Dr. Jessica Zucker returns to help Paul and the listeners. Topics of course involve Moms and boundaries, but also the benefits of letting ourselves be fully known through therapy and learning to stick up for ourselves when nobody else will.
Raised by strict Evangelical parents who struggled to put food on the table, Lauren’s story is about what happens when dogmatic parents push their child scholastically (Vassar), but that critical thinking leads to the questioning of her belief and ultimately to becoming an atheist. She also talks about the politics of skin color within the African American community and the struggle of protecting a father’s image as a community leader when his actions didn’t match his words. Lauren is a freelance writer and artist living in Los Angeles. She can found @Vadarama on Twitter.
The standup comedian (Chelsea Lately, Late Show with David Letterman, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Comedy Central Presents and Howard Stern) talks about his New Jersey Italian roots, his hair-trigger temper, questioning whether he loves his mother, and reconciling a long standing resentment with his father. He also talks about his recent plunge into the world of anti-depressants and the profound difference it’s making in his life as a father and husband. Joe also hosts the podcast Fixing Joe.
Known as “Bald Bryan” to Adam Carolla listeners, Bryan Bishop’s life is actually a mental illness success story. After being a poster child for ADHD in his youth, he has managed to find the perfect outlet for his impatience, memory and excess energy. We then discuss his painful ongoing battle with glioma; an inoperable tumor on his brain stem, how his upbringing is helping him cope, the importance of family and some practical advice for anyone caught in the confusing beaurocracy of modern medicine in America. You may also know Bryan from his podcast, The Film Vault or his appearance on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
Comedic actress / improvisor / writer / podcaster Jamie Denbo talks about being an only child, born to Jewish parents whose lives, culture and ancestors she feels are informed by fear. She talks about growing up in Massachusetts and feeling guilty for not having more obvious reason to explain her sadness, panic and anger, and how motherhood is helping her to recognize the familial and cultural cycles she would like to break. Listeners may know her as Beverly of the podcasting duo Ronna & Beverly, or her many television appearances, including FX’sTerriers, Conan, Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Weeds and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
The groundbreaking radio personality opens up about the childhood and adolescent pain that informs his stable of highly detailed, irreverent character voices. He and Paul bond over sexually inappropriate mothers and distant fathers. Whose mother acted creepier? You decide. It’s Ick-a-palooza!
Dr. Jessica Zucker graces the show as our first mental health expert and she does not dissapoint. We learn helpful tips in finding the right therapist, the benefits of it, and common pitfalls. We discuss her upcoming book about porn stars and what sex means to them. We talk about a listener’s harrowing experience with postpartum depression. And finally, Dr. Zucker lends a gentle hand in helping Paul to confront the most painful truth in his life; the lifelong patterns of abuse by his mentally unstable mother. They discuss sexual abuse of boys by female babysitters. Dr. Zucker is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in women’s health, with a focus on reproductive and maternal mental health. Visit her website www.drjessicazucker.com. She can be followed on Twitter @drzucker
We talk to the comedy duo about the drawbacks and benefits of being identical twins; how they’re alike and how they’re different. So often this show focuses on families torn apart by dysfunction, we thought it would be nice to show that all artists don’t have to be tortured. We talk about their unique approach to combining sports and comedy. Listeners know them from Comedy Central Presents, Curb Your Enthusiasm, guest hosting for Jim Rome, ESPN’s Cheap Seats, and their popular podcast, Sklarbro Country.
Bouncing from family to family and always being the new girl at school forced her to adapt and gave her experiences to draw on as a writer (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live, 2 Broke Girls). But a family history of mental illness, food issues, panic attacks and always being attracted to brilliant but broken men have not been so easy to adapt to. Morgan opens up about the power of friendship and the odd comfort of dark comedic humor from some well-known friends during her catatonic stint at a mental hospital.