Podcast Episodes

I Am The Worst Person Ever – Mike Levine

For most of his life Mike has been wracked with shame and self-hatred, convinced he was the worst person ever and fantasizing about suicide when he was hospitalized at 15. He and Paul talk about where his self-hate may come from as well as his ADHD, emotionally sterile and achievement-focused childhood, body dysmorphia, cross-dressing, kink as a submissive male, and how he finally summoned the courage and self-love to end an abusive friendship. Mike is a great example of someone learning to embrace his uniqueness instead of hating and shaming himself for it.

Follow Mike @BizMichael on Twitter and Instagram

Check out his books: At Least You’re Not These Monsters and All The Feelings

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. and fill out a questionnaire so you can be paired with a licensed counselor.

This episode is sponsored by ZipRecruiter. To post your jobs for free go to www.ZipRecruiter.com/first

To support the podcast consider becoming a monthly donor via Patreon for as little as $1/month (and get rewards for free like donor-only mini eps where Paul reads responses from the donor-only survey) Go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod

A great way to help the podcast is to donate frequent flyer miles. For details on how to do it go to. www.Mentalpod.com/donate and scroll down to the Frequent Flyer Miles section.

Literally Pulling Her Hair Out From PPD – Jennifer Tracy

It wasn’t until she began to literally pull chunks of her hair out she knew she might be battling something out of her control; postpartum depression. She talks about her battles with cyclical depression starting at an early age, being an only child with depressed, anxious and angry parents, not feeling seen or heard and being a high-bottom alcoholic who finally sobered up instead of self-medicating. She also touches on her body issues and how it was exacerbated during her few years as a model.

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. To see if online counseling is right for you, and to get your first week free, go to and fill out a questionnaire. or older.

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

Support the podcast and get free, donor-only stuff from Paul by becoming a monthly donor -starting for as little as $1 a month- go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod It really helps!

Family Secrets & Hiding Depression – Patricia McKee

How does a family deal with its secrets? The PhD opens up about the inter-generational rage brewing beneath the surface of her extended family and the difficulty in trying to cope when favorites are played, a mother feels jealous of her daughter, trauma isn’t discussed, emotions are stuffed and through depression a smile is mustered for the unsuspecting outside world.

Patricia can be reached at her website www.PatriciaMcKee.com and on Twitter @Patricia_McKee

This episode is sponsored by Stamps.com For a free 4 week trial including postage and a digital scale, go to www.Stamps.com, click on the Radio Microphone at the top of the homepage and type in offer code MENTAL

This episode is sponsored by Young Health’s probiotic Probimune. For your 1st bottle free go to www.Probimune.com and use offer code MENTAL

This episode is sponsored by Audible audiobooks. For a free trial go to www.Audible.com/mental

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 get your first week free go to Must be over 18.

To get rewards from Paul, like donor-only mini-episodes or personal videos & pictures support the podcast with a recurring monthly donation starting for as little as $1/month, go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod

Being Trans in a Red State – Olivia Haidar

The 29 year-old trans woman dispels myths about what it means to be trans, including those she used to believe. She shares about hormone therapy, gender reassignment surgery, the prejudice and stigma of “passing”, feeling dysphoric growing up, coming out in her Indiana hometown and her upbringing by an overprotective mother, an absent father, and an alcoholic and emotionally abusive stepfather.

Follow Olivia on Twitter @hitherehaidar
Follow her on Instagram @ohaidarling
Follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ohaidarling

This episode is sponsored by Young Health’s probiotic Probimune. To get your first bottle free (plus $6.75 shipping) go to www.probimune.com and use offer code MENTAL

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 get your first week free, go to or older.

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

Support the podcast by becoming a monthly donor for as little as $1 a month. Get free rewards from Paul. www.Patreon.com/mentalpod

Check out Earbuds, the great documentary about the power of podcasting featuring podcasters like Paul and many of his former guests/friends/fellow podcasters. Stream or buy DVD at www.comedyfilmnerds.com

Herpes from Date-Rape: Laura J.

Laura J. shares about contracting herpes by being date-raped and how she has navigated managing it logistically, sexually and emotionally with partners, including her husband. She was raised in an emotionally cold home by a psychiatrist father and image-obsessed mother. Her mother’s response when Laura would say “I love you” has only ever been “thank you”. Laura shares about having Bipolar 2, codependency, fear of intimacy, occasional paranoia, an eating disorder (compulsive eating), multiple stays in psych hospitals, an abortion and always being in the shadow of her high-maintenance and unstable sister.

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 get your first week free go to or over.

This episode is sponsored by Young Health’s probiotic Probimune. To get your first bottle free (plus $6.75 shipping) go to www.probimune.com and use offer code MENTAL

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

The podcast needs more funding. Please consider becoming a monthly donor at www.Patreon.com/mentalpod or making a one-time donation via Paypal thru our website. It also helps if you make your Amazon purchases through the link on our homepage. It doesn’t make your purchases any more expensive. Every little bit helps!

