Mental Illness Happy Hour

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...

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 difficult decisions he made to change his life for the better, especially in regard to being...

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...

Chris Gethard (aka @ChrisGeth and @ChrisGethard) is a comedian, writer, and podcast host (Beautiful Anonymous) who talks openly about managing his life with depression. He shares how fatherhood changed him and how he’s been able to open up to family and rely on those who love him for help when he’s in a bad spot. He also talks about the struggles of being a working artist and shares his new plans...

Rebecca D returns to the podcast to talk about going no-contact with her mom and reflects on moments in her childhood that she didn’t realize were strange until she was an adult. She also talks about what it was like growing up surrounded by religious orthodoxy.  WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST Subscribe via iTunes and leave a review. It costs nothing.  https://itunes.apple.com/us/pod...

Steph Jagger joins Paul to discuss the grief of loving someone with dementia. She also shares the small moments of beauty that can sometimes come out of this disease. Be sure to check out her book, Everything Left to Remember , where she beautifully documents the camping road trip she took with her mother while in the midst of her disease.  More About Steph www.stephjagger.com www.instagram.c...

Miller is one one of Paul’s support group friends. He joins Paul to talk about being on the other side of a chaotic life of crime. After having spent most of his life in a gang and going in and out of prison, he's turned a corner. He talks about his addiction, his childhood as a gang member, and what it was like, as a prisoner, to fight the California wildfires.  Support Our Sponsors!  W...

Bethanne Patrick is a writer, literary critic, and podcast host (Missing Pages). She talks about her struggles with double depression, her experiences with being a supportive caretaker, and her life as a voracious reader. Besure to check out her new book, Life B: Overcoming Double Depression. More about Bethanne Personal website:  https://www.bethannepatrick.com/ Life B 's page on the Counter...

Jenny Zigrino (@JennyZigrino) is a standup comedian from Minnesota who was put on a diet at the age of 5. She talks about how her parents’ reaction to her weight shaped her self-image, how she overcame her eating disorder, and how her body acceptance is continually evolving. Check out her brand new comedy hour, Jen-Z, on Youtube.  More about Jenny Www.jennyzigrino.com Instagram and YouTube @j...

Emi Nietfeld (@EmiNietfeld) is a writer and the author of the book Acceptance, a memoir of her journey through foster care, homelessness, and, eventually, to Harvard. She opens up about a childhood where she was often neglected and heavily medicated. She talks about her several stays in psychiatric wards and how she’s continuing to process her troubled childhood. More about Emi Twitter : @emi...

Kristine Kimmel is a writer and a host of the How To Survive podcast (@PodHowToSurvive). She opens up about how therapy saved her marriage and what it’s like parenting teenage twins. She also shares some unbelievable moments from her violent and unpredictable childhood and talks about how she’s working to manage her own rage. Social Media links for Kristine https://www.instagram.com/podhowtosurviv...

A tribute/re-airing for Paul’s friend Charlie who passed away last week after years of battling his demons. Charlie led an astoundingly painful life especially in regard to his mother (schizophrenia, depression), father (workaholic, hoarder), and sister (drug addict). He describes his descent into drugs (crack), emotionally damaged women and violence before finding the key to understanding his beh...

Michelle E. is the daughter of Paul’s best childhood friend. Michelle opens up about her struggles with self-worth, her desire to feel seen and appreciated, her time working as an escort, and how she’s dealt with the fact that, as a child, she didn’t have contact with her father and was raised by a single mom with deep trust issues and possibly BPD. Support Our Sponsors!  WAYS TO HELP THE POD...

Dr. Scott Lyons (@DrScottLyons) is a holistic psychologist, educator, author, and a renowned body-based trauma expert. Scott is the creator of The Embody Lab—the largest online learning platform for body-based trauma therapies—and developer of Somatic Stress Release, a holistic process of restoring biological resilience. He sits down with Paul to discuss the topic of his newest book, Addicted to D...

Ashley Stahl (@AshleyStahl) is a counterterrorism professional turned career coach, the author of the bestselling book, You Turn: Get Unstuck, Discover Your Direction, Design Your Dream Career , and the host of the You Turn Podcast. Her work has a great deal of overlap with mental health because it’s all about self-reflection and discovering who you are. We spend much of our lives working and Ashl...

Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross join Paul to discuss their new book Your Brain on Art. They share the science behind how our brains and bodies transform when we participate in the arts. This episode will remind you why creativity should be a priority in your life, even if (maybe especially if) you don’t think of yourself as a creative person.  More About Susan and Ivy: Website :  https:...

Dr. Will Cole (@DrWillCole) joins Paul to discuss the gut-brain connection and the impact that inflammation can have on all areas of our health. Dr. Cole specializes in clinically investigating underlying factors of chronic disease and customizing a functional medicine approach for thyroid issues, autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, and brain problems. Be sure to check...

Dr. Carolyn Kurle is a Biology Professor at UC San Diego. When she noticed that her students were coming to her for guidance about their mental and emotional struggles, she decided to write a book with her advice–which offers thoughts on finding your authenticity and connecting to your spark. Be sure to check out her book, The Guidance Groove.  Find out more about Dr Kurle at www. GuidanceGro...