Not Crazy (Archive)

Lots of podcasts are hosted by doctors and other mental health professionals. The podcasting space is filled with them because that is who major networks often hire. But who is helping to elevate the patient voice? Short answer? They're counting on you. What We Need & What You Get In order to have a Season 4 (they've done over 100 episodes in the past six years), which will consist of 10 brand spanking new episodes, they need to raise $5,500. This money will only go to the cost of production, hosting, and paying for perks, shipping, and associated fundraising fees. Gabe and Michelle are working for free! And listen, one of the perks is a 10-minute guest spot on the show. They have a one-of-a-kind exclusive BSP shirt designed by Michelle. There is awesome stuff -- would you expect anything less? And, of course, you also get 10 more episodes of A Bipolar, a Schizophrenic, and a Podcast. The Impact People living with mental illness deserve to have the opportunity to share their struggles, feelings, and successes in whatever way feels organic to them. Vulnerability isn't about using the right words or phrases, it's about simply sharing your truth. Gabe and Michelle have been doing that for years and despite rising costs, they have done all they can to continue. Aside from the impact to the greater mental health community, Gabe and Michelle have shared that this is meaningful to them, as well. As long time listeners of the show know, they have had their ups and down. But just like bipolar disorder, they are always come back to the middle and find each other. Other Ways You Can Help If you can't contribute, we understand but that doesn't mean you can't help! Please get the word out and make some noise about the campaign Use the Indiegogo share tools and help spread the word Send an email & link and let people know why this is important to you! Everyone involved with this podcast wants to see it continue. Help get Gabe & Michelle off the street corner and back in front of the microphone. -- where they belong. To learn more, please visit bsp.show/support.

Visit ThisEmotionalLife.org/bsp to learn more or subscribe RIGHT NOW on your favorite podcast player. A Bipolar, a Schizophrenic, and a Podcast was the first podcast by people with mental illness for people with mental illness. Each episode looks at life through the unique lens of people living with depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Its original run ended in 2019 after garnering massive praise in the mental health community and boasting tens of thousands of listeners. Now back for a limited run of 10 episodes with the first episode having launched on January 4th, 2022. The podcast is hosted by Gabe Howard and Michelle Hammer. Learn more about them here and subscribe or follow on your favorite podcast player. (it’s free!) This podcast is proudly sponsored by Betterhelp. Save 10% on your first month with the discount code “BSP22” or by clicking here.

We are returning for a limited run of 10 episodes with the first episode launching on January 4th, 2022. Episodes weekly through the end of the season. Our original run ended in 2019 after garnering massive praise in the mental health community and boasting tens of thousands of listeners. Subscribe on your favorite podcast player or visit thisemotionallife.org/bsp BSP is hosted by Gabe Howard and Michelle Hammer. Learn more about them here.

A Bipolar, A Schizophrenic, and a Comeback? In the meantime check out Gabe's book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and Other Observations, at gabehoward.com. He'll sign it for you and throw in some cool swag. Stay Tuned! Gabe & Michelle

Please update your subscriptions and links to continue listening to the new Not Crazy podcast with Gabe Howard and his ex-wife, Lisa. It's the mental health podcast for people who hate mental health podcasts. Visit psychcentral.com/notcrazy for more information and links to popular podcast players.

This Feed is Closing Down -- to continue listening please resubscribe to the new feed NOW. Grab the new links at psychcentral.com/notcrazy ... See You There! :) Should people with mental illness have children? In today’s Not Crazy podcast, Gabe and Lisa discuss their own reasons for not having kids, while also giving a platform to Amy Barnabi, a mother of two with bipolar disorder. Amy discusses her decision to have children and shares her experiences, joys and challenges thus far. What if you can’t be a good parent when your illness flares up? What if the child inherits your diagnosis? If you are a parent with mental illness, you’ve likely heard these questions. Tune in to hear these topics discussed (and much more!) on today’s podcast.

