Mental Illness Happy Hour

Paul reads allegations by the Federal Trade Commission about the business practices of BetterHelp and how they allegedly misused customer's private information. Based on these allegations (BetterHelp denies any wrongdoing and settled with the FTC for $7.8 million), Paul explains his decision to end his endorsement deal with them. Due to the financial cost to edit out past ads for BetterHelp (from...

Renae Johnson is a MIHH listener and a therapist who specializes in LGBTQ+ patients. They talk about what brought them to this work, which includes discovering their own gender fluidity, struggling with their religious background, and growing up with a mother who had significant struggles of her own. More about Renae: Renae is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Board Certified Art Therapi...

Nicoletta Heidegger is an LMFT who focuses on human sexuality and BDSM for healing. She talks about how we can often deal with our trauma by exploring our kink and mapping out our own erotic blueprint.  Links To Nicoletta’s Work: Nicoletta Heidegger Website:  https://www.nicolettavheidegger.com/about Nicoletta Heidegger Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/therapywithnicoletta/ Slu...

Em Schulz (@TheEmSchulz) is a writer, podcast host (And That’s Why We Drink, Ritual), and paranormal aficionado. Em unpacks their struggles with anxiety, how they learned to stand up for what they believe, and how they are figuring out their own gender identity.   Check Out Em’s Podcast :   https://www.andthatswhywedrink.com/listen WAYS TO HELP THE MIHH PODCAST Subscribe via&nb...

Leslie Winick is an MIHH listener who joins Paul to talk about what it feels like, as an older woman, when you start to become invisible to others. She also shares her struggles with depression and postpartum depression and talks about the path that led her to a career she’s passionate about.  More about Leslie: C.P.C.C. Certified Professional Co-Active Coach Contact me if you're interested i...

Elyse Cizek is a writer and a musician who opens up about her journey of self-reflection and change, what it’s been like living with BPD, and how she manages relationships in her life given her diagnosis. She also shares a number of incredible self-soothing tactics that have helped her along the way.  More About Elyse: https://zora.medium.com/dear-white-friends-335d6088077 https://elysecizek....

40 minutes of some of the darkest surveys listeners have ever filled out. No guest. No interview. No theme music. A few have been read on-air previously but the majority have never been read because Paul felt they were too heavy to put in the show. Well episode #666 is an exemption. We doubt anyone will make it thru all 40 minutes but why not give it a shot? Listen at www.mentalpod.com or any podc...

Aparna Nancherla @Aparnapkin is a comedian, writer, and actor (Mythic Quest, Crashing) and today she joins Paul to discuss her new book Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself, and Imposter Syndrome. She talks about her impulse for negative self-talk, how she keeps going anyway, and how she learned the value of speaking up about what she actually needs in a relationship.  Where to buy Aparna’s book (...

This interview is a paid advertisement by SimplePractice, an administrative software for therapists to help reduce time spent doing paperwork, scheduling and other repetitive tasks. The interview is with therapist Vienna Pharaon who personally uses SimplePractice. To learn more about SimplePractice go to www. SimplePractice.com/Paul Some additional info/facts from SimplePractice SimplePractice giv...

Paul’s support group friend Stevie C shares about growing up in a violent and verbally abusive environment, learning to manage his temper, and discovering that his seemingly-out-of-nowhere panic attacks, racing thoughts and insomnia (6 days without sleep) were related to his experiences as a child. He also shares about having to take meds to ease the panic attacks and insomnia and reevaluate...

Tiffany Carter is a former newscaster and current podcast host (Project Me with Tiffany Carter on IG @ProjectMe_With_Tiffany) and mental health advocate. She opens up about her unpredictable and narcissistic mother, the abuse she suffered as a child, and how she’s dealing with social and sexual anorexia as an adult. More about Tiffany: Instagram:  i nstagram.com/projectme_with_tiffany  T...

Ruth Golden is a documentary filmmaker and suicide prevention activist who is in the process of creating a film about her own family. The Silent Goldens explores her family’s reaction to her own mother’s death by suicide. The film examines the pain of stuffing down emotions and failing to communicate when that is what's needed most. Ruth talks about what inspired her to create this film and what s...

