Hollywood Often Gets OCD Wrong: Actor & Director Speak Out

Hollywood has never shied away from portraying obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) — but it often gets it wrong. Typically, OCD is reduced to a punchline, a quirky habit, or a stereotype about neatness and handwashing. In this episode, TV & movie actor Rachel Alig and award-winning filmmaker Sam Sabawi take us behind the scenes of their acclaimed short film “For All I Know” to show how OCD can — and should — be portrayed with truth and compassion.

Sam, who lives with OCD, explains why lazy writing has distorted public understanding and how he used his lived experience to create an authentic story. Rachel shares the emotional depth required to embody a character with OCD, and how she avoided the clichés that Hollywood often leans on. Together, they reveal how real therapy techniques — especially exposure and response prevention (ERP) — were brought into the film to highlight the messy, ongoing reality of recovery.

Listener takeaways:

• how Hollywood depictions have shaped public misconceptions of OCD and why the process of authentically portraying OCD on screen matters
• what OCD actually is — and isn’t
• why ERP therapy is the gold standard for treatment

This is a rare insider look at mental illness through the eyes of two industry leaders determined to change how we see OCD. Listen now!

Sam and Rachel's Award-Winning Short Film About OCD, For All I Know, is available on YouTube now. (Viewing Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vwk4UPHKp0)

Our guest, Sam Sabawi, is a two-time Emmy-nominated filmmaker whose work spans narrative fiction, documentary, and unscripted formats. A five-time Telly Award winner and two-time Anthem Gold recipient, Sabawi brings over a decade of experience in visual storytelling across scripted film, development, and branded content.

His recent short film For All I Know explores the interior landscape of OCD to externalize intrusive thoughts. The film is currently on its festival circuit.

Our guest, Rachel Alig, is quickly establishing herself as a dynamic force in both comedy and drama, with a growing list of standout performances across film, television, and commercial work. With over a decade of experience, she has shared the screen with acclaimed talent including John Magaro (The Big Short, PastLives, Carol), Lou Diamond Phillips, Nick Jonas, Jason Biggs, Rob Riggle, and Master P.

Her most recent film, OMAHA—starring John Magaro—premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in the prestigious U.S. Dramatic Competition category and was acquired by Greenwich Entertainment for a theatrical release in early 2026. She also appears in FOUND FOOTAGE, distributed by Vertical Entertainment, which hit theaters nationwide on June 20, 2025. Rachel stars opposite of Lou Diamond Phillips and Malcolm McDowell in, ET TU, which started streaming on all major platforms this summer.  And today, September 2, 2025, INVISIBLE, is streaming on Amazon Prime, where Rachel has the lead female role.

Rachel’s craft is rooted in a strong foundation of training, including The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in West Hollywood and The Groundlings. She further honed her skills through ongoing work with Lesly Kahn & Co. and two years of master classes at The Margie Haber Studio.

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.

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