depression since childhood. Diagnosed at 11, Ari spent years defining herself by her illness and pursuing recovery mainly to ease others’ worries or to meet external expectations. It wasn’t until her late 20s—through a trauma-informed...

What happens when suicide leaves a child behind? In this moving episode of Giving Voice to Depression , Nic Sheff —author of Ashes in the Ocean —shares his story of losing his father to suicide at just 20 years old. His father’s death left Nic grappling with grief, guilt, confusion, and fear that he would follow in his father’s footsteps. Through writing, therapy, and years of reflection, Nic bega...

Is your smile hiding something deeper? In this powerful episode of Giving Voice to Depression , guest Andrew shares his candid story about the mask he wore for decades—keeping up a cheerful, functional exterior while battling deep depression and suicidal thoughts inside. Together with hosts Terry and Dr. Anita Sands , Andrew explores the double-edged nature of masking depression . On one hand, it...

Living with depression often means battling thoughts that feel convincing—but aren't true. You might believe you're broken, that nothing will ever get better, or that you're the only one struggling this much. These thoughts don’t reflect reality—they reflect depression’s distorted logic. In this episode, psychotherapist Barry Winbolt joins us to unpack how depression alters thinking...

How do you explain depression to a child—especially when it’s their parent who is struggling? In this moving episode, Todd Rennebohm , author of Sometimes Daddy Cries , shares the deeply personal story behind his children’s book. What began as a near-suicidal night became the seed for a tool that now helps countless families talk about depression in ways children can understand. Todd, a father liv...

In this extended conversation with Darin Olien —wellness expert, bestselling author, and co-host of Down to Earth with Zac Efron —we explore the deep connections between mental health and whole-body wellness . Darin opens up about his family’s struggles with depression and shares how nutrition, hydration, sleep, and emotional honesty play powerful roles in supporting recovery. From the gut-brain c...

Can everyday wellness habits really support depression recovery? In this inspiring episode, bestselling author and wellness expert Darin Olien ( SuperLife , Fatal Conveniences , and Netflix’s Down to Earth with Zac Efron ) joins hosts Terry and Dr. Anita Sanz  to discuss the profound connection between wellness practices and mental health . Drawing from his family’s struggles with depression and h...

What does it take to move from struggling in silence to becoming a mental health advocate? In this candid episode, writer and advocate Michelle Yang shares her powerful journey of living with bipolar I disorder , from being overlooked as a high-achieving student to experiencing a life-threatening manic episode while studying abroad. Michelle opens up about her delayed diagnosis, the stigma that ke...

Can a teen be excelling academically while secretly battling depression or bipolar disorder? In this revealing episode, Michelle Yang shares her story of being a high-achieving immigrant student who outwardly had it all together—straight A’s, strong work ethic, and responsibility—while silently struggling with anxiety, depression, and undiagnosed bipolar disorder. Despite begging for therapy as a...

What’s therapy really like—and when should you go? In this milestone episode, Dr. Anita Sanz demystifies the therapy process for anyone considering mental health treatment. From how to know when it’s time to reach out, to what actually happens in a session, to finding the right therapist (yes, it’s okay to shop around), this episode is packed with practical advice and stigma-busting insight. Wheth...

Can tiny shifts in perspective really make a difference in chronic depression? In this powerful follow-up conversation, Lori shares her ongoing recovery journey after nearly a decade of feeling stuck in depression. For years, she believed she was “broken” and beyond help. But a new treatment program introduced her to the idea that she wasn’t broken—just stuck —and that even the smallest shifts in...

What does it feel like to live with depression every single day—for years? In this deeply honest episode, Lori shares what it’s like to live with persistent depressive disorder (PDD) , sometimes called dysthymia or chronic depression . Unlike major depressive episodes that come and go, Lori describes the exhausting reality of functioning at only “60%” most days—and the terrifying nearness of relap...

What does depression really feel like? In this episode, we break down the concept of Spoon Theory , a powerful way to understand the daily challenges of living with depression and limited energy. Through real-life examples and practical insights, we explore why simple tasks can feel overwhelming and how energy management plays a critical role in coping. If you’ve ever struggled to explain depressi...

What happens when one of the toughest men in the NFL takes off the mask and admits he’s been battling depression? In this powerful 100th episode of Giving Voice to Depression , NFL Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins opens up about his lifelong struggle with depression, suicidal thoughts, and the pressure of hiding behind toughness. Known as “Weapon X” during his 16 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles an...

Can sharing your darkest struggles create light for others? In this heartfelt episode, Matt Weeden of The Tors Band continues the conversation about the band’s viral hit “Anything Can Happen.” Written during his own battle with depression and anxiety, the song has resonated with millions worldwide, turning raw honesty into connection, hope, and healing. Matt opens up about the slow steps of recove...

Music has a way of putting words and emotions to experiences we can’t always explain. In this episode, Matt Weedon of The Tors shares the story behind their song “Anything Can Happen” — written during a difficult season of depression. Matt opens up about how even small tasks felt unbearable, what it was like to feel both pain and numbness at once, and how the support of a loyal friend helped him t...