Some of the professionals that work most with helping people with schizophrenia are nurses. There are so many types with different skill sets. Host Rachel Star Withers and Co-host Gabe Howards learn who these often overlooked healthcare workers are. Dr. Tari Dilks, Professor and President of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, joins with insight on what goes into being a psychiatric nurse.

This Feed is Closing Down -- but we wanted to give you a taste of what you are missing! Grab the new links at psychcentral.com/notcrazy It’s Mental Health Awareness Month! But what does that mean, exactly? Who are we raising awareness for? Is “mental health” the same as “mental illness?” In this Not Crazy Podcast, Gabe and Lisa ponder the meaning of this decades-old campaign and discuss the pros and cons of the movement. What do you think? Is Mental Health Awareness Month a necessary outreach that sheds light on mental health, or is it a flimsy substitute for actual help? Tune in for an in-depth discussion that entails several different perspectives. For More Information and a complete transcript, visit Podcast: Deconstructing Mental Health Month.

This Feed is Closing Down -- but we wanted to give you a taste of what you are missing! Grab the new links at psychcentral.com/notcrazy What if a divorced couple decided to make a podcast about mental health? What would it be like? Well, wonder no more, because here it is. Grab a cup of hot tea and tune in to the first episode of the totally revamped Not Crazy Podcast with Gabe and Lisa, a couple of divorcees who didn’t like each other’s cats. What was their marriage like? Why do they want to talk about mental health? And what happened to the cats? Find out the answers to these questions and much more on today’s show.

All good things must come to an end. And today is one of those days. In this episode of The Not Crazy Podcast, we say a sad farewell to our amazing cohost, Jackie Zimmerman. Tune in, as Jackie and Gabe reminisce about the good old days, ponder the fate of podcasts, and discuss Jackie’s decision to leave. They also introduce you to Gabe’s new cohost, Lisa, who just happens to be his ex-wife. Yep! You heard that right! Will this divorced duo be an absolute train wreck (as most divorced cohosts would be) or an inspiration to all? You’ll have to stick around to find out. Join us for a sweet farewell to Jackie and a warm welcome to Lisa. We also give instructions on how you can sign up to hear the new show on the new feed! For More Information and a complete transcript, visit It’s See You Later, Not Goodbye. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts 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 Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show. Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Is your mind constantly preoccupied with the past or the future? What if you could train your brain to just BE in the present moment? This is the essence of mindfulness -- simply being in the here-and-now (not worrying about that stupid thing you said last week), and gently noticing your surroundings and thoughts without judgment. In today’s podcast, Jackie enlightens a skeptical Gabe of the value of practicing mindfulness and how it can be a very useful tool in his mental health tool box. And she’s armed with scientific facts to break him down. When was the last time you truly listened to the rain, enjoyed a cup of coffee… or stopped to smell the roses? Tune in to hear how mindfulness can help you get rid of the mental static that causes so much anxiety. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts 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 Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show. Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Does your anxiety take over when it’s time to leave the house -- making you stay home more often than not? Do you cancel plans at the last minute due to that feeling of dread in the pit of your stomach? Or maybe YOU are the friend that keeps getting canceled on. In today’s podcast, Gabe and Jackie discuss why this happens and how both parties -- the chronic canceler and the chronically disappointed friend -- can navigate this awkward scenario. Tune in to today’s Not Crazy podcast to get specific tips on how you can feel more in control so you can cancel less. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts 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 Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show. Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Do you have difficult -- or even toxic -- family members? How does one go about setting boundaries with them ? And is it OK to cut them off? In today’s Not Crazy podcast, Jackie and Gabe tackle these tough questions with Sonya Mastick, a mental health advocate and fellow podcaster of a show called “What Won’t She Say?” Sonya shares her personal story of how she handled her toxic mom and demonstrates how it’s OK, and sometimes even necessary, to set strong boundaries with family members who hurt you. It’s also OK if those boundaries shift and evolve with time. Tune in for an honest discussion about protecting your mental health from harmful family members. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts 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 Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show. Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Day 1,364 of the COVID-19 quarantine (well, at least it feels like it). How are you holding up? If you’re like most people, you’re not having much fun. But if you already struggle with anxiety, depression or another mental health issue, these days of isolation and uncertainty can feel like absolute torture. In today’s Not Crazy episode, Gabe laments the loss of his routine -- those regular activities he clung to religiously to keep his mental health in check. Now what is he supposed to do? Tune in for a special quarantine episode. Together, we will grieve our old routines and discuss how to start new ones. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts 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 Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show. Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Cannabis, weed, marijuana, pot. It goes by several names, but we all know what it smells like. As weed becomes more mainstream, we on the Not Crazy podcast want to know: Is marijuana really an effective treatment for anxiety? Is it just a coping mechanism? Or a vice? In today’s podcast, Gabe and Jackie look at the research and weigh out the evidence. They also interview Eileen Davidson, a rheumatoid arthritis patient who regularly uses marijuana as a medicine to see what she has to say. What’s your take? Tune in for an open-minded discussion about weed. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts 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 Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show. Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

