Inside Mental Health

Guest Juli C. Liske, who lives with autism spectrum disorder and has children on the spectrum, discusses the relationship between autism and mental health. Topics include ADHD, debunking vaccines causing autism, the struggle with OCD and the need for specialized treatment, various approaches to treating autism, progress in diagnosing autism in women, and the misunderstood nature of OCD.

Today’s guest is the first woman to announce the WWE’s WrestleMania event and the first female in-cage announcer in combat sports history. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), professional wrestling, and combat sports in general can be a bastion of toxic masculinity. So what was it like for a woman trying to enter — and excel — in that arena? Join us as Lilian Garcia shares how smashing the glass ceiling is equal parts exhilarating and mentally taxing. She explains the challenges to her mental health that being a trailblazer entails and how she got through her own trying times.To Learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page here.Guest BioLilian Garcia is a woman with a platform, a history maker and barrier ‘breaker. This Spanish beauty has solidified her name into sports, entertainment, wellness, and mainstream media. Lilian is a multi-talented singer/songwriter, television personality & producer, 15-year WWE Host, and the first woman to announce WrestleMania. She’s currently the Professional Fighters League (PFL - ESPN MMA) in-cage announcer, once again making history as the first woman to be an "in-cage" announcer within combat sports. Lilian is an influencer in every sense and has carved the way for others throughout her career. See more at www.LilianGarcia.com.Inside Mental Health Podcast HostGabe 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 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you like mental health podcasts? Today’s guest started one of the original mental health podcasts, Mental Illness Happy Hour. Over 10 years later, it’s still one of the most popular podcasts in the genre.In this episode, the host of Mental Illness Happy Hour, Paul Gilmartin, tells us all about his own mental health journey, how he designs his podcast, and why he believes that humor and real talk are the best ways to move forward with addiction and mental illness.To learn more, or read the transcript, please visit the show's official episode page here.Guest BioFrom 1995 to 2011 Paul Gilmartin co-hosted TBS’ “Dinner and a Movie” and performed his half-hour stand-up special “Comedy Central Presents: Paul Gilmartin.”He is a frequent guest on the “Jimmy Dore Show,” performing political satire as his right-wing Congressman Richard Martin (R-Ohio).In 2011 he began The Mental Illness Happy Hour, a weekly audio podcast consisting of interviews with artists, friends, listeners, and the occasional mental health professional about all the battles in our heads. With a 5/5 Apple Podcasts rating, it is frequently chosen as an Editor’s Pick. It was chosen by Esquire as one of the best podcasts of 2016 and featured in the PBS Documentary "A New State of Mind."Inside Mental Health Podcast HostGabe 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 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why are conspiracy theories so popular, and why are so many people willing to believe the most unbelievable things? Today’s guest, New York Times’ bestselling author and historian Brad Meltzer, explains that the idea of secret societies and conspiracy theories are actually mirrors that reflect a culture’s fears, insecurities, and fascinations.Join us as Brad shares examples of how the Kennedy assassination conspiracy changed from decade to decade, how to speak with a friend or family member who believes in a conspiracy, and exactly who is buried in John Wilkes Booth’s grave.To learn more -- or read the transcript -- visit the show's official episode page here.Guest BioBrad Meltzer is the #1 New York Times’ bestselling author of 12 previous thrillers, including “The Escape Artist,” with more than 11 million copies sold. He also helped find the missing 9/11 flag with his History Channel TV show “Brad Meltzer’s Lost History” and “Brad Meltzer's Decoded.” In addition, he’s the author of the nonfiction bestseller “The Lincoln Conspiracy,” as well as the blockbuster children’s history book series “Ordinary People Change the World.” A PBS KIDS TV show based on his books, “Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum,” now has 28 million viewers and was recently nominated for multiple Emmys and TCA Awards. Meltzer has written bestselling comic books with Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man. The Hollywood Reporter put him on their list of the 25 Most Powerful Authors, he’s a favorite author of multiple U.S. Presidents, and he’s been asked to serve as a member of the America250 Council to celebrate the upcoming 250th birthday of the country. He lives in Florida with his wife and three children.Inside Mental Health Podcast HostGabe 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 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

