In this episode, Al interviews Justin Birckbichler, testicular cancer survivor, men's health activist, educational technology coach, and founder of A Ballsy Sense of Tumor (recorded 7-11-18). At age 25, Justin was informed that he had testicular cancer and would need to have a testicle removed. After ten weeks of chemotherapy, Justin soon realized that fighting cancer wasn't as difficult as surviving cancer in regard to his mental and emotional health. Justin shares, very candidly, his story of ...
Oct 07, 2018•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 31
In this episode, Al interviews John Dickson, writer, mental health advocate, and father (recorded 6-6-18). John shares the struggles he's faced in dealing with over forty years of depression. Living in rural Canada, John describes finding out two days after a suicide attempt that it would take months before he could even apply for support. He opens up for the first time about the abduction of his two brothers by his step-father and describes how he recently given a new diagnosis of bipolar disor...
Sep 23, 2018•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 30
In this episode, Al interviews US Navy veteran, Lee Plummer (recorded 7-23-18). Lee describes a challenging childhood, including being kidnapped for two days, before the age of ten, by his mother's boyfriend and the traumatic police rescue that followed. Lee shares his experience of being deployed to Afghanistan for a 7-8 month tour of duty. Upon return to the US, Lee, taking the advice of another veteran, chose not to share the struggles he was having mentally with the military so that he could...
Sep 09, 2018•1 hr 30 min•Season 1Ep. 29
In this episode, Al interviews Dr. Michael Weinstein, acute care surgeon (recorded 7-12-18). Realizing that he could no longer do the work of a surgeon due to the major depression he was suffering, Michael and his wife reached out to their family doctor, and close colleague, who convinced Michael to stop working in order to get help. Michael checked himself into an in-patient program for three months. Michael speaks candidly about being put into seclusion at one point and receiving more than ten...
Aug 26, 2018•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 28
In this episode, Al interviews Charles Minguez, mental health advocate and aspiring journalist (recorded 5-16-18). Charles had his first suicide attempt at age thirteen. Before he reached his eighteenth birthday, he had been hospitalized three times. At age seventeen, Charles was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and major depression. Hear how Charles was originally misdiagnosed and medicated for bipolar disorder. Now, ten years with no symptoms of schizoaffective disorder and having weane...
Aug 12, 2018•44 min•Season 1Ep. 27
In this episode, Al interviews Jermaine Tolbert (AKA Nate Calloway), songwriter, author, and creator of Project: Genius of a Schizophrenic (recorded 3-16-18). Nate describes how he became paranoid after smoking what he believed to have been laced marijuana (or "gas") for seven months straight. He eventually lands in the hospital psychiatric ward for a ten-day stay and a diagnosis of depression and schizophrenia. Nate decides to walk away from a music deal with Pharrell Williams in order to learn...
Jul 29, 2018•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 26
In this episode, Al interviews Dan Ryder, educator, improviser, and design thinker (recorded 5-2-18). Dan describes how his family moved while he was in fifth grade, and the challenges he faced due to the move. This was the beginning of his lifelong struggles with depression, anxiety, anger and stress management. Dan shares what he has learned through hypnotherapy. Dan describes how he has come to terms, in the past couple of years, with the fact that he needed medication to support managing his...
Jul 15, 2018•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 25
In this episode, Al interviews Mike Veny, author, drummer, motivational speaker, and mental health advocate (recorded 6-7-18). Mike describes a challenging childhood consisting of being hospitalized on three different occasions, being expelled from three schools, self-harming, having violent episodes at home, and attempting suicide several times...all by the time he finished tenth grade of high school. After a significant depressive episode in 2011, Mike fell into advocating and speaking publicl...
Jul 01, 2018•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 24
In this episode, Al interviews Mike Schlossberg, a Pennsylvania State Representative and author (recorded 5-28-18). Mike is best known in his State Representative position for his work around mental health and education. He has been open about his own struggles of depression and anxiety that began at age eighteen. Mike is also a published author. His first book, Tweets and Consequences, is an anthology about the varied ways elected officials have destroyed their careers via social media. Mike's ...
Jun 17, 2018•52 min•Ep. 23
In this episode, Al interviews writer, poet, and mental health advocate Rene Mullen (recorded 2-7-18). Rene describes a childhood of being bullied that eventually drove him to self-harm (cutting) while just a sixth grader. Rene also describes a messy breakup that his parents went through and his father's attempted suicide. After years of cutting and using alcohol to self-medicate, Rene finally found support while attending college. He eventually found poetry to be a venue that allowed him to unp...
