Mental Illness Happy Hour

Jennifer Westcott is a therapist and regular guest on the pod. This week, she and Paul discuss the complexity of reconciling good memories with abusive memories and the pain of missing family members after choosing to go no-contact.  More about Jennifer: https://youtube.com/@therapistsanctuary?si=LXxyNlcClD00m-Qz https://www.holistichealingcounselling.com/therapist-sanctuary https://inst...

Kyle Kittleson is a YouTube host and a mental health and animal advocate. He shares his experience with losing his mother as a child, how it affects his adult relationships, and the importance of building empathy and resilience, particularly in children.  More about Kyle Look for his videos on  MedCircle.com and BabaBlast.com This episode is sponsored Quince . Go...

Sarah Haufrect is a returning guest and long-time listener who shares her experience with loss, grief, and the parent-child relationship. She opens up about processing her mother’s borderline personality disorder (BPD) after her death and the transformative moments spent with her father while he was dying. Look for her podcast, Brain Stories, which shares personal stories about mental health Brain...

The very first MIHH ep ever which originally aired in March of 2011.. Paul interviews his  Dinner and a Movie  co-host Janet Varney (@theJVClub) about her battles with anxiety, depression food and panic attacks. Listen as one people-pleaser interviews another! Enjoy Janet parrying a compliment coming her way! En grade!  More about Janet www. JanetVarney.com IG and Threads @TheJVClub...

This ep was one of our first ever, recorded in 2011. Comedic actress / improvisor / writer / podcaster Jamie Denbo aka @JamieDenbo talks about being an only child, born to Jewish parents whose lives, culture and ancestors she feels are informed by fear. She talks about growing up in Massachusetts and feeling guilty for not having more obvious reason to explain her sadness, panic and anger, and how...

Laura Moran is a television writer. She talks about a lifelong battle with depression, self-harm and the suicide attempt that helped her realize she needed help resulting in a stay in a psychiatric facility which helped turn her life around. More about Laura: website:  https://lauramoran.com/ IG: @LauraPotatoes TikTok: Laurampotatoes This episode is sponsored by Alma Visit  helloalm...

Jesse Perez is a friend of Paul’s, a cancer survivor, a podcaster, and a Latino man navigating life under the current administration. Look for his podcast, Equanimity, which focuses on this experience. Check out an episode of Jesse’s podcast Equanimity : A Father and Son Journey Through the Process This episode is sponsored by Alma Visit  helloalma.com/happyhour   to schedule a free ther...

Chris Grace (@ChrisGraceComedy) is a comedian and actor who shares his stories of love, tragic loss, and growing up as the child of an immigrant. He discusses grief and racial dynamics in both comedy and the gay community. Follow Chris on IG and TikTok @ChrisGraceComedy Website www. ChrisGrace.com This episode is sponsored Quince . Go to www. Quince.com/mental for free shipping on your order...

Nate Berkus (@NateBerkus) is an interior designer and a NYT best-selling author (look for his new book, Foundations: Timeless Design That Feels Personal) who joins Paul to share his story of growing up, his challenges with authenticity, and the trauma he endured while being stuck in the middle of a natural disaster, where he witnessed death on a massive scale, including that of his own partner. Fo...

Anna Runkle, aka @CrappyChildhoodFairy, joins Paul to share her experience of growing up in a commune, living with CPTSD, and finding new ways to heal when talk therapy wasn’t working. Look for her new book Connectability: Heal the Hidden Ways You Isolate, Find Your People and Feel (At Last) Like You Belong. For more about Anna:   https://crappychildhoodfairy.com   https://www.youtube.co...

Fellow support group member Derek shares about growing up in extreme poverty and isolation. Recently he has been learning how to connect and practice boundaries but is still struggling with being attracted to women who treat him badly. This episode is sponsored Quince . Go to www. Quince.com/mental for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. This ep...

Tyler Smith was paralyzed from the neck down after contracting the West Nile virus. He and his wife, Jenny, join Paul for the second time to open up about the rage, shock, and loneliness of having become paralyzed as well as the stress and emotional toll it takes on Jenny to caretake someone with Tyler’s condition. Tyler & Jenny’s GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-tyler-smith-yea...

