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Hi this is Jay Insalaco, host of Instinctive Talk. I want to thank you for turning into all of my episodes this past season. 

I want to thank all of my guests first and foremost for allowing me to share their stories and experiences with mental health. 

For all my listeners this past season, thank you for turning in and taking your time to listen. 

While reflecting on this season, I was able to come to a deeper understanding of what good mental health means. I feel like I succeeded to understand why I stopped being a mental health advocate for four years after my friend died by suicide. I learned that we as people don’t know each other’s pain and need to be more empathetic to each other’s feelings and learn to just listen. 

This season helped me understand that while I live with bipolar disorder and addiction issues, I need to accept myself first and foremost. I’m truly grateful to have started up this podcast after my four year hiatus. This podcast season has helped me grow and be more empathetic to not only my guests but to the people around me. 

If you missed any of my podcast episodes, they’re available on all podcast platforms and on my website InstinctiveBird.com. 

If you take anything from my podcasts, I recommend to be kind, be humble, and share your experiences with others. 

Thank you for listening and please share any of my episodes with anyone you know who might need to hear them.

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Hi, this is Jay Insalaco, and I’m your host of Instinctive Talk, today my guest is Kevin Hines.

Kevin Hines’ story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and a reminder for us to love the life we have. Kevin is a multi-award-winning filmmaker, bestselling author and an award-winning global suicide prevention and mental health advocate.

Two years after he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 19, he attempted to take his own life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. He is now one of only 36 people who’ve survived that 220-foot jump. Kevin's story is now the only evidence- based story of a suicide attempt survived.

Though that fall would break his body, it did not break his spirit. Since that fateful day, Kevin has dedicated his life to spreading a message of hope and openly discussing mental health, often times becoming a bridge between people who have made similar attempts and their parents, siblings, children, spouses and friends.

Kevin released a memoir, "Cracked, Not Broken: Surviving and Thriving After A Suicide Attempt," in 2013 that went on to become a bestseller and produced the 2018 multi- award-winning documentary Suicide: The Ripple Effect. His compelling story has impacted diverse audiences at schools, corporations, law enforcement organizations, religious groups, the military, health care organizations and more. He has been told by thousands of people that his story helped saved their lives and he never takes that for granted.

In 2016, Mental Health America awarded him its highest honor, the Clifford W. Beers Award, for his efforts to improve the lives of, and attitudes toward, people with mental illnesses. He was also awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Council for Behavioral Health in partnership with Eli Lilly, and he was named a Voice Awards Fellow and Award Winner by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded him more than 70 military excellence medals as a civilian.

Kevin currently resides on the east coast with his wife, Margaret, but visits San Francisco often where he’s been working toward the creation of a safety net for the Golden Gate Bridge.Thousands of people have attempted suicide from the bridge since Kevin survived. Kevin’s fervent pursuit will come to fruition by 2023 when the net will be complete.

Kevin's Website: Kevin Hines Story

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Instinctive Talk. If you want to connect with me, please visit my website at InstinctiveBird.com. If you want to buy a personalized version of my book “No More Crutch”, it’s also available on my website. If you could, please subscribe and leave a review for the podcast. Again this is Jay Insalaco, thanks for listening, tune in next time to Instinctive Talk.

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Welcome and thank you for tuning into Instinctive Talk, I’m your host, Jay Insalaco. This episode is to promote hope for my fellow peers and their loved ones who support them. 

On todays episode of Instinctive Talk I’m going to be talking about denial.

“When a person is in denial about a situation they are going through, like I was, it usually has a negative effect on them. In my experience, being in denial has taken away happiness from my life. If I was in acceptance of my diagnosis and treatment earlier in my life I believe I would have been much happier and reached a stability quicker in my life”.

I want to thank you for tuning into this episode of Instinctive Talk. If you want to connect with me, please visit my website at InstinctiveBird.com. If you want to buy a personalized version of my book “No More Crutch”, it’s also available on my website. If you could, please subscribe and leave a review for the podcast, I would greatly appreciate it. Again this is Jay Insalaco, thanks for listening, tune in next time to Instinctive Talk.

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Hi, this is Jay Insalaco, and I’m your host of Instinctive Talk, today my guest is Stephenie Zamora.

Stephenie Zamora is an author and coach, business and marketing strategist, and founder of Stephenie Zamora Media—a digital media and production company, publishing house, and a full-service life-purpose development, branding, and online marketing boutique. Her company has been merging the worlds of personal development, digital media, and online marketing to help individuals build purpose-driven lives and businesses for over a decade. Stephenie's work helps catalyze individuals on their healing and growth journeys so they can uncover the purpose of their path, step into who they're here to be, and do the work they're here to do. She does this through several distinct brand verticals that follow a proven five-phase process and house various digital media content, educational programs, inspirational and motivational products, and services to support their growth at any scale. Learn more at www.StephenieZamora.com, or connect with Stephenie on Instagram and YouTube!

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Instinctive Talk. If you want to connect with me, please visit my website at InstinctiveBird.com. If you want to buy a personalized version of my book “No More Crutch”, it’s also available on my website. If you could, please subscribe and leave a review for the podcast. Again this is Jay Insalaco, thanks for listening, tune in next time to Instinctive Talk.

