The next what, you may ask? Well, the next... anything! It's not always easy to keep pushing forward through whatever you're dealing with. Life can be a bit bipolar, so sometimes it'll treat you like royalty, and other times it'll do it's best to keep you down. When it's trying to keep you down, I think it's best to find something in the world that makes you excited, whether it's a TV show, new video game release, or the fact that you're having chicken salad for dinner (which I'm having on Wedne...
Aug 31, 2020•36 min
We all know the feeling. You feel inspiration to chase something new and exciting in your life, and the second you get ready to work on it, the motivation disappears. This thing that was driving you mere seconds ago is gone, and now you feel empty and directionless, a fleeting feeling in its place. That's what this episode is about. I talk about what happens when the motivation vanishes without the courtesy of saying goodbye, and you're left with nothing but the desire to lay in bed and eat chip...
Aug 24, 2020•33 min
Taking a break seems like it should be such an easy thing to do. You just... do that thing that makes you feel relaxed, right? But it's not always that easy. That thing that makes you relaxed might not be accessible, you might be feeling too down to do it, or you might simply not know what that thing is supposed to be. Well, I struggle to figure out how to relax sometimes too, and that's what this episode is about. Listen to this week's episode, where I talk about what relaxing is to me, the str...
Aug 17, 2020•34 min
This week, I wanted to try something a little different. Instead of talking about what's going on with me and my life, I talk about the song Bullet, by Hollywood Undead, and what I believe the band was talking about when they wrote it. It's a song that's all about suicide, the implications of it, and what it meant to the character/person that was singing it. My thoughts definitely aren't written in stone, and I hope that while you listen to it, you find some areas that you disagree with, because...
Aug 10, 2020•34 min
Stress isn't an easy thing to manage. It's one of life's many "things" that seem to beat all rational, and prevent you from thinking clearly, figuring out what you want, and feeling better. This week, I talk about my approach to managing my stress. My system may not necessarily work for everyone, but it works pretty well for me the majority of the time, so maybe it can work for you, too. I hope that something in here can help you out and make the rest of your week a little easier. --- I am not a...
Aug 03, 2020•34 min
I'm not a superstitious person, but the concept of destiny has always interested me. Feeling that you have this purpose set for you by someone or something is easy to believe, especially because finding direction in life is arguably one of the most difficult things that a person can do - but that doesn't mean that destiny, or your purpose, can't change as you grow older and experience more of the world and humanity. In this episode, I talk about destiny, and how it's much more malleable than you...
Jul 27, 2020•35 min
I've been watching Avatar: The Last Airbender, and through all of the awesome fighting and world building, the character that sticks out most to me is Uncle Iroh. The once great Fire Nation General turned tea-loving mentor is a complex man, and no matter the situation, he always brings the calming presence of wisdom. In this episode, I talk about some of the quotes he had throughout the show, and how applicable they are to our lives on the outside. I never thought I'd make an episode of a mental...
Jul 20, 2020•34 min
My book, Trying Not to Kill Myself, comes out THIS FRIDAY! It's been a long process, from writing, editing, cover design, formatting, and everything else that goes into self-publishing a book, I'm glad to say that this project is wrapping up and launching! I've been excited about getting this thing out there for years, and it's finally happening. This feels like a massive milestone for me, and I couldn't be more proud of myself. In this episode, I talk about what it took to make this bad boy, an...
Jul 13, 2020•34 min
Ya know, not everything in the world is great (as I'm sure you've already noticed.) That doesn't make the world bad or terrible to live on, but it means that there are some bitter things that happen, whether it's a dispute between you and a friend, some burnt mac n' cheese because you forgot to add water to the Kraft you were microwaving, or you have a dog that WON'T STOP BITING YOUR SHOE LACES NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU TELL HER NOT TO, but I digress. Not everything will be great, but as the ...
Jul 06, 2020•34 min
I don't like my wrists, my hair is too curly, and when I gain weight, it shows itself in the most undesirable of places. My body isn't perfect, and it never will be. Chances are your body isn't perfect either. And that's perfectly okay. In this episode, I talk about body image, how it can impact your mentality, and some solutions on how to feel better about yourself. --- I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help s...