Jessi Kneeland (@JessiKneeland) is a body image coach who gets real about their own issues and what brought them to this work. In this episode, Jessi's second visit to the podcast, they talk about self-perception as well as what the struggle can be like for trans people today. They also discuss the workings and merits of non-monogamous relationships. Be sure to check out Jessi's new book, Bod...

Felina Danalis is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and she joins Paul for what is, essentially, an intro to what somatic experiencing is, how it works, and what kinds of issues this trauma therapy can address. Felina takes us on a journey of learning why this out-of-the-mainstream modality can be so surprisingly life-altering. Paul also shares his own experience with Somatic Experiencing. ...

Kyle Kinane is a standup comedian and recovering “party guy” who’s started doing some work on himself and his relationships. He talks about growing out of the party scene, shifting his perspectives, and getting over what other people think of you. Check out his new YouTube comedy special, Shocks & Struts.  Watch his new special Shocks and Struts on YouTube For More About Kyle: www. KyleKi...

Paul met Raquel in a group therapy session and just had to hear more of her story. She is an immigrant from El Salvador who is confronting her abusive childhood. She also struggles with two chronic illnesses and issues of self-perception. She opens up about how she’s working through all of these areas and coming out the other side as someone who respects and takes care of herself. WAYS TO HELP THE...

Dr. Caroline Leaf is a communication pathologist and neuroscientist who has been studying the mind-brain connection and the nature of mental health for decades. She and Paul discuss the role of medication in your mental health routine and how it relates to the processing of trauma. Check out Dr. Leaf’s podcast Cleaning up the Mental Mess for more.  More About Dr. Leaf https://www.mentallyresi...

Josh Peck is an actor ( Oppenheimer , Drake & Josh , How I Met Your Father ) and podcast host ( Good Guys ) as well as an author ( Happy People Are Annoying ). This is Josh’s second visit to the podcast and this time he gives us an update where he is now with his recovery. He also talks with Paul about his decision to go on antidepressant medication and how that’s changed his life for the bett...

This week’s guest is Eddie, someone who wants to share their rare story in the hopes that it will offer a light to others. Eddie was raised as a boy by her father and as a girl by her mother. She unpacks how a lifetime of misgendering has affected her. She also opens up about the sadly not-so-rare story of being raised by abusive and narcissistic parents.  WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST Subscribe v...

Paul sits down with musician and animal-rights activist Moby and his podcasting partner Lindsay to talk about the “cult of more” and the illusion of material wealth as a cure for emotional issues. Moby delves into the history of mental illness and addiction in his family, his struggles with addiction, loneliness and desire for meaningful connection. He, Lindsay and Paul share their fears...

Cat Alvarado @theCatAlvarado is a standup comedian and activist who grew up with a white father and a Latina mother—who fled the civil war in Nicaragua. She talks about what it was like to grow up mixed race and with a mother who had been through so much. Check out her new album Off White . As mentioned on the podcast Paul will be sharing his story (non-comedy) on Wed Aug 2nd at Flapper’s in Burba...

Marc Maron is an actor, standup comedian, and podcast host (WTF). In early 2020, his partner, Lynn Shelton, died suddenly. He joins Paul to talk pointedly about grief. He shares what it was like to go through that experience as well as all the tremendously difficult choices and situations that followed as a result of her passing.  More about Marc www. WTFpod.com www. Instagram.com/marcmaron w...

Christine Lane is an Accredited Financial Counselor who works at the intersection of money and psychology. She joins Paul to talk about the mental wellness that can come from getting control of your finances and offers helpful tips on ways to completely reframe your thinking when it comes to spending and saving.  More about our guest: ·      Website: https://mind...

Will Sasso (@WillSasso) is an actor (MAD TV, The Three Stooges), comedian, and podcaster. He talks with Paul about his relationship with food, the resentments in his family, and his own mental health diagnosis–which is the same as his father’s. Will also shares what it's like to co-host the first AI-driven podcast, Dudesy. More about Will: www.instagram.com/WillSasso www. Facebook.com/WillSasso ww...

Amelia Zachry (@BrownGirlCrazyWorld) is an author and mental health advocate. She shares her experience with a Bipolar 2 diagnosis and how she talks about trauma and mental health with her own young children. Be sure to check out her book, Enough: A Memoir of Mistakes, Mania, and Motherhood. More about Amelia www. AmeliaZachry.com Social Media @BrownGirlCrazyWorld Purchasing Options For Her Book E...