Podcast Episodes

Kevin Allison on Owning Your Weirdness & Flaws

The podcaster (RISK!) and sketch actor (The State) talks about learning to “own his weirdness”. From being a gay kid in a conservative town to being the black sheep in The State he has battled the paralysis and fear of not being perfect or even good enough. He shares about his attempt at being a prostitute, the 12 year gap between The State ending and him starting Risk! and how he learned to find his authentic voice when he was at his lowest and how he still struggles to act and feel like a grown-up.

Follow Kevin on Twitter @TheKevinAllison

Check out RISK! at www.risk-show.com or follow on Twitter @RISKshow

Check out his classes www.thestorystudio.org

For info on Paul’s upcoming live podcasts in Oakland Feb 22-23 go to www.eastbayexpress.com/mental

To become a monthly supporter of The Mental Illness Happy Hour go to www.patreon.com/mentalpod

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. (you must be at least 18)

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

This episode is sponsored by MVMT Watches. For 15% off plus free shipping and free returns go to www.MVMTWatches.com/mental

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

Jenny R: Raised in Wealth, Sadness & Anxiety

The anxious only child of a drunk/rager mom and a passive dad shares about her family’s combination of material wealth and emotional ignorance/poverty. She talks about her fear of “just being” instead of always “doing”, including triathlons & rock climbing, her ongoing battles with disordered eating -especially binging- , her all-or-nothing thinking and struggles with intimacy while being married and having a family.

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 therapy. To learn more (and get your first week free) go to

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

This episode is sponsored by Movement Watches. Get 15% off today (with free shipping and free returns) by going to www.MVMTWatches.com/mental

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/month and get rewards from Paul) at Patreon. www.patreon.com/mentalpod

For info on Paul’s upcoming live podcast shows in the Bay Area Feb 22 & Feb 23 go to www.eastbayexpress.com/mental

Working With Sexually Violent Predators: Renee G-M

The 40 year-old public administrator talks about “losing her humanity” being assigned to work on a criminal defense unit on behalf of sexually violent predators and the anxiety, panic and breakdowns that followed. She also talks about her chaotic and abusive upbringing which included her father molesting her brother, domestic violence and her coping by becoming a rescuer.

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 out a week of counseling for free go to , fill out the questionnaire and get matched with a counselor, to see if it’s right for you.

This episode is sponsored by the one-stop wedding registry Zola. Receive $50 when you register and use Zola. Go to www.Zola.com/mental for details.

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

Consider becoming a recurring monthly donor to the podcast (and receive free rewards from Paul) go to www.Patreon.com/mentalpod

Neal Brennan

The writer and director of Inside Amy Schumer, co-creator of Chapelle’s Show and standup comic (3 Mics coming soon on Netflix) talks about being one of ten kids raised by a violent alcoholic father and his struggles today with trusting his feelings and needs and dealing with his anger especially with partners. He also talks about his relationship with Dave Chapelle and the conflicts and emotions he experienced when Dave decided to stop doing the show.

Neal’s standup special 3 Mics debuts Jan 17th on Netflix
Follow Neal on Twitter @NealBrennan

This episode is sponsored by the online therapy service BetterHelp For a free week of counseling go to and fill out a questionnaire.

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

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

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

Why Am I A Mess? My Parents Loved Me – Amanda Bloom

The 30 year-old freelance journalist and Pilates teacher doesn’t have anything dramatic to point to in her life, yet she has struggled to find her voice in life with bad relationships, eating disorders, depression, body dysmorphia, and intense fears of rejection and feeling excluded. Paul and Amanda peel back the layers to try to find out what’s underneath.

 

 

Punk Rock, Trauma & EMDR – Dr Stephen Dansiger

At 16 he was playing drums at CBGB and Max’s Kansas City as the punk scene exploded. After destroying his career (Pianosaurus, King Missile) he got sober. The PsyD & MFT explains his extensive work with treating trauma victims (especially those with addictions) by using EMDR. He talks about the difficulty people have in calling what happened to them “trauma” and why the label isn’t important. He shares his personal experiences and insights about bullying, Buddhism, self-sabotage, spirituality, depression and what being a “good person” means to him.

Dr. Dansiger can be found at www.drdansiger.com

Check out this new book Clinical Dharma

Follow him on Twitter @DrDansiger

This episode is sponsored by the magazine app Texture. For a 14 day free trail go to www.texture.com/mental

This episode is sponsored by TalkSpace. For $30 off your first month of online therapy go to www.TalkSpace.com/mihh and use offer code MIHH

For info on how to donate frequent flyer miles to the podcast go to https://mentalpod.com/archives/4307

To support the podcast as a monthly donor (and get rewards from Paul) go to www.patreon.com/mental

Glamorously Dying: Ex-Model Nikki DuBose

The 31 year-old ex-model (Vogue, Vanity Fair) discusses surviving incest by her mother (who was also an alcoholic with BiPolar and DID aka Multiple Personality Disorder) and a lifetime of battling eating disorders (binging, bulimia, anorexia), depression, anxiety, psychosis, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, alcoholism and drug and sex addiction. She reflects on the physical and emotional bottom that finally made her walk away from modeling and seek help, ironically as her emaciated body was more desirable than ever in the industry.

Follow Nikki on Twitter @TheNikkiDubose

Buy her new book Washed Away: From Darkness to Light

Buy it also on Kindle Washed Away: From Darkness to Light – Kindle Version

Mini Ep – Producers of HBO’s Every Brilliant Thing

Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato have produced and/or directed some of Paul’s favorite documentaries, including Mapplethorpe: Look At The Pictures, 101 Rent Boys and Monica in Black & White. They sit down with Paul to talk about their newest film, Every Brilliant Thing which debuts on HBO Dec 26th and tackles the subject of finding joy in life’s little things when we’re surrounded by darkness. Paul also talks to them about their days as struggling artists in the East Village during the beginning of the AIDS crisis and what draws them to subjects who have been vilified or marginalized by society. Fenton and Randy also produce Ru Paul’s Drag Race and talk about why they love drag queens.

Follow Randy on Twitter @RandyBarbato

Follow Fenton on Twitter @FBailey

For info on Every Brilliant Thing click here

Letter To Her Suicidal 16 Year-Old Self – Katie Hirshberg

The 19 year-old college sophomore opens with a letter she wrote to her 16 year-old self who was so tired of the years of depression, anxiety self-hate, bullying, co-dependence, perfectionism, Crohn’s Disease and feeling like a burden that she was on the verge of taking her life. Her dad, Alan sits in on the session to occasionally share his perspective on her struggles, their family dynamics and what he might have done differently.

This episode is sponsored by American Public Media’s podcast The Hilarious World of Depression with host John Moe

This episode is sponsored by TalkSpace online therapy. To sign up or to learn more, go to www.Talkspace.com/mihh and, as a special offer for our listeners, you can use coupon code MIHH to get $30 off your first month.

Follow Katie on Twitter at @Rosearium

The podcast is now accepting monthly donations via Patreon. Go to www.patreon.com/mentalpod