#697 Best Of: Chris Fairbanks - Growing Up Around Dementia

#697 Best Of: Chris Fairbanks - Growing Up Around Dementia

Author: Paul Gilmartin May 24, 2024 Duration: 58:43
A favorite among listeners, this Best Of episode was originally recorded in 2011, in the first months of the podcast. Stand-up Comedian, Skateboarder and co-host (with Karen Kilgariff) of the podcast Do You Need A Ride? Chris Fairbanks (aka @Chris_Fairbanks) talks with Paul about his mother’s battle with alcoholism, Alzheimer’s and Dementia and its effect on him growing up and today. They talk about the link between pain and creativity, peer acceptance, dark voices in their heads and they both share chilling stories about dead people. To find out more about Chris: www.ChrisFairbanks.com Social media IG @Chris_Fairbanks X @ChrisFairbanks Listen to Do You Need A Ride? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/do-you-need-a-ride-with-chris-fairbanks-and-karen-kilgariff/id869415596?mt=2 WAYS TO HELP THE MIHH PODCAST Subscribe via iTunes and leave a review. It costs nothing. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mental-illness-happy-hour/id427377900?mt=2 Spread the word via social media.  It costs nothing. Our website is www.mentalpod.com our FB is www.Facebook.com/mentalpod and our Twitter and Instagram are both @Mentalpod  Become a much-needed Patreon monthly-donor (with occasional rewards) for as little as $1/month at www.Patreon.com/mentalpod    Become a one-time or monthly donor via PayPal at https://mentalpod.com/donate You can also donate via Zelle (make payment to mentalpod@gmail.com)  To donate via Venmo make payment to @Mentalpod  Try Our Sponsor’s Products/Services See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hosted by comedian Paul Gilmartin, Mental Illness Happy Hour has become a unique and essential space for conversations many shy away from. This isn't a clinical program, but rather a series of raw, honest dialogues where Gilmartin and his guests share their personal experiences with mental health struggles, addiction, fear, and the lasting impacts of childhood trauma. The atmosphere is intentionally crafted to be a perversely safe place, a description noted by The New York Times, where vulnerability is met with compassion rather than judgment. Listeners will find a podcast that deliberately explores the grey areas of human experience, with Slate Magazine highlighting Gilmartin's conscious effort to share stories that aren't simply black and white. It’s this approach that has led publications like Psychology Today to call it "remarkable" and Esquire to deem it a vital gem addressing a deep need. Tuning in, you'll hear a blend of personal narrative, dark humor, and profound connection that has earned the show a global audience and recognition as a top health podcast. Each episode serves as a reminder that you're not alone in your struggles, creating a sense of community through shared, often unvarnished truth.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Mental Illness Happy Hour
Podcast Episodes
#746 Disillusionment - Rich Forer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:15
Rich Forer is a Jewish-American author and activist. He discusses his perspective of growing up Jewish, being a member of AIPAC, and how his perspective on Palestine shifted dramatically, shattering his entire worldview.…
#745 Dr Jessica Zucker - The Hard To Talk About [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:54:03
Dr. Jessica Zucker returns to the podcast for her 4th visit, focusing on the importance of talking about hard things: Cancer, miscarriages, perimenopause, and more. Watch for her new book, Normalize It: Upending the Sile…
#744 Loss - Financial & Familial - Mark M [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:43
Mark M is Paul’s friend from a support group. He visits the podcast to share his story of addiction, growing up entrenched in deception, and how he eventually broke the pattern in his adult life. He digs into his complic…
#743 Sex Addiction Therapy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:58:56
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#742 Jennifer Westcott Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:16
Jennifer Westcott is a therapist who has shared her story of sexual abuse at the hands of her mother. She returns for her second visit on the pod and opens up about the emotional hangover she had after recording her firs…
#741 Sexually Abusive Mothers - Jennifer Westcott [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:06:11
Jennifer Westcott is a therapist who, as an adult, began to recall sexual abuse by her mother. She and Paul both dig deep to talk about maternal sexual abuse and why it’s so difficult for people to understand and accept.…
#740 Dialectical Behavior Therapy - Dr. Blaise Aguirre [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:48:35
Dr. Blaise Aguirre is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He specializes in dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) with a particular focus on borderline personality disorder (BPD). He discusses…
#739 Male Body Images Issues - Ryan Sheldon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:37
Ryan Sheldon (@RealRyanSheldon) is a speaker, a model, an eating disorder advocate, and the author of F*ckboys Are Boring: A Gay Man’s Guide to Dating (For Everyone). He shares excerpts from his book and talks about his…
#738 Best Of: Jeanie Bergen - Parentless at 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:06:42
This Best Of episode was originally recorded and aired in 2015. Jeanie, a writer, talks about being parentless at 3 and the complex relationship with her mentally disabled sister whom she now has guardianship of. She and…
#737 Rebuilding A Life From Scratch - Matt D [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:40
Matt D. is a good friend of Paul's who shares his story of starting over after a divorce, a career change, and getting sober—while owning a weed store in California. He also talks about the surprising joy he finds in liv…