Jun 03, 2018•58 min•Ep. 22
In this episode, Al interviews Dr. Loren Olson, a psychiatrist and published author (recorded 2-13-18). Dr. Olson shares about his own challenges of depression and the depression that ran in his family. This included his grandfather, who tragically took his own life while living with Dr. Olson when Dr. Olson was only about six years old. Dr. Olson also speaks of the challenges of making the difficult choice of leaving his wife and kids at age forty to declare that he was gay. Dr. Olson is the au...
May 20, 2018•54 min•Ep. 21
In this episode, Al interviews Erez Shek, mental health advocate and vlogger (recorded 3-19-18). In this very candid interview, Erez opens up to the challenges he has had living with Bipolar Disorder; from receiving his Bipolar diagnosis on the phone, to seeing a doctor who disregarded his Bipolar diagnosis when prescribing medication to him, and to going to rehab for an addiction to Ambien. In addition, Erez tries to help us understand what it's like to be in the midst of a mania. Known for his...
May 06, 2018•1 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 20
In this episode, Al interviews Patrick Donnelly, editor and freelance writer (recorded 2-20-17). One of Al's very first interviews, he met Patrick for the first time in his basement to record the show. Patrick describes the overwhelming feelings of being a new father while starting a new job. Finally, after a lifelong battle with anxiety and depression, Patrick sought support thanks to what was essentially an ultimatum by his wife. Mentally healthy for quite some time, Patrick, like Al, continue...
Apr 22, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 19
Al interviews Jean-Francois Dupras, mountaineer & mental health advocate (recorded 12-14-17). Jean-Francois describes several traumatizing events early in his life. Self-medicating to get by, Jean-Francois ended up getting arrested as a teen. Soon thereafter, he created plan to take his own life. Originally from Quebec, Jean-Francois has lived near Banff National Park for approximately twelve years. He works at the park and is an outspoken mental health advocate. He loves mountaineering and ...
Apr 08, 2018•59 min•Season 1Ep. 18
In this episode, Al interviews Joe Barksdale , offensive tackle for the Los Angeles Chargers of the NFL (recorded 2-27-18). Joe describes the lifelong challenges he has endured living with depression. While Joe is currently at a place in which he has little hope of recovery, he is taking new steps that will hopefully help in move towards improved mental health. Joe is adamant about speaking out about the challenges of depression in order to support others with their recovery and to help normaliz...
Mar 25, 2018•44 min•Season 1Ep. 17
In this episode, Al interviews Josh Okerson, aspiring author (recorded 12-4-17). Josh discusses his long battle of panic disorder, anxiety, and depression. Josh shares his thoughts on medications and describes one of his most severe panic attacks in detail. He also shares a bit about the book he is writing, which depicts a profound experience that Josh had in which he spoke with God. You can find out more about his book, and even view the first few chapters, at absolutereality.org . If you enjoy...
Mar 11, 2018•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 16
In this episode, Al interviews Paul Currington, ex-comedian and now (still very funny) storyteller. Inspired by The Moth , Paul has created Fresh Ground Stories. Every fourth Thursday of the month, people gather at the Roy Street Coffee and Tea in Seattle, Washington to share true stories about their lives that still mean something weeks, months or even years later. In this episode, Paul shares about the many years he has struggled with depression that eventually led to a suicide attempt. Paul's...
Feb 25, 2018•1 hr 43 min•Season 1Ep. 15
In this episode, Al interviews Gary Pollard, founder of Men Tell Health (recorded 10-15-17). After months of stomach pains and misdiagnoses, Gary was finally admitted to the hospital, put through some tests, and sent directly to the operating table for exploratory surgery. During surgery, it was discovered that his colon had burst. Gary shares his struggles of dealing with a temporary colostomy bag and the trauma it had caused him. After an attempted suicide, Gary finally received support for PT...
Feb 11, 2018•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 14
In this episode, Al interviews John Solomon , lead singer and songwriter of the popular Twin Cities band, Communist Daughter (recorded 1-17-18). John shares his past struggles of addiction and living with bipolar 1 disorder. He shares some of the challenges of the manias, including firing his entire band from the back of a van to purchasing a restaurant because he enjoyed cooking. John describes how addiction and unmanaged bipolar disorder led to his arrest before he finally checked himself into...
Jan 28, 2018•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 13
In this episode, Al interviews Robert Vore, blogger, podcaster, and mental health advocate (recorded 9-17-17). Robert shares many of the struggles he had throughout his life in dealing with depression. He describes how he built a support system that included therapy and friends with whom he could open up to when he needed help. Robert also discusses some of the work he does around mental health advocacy, including his podcast, CXMH . You can learn more about Robert Vore on his website: robert-vo...
