Mental Illness Happy Hour

Mental Illness Happy Hour

Author: Paul Gilmartin Language: English Episodes: 100
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.
Episodes
#773 Poverty, Loneliness & Low Self-Esteem - Derek [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:11
Fellow support group member Derek shares about growing up in extreme poverty and isolation. Recently he has been learning how to connect and practice boundaries but is still struggling with being attracted to women who t…
#772 One Family's Truths About Paralysis - Tyler & Jenny Smith [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:07
Tyler Smith was paralyzed from the neck down after contracting the West Nile virus. He and his wife, Jenny, join Paul for the second time to open up about the rage, shock, and loneliness of having become paralyzed as wel…
#771 Growing Up With Hoarders - Amanda Uhle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42:54
Amanda Uhle is a journalist and nonfiction writer who shares her story of a loving but turbulent childhood and what it was like to grow up in a house of hoarders. Look for her new memoir, Destroy This House. For more abo…
#770 Imprisoned For Having HIV - Robert Suttle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30:12
Robert Suttle joins Paul to share his experience with the criminalization of HIV. He talks about the unexpected arrest related to his diagnosis, his experience in prison, and living with HIV in the modern day. Links/Reso…
#769 Darkest Listener Confessions 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:51
Our second installment of the darkest surveys filled out anonymously by listeners. This episode is sponsored Quince. Go to www.Quince.com/mental for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canad…
#768 The Difficulties (And Gifts) Of Bipolar - Rick Cleveland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:58
Rick Cleveland is a playwright and television writer (The West Wing, Six Feet Under) who shares the difficulties--and the gifts--of living with Bipolar disorder. This episode is sponsored Quince. Go to www.Quince.com/men…
#767 Self-Harm - Matthew Broussard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:02
Matthew Broussard is a comedian (Hyperbolic) who shares his struggles with mental health and opens up, for the first time, about his experience with self-harm. For more about Matthew, including his most recent standup sp…
#766 Navigating Sex After An Assault - Katie Simon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42:28
Katie Simon is a journalist and sexual assault survivor. They talk about the impact that sexual assault can have on your sex life and share resources for how to manage and discuss this complex situation. For more info, l…
#765 Ali Siddiq - Grief, Incarceration & Friendship [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:05:54
Ali Siddiq is a comedian and writer who shares his stories of abuse, incarceration, grief, and the importance of friendship. Find all of his powerful stand-up specials, including the newly released standup special Rugged…
#764 Social Anxiety & Perfectionism - Dr. Ellen Hendriksen Returns [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:28
Dr. Ellen Hendriksen is a clinical psychologist at Boston University who specializes in perfectionism and anxiety, with a particular focus on social anxiety. She returns to the podcast to talk about her research and shar…