Mayim Bialik's Breakdown

Timber Hawkeye (bestselling author of the new book The Opposite of Namaste) rejoins Mayim to discuss the real life friendship they’ve developed after his first appearance on the podcast, why mindfulness can feel intimidating, and the positives and negatives of labels. He details how pursuing a minimalist lifestyle has reduced his anxiety, the value of transparency and repentance, and the inner conflict that comes with being addicted to validation. Mayim and Timber considers the differences between envy and jealousy, the differences between observation and judgment, and how nonconformity can be an asset. Timber explains why he was initially averse to labels but now finds liberation in the term “neurodivergent,” and how he learned to use his anxious and obsessive compulsive tendencies to his benefit. He helps Mayim, Producer Valerie, and Engineer Scott hold a mirror up to their vices.Timber Hawkeye's New Book, The Opposite of Namaste:  https://amzn.to/3Ch1nnt BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anjelah Johnson-Reyes (stand-up comedian, actress, author) discusses her journey from professional cheerleader to stand up comedy, the benefits of aligning with your intuition, and how she was able to work through physical and emotional trauma with her dad. She opens up about relying on God to reveal her path in life, how her family’s fear about not fitting into American culture kept her from exploring her heritage, and the mindblowing paranormal experience that put her supernatural podcast on hiatus. Mayim and Anjelah recount going on a USO tour together. They consider the difficulty of breaking family patterns, the benefits of assessing practical outcomes for anxiety-inducing situations, and why we subconsciously assign others authority roles over us.Anjelah Johnson-Reyes' book, Who Do I Think I Am?: https://www.worthypublishing.com/titles/anjelah-johnson-reyes/who-do-i-think-i-am/9781546000457/See Anjelah Johnson-Reyes on tour: https://anjelah.com/#tour BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel Kim Booster (stand-up comedian, writer, actor) opens up about bipolar disorder, his early sexual identity realizations, and the challenges of living at the intersection of a variety of cultures. He discusses the complexities of being adopted as a baby by a white American Baptist family, his tumultuous teenage years of finding himself while grappling with his deeply religious and conservative parents, and how the arts helped him with his coming out process. Joel details how his bipolar diagnosis helped him reframe his life experiences, his “productive” hypomania, the benefits of medication, and why it can be difficult to let go of mental illness. He reveals why social media has been the biggest stressor on his mental health, how the depiction of Asian men fed into his depression, and the frustration and freedom that comes with being “stereotypically gay.” Mayim breaks down the different types of bipolar disorder and how the condition manifests.See more of Joel Kim Booster here: Fire Island is available now on Hulu. Joel’s first hour-long comedy special, PsychoSexual, is available now on Netflix. LOOT is available now on Apple TV+.  BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Corey Feldman (The Goonies, Stand By Me, The Lost Boys) opens up about his abusive childhood, grappling with the deaths of so many of his friends, and his spirituality. He discusses what he remembers from his early days of acting, why he wishes he had the option to say no to fame, and the abuse he suffered at the hands of his predators and his own parents. Corey reflects on the healing nature of being a parent, how his life has changed since finding sobriety, and the thought patterns he uses to achieve forgiveness for those who have hurt him. He explains being of service as a form of therapy, his love of philosophy, and the exchange of energy he experiences during his performances. Corey Feldman's "Love Left 2.1" Boxset: https://www.cifirecords.com/product-page/preorder-love-left-2-1-boxsetSee Corey Feldman on Tour: https://coreyfeldman.net/tour-details-2/ BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Natasha Leggero (actress, writer, comedian, author of The World Deserves My Children) opens up about how she arrived to her unique parenting journey later in life and provides an honest approach to parenting and "geriatric" pregnancy. She discusses the impact of her father leaving the family at an early age before he married her mom’s best friend, and what it was like to help raise her younger siblings as a child herself. Natasha reveals what she wishes more people knew about the egg-freezing process, merging her life as a career woman with caring for a child, and the importance of finding the right partner to parent with. Mayim and Natasha compare parenting styles and consider the challenges of parenting in the face of environmental panic. They discuss reasons some might not want to have children, why kids crave structure, and why we shouldn’t condition children with fear.Natasha Leggero's