Podcast Episodes

Surviving Her Harry Potter Nightmare Headmaster – Louise M

British Therapist Louise (a pseudonym) shares about the moment in her otherwise mostly happy childhood that things changed. She shares about the abuse at a posh Harry-Potteresque school when she was six by a headmaster who walked the dark halls with a torch; her mom’s drinking, letting go of childhood shame, fear of conflict, how parents can support an abused child, when kids sexually abuse other kids, inner child work, Britain’s NHS, and trying to cope with past trauma thru drugs and sex.

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 episode is sponsored by Casper Mattresses. To learn more go to www.Casper.com/mental Listeners can use offer code MENTAL

To become a monthly donor (and qualify for bonus content and goodies from Paul like the upcoming raffle for a free hotel, lunch with Paul, weekend passes for two and front row seats for the MIHH taping at LAPodfest Oct 6-8) go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod

Monthly donors pick a number between 1 and 1000. The closest guess wins the hotel and weekend passes (does not include airfare). Contest ends Aug 16th. Monthly donors get 1 guess for each $5 amount they donate per month. So a 15/month donor would get 3 guesses etc. Patreon subscribers submit your guesses through the Patreon site, PayPal subscribers email Paul thru the mentalpod.com website.

To learn more about LAPodfest go to www.LAPodfest.com

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

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!)

When Your Trauma Informs Your Turn Ons

Why do some people enjoy physical pain or become aroused by it? For Kal, the discovery came with a lot of complications; he was a young boy and it was at the hands of a powerful and sadistic pedophile Rabbi (Heshy Brier) who is now a fugitive living in Israel. Kal shares about his years of self-destruction and bottoming out before eventually getting sober and starting the process of healing and advocating for other survivors.

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 episode is sponsored by BlueApron. To get your first 3 meals free with FREE delivery, go to www.BlueApron.com/mental

To become a monthly donor (and qualify for bonus content and goodies from Paul like the upcoming raffle for a free hotel at LAPodfest Oct 6-8) go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod

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

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!)

80’s Childhood Shitshow! – Dana Eagle

Imagine getting gay hate mail from your own family. Or finding a letter where your parents talk about you in a way that confirms your worst fears. How does Bipolar 2 compare to having something like cancer? Comedian and author (How To Be Depressed: A Guide) Dana Eagle opens up about being a lonely kid in the 80s whose parents couldn’t relate to her perhaps b/c her dad was alcoholic or her mom was thriving in her corporate job. Or is it genetic? Paul and Dana talk about art, comedy, shame, money, puberty, homophobia, abandonment, being bullied, moving and apes!

Buy Dana’s book How To Be Depressed: A Guide

Visit her websites www.DanaEagle.com http://howtobedepressed.com

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 episode is sponsored by Bombas socks. For 20% off your first purchase go to www.Bombas.com/mental

The podcast is doing live recordings Aug 2 & 3 in Oakland. For details and tickets go to www.eastbayexpress.com/mental

To become a monthly donor (and qualify for bonus content and goodies from Paul like the upcoming raffle for a free hotel at LAPodfest Oct 6-8) go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod

To learn more about LAPodfest go to www.LAPodfest.com

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

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!)

Anxiety & Panic Attacks – Seth Swirsky

He’s authored Grammy-nominated hits for the biggest artists, put out his own albums, written best-selling books on baseball, and directed a documentary on the Beatles. And for as long as he can remember he has struggled with anxiety, panic attacks and feeling disconnected. What happens when you’re achieving your dreams but you haven’t dealt with the feelings underneath the drive to be recognized? Seth got his masters in clinical psychology. He opens up about his life and his approach to dealing with mental illness -especially depression and anxiety-, making art, raising kids and finding peace through a life lived with authenticity and meaning.

Dear Food: I Want To See Other People – Chelsea Frank

Fat-shamed as a child by her mother and classmates, writer-performer Chelsea Frank, now 24, opens up about the complex role food plays in her life. She talks about her struggles with weight, self-hatred, bingeing and restricting, going to “fat camps”, life inside an eating disorder rehab and cutting contact with her abusive mother.

Follow Chelsea on Twitter @ChelseaSFrank and on Instagram @ChelseaFrank

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 episode is sponsored by BoredWalk. an artist-owned and operated graphic apparel company. To get 10% off your first purchase go to www.IloveBoredWalk.com and use offer code MENTAL

The podcast is recording some live shows in Oakland Aug 2 & 3. For tix or info go to www.eastbayexpress.com/mental

To become a monthly donor and qualify for bonus content and goodies from Paul (including the upcoming raffle for a free hotel at LAPodfest Oct 6-8) go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod

To learn more about LAPodfest go to www.LAPodfest.com

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

For more ways to support the podcast go to www.mentalpod.com

Raised in Repression & BPD – Anne from Berlin

Creative and sensitive, born and raised in 1980’s communist East Germany by a dysfunctional family, Anne’s abuse was not dramatic, more like death by 1000 cuts. Bearing the brunt of being a first child and resented for her intelligence, she developed BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) but has always turned the anger inwards, rarely if ever lashing out. She talks about the benefits of learning DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) as well as her struggles with anorexia, bingeing, cutting and being passive aggressive as well as the greater context of her personal battles taking place alongside her country’s people fighting for freedom and independence from a regime that shot its own citizens for trying to leave the country.

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 episode is sponsored by BlueApron. To get your first 3 meals free with free shipping go to www.BlueApron.com/mental

This episode is sponsored by Bombas socks. To get 20% off go to www.Bombas.com/mental

To help finance Paul’s next trip to record international guests consider contributing to its GoFundMe page.

Consider becoming a monthly donor to the podcast (and get occasional bonus content from Paul) www.Patreon.com/mentalpod

To make a one-time PayPal donation go to www.mentalpod.com/donate

Jealousy & Online Affairs – Mila

What goes on in someone when they’re jealous, possessive, obsessive or need to create drama? Mila was born into a family where her parents “couldn’t live with/couldn’t live without each other” and she found herself as an adult becoming like them, She also began snooping on her partners and engaging in online and in-person affairs despite knowing better and wanting to stop but unable to leave her cold and uninterested husband.

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 episode is sponsored by Audible’s Binge Listening Event which lasts until June 28. Get $50 off the price of an annual membership as well. www.Audible.com/binge

Help support Paul in keeping this podcast going. It’s not possible without donations from listeners.

Becoming a one-time (PayPal) or monthly (Patreon) donor for as little as $1/month and qualify for bonus content and personalized stuff from Paul. www.mentalpod.com/donate

You can help the podcast by using our Amazon link. Bookmark it. It helps us and doesn’t make your items any more expensive.

You can also help the podcast by going to our Itunes page and giving us a nice rating. It boosts our visibility. And you can help by spreading the word about the podcast through social media.

Every little bit helps and we need it!

From Hostile to Peaceful – JT

19 year-old JT shares about the crippling anxiety, panic attacks and fear of abandonment he tried to alleviate for years through being hostile and controlling (of course it backfired) before finally deciding to get help. He shares with Paul the painful working-class childhood he had including the death of his parents when he was 8 and embracing his sexuality at 16. He talks about the importance mindfulness has played in helping him find the peace that has allowed him to deal with his anxiety.

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. online counseling. To see if it’s right for you go to , fill out a questionnaire and try a free week.

This episode is sponsored by ZipRecuiter. To post jobs and find the right person to hire fast, and for free go to www.ZipRecruiter.com/first

To support the podcast through donations of money (one-time or recurring monthly for as little as $1) or frequent flyer miles, go to www.mentalpod.com/donate