#794 Best Of: Maria Bamford & The Psych Ward

#794 Best Of: Maria Bamford & The Psych Ward

Author: Paul Gilmartin April 3, 2026 Duration: 1:53:02
In this listener-favorite ep from 2013, the groundbreaking and critically acclaimed comedian talks about her lifelong battles with OCD, Unwanted Thoughts Syndrome, BiPolar II, and the recent hospitalization that probably saved her life. Sounds pretty hilarious huh?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/happyhourThis episode is sponsored by Timeline. Timeline’s clinically proven formula is now available at a new, lower price . Mitopure now starts at $99, with the exact same science and formula and listeners can still get 20% off when they go to www.timeline.com/MENTALThis 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=1000747830030Andhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1238-ken-burns-what-if-the-american-revolution-isnt-over/id1344999619?i=1000736232557If you’re interested in seeing or buying the furniture that Paul designs and makes follow his IG @ShapedFurniture or visit the website www.shapedfurniture.comWAYS TO HELP THE MIHH PODCASTSubscribe 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=2Spread 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/donateYou 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: 50

Mental Illness Happy Hour
Podcast Episodes
#820 Cheating & Finding Out Why - Chloe Radcliffe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:35:37
Chloe Radcliffe @ChloeBadcliffe is an actor, writer, and stand-up comedian who shares her story of habitual cheating in relationships and the work she’s done to uncover why she did it. She also talks about what it was li…
#819 Prison, Abandonment & The Power of "No" - Wallo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:50
@Wallo267 aka Wallace Peeples is an author, entrepreneur, speaker, podcaster, and advocate. He shares his experience of being abandoned by his father and being in prison for twenty years–and how he mentally made it throu…
#816 Meaning vs Success - Jim Murphy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:33
Jim Murphy is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and performance coach to world #1 athletes and Fortune 500 executives. He also leads Inner Excellence, offsite retreats where guests immerse themselves in beauty and l…
#815 The Mind/Body Connection - Liz Tenuto aka The Workout Witch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:35:28
Liz Tenuto aka @theWorkoutWitch_ is a somatic specialist who has spent over a decade helping people release chronic stress through movement. Her work sits at the intersection of psychology and physical health, focused on…
#814 Stoic Empathy - Shermin Kruse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:18
Shermin Kruse is an author, law professor, and speaker. Born during the Iranian Revolution, she talks about her immigrant journey and her professional work on power, stoicism, morality, and empathy. Look for her book Sto…
#813 Racial & Generational Trauma - Ashley McGirt-Adair [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:23
Ashley McGirt Adair is a psychotherapist, author, and speaker specializing in racial trauma, crisis response, and racial equity. She speaks on generational trauma and its roots in slavery, as well as the cultural dynamic…
#812 Shame & Leading Double Lives - Krissy Johnson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:31:12
Krissy Johnson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and devoted MIHH listener. She opens up about escaping a manipulative relationship, shedding her secrecy and shame, and what led her to become a therapist…
#811 Medical Trauma - Dr. James Jackson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:12
Dr. James Jackson is a psychologist and neuropsychologist who specializes in medical trauma and Long COVID. He talks about his work in post-intensive care syndrome, discusses acceptance commitment therapy (ACT), and open…