True Crime podcasts are all the rage but did you know that most people with mental illness are not criminals, much less serial killers or mass murderers? Most people understand this, but those same individuals don’t realize that very few murderers have a diagnosable mental illness.Join us as Killer Psyche podcast host Candice DeLong – who is also a former psychiatric nurse and FBI profiler – discusses her years of experience interviewing murderers and researching murder and how sometimes that intersects with mental illness.To learn more -- or read the transcript -- visit the official episode page here.Guest BioFormer FBI profiler and bestselling author Candice DeLong is an internationally recognized homicide expert, TV news commentator, and TV documentary host, producer and contributor. She has been a guest on CNN, MSNBC, HLN, FOX NEWS, Meet the Press, Hardball, Dateline, 48 Hours, Today, GMA, as well as Dr. Phil and Oprah. Candice was recruited by the FBI while serving as Head Nurse at the Institute of Psychiatry in Chicago- Northwestern University Hospital. For twenty years, Candice was on the front lines of some of the FBI’s most memorable and high-profile cases, including the Chicago Tylenol Murders. She is now the host of the Wondery podcast Killer Psyche.Inside Mental Health Podcast HostGabe 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 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 learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest tells us that the very idea of perfect happiness is an illusion. Being perfect will not make us happy, and happiness is not perfection. But we all still think if we can just reach one more goal, fix one more thing, be just a little better, that will be the key to happiness. Join us as Poppy Jamie and Gabe Howard discuss how to get over these feelings and accept yourself, even if you’re not perfect.To learn more -- or read the transcript -- visit the official episode page here.Guest BioPoppy Jamie is an entrepreneur, influencer, a rising star in the mental health and mindfulness space, and the author of “Happy Not Perfect: Upgrade Your Mind, Challenge Your Thoughts, and Free Yourself from Anxiety.” She launched the “Not Perfect” podcast and the Happy Not Perfect app after 4 years of researching behavioral studies and developing the app with neuroscientists, researchers, and her mom, a neurotherapist. She has been featured in the New York Times, Wired, Fast Company, Refinery29, Forbes, Vogue, Bustle, Cosmo, E!, NBC News, and MTV. See more at PoppyJamie.com.Inside Mental Health Podcast HostGabe 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 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 learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know the anti-drug propaganda, and we’ve all heard about “bad trips,” but how much of that is actually true? Today’s guest made the Netflix Documentary “Fantastic Fungi” and has a different viewpoint on psychedelics.In this episode, Louie Schwartzberg explains how many psychedelics, like "magic mushrooms," were never considered illegal until the drug war was ramped up in the 1970s. Before that, they had been used for thousands of years in various cultures around the world. Now that society is having a “psychedelic renaissance,” learn how these drugs — or “sacred medicines” — have found new applications in mental health.To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page here.Guest BioLouie Schwartzberg is an award-winning cinematographer, director, and producer who has spent his notable career providing breathtaking imagery using his time-lapse, high-speed, and macro cinematography techniques. Schwartzberg is a visual artist who breaks barriers, connects with audiences, and tells stories that celebrate life and reveal the mysteries and wisdom of nature, people, and places. Louie’s theatrical releases include the 3D IMAX film “Mysteries of the Unseen World” with National Geographic, narrated by Forest Whitaker; the theatrical feature, “Wings of Life” for Disneynature, narrated by Meryl Streep, and “America’s Heart and Soul” for Walt Disney Studios, and his TED talks have over 60 million views on YouTube.Louie’s most recent feature film, “Fantastic Fungi,” is now playing in local theaters throughout the U.S. to rave reviews. Louie has also directed “Soarin’ Around the World;” the most popular motion simulator ride film now playing at Disney Theme Parks globally. Season 3 of his series, Moving Art, is now streaming on Netflix. For Schwartzberg, the greatest satisfaction is creating works that can have a positive effect on the future of the planet, by protecting what we love. Find out more at movingart.com. Inside Mental Health Podcast HostGabe 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 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 learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff Foster is a teacher who survived one of the deadliest school shootings in