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Welcome and thank you for tuning into Instinctive Talk, I’m your host, Jay Insalaco. This episode is to promote hope for my fellow peers and their loved ones who support them. 

Today’s episode of Instinctive Talk will be a solo episode where I talk about seasonal affective disorder or SAD. 

I’ve been living with bipolar disorder type I for over 27 years and have had many years when the time changed in the fall, here in NJ, where I started experiencing depression or SAD. 

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Instinctive Talk. If you want to connect with me, please visit my website at InstinctiveBird.com. If you want to buy a personalized version of my book “No More Crutch”, it’s also available on my website. If you could, please subscribe and leave a review for the podcast. Again this is Jay Insalaco, thanks for listening, tune in next time to Instinctive Talk.

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Welcome and thank you for tuning into Instinctive Talk, I’m your host, Jay Insalaco. This episode is to promote hope for my fellow peers and their loved ones who support them.
Today on Instinctive Talk my guest is Gabe Howard. Gabe Howard is an award-winning podcast host, author, and sought-after speaker. In 2003, he was diagnosed with bipolar and anxiety disorders after being committed to a psychiatric hospital. Gabe hosts the weekly Inside Mental Health podcast for Healthline Media and is the author of Mental Illness is an Asshole. 

Visit Gabe on his website, gabehoward.com

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Instinctive Talk. If you want to connect with me, please visit my website at InstinctiveBird.com. If you want to buy a personalized version of my book “No More Crutch”, it’s also available on my website. If you could, please subscribe and leave a review for the podcast. Again this is Jay Insalaco, thanks for listening, tune in next time to Instinctive Talk.

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Bart studied Human Resource Management at Ryerson University in Toronto and holds a Master degree in Education from Yorkville University in Fredericton, New Brunswick. In practice he is a Leader with The Stability Network, an Advance Level WRAP Facilitator, Performance Management Consultant and Life Coach. He has over 30 years of leadership experience in operations management and people development, a member of several boards, an active volunteer at Faith Sanctuary Pentecostal Church, Peer Support Specialist at the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario, Research Advisor at the Centre for Mental Health and Addiction and he sits on the Sunnybrook Hospital Patient Advisory Committee just to list a few things he is engaged in.

Bart’s has struggled with mental health challenges all his life, however for the past 10 years he has been living in recovery and now his hope is to inspire those suffering with mental illness or is supporting someone who is suffering in silence, break free from self-stigma, recover, and find wellness. Finally, he is a published author whose memoir can be used as a tool by anyone who is seeking to learn how to (for lack of a choice of a better term) “turn the lemons of their life into lemonade” and his second book is a practical guide to help those who are interested to learning how to balance their mood and live a more productive life with or without the affects of mental illness.

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Instinctive Talk. If you want to connect with me, please visit my website at InstinctiveBird.com. If you want to buy a personalized version of my book “No More Crutch”, it’s also available on my website. If you could, please subscribe and leave a review. Again this is Jay Insalaco, thanks for listening, tune in next time to Instinctive Talk. 

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Michelle Hammer is a Schizophrenia Activist and spends her time passionately fighting stigma. She is an NYC native featured in the WebMD documentary Voices, which was nominated for a Tribeca X Award at the Tribeca Film Festival 2018. Michelle was diagnosed with schizophrenia at 22 after a misdiagnosis of bipolar at age 18. At 27, Michelle decided to use her artistic talents and fearless personality to do something that could benefit the mental health community. In May 2015, she founded a mental health-focused clothing brand. Schizophrenic.NYC is a clothing brand with the mission of reducing stigma by starting conversations about mental health.

Visit Michelle's Website, Schizophrenic. NYC

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Instinctive Talk. If you want to connect with me, Jay Insalaco, please visit my website at InstinctiveBird.com. If you want to buy a personalized version of my book “No More Crutch”, it’s also available on my website. If you could, please subscribe and leave a review. Again,  this is Jay Insalaco, thanks for listening, tune in next time to Instinctive Talk.

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Emily Grossman, MA, CPRP, NYCPS-P, has worked in mental health for over a decade, beginning on the “front lines” as a peer specialist in community mental health in NJ.  After several years, she transitioned to doing mental health provider training and systems change work at large organizations such as The Jewish Board, Columbia’s Center for Practice Innovations, and the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS).  In 2018, she was the winner of the National Council for Behavioral Health’s prestigious “Peer Specialist of the Year” Award.  Currently, Emily is the Director of the Training Institute at Coordinated Behavioral Care and has a small private peer specialist practice. Emily frequently speaks nationally about mental health recovery.  She holds a Master’s in Education from Columbia University.  

To connect with Emily, visit her website emilygrossman.net, her email [email protected], or  you can  visit her on LinkedIn.

Thanks for tuning into this episode of Instinctive Talk. If you want to connect with me, Jay Insalaco, please visit my website at InstinctiveBird.com. If you want to buy a personalized version of my book “No More Crutch”, it’s also available on my website. If you could, please subscribe and leave a review. Again,  this is Jay Insalaco, thanks for listening, tune in next time to Instinctive Talk.

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