Fantasy & Love Addiction: Maia Akiva

Paul’s fellow support group friend shares about the huge role fantasy has played in her struggle to accept life; especially her love addiction. She talks about being unable to watch lesbian films in moderation (she is a lesbian) and how the CPTSD from her physical (and emotional) trauma at birth and being raised in an emotionally stifled home (where success was the only thing that mattered) have made intimacy and trust difficult especially with her struggles with low self-esteem. Inspired to help others as she has healed Maia now facilitates workshops and speaks publicly to help others who are also struggling.

Check out Maia’s website
http://www.maiaakiva.com/

Maia’s Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/maiaakiva/

Maia’s Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/maiaakiva2

Maia’s Twitter
https://twitter.com/maiaakiva

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. To get your 1st week of online counseling free go to Must 18 or over.

This episode is sponsored by Blue Apron. To see this week’s menu or to get your first 3 meals free (with free delivery) go to www.BlueApron.com/mental

This episode is sponsored by Young Health’s probiotic Probimune To get your first bottle of Probimune free (plus $6.75 shipping) go to www.Probimune.com and use offer code MENTAL at checkout.

I Worry I’m Unlovable – Pauly David

The co-host of YouTube’s Pauly & Monks show shares about feeling unlovable, not being a good enough partner, trying to always “fix” other people, having to be an adult in his family at nine, learning to equate money with love and being rejected by relatives for being gay. Oh and his Bruce Willis-admiring grandfather shooting his grandmother.

Follow Pauly on Twitter @PaulyDavid and Instagram @PaulyDavid1

Check out the Pauly & Monks show on YouTube and on Twitter @PaulyandMonks

Visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PaulyandMonks/

Check out Pauly’s personal YouTube page http://YouTube.com/user/VapidDual

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.com to try a week of online counseling for free go to You must be over 18.

This episode is sponsored by Young Health’s Probimune. To get your first bottle free (plus $6.75 shipping) go to www.probimune.com and use offer code MENTAL

This episode is sponsored by Stamps.com For a special 4 week trial go to www.stamps.com be sure to click on the microphone icon at the top of the page then enter offer code MENTAL

Please take this anonymous survey so potential advertisers will see our demographic. Plus you could win a $100 Amazon card. www.podsurvey.com/mentalpod

I Can’t Stop Worrying! – Giulia Rozzi

The Moth Grand Slam winner, standup and podcaster (Hopefully We Don’t Break Up) shares about being raised by Italian immigrant parents who worried a lot and her “high school brain” that still worries about being left out or gossiped about.

Follow Giulia on Twitter @GiuliaRozzi
Visit her website www.GiuliaRozzi.com
Check out her podcast www.HopefullyWeDontBreakup.com
Follow her on Instagram www.instagram.com/grozzi

This episode is sponsored by Young Health’s Probimune. Sign up for automated delivery and get your first bottle free (plus $6.75 shipping). Go to www.Probimune.com and use offer code MENTAL

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 MadisonReed. For 10% off your first color kit plus free shipping, go to www.Madison-Reed.com and use offer code HAPPY

This episode is sponsored by ZipRecruiter. To post your job ads free go to www.ZipRecruiter.com/first

This episode is sponsored by Zola wedding registry. Receive $50 when you register and use Zola. Go to www.Zola.com/mental

For info or tix to the live recording of the podcast in Oakland on Feb 22 & 23 (Wed & Thurs) go to www.EastBayExpress.com/mental

Support the podcast by becoming a monthly donor via Patreon (and get free rewards from Paul) www.Patreon.com/mentalpod

Misophonia – Rage at Certain Sounds

35 year-old barista (and listener) Charlynn Schmiedt shares about having misophonia which is a “fight or flight” physical response to certain everyday sounds, such as gum chewing, throat clearing etc. and the complications and misunderstanding that arise out of having to interact with people who don’t think it is a “real thing”. Charlynn also shares about having an eating disorder in her 20s as well as depression and anxiety. Her husband Patrick sits in to also share what it is like to live with someone with misophonia.

Follow Charlynn on Twitter at @OhTheProfanity

For tix or info on Paul’s Feb 22 & 23 appearances in Oakland go to www.eastbayexpress.com/mental

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. To try a week free go to and fill out a questionnaire to be matched with a counselor.

This ep is sponsored by MadisonReed. For 10% off your first hair color kit and free shipping go to www.Madison-Reed.com and use offer code HAPPY

This ep is sponsored by BlueApron. Check out this week’s menu and get your first 3 meals free (with free shipping) by going to www.BlueApron.com/mental

This ep is sponsored by Casper Mattresses. For $50 towards the purchase of any mattress go to www.CasperMattress.com/mental and use offer code MENTAL

Support the podcast by becoming a monthly donor at Patreon (and get free rewards from Paul) www.Patreon.com/mentalpod