Jan 14, 2018•56 min•Ep. 12
In this episode, Al interviews John, a local city public works employee (recorded 2-15-17). One of Al's first interviews, John and Al were connected through a mutual acquantance of one of the several support groups for men with depression at Face It . At the time of this recording, only two days earlier, John had just completed nearly twelve weeks of rehab for his depression. He had also just started back at his job two days prior to the interview. John shares what some of his most challenging d...
Dec 31, 2017•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 11
In this episode, Al interviews blogger & podcaster, JP (recorded on 8-17-17). JP was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder over 14 years ago and more recently with Avoidant Personality Disorder and Dysthymia. JP shares what it's like to live with these diagnoses and his efforts to remain on the path to recovery. Having attempted suicide on more than one occasion, JP went to extremes to make sure that he could no longer buy a firearm. You can learn more about JP, read his blog, and hear hi...
Dec 17, 2017•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 10
In this bonus episode, Al interviews Tom Chapman, founder of The Lions Barber Collective (recorded on 9-10-17). Tom shares about his friend's tragic suicide that inspired him to create this collective of barbers who encourage men to speak about mental health. Hear about the work of the Collective as they "bridge the gap between the community and the professionals". Learn more about this international collective of top barbers who have come together to help raise awareness for the prevention of s...
Dec 10, 2017•51 min•Season 1Ep. 9
In this episode, Al interviews author of the recently released Beyond ADHD: Overcoming the Label and Thriving . Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, Jeff began speaking publicly to raise awareness of ADHD and mental health issues in 2011, following a suicide attempt and resulting ADHD diagnosis. In this episode, Jeff speaks about the suicide of his brother, his own experience with major depression, and his incredible advocacy work. You can find out more about Jeff on his website or follow him on ...
Dec 03, 2017•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 8
In this episode, Al interviews comedian Paul Gilmartin. Paul is the host of "The Mental Illness Happy Hour" , a very popular, weekly audio podcast consisting of interviews with artists, friends and the occasional doctor. His podcast is geared towards anyone interested in or affected by depression, addiction and other mental challenges which are so prevalent in the creative arts. In this episode, Paul discusses his lifelong challenges of dealing with depression and his personal insights into reco...
Nov 19, 2017•49 min•Ep. 7
In this episode, Al interviews mental health advocate & motivational speaker, Dennis Gillan. Dennis shares his powerful and inspirational story of surviving two separate sibling suicides. Learn more about Dennis, including how to book him for a speaking event at his website, dennisgillan.com . You'll also be able to find Dennis on Twitter @Dgillan If you enjoyed this episode, please click the 'like' button below. In addition, please know that comments are welcomed and encouraged! In addition...
Nov 05, 2017•55 min•Season 1Ep. 6
In this episode, Al interviews writer, advocate & sexual abuse survivor, Eddie Kedge. At age seven, Eddie was sexually assaulted by a stranger and forced to keep it a secret. Eddie shares what he calls, "The three pitfalls to the recovery of depression" and much more. You can learn more about Eddie, and see the actual newspaper article of this horrific incident, at his website eddiekedge.com . You can also find Eddie on Facebook . You'll also find Eddie on Pintrist and he Tweets @Eddie_Kedge...
Oct 22, 2017•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 5
In this episode, Al interviews British author, podcaster, & coach, James Prescott. At the young age of eight years old, James' mother nearly died from an asthma attack. After essentially losing her short term memory, the dynamics of the family quickly changed. Hear James describe the challenges of growing up in a family struggling to deal with the aftermath of this traumatic incident. Dealing with his own anger for many years, James describes how he finally sought counseling at the age of tw...
Oct 08, 2017•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this episode, Al interviews Hollywood producer Eric Thirteen. Eric describes the challenges of producing a suicide-themed short film while dealing with his own struggles of depression. Witty and down-to-earth, you'll enjoy this episode as Eric shares his insights into living and working with the illness. You can find much of Eric's work at ericthirteen.com and his IMDb page here . He is also the co-host of a podcast titled, Double Feature , in which he and his co-host, Michael Koester, discus...
Sep 24, 2017•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 3
In this first episode, being launched on World Suicide Prevention Day, Al interviews Steve Austin. Steve is a life coach, author, speaker, and host of the #AskSteveAustin podcast. You can find more about Steve at iamsteveaustin.com . You can find his best-selling From Pastor to a Psych Ward: Recovery from a Suicide Attempt is Possible and other books by clicking here . If you enjoyed this episode, please click the 'like' button below. In addition, please know that comments are welcomed and encou...
Sep 10, 2017•55 min•Ep. 2
