The groundbreaking and critically acclaimed comedian (Comedy Central Presents:, Comedians of Comedy, Sarah Silverman Program) and voiceover artist (Wordgirl, Adult Swim) talks about her lifelong battles with OCD, Unwanted Thoughts Syndrome, BiPolar II, and the recent hospitilization that probably saved her life. Sounds pretty hilarious huh?
The Canadian standup (Tonight Show w/Jay Leno, Just For Laughs) and author (So Recently Ancient, and Ventriloquism for Dummies: Life as a Comedian) opens up to Paul about his lifelong struggle to win his father’s approval and the resulting anger that has cost him friendships.
Paul talks with Andy, a listener and California policeman who opens up about the “collective PTSD” that police officers frequently accumulate over years of service. They also talk about the tools he has to use when dealing with haunting memories, the mentally ill and fellow officers who abuse their authority.
What I learned growing weed and playing The Legend of Zelda.
The NY Times Bestselling author of “Shitty Mom”, tv writer (Conan), standup (finalist on Last Comic Standing) and single Mom talks to Paul about the painful event that derailed her swimming aspirations and defined much of her late teens and twenties, before she eventually sought help. They talk about EMDR (Eye Movement De-Sensitization and Reprocessing) and the difficulty in having a trauma that we’re afraid isn’t valid enough.
Paul’s friend opens up about being kidnapped by a motorcycle gang at 13, his success as a South Beach nightclub owner and the effect it had on his ego, the “animal” he says he became and the cocaine and heroin addiction that brought him to his knees. He also talks about working on repairing his relationships with his sons after losing custody of them as young boys because of his drug addiction.
The Singer/Songwriter opens up about her lifelong battles with body image, weight and food, as well as the complicated and overwhelming experience of being a part of the Twilight franchise (she wrote and performed the song “Satellite Heart” on the Twilight: New Moon soundtrack, and hosted a red carpet event). Anya’s songs have also appeared on Grey’s Anatomy and Gossip Girl. She ends the interview with a performance of her song “Miss Halfway”. Paul reads a response from the Shame and Secrets survey written by a mild-mannered housewife who shares about the abuse she suffered as a child and the endless murderous fantasies that play in her mind while politely chatting at parties.
Standup comedian, writer and actor Fred Stoller opens up about his childhood with a sensitive withdrawn father and a fear-filled overbearing mother who he describes as a “Rainman Savant of bad news stories”. He and Paul talk about the corrosive effect a joy-snuffing parent can have on a child’s ability to experience joy. People know Fred from appearances on Everybody Loves Raymond, Dumb and Dumber, orSeinfeld. Paul reads some polarizing emails about the Ted Lyde episode as well as a happy moment survey response from a German listener who recalls the moment her depression ran out of fuel.
Listener Katie was literally a red-headed stepchild. Though her blended family was large (7 kids), her stepfather was not Mr. Brady. He was, in her words Machiavelli. Attacked by a stranger at 15, something in her snapped. It would be years before she dealt with the pain, as she tried to numb herself with sex, drugs, shopping and men who treated her like, yep you guessed it, her stepfather. Topics include PTSD, Bipolar II, Attachment Disorder, divorce and mothering. Paul reads some listener emails that are critical of him and the show, as well as one from a girl who credits the Teresa Strasser episode as the beginning of her healing.