When she was eight, there were whipsers in the neighborhood about her father and what he did. She could never get the truth from her mother. Ironically she would follow in her father’s footsteps though she swore she wouldn’t. Just your average suicidal, Bipolar addict.
The podcaster/ comic/ host/ writer/ entreprenuer opens up about finally using his obsessive nerd brain for constructive instead of destructive pursuits. He gets honest about his history of panic attacks, drinking issues, middle-school humiliations and a lost decade after hosting MTV’sSingled Out didn’t bring the success he had hoped for. Chris hosts the Nerdist (podcast and BBC America show), AMC’s The Talking Dead, G4’sAttack of the Show, and is the author of the book The Nerdist Way.
The bitter divorce between her sexually repressed mother and left-brained mathmetician father who openly complained of his ex-wife’s frigidity left an indelible mark on Michaela’s view of sex, intimacy and relationships. A moment of clarity changed her path when she realized the men she felt close and safe to had no sex appeal, and the men who had sex appeal made her insecure and crazy. Listeners may recognize Michaela from Saturday Night Live, Wanderlust, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The New Adventures of Old Christine and Enlightened. She is also a member of the Groundlings.
The photographer, podcaster and video artist opens up about his debilitating bouts with anger, mistrust of therapy, difficulty in asking for help and chaotic childhood, including spending a year in a cult, and living with a mother so spiteful towards her ex, she sacrificed the safety of her children. Listeners may also know Mike from his relationship with Dr. Drew Pinsky, who discovered Mike from his Five Minutes With Mike videos. Mike also co-hosts the Loveline After Disaster.
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.