Jun 29, 2020•34 min
Ever wonder what the "Scott McKinney Solution to Happiness" (Patent Pending) is? Well here it is in all of its glory! But for real, I talk about what combination of things make me happy, how I discovered this magical combo, and how with work and hope, you can find what things you need to feel better too. Plus, my book, Trying Not to Kill Myself, is coming out on Friday, July 17th, so please check it out then! --- I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do thi...
Jun 22, 2020•33 min
There is no clear-cut definition for depression that encompasses everyone who struggles with it since it affects everyone differently; however, there are similarities that exist within most people that have it. It's easy to feel like you're going it alone, especially when swamped by suicidal thoughts, but I learn each day that most people are more like me and you than you'd think, such as feeling like a burden to those around you. --- I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical...
Jun 15, 2020•34 min
There are a ton of things happening in the world right now, and they're things that many of us likely never expected in our lifetimes, our kid's lifetimes, or even our grandkids lifetimes. There is a lot going on, but that doesn't mean that we need to be caught in the endless streams of overwhelming news that's coming at us from all directions. In this episode, I talk about what's making me happy right now, and what you can do to find some happiness in your own life. --- I am not a doctor, so do...
Jun 08, 2020•36 min
It's a weird time to be alive. There are protests all over, COVID-19 is still being a butthead, and the rate at which unexpecting things happen doesn't seem to be slowing down at all. This podcast is about mental health, and topics such as the riots are very polarizing, but this is a safe space. I tried my best to give my honest opinions about everything that's happening and how I feel I should react to it all, along with how I'm trying to find the bright side. It's a hard time for everyone, and...
Jun 01, 2020•40 min
In this episode, I (metaphorically) strip down and look at my naked body in the mirror and ask myself about what I'm doing with Acceptable Madness, and what I could be doing better. In the process, I decided to create a secondary brand/channel/thing called Unacceptable Madness where I post non-mental health related content so that I don't clutter my Acceptable Madness feeds with random stuff that some people don't like. Thanks for your patience as I work to understand my brand, and I hope you ap...
May 25, 2020•32 min
Whoa, I'm engaged! That's pretty exciting, right? Being in a committed Whoa, I'm engaged! That's pretty exciting, right? Being in a committed relationship is something that I never thought I'd be able to do, let alone get engaged. In this episode, I talk about the super unromantic way I started the proposal, the proposal itself, and how I overcame countless fears and embraced a long-term relationship (and sexy fiancée.) --- I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I ...
May 18, 2020•37 min
We're all stuck at home. We're all tired of being stuck at home. We're all stressed for a multitude of different reasons, whether it's from being unemployed and searching for a job, missing family, or just exhausted at our jobs. It's a hard time for everyone, and in this episode, I talk about what's been a struggle for me and how I'm trying to overcome it. --- I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people....
May 11, 2020•37 min
Hello and thanks for tuning into another episode of Acceptable Madness! In this episode, I talk about progress, and how progressing or improving in something that you care about feels delightful - and maybe even happiness-inducing. Yeah. It's that good. I also talk about how the Carousel of Progress broke down when I was riding it with my family, creating the most ironic thing that I've ever lived through. I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podca...
May 04, 2020•33 min
Hello and thanks for checking out another episode of Acceptable Madness! Although the title of this episode seems kind of weird and super not detailed, this episode is about exactly what it says. People like different things for different reasons, and for the first time in my life, I was able to understand that instead of quantifying or questioning it, simply accepting that people like something is enough, and there's no reason to fight that. --- I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therap...
Apr 27, 2020•35 min
I know that in the past, I have talked about hobbies as almost entirely creativity based ventures, and I believe that that is short-sighted. In this episode, I talk about hobbies of all shapes and sizes, ranging from watching the massively over-rated Tiger King documentary to baking, and how no matter what you do with your free time, the only thing that ultimately matters is finding things that make you happy. --- I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do th...
