Mental Illness Happy Hour

Originally recorded in 2012 and voted a listener favorite, Kerri (@KerriKenneySilver @KerriKenney) is a comedian/actor/musician. She opens up about her childhood, the impact of her parents’ divorce, her obsessive worrying, her aborted engagement to a crack addict and what she learned about herself. People know Kerri from  Reno 911 , MTV’s  The State , Bob’s Burgers, and the indie rock ba...

Originally recorded and aired in 2011 Nadereh’s story is sadly all too timely today. Nadereh (@NaderehShe) is a former Marxist revolutionary who fled her native Iran (while 6 months pregnant) after the capture and execution of her husband in the 1988 prisoner massacre where over 5000 were killed regardless of time served. Nadereh and her husband were the first wave of the killing, oppression and d...

Paul's support group friend is a 44-year-old single mom whose meds stopped working and before finding another one that worked, spiraled into a depressive episode that had her fearing for her life while also feeling unmotivated to change things or reach out for help. Liz also shares about her family's history of enmeshment, addiction, a dad with creepy boundaries and breaking her lifelong pattern o...

Paul reads listener's surveys describing their demons, dreams, failures, accomplishments, resentments and loves. Support Our Sponsors!  This episode is sponsored by  BetterHelp  online counseling. To get 10% off your first month go to  www. BetterHelp.com/mental  Must be 18. For those under 18 you will be redirected to or can go directly to TeenCounseling at...

Comedian Neal Brennan (@NealBrennan) shares about his experiences with 5-MeO-DMT, ayahuasca, meds, TMS, and various modes of talk therapy. He also discusses the psychology of the comedy brain and how the mean voice in his head distorts reality. For more about Neal: Check out this newest Netflix standup special Neal Brennan: Blocks www. NealBrennan.com Twitter and IG @NealBrennan FB www. Facebook.c...

Chris Chou is one of Paul’s closest friends and a member of his support group. Chris shares what it was like moving to the U.S. as a child and how toxic parenting left him struggling with his sense of self, the high expectations of his Asian parents and facing his anger and intimacy issues. Support Our Sponsors!  This episode is sponsored by  BetterHelp  online counseling. To g...

Thomas Hayes is a modern furniture designer and a friend of Paul’s. He opens up about the emotional incest, violence, and sexual abuse he experienced in his childhood and how he works through the anger that it’s left him with as an adult.  Check out his furniture at www. ThomasHayesStudio.com Follow him on IG at www.instagram.com/thomashayesstudio Support Our Sponsors!  This episode is s...

Jessica Ekhoff is an attorney who, after giving birth to her first child, was diagnosed with postpartum bipolar. She talks about her psychosis which led to a stay at an inpatient facility and how she’s since stabilized and gotten back to her life.  The pre-order page for Jessica’s book Super Sad Unicorn: A Memoir of Mania : https://jessica-ekhoff.presale.manuscripts.com/ Postpartum Support In...

Britt Frank is a therapist, educator, trauma specialist, and the author of the book The Science of Stuck. She opens up about her addictions, her experience of joining a cult, and the importance of understanding the context of your own mental health. More About Britt: IG @BrittFrank website www. ScienceOfStuck.com Support Our Sponsors!  This episode is sponsored by  BetterHelp  onlin...

Jerry Stahl (@SomeJerryStahl) is a novelist and screenwriter working through his own worries, self-sabotage, and depression. He opens up about addiction and his current work with EMDR. He also reads an excerpt from his new book, Nein, Nein, Nein. More About Jerry: Follow Jerry on Twitter @SomeJerryStahl and get his books from your favorite booksellers. Support Our Sponsors!  This episode is s...

Standup comedian Liz Miele (@LizMiele) opens up about panic attacks, people pleasing, her family history of mental illness–and how setting boundaries has changed everything. Be sure to check out her new standup special, The Ghost of Academic Future . Liz’s new stand-up special “The Ghost of Academic Future” is available for free streaming on YouTube at www.youtube.com/lizmiele   Liz has tour...

Introducing The Happiness Lab Podcast: Embracing Regret w/Daniel Pink by Mental Illness Happy Hour

Eric Zimmer(@oneyoufeed) is a Behavior Coach and the host of the podcast, The One You Feed. He shares his story of recovery from heroin addiction & homelessness and how he finally decided to take the steps needed to care for himself and create the life he wants. More About Eric Zimmer: https://www.oneyoufeed.net/ https://www.facebook.com/1ufeed/ https://twitter.com/oneyoufeed https://www.insta...

