The Upside of Bipolar: Conversations on the Road to Wellness

Send us a message! Dr. Sheri Johnson shares groundbreaking research on how circadian rhythms and reward sensitivity affect bipolar symptoms, offering practical approaches to wellness through lifestyle interventions. Her work at UC Berkeley's CALM program explores how time-restricted eating and Mediterranean diet patterns can strengthen body rhythms and improve mood stability. • Bipolar sympto...

Send us a message! Episode Highlight: After years of navigating the complex intersection of marriage and mental health, Sue Best shares her deeply personal journey of supporting her husband, Travis, through his bipolar disorder recovery. In this heartfelt conversation, Sue opens up about the emotional challenges, pivotal moments of growth, and the resilience required to maintain stability in the f...

Send us a message! Don't miss this episode!  Travis Best, a member of the Upsiders' Tribe recovery program, and his wife Sue share their journey navigating the challenges of bipolar disorder within their marriage. They highlight the profound impact of community, communication, and therapeutic resources. With candid reflections on symptoms, medication struggles, and the importance of mutu...

Send us a message! This episode explores the concept of core wounds—deeply embedded beliefs formed during childhood that shape our emotional lives. Through practical tools and rich discussions, we guide listeners in identifying their core wounds, understanding their impact, and taking actionable steps toward healing. • Introduction to core wounds and their significance • Understanding the formativ...

Send us a message! This episode dives deep into the transformative power of running as a means to improve mental health and overall well-being. Victor Vizcaíno shares his journey from disliking running to using it as a therapeutic tool, revealing how mindfulness and gratitude can create lasting change. • Transforming personal struggles into opportunities for growth • Understanding the connection b...

Send us a message! This episode explores the interconnectedness of holistic health and bipolar disorder, emphasizing the importance of understanding underlying factors over simply alleviating symptoms. Reed Davis discusses his journey and methodologies that highlight the relationship between stress, diet, and gut health, advocating for a comprehensive approach to wellness that empowers individuals...

Send us a message! Episode Shownotes: In this transformative episode, we sit down with Austin Davis, Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and founder/CEO of Clearfork Academy, to explore how core values can empower teens to overcome mental health challenges and find lasting healing. Austin shares his journey, the mission of Clearfork Academy, and the strategies they use to help teens create...

Send us a message! Episode Highlights: In this powerful and enlightening conversation, Dr. Tonya Cunningham shares her personal and professional insights into navigating and processing grief. Her candid storytelling and expert advice provide a roadmap for understanding grief’s impact and embracing healing. What to expect in this episode: Dr. Cunningham’s personal story and transformative realizati...

Send us a message! Episode Highlights: In this insightful episode, boundaries coach and recovery advocate Barb Nangle shares her expertise and personal experiences with 12-step programs, offering valuable guidance for anyone on a healing journey. What you’ll discover: Barb’s powerful story of transformation through 12-step programs A clear explanation of ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics) and CoDA...

Send us a message! In this eye-opening episode, Claudie Gordon-Pomares, M.S.Ed, and Kim Pomares share groundbreaking insights on: The inspiration behind Claudie’s development of Sensory Enrichment Therapy How Sensory Enrichment Therapy activates the brain’s natural self-healing abilities The remarkable impact of simple Sensory Enrichment Therapy exercises The process behind creating the Sensory En...

Send us a message! In this thought-provoking episode, DNMS specialist Karen Gardner, LCSW, unveils: How she became a Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy (DNMS) practitioner, Why DNMS is such an effective treatment modality for childhood neglect and trauma, What attachment wounds are and how they are addressed through DNMS, How many diagnosed with bipolar and schizophrenia are actually suffering f...

Send us a message! In this engaging conversation boundaries coach Barb Nangle reveals: Her journey through recovery, What led her to become a boundaries coach, Why boundaries are so difficult for trauma survivors, Why codependency frequently develops out of trauma, Understanding the concept of 'info not ammo' and its significance in the recovery process,  The concept of “reparenting”—wha...

Send us a message! In this engaging episode author and comic Dave Mowry shares: His story of beginning to use humor to help him deal with his trauma and bipolar symptoms, How he began writing for bphope.com which led to his first book OMG That’s Me! , What helped him grieve his “lost fourteen years”, The daily activities that have helped him to “get out of his head”, Why humor is so powerful in he...

Send us a message! I’m so excited to share that I conquered my final trigger for mood swings: moving! In this reflective episode I share: My previous experiences with moves triggering mood swings, How my Mood Cycle Survival Guide enabled me to anticipate and proactively manage mood swings caused by moving, A breakdown of how applying my Mood Cycle Survival Guide in my most recent move helped me av...

Send us a message! In this captivating episode NYT Bestselling Author Bridget Cook-Burch and International Bestselling Author Hannah Lyons share: Their stories that led them to becoming authors, storytellers and mentors, What led Bridget to become a “book whisperer”, How Hannah evolved into an exceptional copy editor, How Bridget helps people uncover their “ikigai” and “elixir of life”, Hannah’s r...

Send us a message! In this extraordinary episode author, speaker and combat-wounded veteran Brian Fleming shares: His extraordinary story of being wounded by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan, Why it’s so important to not allow the diagnosis to define you, How he discovered the power of sharing his story with others, Why discovering meaning in your suffering is critical to your healing journey, His...

Send us a message! In this empowering episode therapist and author Marcia Williams shares: Her story of how she ended up married to a narcissist, The definition of narcissistic personality disorder and two of the most common types of narcissists, How narcissists often target vulnerable people, Why it is so challenging to recognize you are in a narcissistic, abusive relationship, Her therapeutic jo...

Send us a message! In this insightful episode relationship mentor Emma DeSouza shares: Her early diagnosis with depression in high school that led to her bipolar diagnosis, Her experience with IVF and bipolar, The power in acknowledging challenges and having healthy, open communication with your partner, How proactive therapy has helped her accept responsibility for herself and improved her relati...

Send us a message! In this empowering episode Emotional Freedom Technique practitioner Dawn Norton shares: Her incredible story of trauma in childhood which motivated her to seek healing as an adult, What Emotional Freedom Technique is and how it works and impacts your mind and body, The impact of stress on our bodies and how EFT can help, How “stuck” emotions and trauma can cause physical pain an...

Send us a message! In this illuminating episode Professor Joanna Moncrieff shares: What led her to question and begin researching how psychotropic drugs actually work, The difference between the disease-centered model versus the drug-centered model of treatment and why this distinction matters, How the disease-centered model is preventing curiosity about what is actually causing the symptoms of me...

Send us a message! In this empowering episode author Anastasis Tzanis shares: His incredible story that led him to healing through breathwork, How breath practice can help you heal and improve your mental, emotional, and physical health, What a healthy breath pattern and CO2 levels are, What “box breathing” is and how to practice it, How you can learn how to use breath to calm down (be a better sw...

Send us a message! In this insightful episode Jeanette Yate “The Self-Caregiver” shares: Her powerful personal story as a life-long caregiver (beginning at age 8) who was suffering because she didn’t know how to care for herself, to empowered self-caregiver and coach, The therapy modalities that helped her to identify, understand and heal her trauma, How learning how to listen to the signals your...

Send us a message! TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discussed trauma and addiction. In this extraordinary episode holistic addiction recovery expert John Giordano shares: His extraordinary story of trauma and addiction that finally led to his work in addiction recovery, How he discovered and developed holistic treatment options for addiction recovery, What motivated him to do the work to recover from...

Send us a message! In this compelling episode Urban Farm founder Greg Peterson shares: His story of how he developed a passion for “urban farming” and why he feels compelled to share his knowledge, Why our current food supply system is so lacking in nutrition, How to simplify your approach to begin gardening so you can have success quickly, How he gradually transitioned his small yard in Phoenix,...

Send us a message! In this meaningful episode Certified IFS Therapist Justin Martin shares: His story that led him to become an Internal Family Systems (IFS therapist), What IFS therapy is, How identifying your “parts” helps you understand your mind and find healing, Why you may fear of having compassion for your different parts and why compassion is important to the healing journey, How the movie...