Inside Mental Health is an award-winning weekly podcast that approaches psychology and mental health in an accessible way. Listen as our host Gabe Howard speaks candidly with experts, celebrities, and other notables to break down complex topics into simpler terms.
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I’m Glad My Mom Died with Jennette McCurdy
“I’m glad my mom died,” said almost no one. Except it’s the title of a new book by Jennette McCurdy, Nickelodeon actress turned author. Our host Gabe Howard simply had to know: Is McCurdy truly glad her mom died? And if so, Why?
Alanis Morissette on Anger, Anxiety, and Being Multitudinous
Morissette discusses her role as a feminist icon, the mental health lessons she has drawn after 25 years in the public eye, and what it means to be multitudinous. Join us as she talks about her experiences with anxiety and depression, and why she doesn’t dislike being labeled as angry — even though she’s “irretrievably Canadian and relational.”
Advice I’d Give My Younger Self with Wil Wheaton
Wheaton recently updated his memoir from twenty years ago, adding footnotes and parenthetical comments talking to his younger self, and in many cases decrying his previous racism, homophobia, and misogyny. How did he manage to confront his younger self without dying of shame?
Jillian Michaels Talks the Intersection of Mental and Physical Health
Famed physical trainer Jillian Michaels explains why mental health is just as important as physical health, and she helps us “find our why.” You may be able to get inspiration from this podcast, but it’s your why that will give you the motivation to keep going.
Donald Trump and Narcissism
“Donald Trump is a textbook narcissist.” We’ve all heard that many times over the past 6 years. But what, exactly, does that mean? What is a narcissist? Join us as Dr. Karyne Messina from Suburban Hospital | Johns Hopkins Medicine discusses narcissism, as well as her book, “Aftermath: Healing from the Trump Presidency.”
Do Non-Monogamous Relationships Have Jealousy Issues?
Do people who practice consensual non-monogamy or polyamory have higher rates of jealousy than those who are in monogamous relationships? What types of people are involved in these types of relationships?
Resiliency with Good Morning America’s Dr. Jennifer Ashton
Resilience is a word we’ve been hearing a lot lately, but does anyone really understand what it means — or if you have it? Good Morning America’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton knows a thing or two about resilience. In today’s episode, she helps us understand it, too.
Celebrity Mom, Son with Bipolar: Twin Peak’s Mädchen Amick Opens Up
When “Twin Peaks” and “Riverdale’s” Mädchen Amick’s son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she was already a famous actress. Many would think that would shield her family from the worst of the American mental health care system, but as we hear about the difficulties she and her husband faced getting their son the care he needed (and needs), we discover that their family’s story sounds very much like many family’s stories.
BIPOC Workplace Mental Health
Do you understand concepts like code-switching and why the BIPOC community sees the need to do so? While we’re beginning to understand that the overall needs of the BIPOC community are different from the needs of the white community, that doesn’t mean it’s being applied everywhere — like in the workplace.
The Menstrual Cycle, Stigma, and Mental Health
Menstruation is one of those topics that has long been surrounded by misunderstanding and stigma and Dr. Sara C. Flowers tells us why in today’s episode. Listen in as she explains how this common biological function can affect one’s mood and mental health, while sharing personal experiences of her own.
Asian Mental Health with The Biggest Loser Executive Producer
In this episode, television producer Joel Relampagos discusses the intersectionality of his identities — Asian American, former addict, and gay man — and how the wave of hate crimes against Asian people has impacted him and his community. We discuss his latest project, which was developed to stop Asian hate, titled “Recipe for Change,” featuring interviews with luminaries Michelle Kwan, BD Wong, and Lisa Ling.
Marginalized Communities and the Healing Justice Model
Yolo Akili Robinson, the executive director of BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective), explains how his organization utilizes healing justice to engage with marginalized communities. Yolo explains why he advocates for discussions surrounding mental health and mental illness in the Black community to include how racism, sexism, and other biases are deeply intertwined with psychology and psychiatry.
