Mental Note

On today's episode, we are sitting down with Shannon Kopp. She made it through a family divided by alcoholism, personal struggles with bulimia, and into a future where she is thriving – all with the help of some friends who barely understood a word she said, yet generously gave the love they had with wet noses and furry kisses. Check out our website for a free values sort! mentalnotepodcast.com Also, Shannon has written about her journey and her book is phenomenal. You can pick it up on her website: shannonkopp.com

We all see the dramatic photos of celebrities looking toned and thin immediately following the birth of their child... Is that really what we should strive for? Join us as we talk frankly with Lauren Hill about her experiences with body image and pregnancy. We'll discuss what's most important for our bodies and our family during and after birth, how partners, friends, and family can support us best, and how to navigate this unique time with love. We also get the perspective of Kate Daigle, a Licensed Professional Counselor who is currently writing a book on fertility and eating disorders. www.katedaiglecounseling.com www.mentalnotepodcast.com

Professional athletes gain or lose potentially millions of dollars based on the way their bodies look and perform. But what happens when the pursuit of perfection shipwrecks your life? Patrick Devenny walks us through how he suddenly found himself — a 6'3", muscled, and fine-tuned athlete — facing a diagnosis of bulimia… and how he was able to dig his way out. Along the way we talk with Rebecca McConville, a registered dietician, board-certified sports specialist, eating disorder clinician and co-host of the podcast Phit for a Queen. Further Links: mentalnotepodcast.com beccamcconville.com

Ana Agarrat fills up the room. She's bubbly & gregarious—the type of person that, upon meeting her, you assume she's one of those people who has it all together. Yet, perceptions are misleading. Discover the upending world of Bipolar and learn how Ana has found a new sense of equilibrium and purpose in her life through a strong support system, letting go of perfection, and cultivating valuable skills to navigate uncertainty.

The holidays are not always Hallmark-card-perfect. Sometimes they are just as much a reminder of who we have lost in our lives as those we are grateful to have. Join us as we talk with Laura and her Mom, Mary Ellen, about how to honor loss and make space for hope in our holiday celebrations.

Robyn Cruze has lived an adventurous life to say the least — an actor from an early age, she's chased big dreams, failed in even bigger ways, and not only survived but has discovered a fullness of life she never thought possible. Now in recovery, Robyn is a published author, invested Mom, and recovery advocate living in Denver, CO. Her journey teaches us about the comorbidity between substance use and eating disorders, how coping mechanisms and life passions provide alternatives to destructive behavior, and that there's no "perfect time" for recovery — the sooner, the better.

How often do you associate binge eating with trekking to the top of the highest peak in Africa? We thought so... Join us as we talk with Kara Richardson Whitely, author of the book Gorge, about her lifelong journey towards recovery from Binge Eating Disorder and it's ramifications in her life. She'll take us from the roots of her disorder, all the way up to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro as we dig into this highly misunderstood disease. http://www.kararichardsonwhitely.com/

Life for someone like Eric Dorsa can look pretty fabulous. He's one of San Antonio's hottest drag queens, his TED talk has been viewed over 240,000 times, and he has a host of people who love and support him daily. Yet, getting to this place proved far from easy. Along the way he had to grapple with a life threatening eating disorder, drug and alcohol abuse, and an underlying self hatred that continually thwarted the life he longed to live. Today on the podcast, we invite you to walk with Eric. To face these overwhelming obstacles. And to ultimately discover why his journey inspires thousands to embrace their identity and love themselves. Hosted by Ellie Pike, Produced by Sam Pike, Sponsored by Eating Recovery Center and Insight Behavioral Health. Music by C3NC Music, Appearing, Maxime Herve, Begin Again and Ruth Martino.

Kelli's life seemed perfect from the outside : mother of two, active in church, a successful career, and loving husband. However, her story is a little more complicated than that. She's 8 years into recovery after nearly 30 years of anorexia, alcohol addiction, over exercise, depression and suicidality. She's seen it all and still believes that it's never too late to take your first step toward healing. Hosted by Ellie Pike, Produced by Sam Pike, Sponsored by Eating Recovery Center and Insight Behavioral Health. Music by Appearing, Dreaming, Evolv, Begin Again, Melodium, and Kyle Preston

Meet Mental Note – a new podcast highlighting both the work and the beauty of mental health recovery. Stories will span a variety of mental illness struggles, introduce you to relatable personalities, and dive deep into how they chose health amidst daunting illnesses. At the end of it all, we will provide hope that recovery is possible—and worth it.