Apr 20, 2020•33 min
The short to this question is a resounding... maybe? Last month, I adopted both a puppy and kitten, and in all of the running around to potty train, clean up pee and poop, make sure they're all healthy and fed, I haven't had much time to think about being depressed. How has that affected me? Is it a good thing because I've been able to stay out of my own head, or is it a bad thing since I haven't been thinking about my mental health as much, so I haven't been able to understand what's making me ...
Apr 13, 2020•34 min
This week, I talk about the new eBook that I'm going to publish in the coming weeks titled Trying Not to Kill Myself. I read a few of the shorts that are in the 100 story compilation and talk about what compelled me to write them, along with how they made me feel. I hope you like what you hear! If you do, keep an eye on Facebook and Instagram to hear updates about the project. I'll also mention it here so that all of you wonderful podcast listeners are kept in the loop. Thanks for your support o...
Apr 06, 2020•34 min
As we enter another week of quarantine, I talk about how I've been holding up so far and how I've coped with the isolation. Along with that, I look for the positive in the mess that the world seems to be in right now, and then decide to never talk about Coronavirus on my podcast again because information is coming from all directions and I want this to be more of a break from that as opposed to another source of worry. Thanks for listening, and keep an eye on my Facebook page to see when I relea...
Mar 30, 2020•30 min
It's a weird time for everyone right now. Stores, restaurants and businesses are closed, people are stuck at home, and most everyone is scared to leave their house, even if it's for the most essential of items. Right now is a hard time on everyone, and trying to stay happy through all of it is difficult as heck. So this week, I talk about how I've been trying to stay happy and healthy while I'm locked in my apartment with Alex, a cat and a dog with more roundworms than I ever hoped to see in my ...
Mar 23, 2020•33 min
I know everyone has already been talking about COVID, but I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring too. Stay healthy out there and try not to let this thing scare you too badly. It's obviously a big deal, but so is acting rationally and doing everything in your power to handle it responsibly and without screwing over your neighbors (stop hoarding toilet paper.) Here are my thoughts on the virus and how it's affected me mentally. --- I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical adv...
Mar 16, 2020•33 min
In a recent episode, I talked about what happiness means to me and how I see it affecting other people. In this episode, I talk about why I was at least partially wrong in that belief, and how I've been trying to evalute what happiness really means to me now. --- I am not a doctor, so do not treat this as therapy or medical advice. I just do this podcast with the hopes that it can help some people. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more content.
Mar 09, 2020•32 min
When you're in high school, everything from asking someone to the dance and where you'll go out with your friends, feels like the end of the world. When you're in college, the fears change to grades, future career and more serious relationships. Eventually, when you hit adulthood, everything else that the world can throw at you comes barreling down. But, because of your past, you're much better at dealing with it. In this episode, I talk about being an adult and how it's not as scary as it's mad...
Mar 02, 2020•35 min
Why part four? Well, because I've written about the simple things in the past in a book I'm currently editing with Alex. Hopefully it'll be edited in the coming months but I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself, plus, I don't want this to be an advertisement. I just wanted to let you know I wasn't going crazy. This week, I talk about the simple things that make me happy. I've been having a rough few weeks and this podcast isn't a platform for me to vent, but rather a platform to share...
Feb 24, 2020•33 min
Welcome to another episode of Acceptable Madness! This week, I just talk. I know you're probably thinking, "but Scott, all you do is talk every week." Well, that's obviously true, but instead of following some theme, I go over what's been going on in my life, how it's been making me feel and how I've been trying to cope with it. Depression isn't a sexy topic, but I think sharing some of the most unpleasant thoughts straight from the source can beincredibly helpful. I hope this episode can give y...
Feb 17, 2020•34 min
When I started this podcast, it was a mess. The volume was too low, I lost my train of thought to often and I didn't really know where to put it. Now, one year later, it's gotten significantly better, so much so that it feels like someone else entirely is making it. The only thing that blows my mind more than that is how different I know it will be in another year. This week, I talk about learning and how getting better at something can be a rewarding experience that can take your mind off of th...
Feb 10, 2020•35 min