Busting Common Brain Myths
We commonly hear things like “We only use 10% of our brains” and “The brain is divided into the emotional right brain and our rational left brain.” But is that true, or just myths passed down as facts from generation to generation?
Real Life with Anorexia: One Woman’s Journey
Anorexia survivor and mental health advocate Alex Carroll shares her firsthand experiences of her recovery journey. She candidly talks about what it was like to be inpatient, what happened to her after getting out of the hospital, and how anorexia is so much more than an out-of-control diet. Join us for a powerful firsthand account of life with anorexia.
Dr. Phil McGraw Talks Transitioning Out of the Pandemic
With many of us struggling to understand the mental health toll of the past 18 months, it can be overwhelming to transition into the “new normal” of a post-pandemic life. Dr. Phil shares his unique blend of straight talk and folksy wisdom to help navigate our way through — and out — of this difficult time.
Is Sex a Skill We Are Born With?
For some people, having and loving sex comes easily, but they’re not in the majority. Great sex is an ongoing exploration, not a singular, fixed destination. And everyone’s sex life changes over time.
What Is Narcissism Exactly?
Celebrities, politicians, and bosses are constantly being referred to as narcissists. But what does that really mean? Is there an official medical definition of a “narcissist” or is it just a random insult hurled at people we dislike?
What is Motivational Interviewing?
Motivational interviewing is a common phrase these days, but what is it? Is it only for counselors, or can anyone use it? And if anyone can use it, how? Today’s guest has trained thousands of people in motivational interviewing techniques.
Women of Color and Online Mental Health
In this episode our guest breaks down the need for culturally competent mental health services, explains barriers to treatment for women of color, and helps us understand that while diversity is important, it needs to be more than just a buzzword.
Transgender and LGBTQIA+ Mental Health
Are you familiar with the concept of “gender affirming care” in medical treatment? What about the unique mental health needs of this community? Do you know what all the letters in LGBTQIA+ stand for? Join us now to learn all this and more.
Affair-Proof Your Marriage
We all get married fantasizing the happily ever after — after all, we found “the one.” But studies have shown that up to 50% of married people will have an affair, which begs the questions: Why are so many people cheating on their spouses? And how can you stay out of that statistic? Today’s guest explains how to “affair-proof” your relationship.
LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide Prevention
The risk of suicide among LGBTQ+ youth is almost 4 times higher than for youth who don’t identify as LGBTQ+. If that surprises you, the cause of the increase will be even more shocking.
Is Open Adoption Psychologically Healthy?
What exactly is open adoption? Is it psychologically healthy for the child and adoptive parents? Are there lingering fears, like the birth parents will come back to “steal” away the child? Today’s guest, Dawn Friedman, an expert on adoption, breaks down the research, shares her experiences, and addresses the fears biological parents often have.
Is Plastic Surgery Vain?
Plastic surgeon, Dr. James C. Marotta has repeatedly heard patients, particularly women, express shame and guilt about wanting to change their appearance. They second-guess themselves and worry about seeming superficial or vain. Listen in as he explains why you should never feel bad about wanting to look how you choose.
The 80/80 Relationship Model
What are your goals in your marriage? Are you trying to make sure everything’s fair and that you and your spouse are contributing equally to the relationship? Today’s guests explain why that could be a recipe for failure.
Clubhouse Model For People with Mental Illness
Do you know what a peer clubhouse is? What about a member’s only clubhouse for people living with mental illness? These types of clubhouses have existed since 1949 and there are over 200 in the United States alone.
Juilliard Conductor with Bipolar Disorder
The Me2/Orchestra was co-founded and is conducted by Juilliard graduate Ronald Braunstein, who lives with bipolar disorder. His orchestra is featured in the new documentary, “Orchestrating Change,” that tells the inspiring story of the only orchestra in the world created by and for people living with mental illness, and those who support them.
