My guest Ann has experienced a lifelong struggle with bipolar disorder that results in extreme mood swings and depression. With the sudden loss of her young son, she embarks on a personal journey that reveals an unwavering inner strength.

The Silk Road was famed in days of old as a mysterious, magical route to purchase exotic goods from then little-known India and China. The Silk Road of modern times, built on the Dark Web by a troubled libertarian tech whiz, became a dark route to purchase anything illegal - from drugs to weapons to much worse. My guest Broc talks about his journey down the Silk Road to addiction, his plummet to rock bottom, and his road to recovery.

On this episode I'm joined by Mary from Brisbane, Australia, who was brought up Jehovah's Witness. She talks about being raised believing the end of the world was near and only the anointed had seats in heaven. Because of her struggles with god and family, she ends up leaving home at 15 to fend for herself on the streets. The miracle of her story is how she survived and flourished after such an extreme paradigm shift.

Guests Molly and Kelly share their terrifying stories of being stalked and raped. We discuss why rape goes unreported, the helplessness that accompanies trauma, and the internalizing of blame. If you've been in this situation or are currently going through this, please reach out for help. VictimsofCrime.org Stalking Resources http://bit.ly/help-for-victims SafeHorizons.org Help for Stalking Victims http://bit.ly/safe-horizons Safe Horizons hotline: 1-866-689-4357

Who defines relationships? Should relationships be restricted to being emotionally and physically intimate with a single person? Or, in this modern age, is it more practical to have our needs met by multiple consenting individuals? My guest Meredith discusses her open marriage, the nature of polyamory, and why her lifestyle works for her.

What comes after death - not the afterlife, but real life? If both of your parents die and someone asks about them, what do you say? Is it too sad or awkward to discuss how you really feel? On this episode, I speak openly about grief with my guest Hannah. My second guest, Courtney, is an artist specializing in Victorian mourning art who offers insight into how our views of death and mourning have shifted over the years.

When we hear the term “mental illness” we dismiss it as rare, someone else’s problem, or a criminal issue. It isn’t: it’s more common and afflicts more of us than you might believe.  One out of every five adults or around 43.8 million Americans are diagnosed with some form of mental illness every year. This means anyone who isn't suffering directly from mental illness is most likely living with or knows someone who is.  So why is it still being marginalized? This week I share my experience living with my brother who suffered from schizophrenia. My guest Tiffany discusses having bipolar disorder and tackling her personal demons.

Guest Kayla Jane Danger discusses ethical porn and how the industry functions. For all the protest about online information and how it should be free, users often forget that sex workers - most of them female - are trying to earn a livable wage. By downloading their work and not paying for it, users are violating intellectual copyright and effectively breaking the law. www.kayladanger.com www.mydollparts.com

Sometimes the road is less traveled for good reason. In the premiere episode I share how I learn a painful lesson after my older brother  takes me on a dangerous journey, and a listener relates a horrifying, unexpected discovery.