#774 Hitting A Therapy Wall - Anna Runkle aka The Crappy Childhood Fairy

#774 Hitting A Therapy Wall - Anna Runkle aka The Crappy Childhood Fairy

Author: Paul Gilmartin November 14, 2025 Duration: 1:37:46
Anna Runkle, aka @CrappyChildhoodFairy, joins Paul to share her experience of growing up in a commune, living with CPTSD, and finding new ways to heal when talk therapy wasn’t working. Look for her new book Connectability: Heal the Hidden Ways You Isolate, Find Your People and Feel (At Last) Like You Belong. For more about Anna:   https://crappychildhoodfairy.com   https://www.youtube.com/@crappychildhoodfairy   https://www.instagram.com/crappychildhoodfairy/   https://www.facebook.com/CrappyChildhoodFairy/   https://twitter.com/cchildhoodfairy   https://www.hayhouse.com/shop-by-topic/relationships/parenting/connectability-hardcover?srsltid=AfmBOop3l4ofaw9DeUdvL23mV2AhKbiznZ3InNUl4I6eKHklyLKNMhAQ   https://www.hayhouse.com/re-regulated-hardcover?srsltid=AfmBOoqaOonBYV6agjPSXfIEftToqSPXLocThpF0OcqUmEBB25om6bHH Paul mentioned a book that a listener recommended called A World Made By Hand by James Howard Kuntsler. Paul also mentioned a new podcast called Brain Stories. You can find it at www.BrainStoriesProductions.com This episode is sponsored Quince. Go to www.Quince.com/mental for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. This episode is sponsored by NOCD.  If you're struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15 minute call to get started: https://learn.nocd.com/mentalpod If you’re interested in seeing or buying the furniture that Paul designs and makes follow his IG @ShapedFurniture or visit the website www.shapedfurniture.com    WAYS TO HELP THE MIHH PODCAST Subscribe via Apple Podcasts (or whatever player you use). It costs nothing. It’s extremely helpful to have your subscription set to download all episodes automatically. 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  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
#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…
#736 Transgenerational Trauma - Jen Soriano [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:39:16
Jen Soriano is a Filipinx author, musician, and first-generation American. She shares important context about Filipino history and how transgenerational trauma plays out for so many people, including her own family. She…
#734 School Pressure, Being Gay & Boundaries: Jon-Luc [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:27
Paul’s support group friend, Jon Luc, opens up about the ways that school took an incredible mental toll on his life and how being gay in this world has also created challenges. He shares his struggles with addiction, hi…
#733 The Minimalists [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:50
Joshua Fields and T.K. Coleman,(@TheMinimalists) better known as two parts of the popular trio, The Minimalists, join Paul to talk about how all the clutter in our lives can affect our minds and offer tips on how to live…
#732 Paul's Cousin & Their Family Tree - Paul Barnard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:28
We visit the family tree today with Paul Gilmartin’s cousin, Paul Barnard. He shares stories of his past, from losing his baby sister to moving in with an entirely new family when he was 8 years old. He also shares beaut…
#731 Living Well With Bipolar - Dr David Miklowitz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:27
David Miklowitz is a Professor of Psychiatry in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UCLA. Dr. Miklowitz’s research focuses on bipolar disorder and in this episode he shares the distinct differences between…
#730 - Rethinking Our Relationship To Money - Elizabeth Husserl [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:39
Elizabeth Husserl (@ElizabethHusserl) is a financial advisor and the author of the new book The Power of Enough: Finding Joy in Your Relationship with Money. She talks about the emotional aspects of money, including comp…
#729 The Ripples Of Childhood Abuse - Nathan Spiteri [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:35:06
Nathan Spiteri (@NathanSpiteri) is an Australian filmmaker, actor, and writer on a mission to eradicate the lingering shame of abuse. As a child, Nathan was sexually and mentally abused for years. He discusses the attach…
#728 Childless By Choice - Dr Kate Truitt Returns [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:24
Dr. Kate Truitt is a psychologist and neuroscientist, visiting the show for the second time. In this episode, she opens up about being childless in our current culture and shares personal stories that have shaped her lif…