Checkered Jaguar

In today’s episode we will be discussing a vital & crucial topic: mental illness from the parent’s perspective, and how to help your child who is dealing with mental illness. We are joined by my mom, Susie Dover, who has had two of her children deal with significant + challenging mental illnesses- me, and my brother Jensen. As Susie has been there for both my brother and I through anorexia, bipolar, and anxiety, she has learned MANY ways to help show unconditional love and support to us… which is why Suz is the perfect parent to help educate, inspire, and create an understanding for other parents surrounding this topic. 

Reach out to Susie: [email protected]

Instagram: @suzy_dover

Today I am going to be discussing a crucial and fitting topic in this modern world: social media. I will be sharing a unique perspective surrounding the positives of social media as well as the negatives. This episode is intended to educate you and help inform you about addictive patterns with social media as well as inspire you to end comparisons across all social media platforms. I know that social media can have a direct effect on your mental health and well-being and this is why I believe it is important we talk about it. 

Today we are joined by Melody Griffith who is an oncology social worker for the Mayo Clinic. I had the privilege of working with Melody while I was going through my treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer. In this episode we will be talking about what it’s like to be a social worker for individuals in such a sensitive/challenging time of their life and what Melody’s experience has been like as she has provided emotional support to cancer patients. 

Today we will be discussing Nicholas’s journey to psychiatry and his overall experience as a psychiatrist. We will be covering ways to take care of YOUR mental health + showcasing ways to end the stigma around mental illness. Something to keep in mind is that 1 in 5 U.S adults live with a mental illness, that's why it’s vital we have this conversation and continue normalizing the discussion surrounding mental health. Please share this episode with anyone you think could benefit from listening.

Today I am sharing what my journey with bipolar disorder as a young adult looked like. Some of the things I will be discussing today are things that I don’t normally share with people, mostly because it brings up memories that I don’t like to think about. But I believe that by sharing my story and being vulnerable, I may be able to inspire you to do the same. Get ready to learn… what the warning signs for bipolar look like, how to tell if someone you love is struggling with bipolar, how to help someone you love who is struggling, things you can do to take care of your mental health, and finally how you can live a happy and successful life with bipolar or any form of mental illness.

Today we are joined by Rebecca Jones. Rebecca is a neurologist and mother of Shannyn Leavitt, who was a previous guest on the Checkered Jaguar podcast. If you missed Shannyn's episode, we covered his experience with “coming out” and being a transgender individual. In this new episode we will be providing an important perspective from the parent’s point of view on what it's like to have a transgender child. Rebecca has powerful insight to offer listeners on what it’s like have a child who is part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Today we will be talking about controversial but very crucial subject matter that I feel needs to be shared: the importance of self-pleasure. The overall theme of this episode and my stance towards this topic is that self-pleasure IS a form of self-care. It's time to get vulnerable and de-stigmatize the conversation around self-pleasure.

Today we are joined by Shannyn Leavitt who will be sharing his experience with being a transgender individual who has undergone the necessary steps to live in the body he has always felt he belonged to. This episode is an amazing awareness check and opportunity for listeners to gain a better understanding into what being transgender really means.

Today we are joined by the incredible Tina McGuff all the way from Scotland! Tina is an Anorexia survivor, mental health advocate, and best-selling author of her memoir Seconds to Snap. In this episode we will be covering Tina’s story from crippling Anorexia and suicide trauma to full recovery. With a very similar shared background of mental illness, Tina and I have a lot of insight and valuable experiences that can motivate and inspire those who may be affected or have loved ones who are affected by mental illness.

In this episode we are joined by Leah Frandsen and her daughter Savannah Perez. Together we will be breaking down the stigma and having honest conversations on what it really is like to identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.