Amanda Uhle is a journalist and nonfiction writer who shares her story of a loving but turbulent childhood and what it was like to grow up in a house of hoarders. Look for her new memoir, Destroy This House. For more about Amanda: https://www.amandauhle.com/ https://www.instagram.com/amanda.uhle/?hl=en This episode is sponsored Quince . Go to www. Quince.com/mental for free shipping on your o...

Robert Suttle joins Paul to share his experience with the criminalization of HIV. He talks about the unexpected arrest related to his diagnosis, his experience in prison, and living with HIV in the modern day. Links/Resources that Robert mentioned: Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation site:  https://elizabethtayloraidsfoundation.org/ Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation's HIV is Not a Crime initiativ...

Our second installment of the darkest surveys filled out anonymously by listeners.   This episode is sponsored Quince . Go to www. Quince.com/mental for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. This episode is sponsored by NOCD .  If you're struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15 minute call to g...

Rick Cleveland is a playwright and television writer (The West Wing, Six Feet Under) who shares the difficulties--and the gifts--of living with Bipolar disorder. This episode is sponsored Quince . Go to www. Quince.com/mental for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. This episode is sponsored by NOCD .  If you're struggling with OCD or unrele...

Matthew Broussard is a comedian ( Hyperbolic ) who shares his struggles with mental health and opens up, for the first time, about his experience with self-harm. For more about Matthew, including his most recent standup special.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UECGG-CD88 The New York Times called it a "pleasingly punchy debut hour" and said "His precisely timed and rarefied jokes are polish...

Katie Simon is a journalist and sexual assault survivor. They talk about the impact that sexual assault can have on your sex life and share resources for how to manage and discuss this complex situation. For more info, look for their new book, Tell Me What You Like: An Honest Discussion of Sex and Intimacy After Sexual Assault. This episode is sponsored by NOCD.  If you're struggling wit...

Ali Siddiq is a comedian and writer who shares his stories of abuse, incarceration, grief, and the importance of friendship. Find all of his powerful stand-up specials, including the newly released standup special Rugged (on YouTube). This episode is sponsored by NOCD.  If you're struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15 minute call to get start...

Dr. Ellen Hendriksen is a clinical psychologist at Boston University who specializes in perfectionism and anxiety, with a particular focus on social anxiety. She returns to the podcast to talk about her research and share tools for managing these issues. Watch for her new book, How to Be Enough. More about Dr. Ellen Hendriksen: Her website (with links to buy her books)  https://www.ellenhendr...

Fellow survivor, recovering addict and therapist Jen Westcott joins Paul again to read some Shame And Secrets Surveys filled out anonymously by listeners.   For More About Jen: Therapist Sanctuary Clinical Supervision Community https://youtube.com/@therapistsanctuary?si=LXxyNlcClD00m-Qz https://www.holistichealingcounselling.com/therapist-sanctuary https://insta.openinapp.co/7s936 BIG FAVOR A...

Tina Kaye, a friend from Paul’s support group, shares her story of growing up with an unstable mother, being raised Mormon, and all of the rage and resentment that she’s had to work through. BIG FAVOR ASK FROM PAUL: It would help the show if you took a really quick (2 min) survey for potential advertisers. We did one in the past but they need a new one. You can take it at Gum. FM/Mental....

Dr. Caroline Fleck is a cognitive behavioral psychologist, an author, and an Adjunct Clinical Instructor at Stanford. She joins Paul to discuss validation and the importance of belonging. She also provides useful tips on how to support yourself and others with acceptance. Look for her new book, Validation: How the Skill Set That Revolutionized Psychology Will Transform Your Relationships, Inc...

Sabrina Capper grew up in the Mormon Church. She shares her story of manipulation, generational abuse, and how she finally escaped. Look for her new book, Licking the Knife, to learn more about her story. More about Sabrina: Licking the Knife: A memoir, available at B&N and Amazon BEASTS: A story of a girl in a beastly world (illustrated children's book), available at B&N and Amazon w...

I'll tell you why. Oh, and would love it if you would take an anonymous audience survey for potential advertisers. We did some a while back but they need a new one. You can take it at Gum. Fm/mental. It would really help! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .