Al has always been a comedian’s comedian, but mainstream success has always eluded him. Raised by a smothering anxious mother, fear and lack of independence have stunted his emotional growth. He talks about the fear of independence, sense of entitlement and narcissism that hinder his growth.
Despite her traumatic upbringing and becoming the woman (her mom) she swore she’d never be, Wendy went from an alcoholic PTA mother shooting at her husbands mistress to jail to getting sober and finding her life’s purpose helping others and halting the cycle of intergenerational abuse. She is an author and certified drug and alcohol counselor.
Karolyn suffers from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disease that affects her joints and internal organs as well as being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. She rarely goes more than two weeks without a visit to the hospital. She’s the creator of #HospitalGlam, a movement that utilizes photography and fashion to create awareness of invisible injuries and help empower patients. Topics discussed are PTSD, sexism, the difficulties of dealing with chronic pain and unresponsive doctors, finding a community online of “engaged patients” with the same diagnosis, and self-care.
Ellen (a pseudonym) shares about shares about discrimination, growing up poor, living on a reservation, riding the line between native culture and “white people things” and tells her story of grooming and sexual abuse from her father, being “trapped” in her own bedroom for years to avoid him, and how getting sober herself was the catalyst for healing and forgiveness.
She speaks about the open wounds that remain from generations of government mistreatment towards Native Americans and the stories of abuse, addiction, and violence that exist on native reservations today; and the need for healing and reconciliation for the trauma of the past.
Prostitution, alcoholism, fetishes, swinging, abandonment and being stabbed by a bayonet. Handyman Hank Adams has experienced them all. Paul’s friend has to literally pause to count how many stepdads he has had. This episode originally aired in 2011.
The standup comic (Lights Out) (aka @BSComedian) and Iraq War vet opens up about his unstable childhood – being lied to and moved from foster home to foster home – and how it has affected him, what he learned about white people while serving in the Marines, battling Major Depressive Disorder and his thoughts on cultural appropriation.
The 29 year-old Second City writer/performer @GobbieDixon shares about being gender-fluid, growing up believing there was nobody else going thru the feeling of not being in the right body, and their suicide attempt at 13. They share about their anxiety using public restrooms, dysphoria during sex and what their younger self could have benefitted from hearing.
The 2-time Olympic gold medalist and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee aka @MightyRuthie shares about surviving domestic abuse and becoming an advocate for other survivors. She also shares about being one of 20 children, being a preacher’s kid and learning how to stop trying to “rescue” broken partners and take care of herself.
The talented stand-up comedian, podcaster (The Neighborhood Listen) and writer/actor (HBO’s Mr. Show, Bojack Horseman, Room 104, Comedy Bang Bang) aka @PaulFTompkins talks about the role therapy played in helping him turn his pain and rejection into being a happier person and a better artist. He opens up about the shame of having parents who didn’t find him funny or necessarily interesting, and the beauty of being given a second chance by a peer who was ready to write him off for his past bitterness. A bitterness fueled by unrequited, irrational love. Holy shit, this sounds Shakespearean! Originally aired in 2011.