Mental Illness Happy Hour - podcast cover

Mental Illness Happy Hour

Paul Gilmartinart19.com

"Remarkable" - Psychology Today

"A vital, compassionate gem that fills a desperate and under-addressed need in our society." - Esquire

"A perversely safe place in which he and his guests talk about their fears, addictions and traumatic childhoods." - NY Times

"Gilmartin makes a conscious effort to explore stories that aren’t black and white" - Slate Magazine

"Praised by listeners all over the world" - Atlantic Monthly

Named To Top Health Podcast List by: NY Times, Esquire, Slate, Oprah Magazine, Women's Health, Onion A.V. Club, Apple Podcast Staff

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Episodes

Episode 129: David Hirohama on Counseling Predators

The 3rd generation Japanese-American psychologist shares his experience and observations counseling sexual predators (rapists and child molesters) at Coalinga, a lockdown mental hospital in central California and how he used Buddhism to help him cope. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 30, 20132 hr 2 min

Episode 128: Alison Baziak

The 31 year-old listener ponders her low self-esteem, food issues, history of self-mutilation, compulsive spending and suicide attempts when her parents were "nothing but supportive". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 23, 20131 hr 52 min

Episode 127: Offspring of Holocaust Survivors

Two sons of Holocaust survivors, Michael Rozbruch and Amir Tiles sit down with psychotherapist Joel Schwartz whose grandparents are also survivors and they discuss the ripples of PTSD still felt today within the families, caused by the trauma. Amir's father Melvin, an 85 year-old Polish survivor also joins them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 16, 20131 hr 49 min

Episode 126: Therapist Susan Hagen Helps Paul & Listeners

The therapist who is also in recovery helps Paul and some listeners (via surveys) navigate their discomfort and confusion about their current issues. They discuss the cliched but effective tools of self-parenting and inner-child work, as well as the line therapists draw regarding self-revelation to their clients. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 09, 20132 hr 13 min

Episode 125: Vietnam Vet Randy Olea

A father/brother figure to Paul, the high-school teacher reflects on his Mexican heritage, violent upbringing, tour in Vietnam, stints as a bouncer at a Hell's Angels bar, and a Club Med guide, his getting "struck sober" and how he has evolved to become the man his father never was. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 02, 20132 hr 6 min

Episode 124: Amber Tozer

The comedian (Last Comic Standing, Twitwits) talks her own alcoholism, her dad's awkward foray into lingerie photography, craving her mother's acceptance and understanding her own fluid sexuality. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 26, 20131 hr 48 min

Episode 123: Baron Vaughn

The actor/comedian (Conan, Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central) talks about his struggle to feel "authentically black" without betraying who he is, the state of comedy in the black community, honing his artistic voice, and his turbulent childhood especially with his alcoholic mother. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 19, 20132 hr 12 min

Episode 122: Giving Up Her Baby - Valerie

Valerie, a listener talks about the painful decision she made to give her only son up for adoption years ago when she was 18 and living with her Catholic, divorced mother. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 12, 20131 hr 52 min

Episode 121: Christian Finnegan

The standup comedian (Comedy Central Presents, Chapelle's Show, Best Week Ever, Countdown with Keith Olberman) opens up about the tragedy and parental mental illness that shaped his childhood and still affects him today as well as his struggle to trust and feel confident about his future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 05, 20132 hr 6 min

Episode 120: Aspergers - Listener Louise

Her childhood marked with social stress, being bullied, aggressiveness and severe digestive issues (including Barrett's Esophagus a condition involving acid reflux usually only found in adults) Louise was finally diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome, also known as high-functioning autism. She shares on what it's like to live with it, how it expresses itself in her life and the hurdles society has to overcome in understanding and accepting those with Aspergers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

Jun 28, 20132 hr 3 min

Episode 119: Raped By His Sister - Tom

Raised by a Baptist preacher who frequently got run out of town and raped by his older sister starting when he was 4, "Tom" has had a lot to work through. A great episode about working through trauma especially in families that can't communicate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 21, 20131 hr 55 min

Episode 118: Kulap Vilaysack returns!

The actor and podcaster (Who Charted?) returns to the podcast to talk about the struggle to keep a relationship with her mother whose gambling addiction has wreaked havoc on her family's life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 14, 20132 hr

Episode 117: Paul's Best Friend Dr. Mike Sebahar

The Intervential Pain Specialist has been Paul's best friend since 1982. They recount the evolotuion of their relationship, especially both dealing with the effects their father's alcoholism had on their families. Mike also talks about the tightrope of treating people with chronic pain while trying to weed out potential abuse. Mike recounts the intimacy he finally felt at the end of his father's life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pr...

Jun 07, 20131 hr 57 min

Episode 116: Listener Meghan P. Returns

Listener Meghan P. returns to talk about being diagnosed with "Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified" and the hospitalization that resulted from going off of her meds in anticipation of losing her health insurance. She discusses the intense paranoia, her brain feeling "stung" and the belief that she was being filmed for a reality t.v. show everywhere she went. Meghan is the writer/producer/director of the documentary eXtreme, Loyal, Victorious: The Packer Fan Experience. See omnystudio.com/...

May 31, 20131 hr 51 min

Episode 115: Ashly Burch

The writer and actress (Hey Ash, Whatcha' Playin?) and VO artist (Tiny Tina of Borderlands 2) opens up about the recent accidental overdose death of her boyfriend and the struggle to put her life back together. They also talk about the danger of invalidating children's feelings and the shame of obsessive or intrusive thoughts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell...

