Depresh Mode with John Moe

Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.) is one of four chairs of the bipartisan Mental Health Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, a 93-member group of Republicans and Democrats pledging to fight stigma, improve accessibility, and generally make the country’s mental health better. But as the Trump administration floats huge cuts to Medicaid and other social services and as the tone of politics in America gets more divided and vitriolic, does a well-intentioned group like that really have a chance to overcome all that is standing in the way of progress? We talk to Rep. Salinas about her work, her connection to mental health, and what the future might hold.Also in this episode, we are joined by listener Joslynn in Dayton, Ohio, a member of our Preshies group on Facebook, for a moving conversation about her depression. She says she’s kind of resigned herself to feeling bad for the rest of her life and yet she will persist in going to therapy, looking for new treatments, and listening to our show to figure out what might help. It’s unlike any interview you’ve heard on our show before.Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of Maximum Fun.Check out our I’m Glad You’re Here and Depresh Mode merchandise at the brand new merch website MaxFunStore.com!Hey, remember, you’re part of Depresh Mode and we want to hear what you want to hear about. What guests and issues would you like to have covered in a future episode? Write us at depreshmode@maximumfun.org.Depresh Mode is on BlueSky, Instagram, Substack, and you can join our Preshies Facebook group. Help is available right away.The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALKCrisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.International suicide hotline numbers available here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines

Ethan Sacks is a veteran comics writer, having created stories for Marvel, DC, and numerous Star Wars comics. In the comic A Haunted Girl, Ethan enlisted his daughter Naomi as co-writer to tell a story much more personal than anything involving Star Wars or the Avengers. A Haunted Girl tells the story of Cleo, a character inspired by Naomi’s real life experiences in her teens dealing with depression, anxiety, and suicidality. She spent time in in-patient facilities and now, at 21, is doing better. Ethan and Naomi join us to talk comics, art, mental health, and family collaboration.Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of Maximum Fun.Check out our I’m Glad You’re Here and Depresh Mode merchandise at the brand new merch website MaxFunStore.com!Hey, remember, you’re part of Depresh Mode and we want to hear what you want to hear about. What guests and issues would you like to have covered in a future episode? Write us at depreshmode@maximumfun.org.Depresh Mode is on BlueSky, Instagram, Substack, and you can join our Preshies Facebook group. Help is available right away.The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALKCrisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.International suicide hotline numbers available here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines 

In this engaging conversation, Felicia Day, a celebrated writer and actor, opens up about her struggles with depression, anxiety, and burnout while navigating her high-achieving career in the entertainment industry. She shares insights from her audiobook, Third Eye, reflecting on her life as a prodigy and the pressures of perfectionism. Felicia discusses how turning her gaming experiences into creativity helped her regain purpose. She also emphasizes the importance of boundaries and self-care, especially after the challenges of parenthood and a pandemic.

Aperture is the sixth studio album by the indie-folk band The Head And The Heart and it’s kind of a return to the more grounded, collaborative sound of their earliest work. It’s less polished, less highly produced, not as poppy. That’s not an accident. The band has been putting in the work to be more of a cohesive unit by sharing songwriting and singing duties, going to therapy together, and trying to closely protect the health of both the individual members and the group itself. Kenny Hensley joins us to talk about the shoulder injuries he incurred, a dangerous xanax habit that followed, some unpleasant incidents that resulted from that, his suspension from The Head And The Heart, and his return to good health and a productive role.Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of Maximum Fun.Check out our I’m Glad You’re Here and Depresh Mode merchandise at the brand new merch website MaxFunStore.com!Hey, remember, you’re part of Depresh Mode and we want to hear what you want to hear about. What guests and issues would you like to have covered in a future episode? Write us at depreshmode@maximumfun.org.Depresh Mode is on BlueSky, Instagram, Substack, and you can join our Preshies Facebook group. Help is available right away.The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALKCrisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.International suicide hotline numbers available here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines 

There have been ten million contacts, via phone calls, texts, and chats, with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline since it first launched in July of 2022. As its third anniversary approaches, we check in to see how the system is holding up, what the funding and capacity issues are, and what the future might look like with our guest, Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). We also examine the potential threat to the LGBTQ specialized services line after a leaked document from the Trump administration proposed cutting funding for it. And we debunk an internet meme involving cutting all 988 funding and Canada stepping in to pick up America’s slack.Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of Maximum Fun.Check out our I’m Glad You’re Here and Depresh Mode merchandise at the brand new merch website MaxFunStore.com!Hey, remember, you’re part of Depresh Mode and we want to hear what you want to hear about. What guests and issues would you like to have covered in a future episode? Write us at depreshmode@maximumfun.org.Depresh Mode is on BlueSky, Instagram, Substack, and you can join our Preshies Facebook group. Help is available right away.The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALKCrisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.International suicide hotline numbers available here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines  

Dr. Nicholas Jacobson, an associate professor at Dartmouth and director of the AIM-HI lab, explores the groundbreaking Therabot—a generative AI psychotherapy chatbot. He reveals surprising results from clinical trials, including a 51% reduction in depression symptoms among users. Jacobson discusses how users form emotional bonds with Therabot and its unique ability to personalize therapy. He addresses concerns about AI in mental health, emphasizing that while Therabot won’t replace human therapists, it serves as a valuable supplement to care.

If you were brought up in a family or a culture that never recognized, discussed, or processed things like depression and trauma, you may have learned to simply hide those difficult feelings away and simply act as if everything’s great. You can be a high achiever, striving perfection, all to keep away demons that you’ve never really faced. Your act can be so good that it even fools you. For a while, anyway. Until it doesn’t. And then things can get very ugly. Psychologist Dr. Margaret Rutherford coined the term Perfectly Hidden Depression several years ago in a blog post that instantly went viral, filling her inbox with people shocked to recognize their own lives in what she described. She joins us to talk about PHD, how to recognize it in yourself, and what to do about it.Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of Maximum Fun.Check out our I’m Glad You’re Here and Depresh Mode merchandise at the brand new merch website MaxFunStore.com!Hey, remember, you’re part of Depresh Mode and we want to hear what you want to hear about. What guests and issues would you like to have covered in a future episode? Write us at depreshmode@maximumfun.org.Depresh Mode is on BlueSky, Instagram, Substack, and you can join our Preshies Facebook group. Help is available right away.The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALKCrisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.International suicide hotline numbers available here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines

Cameron Esposito, a stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and podcast host, shares her journey after a recent bipolar disorder diagnosis. She discusses the transformative effects of medication on her social life and creative expression. The conversation dives into her rehab experience, highlighting the balance between recovery and career pressures. Cameron’s new special, 'Four Pills', reflects on using humor to navigate mental health challenges, showcasing how personal experiences heavily influence her comedic style. It’s an enlightening and humorous exploration of life with bipolar disorder.

Dr. Helen Ouyang, a physician and associate professor at Columbia University, dives into the heavy topic of mental health in the aviation industry. She highlights the stigma airline pilots face when dealing with mental illness and the fear of job loss if they seek help. Ouyang shares compelling stories of pilots who've navigated these challenges and discusses the urgent need for reform in mental health support within aviation. The conversation shifts to self-care and wellness, offering listeners practical tips and a fun look at resources like the Finch app.

Hanif Abdurraqib, a MacArthur Fellow and acclaimed poet, opens up about his journey with depression and anxiety. He emphasizes the vital role of community and support networks in mental health care. Hanif shares personal anecdotes about how basketball has shaped his identity and offers strategies for managing anxiety, including the importance of routines and physical activity. He encourages listeners to find joy in small moments and highlights the significance of recognizing and nurturing supportive relationships.