Podcast Episodes

Couples Troubles – Jen Elmquist LMFT

Couple’s therapist Jen Elmquist sits down with Paul and answers questions about the most common mistakes and hurdles couples face and offers advice on how to value your partner and relationship without devaluing yourself. There are no surveys in this episode as Paul will explain in the opening 20 minutes. Moments before he sat to record he was at his usual Thursday night support group meeting when it was interrupted by a shooting outside their building and the bleeding victim taking refuge in his meeting.

Network Anchor Panic Attack & Help Thru Meditating – Dan Harris

Imagine having a panic attack live on-air while anchoring ABC news. That happened to Dan Harris in 2004. The Nightline anchor, Good Morning America Weekend Co-anchor, war correspondent and author (10% Happier) opens up about his history of anxiety, depression, drug abuse (he’s now sober) and witnessing horrific scenes while reporting in conflict zones. He talks about being skeptical at first about meditating but after researching it like a reporter, interviewing scientists and trying it himself he discovered it actually helps his anxiety. Dan is also the host of the 10% Happier podcast.

My Fair Junkie – Amy Dresner

The author (My Fair Junkie) details her jaw-dropping and often hilarious descent from a nice (but spoiled) Jewish girl from Beverly Hills to shooting coke into her neck, bottoming out on meth and sex and being assigned to a chain gang after threatening her ex-husband with a knife and ultimately having to rebuild her life. She shares on her struggled with self-harm, BDD, depression, anxiety, sex addiction, suicide attempts, psych ward stays, fear of growing up, the danger of relying on her father’s money, their complicated relationship and the abandonment by her mother.

Asperger’s, Nerd Culture & Anime – Luke Palmer

The young writer/director (2 Kawaii 4 Comfort) shares about the intersection of people on the autism spectrum (especially Asperger’s) and nerd culture especially anime. He opens up about his diagnosis as a child, different therapies his parents tried and what it feels like to be on the spectrum. He talks about a lot of the myths and stereotypes of people on the spectrum and how he has changed from an angry, withdrawn non-verbal child to an adult who is able to function easily in mainstream society (aka neurotypical people).

Born Into A Notorious Criminal Family – Nicole Y aka Blu Nyle

Born mixed-race to a white, prostitute mother and a black, pimp father, Nicole grew up belonging to one of the most notorious families in the Boston underworld. Having seen and experienced unimaginable things, she found an outlet in music and finally gained a sense of self until drugs and alcohol stepped in. She shares about her new path in healing the PTSD, staying sober and trying to realize her artistic dreams. She also touches on being a lesbian, having a nervous breakdown and a dogged belief in science which cracked open the door for her to reimagine a universe that might hold the love and positivity she has found essential to staying sane. Nicole performs under the name Blu Nyle.

Military PTSD & Sexism – Marc & Sonja Raciti

Marc and Sonja Raciti both served in the military; he as a medic, she as a psychologist. They talk about PTSD myths and the PTSD he struggles with from fearing for his life to seeing unspeakable carnage to having survivor’s guilt. She weighs in as his supportive partner, a therapist, and an ex-officer who witnessed and experienced both overt and subtle sexism while she served. They also address how Marc has been able to heal thru exposure therapy and EMDR.

Buy Marc and Sonja’s book about his battles with PTSD, I Just Want To See Trees:A Journey Thru PTSD

This podcast no longer recommends BetterHelp because of their unethical business practices as detailed in the suit brought against them in 2023 by the Federal Trade Commission for sharing private customer information with 3rd parties.

This ep is sponsored by HelloFresh meal kit delivery service. For $30 off your first week go to www.HelloFresh.com and use offer code MENTAL30

This ep is sponsored by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. To learn more go to www.JHSPH.edu/FeelGood

This ep is sponsored by ZipRecruiter. To post jobs for FREE go to www.Ziprecruiter.com/mental

To become a monthly donor (and qualify for bonus content and goodies from Paul go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod

To make a one-time donations via Paypal go to www.mentalpod.com/donate

To help fund Paul’s next trip to record international guests, especially in Ireland, go to https://www.gofundme.com/pauls-trip-to-ireland

Follow Paul on Twitter and Instagram @mentalpod

High School Tornado/Author Seamus Kirst (recorded live in Oakland)

In a live show recorded in Oakland, the 26 year-old writer (Shitfaced) discusses the loving but strained atmosphere growing up and his teenage years attempting suicide, drinking his way to rehabs and an eating disorder. He shares about making peace with being gay, therapy and the importance of writing and using other emotional tools today to keep him sane.

The Absent Father Wound – Daria Polatin

The award-winning playwright, t.v. writer (Jack Ryan)and author (Devil in Ohio) opens up about feeling abandoned by her father and the effect it has had on how she views herself, her place in it and the conscious decision she has made to become the hero of her own story by dealing with her fears of not being enough or taking chances. She shares about the catharsis of putting dark parts of herself in some of her characters and she and Paul talk about the awful feelings of jealousy or envy towards peers. Photo by Elisabeth Caren.

Devil in Ohio available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Daria-Polatin/e/B0762C6B61/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Twitter: @DariaPolatin // https://twitter.com/DariaPolatin?lang=en

Instagram: @DariaPolatin // https://www.instagram.com/dariapolatin/

Facebook: @dariapolatinauthor // https://www.facebook.com/dariapolatinauthor/

This podcast no longer recommends BetterHelp because of their unethical business practices as detailed in the suit brought against them in 2023 by the Federal Trade Commission for sharing private customer information with 3rd parties.

This ep is sponsored by ZipRecruiter. To post jobs for free go to www.ZipRecruiter.com/mental

This ep is sponsored by Omaha Steaks. Buy the Family Gift Pack for just $49.99 (that’s 75% off) go to www.OmahaSteaks.com and use offer code MENTAL

This episode is sponsored by the book Memory Rescue. For more info go to www.MemoryRescueBook.com

To become a monthly donor (and qualify for bonus content and goodies from Paul go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod

To make a one-time donations via Paypal go to www.mentalpod.com/donate

Help the podcast by shopping (U.S. Canada and U.K.) with our podcast’s Amazon link (it doesn’t make your product any more expensive – even bookmark it!)

To help fund Paul’s next trip to record international guests, especially in Ireland, go to https://www.gofundme.com/pauls-trip-to-ireland

Follow Paul on Twitter and Instagram @mentalpod

Alt Depression Treatments – Shane Mauss

The standup/podcaster (Here We Are podcast) shares about taking unconventional approaches to his battles with depression and hopelessness. He opens up about his kind but very religious and uncommunicative parents and the hometown where things weren’t questioned and getting help was considered weak or weird.

For more about Shane and his A Good Trip tour go to www.ShaneMauss.com

Follow Shane on Twitter at @ShaneComedy

Listen to his podcast at www.HereWeArepodcast.com or on Apple Podcasts here

This podcast no longer recommends BetterHelp because of their unethical business practices as detailed in the suit brought against them in 2023 by the Federal Trade Commission for sharing private customer information with 3rd parties.

This ep is sponsored by ZipRecruiter. To post job ads for free go to www.ZipRecruiter.com/mental

This ep is sponsored by the book Memory Rescue. For info go to www.MemoryRescueBook.com

To become a monthly donor (and qualify for bonus content and goodies from Paul go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod

To make a one-time donations via Paypal go to www.mentalpod.com/donate

Help the podcast by shopping (U.S. Canada and U.K.) with our podcast’s Amazon link (it doesn’t make your product any more expensive – even bookmark it!)

To help fund Paul’s next trip to record international guests, especially in Ireland, go to https://www.gofundme.com/pauls-trip-to-ireland

Follow Paul on Twitter and Instagram @mentalpod