May 24, 20132 hr 1 min

Episode 114: Listener Michael D. and Breaking the Cycle of Abuse

Michael opens up about his teenage struggle to avoid dealing with his chaotic and abusive childhood by being extremely regimented, resulting in an eating disorder, punching himself, compulsive exercising and eventually having a nervous breakdown. He shares about finally dealing with his PTSD in therapy and confronting the cycle of abuse in his family so it won't be passed on to his children. He also talks about having to cut contact with his family because of their refusal to deal with a one of ...

May 17, 20131 hr 41 min

Episode 112: Child Protective Services Social Worker "Ray"

What is it like to be the government agent that has to physically investigate allegations of abuse or neglect and sometimes even remove children from a home? "Ray", a 3rd generation social worker opens up about his passion and struggles working for Child Protective Services. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 03, 20131 hr 53 min

Episode 111: Karen Kilgariff Live in Portland

The actress (Mr. Show) and writer (The Ellen DeGeneres Show) shares about struggling to fit in, body shame, her alcoholism, her mother's Alzheimers, learning to accept her body and become vulnerable and her experiences in therapy. Recorded 4/20/13 at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 26, 20131 hr 43 min

Episode 110: Greg Behrendt Returns

The podcaster (Walking the Room), author (He's Just Not That Into You) and guitarist (The Reigning Monarchs) returns to discuss the mania, depression and paranoia that left him considering suicide in a Montreal hotel room. They also discuss the difference between passion and obsession, following your heart, therapy and the fluidity and dynamics of suicidal ideation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice ...

Apr 19, 20131 hr 20 min

Episode 109: Listener Claire Laffar

Claire shares about her bullied upbringing outside London with a neurotic mom and a mysterious, stoic dad prone to explosive fits of rage and how escaping into fantasy worlds, especially books, became her way of coping. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 12, 20131 hr 42 min

Episode 108: Greg Fitzsimmons

The writer (The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Lucky Louie) comedian (Comedy Central, The Howard Stern Show) and podcaster (Fitzdog Radio) opens up about his tumultuous relationship with his late father, his temper, his body shame, ADHD and alcohol. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 05, 20131 hr 50 min

Episode 107: Sara Benincasa

The writer (Agorafabulous!, XOJane.com, Vice.com) and performer (Comedy Central, MTV) talks about a popular friend's suicide in high school that informed much of her later life, her families history of depression and anxiety and her Agoraphobia. They also share tips to avoid isolating and talk in depth about everybody's favorite topic; catheters! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com...

Mar 29, 20131 hr 38 min

Episode 106: Robert Patrick Lewis

The former Green Beret talks about his childhood in Texas, the loss of his adoptive mother, his tours in Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa, the injury that resulted in his getting a Purple Heart and living with PTSD. Robert is a spokesperson for USA Cares and the author of Love Me When I'm Gone. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mar 22, 20132 hr 11 min

Episode 105: Ali Handal

The singer/songwriter guitarist talks to Paul about being a female guitarist in a male-dominated industry, her negative self-talk, fear of failure, workaholism, and why she stayed with a past boyfriend whose actions betrayed and disgusted her. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mar 15, 20131 hr 33 min

Episode 104: Siblings/Listeners John & Megan Brehman

The siblings discuss growing up in an affluent but emotionally witholding household, and how their struggles with depression and her eating disorder ultimately brought them closer together. They talk about the difficulty of connecting with an emotionally shutdown mother consumed with presenting a facade of normalcy to the outside world. They discuss John's childhood self-harming, Megan's non-purging bulimia and compulsive exercising and starving, and the importance of finally asking for help fro...

Mar 08, 20131 hr 46 min

Episode 103: Emily Gordon

The podcaster (Indoor Kids) and former licensed therapist opens up about her battle with Adult Onset Still's Disease, her mentally-ill grandmother, rebelling as an adolescent, being a woman in the South, working with schizophrenic patients, and perpetrators and victims of domestic violence. They also talk about the importance of having emotional support, and how to distance yourself from people who are draining. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://a...

Mar 01, 20131 hr 46 min

Episode 102: Peter T

Paul's friend opens up about being adopted by a physically and sexually abusive paranoid schizophrenic mother, being a child actor and almost dying from AIDS. They talk about spirituality, Peter's Christianity, and the importance of surrender. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feb 22, 20131 hr 39 min

Episode 101: Stefanie Wilder-Taylor

The writer (I'm Kind of a Big Deal) podcaster (For Cryin' Out Loud) and tv host (Parental Discretion on Nick Mom) opens up about her alcoholism, bulimia, post partum depression, childhood and marriage. Phew!! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feb 15, 20132 hr 3 min

Episode 100: Brody Stevens

The actor (The Hangover, The Hangover 2) and standup comedian (Comedy Central Presents, Chelsea Lately, TMZ) talks about his very public manic episode in 2011, the blurry line between his onstage persona and his real life demons and how he is learned to live with his diagnosis of Bipolar I. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feb 08, 20131 hr 46 min

Episode 099: Jess

Paul's friend opens about her chaotic childhood, her abandonment issues, and the struggling to find words to categorize the sex she wanted and got at 12, from a 27 year-old man. She also talk about the self-doubt of giving up her fledgling comedy career to become a therapist. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feb 01, 20131 hr 45 min
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