Our Fractured Minds

A conversation about dealing with PTSD, depression, and anxiety following an attack on one's self and having to manage the fallout from domestic abuse and sexual assault.

In this episode I speak with JMatt, a radio DJ out of Milwaukee about his own experiences with suicidal ideation and how they led to his work as an advocate for mental health.

A review of Mental Health at Austin's SXSW conference in March, a recap of season one, and a preview of what's to come of the show in 2018!

Our Season One season finale is with Phoenix Underwood, founder of the social network, emp(a)t(h)y, a platform for people struggling with grief and mental health. The concept came from his own experiences dealing with the loss of his father, and similar losses suffered from those of his closest friends. We discuss the potential of such a platform to help, and even harm, its users, and how sympathy may be great, but it often doesn't make people feel any less alone.

CAUTION: This episode involves a graphic description of a suicide attempt by strangulation.

This past week, a young sophomore from my Alma Mater, Ball State University, was found dead in his dorm room, after tragically taking his own life. His last tweet, and the story of his passing, inspired me to reflect on this podcast and my own life experiences with mental illness and my own personal story with suicide.

In this episode we speak on a variety of mental health topics, but none are more poignant than suicide, a topic my guest and I have both had to face in our lives. We discuss our own experiences facing it, our failed attempts, the fallout, living with the knowledge that you've already been willing to try, and, at least for our guest, how just surviving isn't enough. For her, you have to live with purpose.

We talk about depression, anxiety, confidence, bullying, ectodermal dysplasia, in an upbeat conversation on the state of mental health in America. Bullying isn't easy, and it's okay to to ask for help when trying to manage the repercussions.

A raw discussion on suicide. We discuss how it impacts loved ones and those who consider it as a last option.

Sasha Wolff, founder of Still I Run - Runners for Mental Health Awareness, joined me for a conversation around her organization and own dealings with managing her mental health. We spoke about a variety of issues including her own dealings with depression and anxiety, her time in a mental hospital, how she came to launch Still I Run, and what keeps her running forward today. Spoiler alert, it's a lot.

In recognition of Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, I sit down with Berrak Sarikaya, a Turkish Immigrant, and discuss her experiences with mental illness through the lens of another culture. We discuss the difficulties of fitting in, schizophrenia, the impact not seeking treatment has on others, and more.