Author and LMFT Kati Morton (@KatiMorton) joins Paul for an overview of therapy. She goes over the different types of therapists as well as the therapy modalities and what to expect with each of them. Check out Kati’s YouTube channel and her book Are U Ok? for more. More About Katie: YouTube https://www.youtube.com/katimorton   Website www. KatieMorton.com Twitter @KatiMorton Support Our Spon...

Former Capitol Police Officer Winston Pingeon opens up about the chaos and the trauma of the insurrection on January 6th, 2021. He also shares his own story of how he became a cop, why he left, and how channeling his inner artist has provided a sort of therapy and even gained him some important recognition. Winston’s website is:  https://www.winstonwatercolors.com/ Instagram @WinstonWatercolo...

From The Loudest Girl in the World: What it Means to be on the Autism Spectrum I'm sharing a special preview of a new podcast, The Loudest Girl in the World. For years, journalist and podcast host Lauren Ober wasn’t all that jazzed about herself. She was always getting in trouble, she had a lot of sensory issues and her anxiety felt off the charts. And then, she found out why — she was autist...

Kimi Culp is a TV and film producer and the host of the podcast, All The Wiser (@AllTheWiserPod) She opens up about her own bipolar diagnosis as well as her father’s and how being honest and outspoken about having bipolar changed her life in the best way. More About Kimi www. KimiCulp.com www. AllTheWiserPodcast.com www. Twitter.com/AllTheWiserPod www. Instagram.com/AllTheWiserPodcast www. Fa...

Lacey was adopted by an emotionally abusive family at the age of two. She shares her experience with that pain as well as how she navigates living with autism, ADHD, and BPD. She also shares her story of life in the military–which included its own trauma. Support Our Sponsors! This episode is sponsored by  BetterHelp  online counseling. To get 10% off your first month go to&nbs...

Keith Miller is a clinical social worker, author, and podcaster (The Soul of Life Show). He shares about caregiver burnout, identifying depression, the physical aspects of emotions, his focus on DBR therapy, and his life growing up Baptist and eventually leaving the church.  More about Keith www.keithmillercounseling.com www.souloflifeshow.com https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-soul-of...

Paul reads surveys filled out by listeners (anonymously) sharing the deepest parts of themselves; their struggles, victories, fears, loves, traumas, kinks, memories, hopes, mistakes and dreams. Support Our Sponsors! This episode is sponsored by  BetterHelp  online counseling. To get 10% off your first month go to  www. BetterHelp.com/mental  Must be 18. For those...

Michael Brose is a former police officer turned recovery counselor. He’s also one of Paul’s support group friends. He talks about what led him to become a cop, how it magnified his anxiety, hyper-vigilance, and addiction, and how he finally got out. Follow Michael on Instagram at www. Instagram.com/superBrose Support Our Sponsors! This episode is sponsored by  BetterHelp  online counseli...

Susan Cain is a best-selling author and someone who thinks very deliberately about emotions. She sits down with Paul and shares her journey from attorney to writer and how her appreciation for melancholy turned into her new book, Bittersweet.  More About Susan Cain https://www.amazon.com/Bittersweet-Sorrow-Longing-Make-Whole/dp/0451499786 https://susancain.net Support Our Sponsors! This episo...

Originally aired in 2015. The USC professor of law, psychiatry and psychology (in addition to a PhD in Psychoanalysis) talks about her history of schizophrenia, her multiple hospitalizations and how she has learned to manage it. They also talk about mental health and the law. We will be back with new episodes in August. Support Our Sponsors! This episode is sponsored by  BetterHelp &nbsp...

Originally aired in 2013. A father/brother figure to Paul, the high-school teacher reflects on his Mexican heritage, violent upbringing, tour in Vietnam, stints as a bouncer at a Hell’s Angels bar, and a Club Med guide, his getting “struck sober” and how he has evolved into the man his father never was. We will be back with new episodes in August. Support Our Sponsors! This episode is sp...

Originally aired in 2013, the actor/comedian ( Conan, Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central ) talks about his struggle to feel “authentically black” without betraying who he is, the state of comedy in the black community, honing his artistic voice, and his nerdish, turbulent childhood especially with his alcoholic mother. More About Baron www. BaronVaughn.com Twitter @BaronVonBlaq Support Our Sponsors! Thi...