Book, The World Deserves My Children: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-World-Deserves-My-Children/Natasha-Leggero/9781982137076Natasha Leggero & Moshe Kasher's Podcast, The Endless Honeymoon Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-endless-honeymoon-podcast/id1471202833 BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jodie Sweetin (Full House, Fuller House, Craft Me a Romance) discusses her work as “Stephanie Tanner” on Full House, living with ADHD and how she thinks it has helped her, and the importance of showing up as the parent you needed to have yourself. She explains how therapy and sobriety allow her to be a better parent and the importance of honesty in a parent-child relationship. Mayim and Jodie consider the need for prison reform after Jodie opens up about being adopted as a baby after she was born within the prison system. They discuss coping mechanisms in nature vs nurture and share their earliest childhood memories. Jodie reveals the top 5 things that keep her centered and ways she redirects feelings of wanting to run away into efforts of self-care.  Jodie Sweetin's memoir, unSweetined: https://www.amazon.com/unSweetined-Memoir-Jodie-Sweetin/dp/1439152691 BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mayim and Jonathan are breaking down 2022 for our final episode of the year! They chat about what went right in 2022 - from the news stories that made us laugh and articles tied to important topics we cover here at MBB, to what the year has taught them. Mayim reveals a highlight from this year and a few practical tips she has personally put into action.MBB on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bialikbreakdown/?hl=enMayim's IG: https://www.instagram.com/missmayim/Jonathan's IG: https://www.instagram.com/jonathancohenofficial/?hl=en BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meredith Stoddard (Life Events Experience Lead at Fidelity Investments) stops by to discuss how life events and their emotional components can impact finances and the overall human experience. Meredith explains the similarities between life events planning and therapy, practical ways to make financial literacy more accessible to all, and reasons to avoid comparing your financial status and goals with others. Mayim and Meredith consider the benefits of starting small when working toward your financial goals, framing money conversations around wishes instead of fear, and normalizing financial discussions within the family unit. They discuss changing generational attitudes, goals, & behavior toward money and combating misinformation around finances on social media. This content was created in collaboration with Fidelity. Thank you Fidelity for sponsoring this podcast! #adFrom having children to planning for retirement, Fidelity is here to help you manage life’s big moments. https://myguidance.fidelity.com/ftgw/pna/ public/lifeevents/content/overview  BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melanie Chisholm (AKA “Sporty Spice” of the Spice Girls, solo artist, author of The Sporty One memoir) joins us to discuss the Spice Girls’ impact on music and culture, battling difficult personal struggles in the extreme public eye, and the toll playing a caricature of yourself can take. She reveals the origins of the band and their “Girl Power” message, the similarities between each band member and their onstage personas, and why she finally decided to reflect on her experiences in her new memoir. Mel C opens up about the onset of her disordered eating, why she finally decided to seek help, and the toxicity of the tabloid media when Spice Girls rose to fame compared to today’s social media. Mayim and Melanie consider denial as a coping mechanism, the loneliness that comes with disordered eating, and the impact of the loss of Queen Elizabeth II.Melanie Chisholm's memoir, "The Sporty One: My Life as a Spice Girl": https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/melanie-chisholm/the-sporty-one/9781538740316/ BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mara Wilson (writer, actor - Mrs. Doubtfire, Matilda ) opens up about body dysmorphia, living with severe OCD, and the grief of losing her mother at an early age. She details what it was like working with the late, great Robin Williams on Mrs. Doubtfire, her struggle to overcome her "cute" image she became well-known for during those years, and how that fed into her body dysmorphia. Mara discusses growing up a sensitive child, her family’s own intergenerational trauma and how it tied into her own mental health struggles, imposter syndrome, and living up to labels. She considers her experiences with therapy and medication, her spiritual journey, and the differences between dating boys and girls. Mayim and Mara debunk the myths of severe OCD and explain what living with it is really like.Mara Wilson's Book, Where Am I Now?: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/318758/where-am-i-now-by-mara-wilson/ BialikBreakdown.com YouTube.com/mayimbialik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices