Mental Illness Happy Hour

Bo V is a stand-up comedian, actor, and writer who attends Paul’s support group. They talk about the work they’re doing on self-judgment and shame, finding the perfect church after leaving Catholicism, and discovering their trans identity. If you’re interested in seeing or buying the furniture that Paul designs and makes follow his IG for his woodworking which is transitioning from @MIHHfurniture...

Rich Forer is a Jewish-American author and activist. He discusses his perspective of growing up Jewish, being a member of AIPAC, and how his perspective on Palestine shifted dramatically, shattering his entire worldview.  Here's a link to Rich’s book page on Amazon.   Here's a link to a very interesting written interview he did, and here's a link to his YouTube channel. If you’...

Dr. Jessica Zucker returns to the podcast for her 4th visit, focusing on the importance of talking about hard things: Cancer, miscarriages, perimenopause, and more. Watch for her new book, Normalize It: Upending the Silence, Stigma, and Shame That Shape Women's Lives. More about Jessica: Where to buy her book: Amazon Bookshop Instagram: @ihadamiscarriage Website: drjessicazucker.com If you’re inte...

Mark M is Paul’s friend from a support group. He visits the podcast to share his story of addiction, growing up entrenched in deception, and how he eventually broke the pattern in his adult life. He digs into his complicated family life, the losses he’s suffered, and how he continues to work through it all to maintain a life of integrity. This episode is sponsored by Smalls cat food. For a limited...

#743 Sex Addiction Therapy by Mental Illness Happy Hour

Jennifer Westcott is a therapist who has shared her story of sexual abuse at the hands of her mother. She returns for her second visit on the pod and opens up about the emotional hangover she had after recording her first episode. In this episode, she digs into her healing journey and the immense progress she’s made. More about Jennifer: https://youtube.com/@therapistsanctuary?si=LXxyNlcClD00m-Qz...

Jennifer Westcott is a therapist who, as an adult, began to recall sexual abuse by her mother. She and Paul both dig deep to talk about maternal sexual abuse and why it’s so difficult for people to understand and accept. Jennifer also shares the painful reactions from her family and how she’s pressed on with the help of her husband and her work in therapy. More about Jennifer: https://youtube.com/...

Dr. Blaise Aguirre is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He specializes in dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) with a particular focus on borderline personality disorder (BPD). He discusses his recent clinical work on self-hatred and discusses his new book, I Hate Myself: Overcome Self-Loathing and Realize Why You're Wrong About You. Dr. Aguirre’s book: https://www.ih...

Ryan Sheldon (@RealRyanSheldon) is a speaker, a model, an eating disorder advocate, and the author of F*ckboys Are Boring: A Gay Man’s Guide to Dating (For Everyone). He shares excerpts from his book and talks about his lifelong journey to self-acceptance, through eating disorders, body image issues, and dating all the wrong men. He also shares tips on healthy ways to look for partners.  More...

This Best Of episode was originally recorded and aired in 2015. Jeanie, a writer, talks about being parentless at 3 and the complex relationship with her mentally disabled sister whom she now has guardianship of. She and Paul bond over suicidal thoughts, isolating and much much more For more about Jeanie's writing https://scriptanatomy.com/jeanie-bergen/ Substack https://itcanbeboth.substack.com/...

Matt D. is a good friend of Paul's who shares his story of starting over after a divorce, a career change, and getting sober—while owning a weed store in California. He also talks about the surprising joy he finds in living in a sober community.  This episode is sponsored by Smalls cat food. For 50% off your first order, head to www. Smalls.com and use promo code MENTAL.  If you’re inter...

Jen Soriano is a Filipinx author, musician, and first-generation American. She shares important context about Filipino history and how transgenerational trauma plays out for so many people, including her own family. She also opens up about living with chronic pain and the importance of understanding the mind-body connection. Look for her new book Nervous: Essays on Heritage and Healing. For m...

Phil Stark is a former screenwriter (Dude, Where’s My Car) turned marriage and family therapist. He shares why he made this huge career pivot plus he and Paul discuss passive aggression in relationships and managing the inner critic. Check out his new book, Dude, Where's My Car-tharsis?: A Friendly and Engaging Guide to Talk Therapy For more about Phil: Website:  https://www.starktalk.net Ama...

