Podcast Episodes

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

Kelly’s Shame and Secrets

Growing up Kelly McCarron’s home life wasn’t chaotic or abusive but she still struggles mentally and emotionally. After filling out the show’s Shame and Secrets survey she reads it aloud, touching on the issues of self-esteem, the aftermath of being sexually assaulted by a co-worker at 18, binge eating, social anxiety, BiPolar, loneliness, being bullied in middle school and giving up on a painful relationship with a sibling.

Follow Kelly on YouTube

Check out her standup on Open Comedy

Follow her on Twitter @KellyBMcCarron and on her Facebook Page

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 the Family Ghosts podcast as well as The Hilarious World of Depression.

This ep is sponsored by Quip electric toothbrushes. To get your first brush refill pack free at www.GetQuip.com/mental

This ep is sponsored by the book Memory Rescue. Purchase it at 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

Needing Abusive Parents’ Money, The Scapegoat Child & The Politics of Skin Color

The 30 year-old left America for Europe to escape not only an American culture that was wearing on her but a family where she was tired of being the scapegoat to her golden-child brother. An all-too-common scenario where her parents can only seem to support her financially but not emotionally. She discusses the prejudice she experiences as a queer woman of color, what she has learned by having a fiancee who is a trans man and the subtle politics of skin color within the black community. Other topics: when well meaning but narcissistic parents focus too much on molding their child out of fear rather than listening to what their child wants and the excessive political correctness that she believes is making true communication more difficult between people who need to hear each other, NVLD and OCD.

This ep is sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling. To experience a free week go to

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

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

Help the podcast by shopping 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

Afraid To Leave The House – Sam Harriman

Panic attacks, agoraphobia, anxiety and depression had brought Sam to a very dark place a few years ago and he decided he needed help. Bit by bit he began to see how his childhood and negative self-beliefs had to be re-examined. A new clarity on the dysfunction in his family (a disinterested workaholic dad and a controlling, angry mother) gave him the hope to began protecting himself from the pain of having them in his life. A great episode on self-care, cutting contact with parents, re-parenting ourselves and the importance of humor and pursuing our dreams and being our authentic selves even if it means disappointing others.

Let’s Talk About Suicide Honestly – Kelechi Ubozoh

The 32 year-old poet, mental health advocate and daughter of a Nigerian immigrant father and Brooklyn mother opens up to Paul about her emotional and mental turnaround after years of feeling suicidal and several times attempting it. She details the ways her depression, disconnection and fear of taking off her “mask” as the perfect, popular girl played in leading her to believe it was a good idea. She and Paul discuss possible ways loved ones can reach out to someone who is talking about suicide as well as how the person who is in pain can find help and potentially hope. Her relationship with her mother, who is a doctor, is a great example of how someone in the helping profession can still learn ways to communicate with and love someone who is hurting.

Follow Kelechi at

Check out the documentary she appears in called The S Word

The book about covert incest that Paul mentioned is called Silently Seduced.

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 of meals go to www.HelloFresh and use promo code MENTAL 30

This ep is sponsored by Quip Electric Toothbrush. To get your first refill pack free with the purchase of a toothbrush go to www.GetQuip.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

Help the podcast by shopping 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

Andy Kindler – OCD, ADD & Twitter Fights

Paul’s longtime friend, standup (Letterman) and actor (Everybody Loves Raymond) shares about his struggles with OCD, ADD and feeling the need to control people’s opinions about his behavior even after lashing out at someone. He talks about his childhood and the negative self-beliefs and self-hatred that he’s now understanding have been driving his behaviors and fears.

For more on Andy go to www.AndyKindler.com www.Facebook.com/AndyKindler or www.Twitter.com/AndyKindler

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 RXBar protein bars. For 25% off your first purchase go to www.RXBar.com/mental and use offer code MENTAL

This ep is sponsored by Glynn Washington’s new podcast about cults entitled Heaven’s Gate. It can be found in Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.

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 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