#792 Can Personalities Change? - Olga Khazan

#792 Can Personalities Change? - Olga Khazan

Author: Paul Gilmartin March 20, 2026 Duration: 1:14:37
Olga Khazan is an author and staff writer for The Atlantic. Today she talks about the experiments she undertook to change her own personality traits over the course of a year, which inspired her new book, Me, But Better. She also shares her good and bad experiences with anxiety--and why she has an attachment to the condition.  More about Olga Khazan:  Her Substack writing: https://olgakhazan.substack.com/ Her IG. www.Instagram.com/olganator Her book/website: www.OlgaKhazan.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 Alma. Search their directory of over 20,000 therapists with different specialities, life experiences, and identities, and 99% of them take insurance. Go to www.HelloAlma.com/happyhour This episode is sponsored by The Jordan Harbinger Show. Learn more about the world, improve your critical thinking skills and be entertained! Listen or subscribe here: jordanharbinger.com/subscribe Apple Podcasts: jordanharbinger.com/itunesSpotify: jordanharbinger.com/spotifyHere are the two episodes Paul recommended. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1280-cory-doctorow-why-everything-got-worse-and-what/id1344999619?i=1000747830030 And https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1238-ken-burns-what-if-the-american-revolution-isnt-over/id1344999619?i=1000736232557 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
#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…
#727 Jason O'Mara - Men & Depression [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:13
Jason O’Mara (@JasonOmaraOfficial) is an Irish-American actor (Band of Brothers, Blood of Zeus) who advocates for mental health and works closely with Movember, an organization that focuses on men’s health, including men…
#726 Fantasy, Shyness & Low Self-Esteem - Rebecca W [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:51
Rebecca W is Paul's friend from a support group. She shares her struggles with shyness and low-self esteem and opens up about sex and love addiction as well as her penchant for fantasy. This episode is sponsored by Babbe…