Welcome to the New Psych Central Website
After 25 years, Psych Central has received a makeover. Some things are the same, some are new, and some are different. Join us for today’s show as we learn about the new Psych Central and meet our newly minted — and super cool — Editor in Chief, Faye McCray.
Psychology of Atheist Funerals
How do families and friends of an atheist or nonbeliever mourn their passing when the majority of our traditions are religion-based? Additionally, can someone build a community without religion — and is it even important to do so?
Psychology of Forensics
Most people believe that forensic science is an exact science that can always find the right perpetrator. But is that actually true? Today’s expert explains the reality behind fingerprint analysis, DNA, and other forensic sciences.
Are Mental Health Apps Safe?
At last count, there were over 300 mental health-related apps in the app stores. With this many, how do you choose? How do they differ from each other, and do they actually help? Most importantly, how do we know which ones are safe?
Are Introverts Good Leaders?
When we think of leaders, we automatically think of them as charismatic, talkative, and extremely extroverted. But is that true? What about the leaders who aren’t so obvious — who operate in a quieter way?
Bringing Out Your Inner Child
Stefanie Stahl, one of Europe’s leading psychotherapists, shares how the metaphors of the sun child, shadow child, and inner adult will help you improve your relationships.
One Decision to a Better Life with Coach Mike Bayer
Mike Bayer is one of the best known life coaches in America. In today’s episode, Coach Mike shares his philosophy on how to live authentically. Can one decision really be the key to a better life? What does living authentically even mean?
Adoption and Mental Health Issues
In this episode, we hear from two experts with over 40 years of combined experience in the adoption field. Together, they’ll help us understand the mental health needs for children — and adults — who have been adopted or are currently in foster care.
Trauma’s Impact on Police Officers
Police officers are much more likely to die by suicide than they are to be killed in the line of duty — however, that isn’t the common understanding. While society works hard to prevent law enforcement fatalities, mental health and suicide often remain overlooked. Why is that?
What is ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)?
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)? Is it just for select issues or can everyone benefit from ACT? Is there any evidence to support that ACT works at all? Dr. Steven C. Hayes, one of the pioneers of ACT, answers these questions and shares some of the interesting applications of ACT, ranging from helping professional athletes to Fortune 500 companies.
What Are Boundaries and Why Do They Matter?
Most people think they have good boundaries. But when pressed, they can’t often explain what their boundaries are — let alone maintain positive ones. Today’s guest, Nancy Kalina Gomez, explains that boundaries aren’t about being defensive or hostile. Healthy boundaries strengthen our ability to honor our needs and wants, showing the world how we expect to be treated. Gomez also discusses how to communicate those boundaries without offending our loved ones.
Is Grieving a Lifelong Process?
When Hope Edelman was 17, her mother died. Like many families in the 1980s, Hope’s family soldiered on by grieving her mother’s death in silence. This climate of silence around death caused her to feel shame around the topic and disconnected from her mother. This spurred the beginning of Edelman’s career as a community educator surrounding death and grieving. In this episode, she answers the question “Is grieving a lifelong process?”
Understanding Self-Injury
Finding out that someone you know is self-harming can be confusing and unsettling. In today’s episode we learn more about this behavior and what causes people to self-injure. How common is it? What type of person self-injures? Most importantly, is this something people can overcome? If so, what steps can we take to move past self-injury?
Recognizing Suicidal Behavior
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and over three times more people will die by suicide than will be murdered every year. Yet myths about suicide and those who die by it abound. Join today’s guest, Dr. Doreen Marshall, vice-president of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to learn about some of these damaging myths.
Stigma of Borderline Personality Disorder
The stigma associated with borderline personality disorder (BPD) is well documented among the general public and within the treatment community. In this week’s episode, we discuss specifically why this disorder, and the people who are diagnosed with it, are so often stigmatized?
Inside Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a common, yet often misunderstood psychiatric disorder. In this episode, Dr. Joseph W. Shannon describes the hallmarks of BPD, what is required for a formal diagnosis, and explains the best practices for treatment.