Paul’s support group friend, Jon Luc, opens up about the ways that school took an incredible mental toll on his life and how being gay in this world has also created challenges. He shares his struggles with addiction, his love for his support group, and how he’s learned to set boundaries in his relationships. This episode is sponsored by Orgain Organic Plant Protein Powder . For 30% off go to...

Joshua Fields and T.K. Coleman,(@TheMinimalists) better known as two parts of the popular trio, The Minimalists, join Paul to talk about how all the clutter in our lives can affect our minds and offer tips on how to live better with less.  More about the Minimalists: www. TheMinimalists.com www.instagram.com/theminimalists This episode is sponsored by 23andMe for the latest offer go to www.23...

We visit the family tree today with Paul Gilmartin’s cousin, Paul Barnard. He shares stories of his past, from losing his baby sister to moving in with an entirely new family when he was 8 years old. He also shares beautiful thoughts on his time caretaking for his wife, who battled cancer for many years.  This episode is sponsored by Orgain Organic Plant Protein Powder . For 30% off go t...

David Miklowitz is a Professor of Psychiatry in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UCLA. Dr. Miklowitz’s research focuses on bipolar disorder and in this episode he shares the distinct differences between BP1 and BP2 and unpacks myths about bipolar disorder. Look for his new book Living Well with Bipolar Disorder: Practical Strategies for Improving Your Daily Life. More about Dr. M...

Elizabeth Husserl (@ElizabethHusserl) is a financial advisor and the author of the new book T he Power of Enough: Finding Joy in Your Relationship with Money . She talks about the emotional aspects of money, including comparing yourself to others and blindly accumulating things, and how to find more balance and financial health.  More about Elizabeth: Buy her book https://www.amazon.com/Power...

Nathan Spiteri (@NathanSpiteri) is an Australian filmmaker, actor, and writer on a mission to eradicate the lingering shame of abuse. As a child, Nathan was sexually and mentally abused for years. He discusses the attachment he felt to his abuser, how he continued the cycle of abuse as an adult, and how he was finally able to see that the pain he was causing others stemmed from his own trauma.&nbs...

Dr. Kate Truitt is a psychologist and neuroscientist, visiting the show for the second time. In this episode, she opens up about being childless in our current culture and shares personal stories that have shaped her life. She also discusses her research on the amygdala and a healing method called Brain Partnership. More About Dr. Truitt CEO & Founder, Dr. Kate Truitt & Associates CEO...

Rebecca W is Paul's friend from a support group. She shares her struggles with shyness and low-self esteem and opens up about sex and love addiction as well as her penchant for fantasy.  This episode is sponsored by Babbel language learning app. For 60% off your subscription go to www. Babbel.com/Breath . Rules and restrictions may apply. If you’re interested in seeing or buying the furn...

Franco Vega is the founder of The RightWay Foundation, a nonprofit that helps transition-age foster youth find jobs, stable housing, and mental health support. He shares his own journey, which included being orphaned as a child and struggling with addiction, and ultimately what brought him to establishing this foundation.   For more about Franco and the RightWay Foundation https://www.th...

Dr. Jessi Gold (@DrJessiGold) is the Chief Wellness Officer for the University of Tennessee as well as an Associate Professor of Psychiatry. Her main advocacy focus has been burnout in the healthcare industry, which includes issues like doctors being trained to stuff emotions, increased suicide rates for healthcare workers, and general issues with the overall healthcare system. Look for her book H...

Israa Nasir is a therapist and the founder of Well Guide, a digital wellness platform making therapy tools accessible to everyone. She discusses red flags and green flags in terms of mental health and processes for reflection on how to live a life true to who you are. Look for hew new book, Toxic Productivity. Buy Israa’s New Book: TOXIC PRODUCTIVITY: Reclaim Your Time and Emotional Ener...

JT was well into adulthood before he was able to come to terms with his anger issues. Today, he’s turned things around with the help of therapy, meditation, and support groups. He opens up about how he realized he had anger issues and offers practical tips on managing anger.  More about JT The workbook that JT mentioned: https://avediancounselingcenter.com/about-2/our-books/ Links Paul mentio...