How are you handling the coronavirus pandemic? Most people are struggling right now, but for those of us with mental illness, these days can feel truly overwhelming. Fear, depression, isolation and loss of routine are just a few of the difficulties many of us are facing. In today’s podcast, Gabe and Jackie discuss what we can do right now to make things just a little better, and they share their personal hopes and fears for humanity once this pandemic subsides. You’re not alone -- we’re all in this together. Join us for an important discussion on how we can handle this time of fear and uncertainty. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts 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 Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show. Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Men and women experience schizophrenia differently; from the age of onset to symptoms and how society treats those with mental disorders. Schizophrenic, Rachel Star Withers and co-host Gabe Howard continue the discussion of the differences from the last episode but change the focus to men. Jason Jepson, an author who has schizophrenia joins for a man’s perspective and Dr. Hayden Finch returns to explain the clinical side of the issues.

Do you struggle with abandonment fears? Do you worry your partner will suddenly ditch you even though there’s no real reason to feel this way? In today’s Not Crazy podcast, Gabe opens up about his own deep-rooted fear that his wife will decide she doesn’t want him anymore. After all, he concludes, what does he have to offer her? I mean, surely she can do better. And even though he knows these fears are unfounded and irrational, he feels helpless in stopping them. How can Gabe get these thoughts under control? Tune in to hear Jackie give some great advice to her dear friend, and for anyone dealing with abandonment issues. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts 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 Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show. Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Are people with mental illness more creative? Jackie believes there may be a link between the two ideas, while Gabe thinks it’s just a bunch of hoopla. Get ready -- they’ve both done their research and are ready to back their claims. Tune in to hear a lively (and friendly) debate on whether the science is valid, the difference between inspiration and creativity, as well as their own opinions and experiences on mental illness and creativity. What’s your take? Join Gabe and Jackie on this Not Crazy podcast to see whose side you’re on, or if you’re somewhere in the middle. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts 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 Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show. Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Do you live in constant fear of losing your job because of your illness? What are your options? In this podcast, Jackie and Gabe tackle this complex topic with real answers. They discuss the exact actions you can take in various scenarios, including who to contact for help. They also share their own stories of being fired when their employers deemed them too sick to be productive. When should you contact human resources? The ADA? A lawyer? If you struggle with mental illness and job insecurity, tune in for an informative discussion on the ins and outs of getting the complicated, and often unfair, American system to work for you. Find us online at: https://psychcentral.com/blog/notcrazy/ About The Hosts 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 Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com. Gabe also hosts The Psych Central Podcast available on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/show. Jackie Zimmerman has been in the patient advocacy game for over a decade and has established herself as an authority on chronic illness, patient-centric healthcare, and patient community building. She lives with multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and depression. You can find her online at JackieZimmerman.co, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.