Live Well Bipolar ™

Excited to share a story with you all this week about both the consequences and blessings that arise as a result of neglecting mental, physical and emotional health. 

My guest this week, Courtney Noelle, details what it was like to start and lose a business she poured her heart into during COVID... and how she found her calling to serve women in a way she never thought possible. 

Courtney is a 2x Entrepreneur, Podcast Host, Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor and Advanced Functional Nutrition Practitioner in training. She teaches health-conscious women how to feel in control of their body by identifying and healing the root-cause of their mental, physical, and emotional symptoms.

Also...Courtney is an active mental health advocate living with Bipolar Disorder 2 and shares what it was like to experience psychosis, hospitalization and the journey to prioritizing her peace.

My guest this week breaks down the light and dark sides surrounding recovery from drug addiction and the role of bipolar. 

Going from #1 rated television host, 17 years in radio and secretly struggling with an opioid addiction and bipolar diagnosis.... to successfully receiving treatment and reaching sobriety....

Matthew Tompkins joins me to share the unexpected lessons he took away from his experiences with bipolar amidst his busy lifestyle.

Matt is the co-owner of Two Brothers Creative, a podcast video production company, host of 'The Omaha Podcast' featuring Omaha's most successful entrepreneurs and host of 'It's the Fix,' his first podcast about addiction and mental health that has been on hiatus for a year. Matt describes the pressure of hiding his diagnosis and the gift that vulnerability brought to him upon sharing his experiences. 

For more Matt, check him out here. 

What is it like to go from working at a suicide hotline, traveling the world as a freelance tour guide, hosting a podcast and trying to heal your own self?

My amazing guest this week, Allison Toth, gets into the impactful lessons she learned so far living with bipolar 1 and borderline personality disorder. Allison shares the moments that broke her down and the beautifully unexpected ones that built her up.  

Allison gets into the role of self-discovery in breaking the bipolar stigma and the steps you can take to start to build the life you have always dreamed of yourself. 

For more Allison, connect with her here. 

Have you ever kept a secret related to struggles you faced with your mental health or bipolar?

I am joined by Kitt O'Malley, author of "Balancing Act: Writing Through a Bipolar Life," mental health advocate, speaker for NAMI, and former psychotherapist.

Kitt details how she transitioned multiple paths in life from drastic changes in career to discovering a purpose she never thought would belong to her. 

Kitt shares how she met her future husband at her lowest moment, committed to publishing her memoir and started down the road to advocacy and how you can too!

For more Kitt check her out here! 

How has the power of building and being part of different communities helped my guest?

This week I sit down with Shaley Hoogendoorn as she shares the power in the community she has been part of to play a role in the creation of "this is bipolar" podcast! 

Shaley is a speaker, vlogger and co-host of "This is Bipolar" podcast who aims to dismantle the stigma around mental health and create a safe community for those that struggle. She lives with bipolar ll, and is passionate about educating and empowering others about mental health disorders. She has contributed to publications for Sanctuary Ministries, Psych Central and BP Hope magazine. Shaley is also an elementary school teacher and event planner.

Tune in to hear Shaley recount what it was like to share her diagnosis publicly for the first time, how she teaches her children about mental illness and the ways in which she has effectively worked to decrease the stigma so far!

Have you ever struggled to find anything to help after receiving a diagnosis of bipolar? Or have your tried a number of different treatments or medications to reach no answers?

My guest this week shares how one of her favorite doctors who helped her discover a treatment that works.... later became her favorite teacher in medical school. 

Dr. Tara Peyman is a naturopathic doctor and the clinical director of Integrative Mental Health Center, where she focuses on providing holistic treatment options for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and complex trauma.

Join me as we chat with Shannon Vought, a 31 year old IT Project Manager living in Charlotte, NC trying to figure how to live her best life with Bipolar II.

We will learn what coping skills have worked for Shannon along with what her experience was like in the psych ward and how she manages thought spirals.

Connect with Shannon here on her Tik Tok account called "shewearsgrippysocks." Shannon shares why this is the only form of social media she is active on and how her vulnerability with living with bipolar II helps others.

Diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder 12 years ago is never something my guest this week thought would ever be her reality. 

Not only was the diagnosis a surprise, but something Amelia Zachry thought she already understood. 

Amelia is the author of "Enough: A Memoir of Mistakes, Mania, and Motherhood." She is a wife and mother of two girls who shares her story of why she is speaking up.

Tune in to hear what has helped Amelia balance a stable marriage, motherhood, seeking professional treatment for her diagnosis and how you can overcome your greatest obstacle. 

For more Amelia, follow her here.... and check out her work and story here. 

Lauren Contey is a Licensed Associate Counselor, wife and mother of 2 who never experienced a day of depression in her life....

Lauren is 32 now and in the middle of trying to figure out her diagnosis while being a sign of hope for others online here.

Make sure to connect with Lauren again.... here and here. 

Do you ever feel like you put your needs on the back burner? Like you have tried to open up before about your diagnosis or mental health with no success?

This is the episode for you to learn from my guest, Charise Jewell, all about how she learned to navigate the many challenges thrown her way by bipolar disorder. 

Charise is the author of, "Crazy: Memoir of a Mom Gone Mad," her story about her bipolar 1 diagnosis and recovery and "Normal," a soon-to-be released novel about mental illness for tweens. 

Tune in to uncover ways that Charise has been able to improve stability, advocate for herself and overcome the pattern of thinking that used to plague all of her days. 

For more Charise check her out here and follow her here!

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