American history. That is a fact, yet some people don’t believe it’s true and that people like Foster are hired actors paid by the government to perpetuate a scam on the public.Join us for a first-hand account of how these conspiracy theories — especially when repeated by government leaders — affect real people.To learn more -- or read the transcript -- visit the official episode page here.Guest BioJeff Foster was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He has taught Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida since 2001. His first book, "For Which We Stand" was written to help young readers learn about government and understand how they can make an impact even if they aren't old enough to vote. With distrust of government growing across the nation, his goal is to engage young people who have a stake in America’s future. His message to his students has always been, "you can't complain about government if you don't participate."Inside Mental Health Podcast HostGabe 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 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 learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We expect pro athletes to deal with physical injuries. We recognize that the demands on an athlete’s body are intense. But what about when an athlete discloses mental illness? How do we — and how should we — react then?Today’s guest, retired NFL player and TV personality Nate Burleson, explains that usually the reaction is to mock the player as weak, not strong enough to compete, or accuse them of letting down their team. We delve into all that and discuss whether professional athletes face additional mental health challenges due to their careers and celebrity. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- visit the official page here.Guest BioNate Burleson is a co-host of "CBS Mornings," an Emmy Award-winning studio analyst for the CBS Television Network's NFL pre-game show, "The NFL Today," and makes select appearances on Nickelodeon. Prior to joining CBS News, Burleson served as a host on "Good Morning Football" on the NFL Network for 5 years. Burleson's television career began in 2014 with the NFL Network after retiring from the NFL.Burleson played in the NFL for 11 years as a wide receiver with the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, and Detroit Lions. In 2003, he was drafted in the third round by the Minnesota Vikings. Burleson is the only player in NFL history to have three punt returns of 90-or-more yards.A native of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Burleson resides in New Jersey with his wife, Atoya, and three children, Nathaniel, Nehemiah, and Mia Pearl. See more at www.cbsnews.com/team/nate-burleson/Inside Mental Health Podcast HostGabe 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 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 learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nikki Sixx is a rock and roll legend. As the bassist for Mötley Crüe, his very name conjures up images of hardcore partying. The band even named an album after heroin (Dr. Feelgood). But what does that lifestyle do long term? Especially for someone who says they were “made to be an addict.” Join us as Nikki tells us about his personal struggles with addiction, how he reached sobriety, and how he reconciles being sober with his public persona.To Learn more -- or read the transcript -- click here for the official episode page.Guest BioNikki Sixx is the international rock icon, founding member of Mötley Crüe and Sixx:A.M, three-time New York Times bestselling author with “The Heroin Diaries,” “This Is Gonna Hurt,” and Mötley Crüe’s “The Dirt,” philanthropist, photographer, and addiction recovery advocate.In March 2019, Sixx premiered Mötley Crüe's Netflix hit biopic, “THE DIRT” which is based on the band’s NY Times bestselling 2001 biography. The movie propelled Mötley Crüe’s music catalog, streaming, licensing, and merchandise to new heights while fueling tremendous popularity of the band with a brand new generation of younger fans. Due to the massive fan demand for live shows, the band subsequently announced a summer 2020 U.S. STADIUM TOUR and sold out most shows within just a short amount of time. Due to the global pandemic, the tour is currently set to take place in Summer 2022.Sixx has been a long-time advocate for expanding support services for people in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD), and has given testimony on Capitol Hill, made frequent media appearances to discuss his experiences, and authored op-ed’s on the subject in major publications, such as The L.A. Times, to help break the silence and fight the stigma that often accompanies SUD. It is Nikki’s strong desire to help make a change for the better with what is our country’s most prevalent public health crisis.Inside Mental Health Podcast HostGabe 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 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 learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices