After hearing mens’ stories about experiencing incest (overtly or covertly) by their mothers, Daniel reached out to Paul with his story and has come to share it (with his girlfriend for support as well.)
The writer/performer opens up about her anxiety, panic attacks, OCD, shame and body issues. She also reads excerpts from Okay Fine Whatever: The Year I Went From Being Afraid Of Everything to Being Afraid Of Most Things, her hilarious new book about taking risks and challenging her fears, especially social phobias.
No guests, just some of Paul’s thoughts on traditions and holidays; how we hide our feelings and some great, very honest (and one very dark) listener surveys including the best holiday Awfulsome moment yet.
Born in India, raised in Texas, 33 year-old Iraq War veteran, ultra-runner and global philanthropist talks about his lifelong struggles with moderation, getting his identify from his accomplishments or dangerous/crazy/extreme behavior, feeling unworthy and battling survivors guilt after losing a fellow soldier. He also talks about spirituality especially finding purpose through sacrifice and service. Akshay is the author of the book Fearvana (with a forward by the Dalai Fucking Lama!)
Coming from an anxious family, coupled with not fitting in, being bullied by her ballet teacher (and having red hair), then as a young teen, developing vaginismus, Becky spent her 20s resigned to never dating or having a partner. Surgery, talk therapy, physical therapy and giving dating another try has proved to be more helpful than she expected. Becky is a writer/improviser/actor/podcaster (Too Stupid Too Live podcast)
Recorded live in Minneapolis at Sisyphus Brewing, Paul and Kjell reunite and share stories of bombing onstage, panic attacks, depression, meds, feeling lazy, future tripping, anger at partners, living in parents’ basements, self-doubt, dead-end jobs and self-sabotage.
Older episodes can be found ad-free exclusively at Stitcher Premium for $4.99/month. Get one month free with offer code MENTAL at signup at www.StitcherPremium.com/mentalpod
past guests include people like people like Tiffany Haddish, Maria Bamford, Paul F. Tompkins, Jen Kirkman, NHL Legend Theo Fleury, Dr. Elyn Saks, Neal Brennan, Janet Varney, Marc Maron, Ashly Burch, Chris Gethard, Christina Pazsitzky, Aparna Nancherla, Eddie Pepitone, Shane Mauss, Karen Kilgariff, Clint Malarchuk, Caitlin Doughty, Dave Anthony, Andy Kindler, Aisha Tyler, TEDTalker Susan David, Anchorman Dan Harris, Jimmy Dore, Anna Akana, Dr. Guy Winch, Andy Richter, Jesse Thorne, Michaela Watkins, Adam Carolla, Dr. Jonice Webb, Paul Rust, Doug Benson, Melissa Broder (@SoSadToday), Rob Delaney, Pro Basketball player Royce White, Jimmy Pardo, Todd Glass, Nikki Glaser, Emily Gordon, Kathryn Hahn, Cameron Esposito and many others.
One of her first memories is seeing her mother’s boyfriend shot dead in front of her at four years-old. The mother she adored was fiercely protective of her except when it interfered with her dangerous lifestyle. A great chat about mental health – especially among POC -, complicated relationships with mothers, the cycles of generational dysfunction and trauma in the black community and the challenges raising her teenage son in a mostly white community.
The former screenwriter, mother and podcaster shares about her relationship with her “party-animal” husband Bert Kreischer and her tumultuous childhood split between a mentally-ill narcissistic mother, a lovesick broken father, and a grandfather with severe combat PTSD from being the one of the first soldiers to enter Nagasaki after the atomic bomb detonated. She describes how she faced her pain, changed her life and is trying to grow into the person and mother she never had.