Inside Mental Health Healthline Media

Dive into a candid discussion on mental health as host Gabe Howard speaks with Rachael Beairsto, a senior editor for Healthline. Together, they tackle tough questions about authenticity and stigma provided by listeners like you.
Explore how misconceptions and pop culture blur the lines between genuine struggles and excuses, examining why some may fake mental health issues and the impact on those who truly live with them. From self-harm to artistic stereotypes, they challenge familiar narratives and offer insights into navigating this complex terrain. Join them for an eye-opening exploration that sheds light on the nuances of mental illness in today's society.
To learn more -- or read the transcript -- check out the official page.
“We're using language that we don't fully understand. The wider conversation doesn't necessarily mean it's a more accurate conversation. If we're just learning a little bit about mental health here and there, it doesn't necessarily mean we understand the nuances. You know, people who have received a diagnosis professionally, the idea that they're faking it is really harmful. And it's a big part of mental health stigma. And it's like people assuming that maybe that that person is faking it can be a really hard part of living with a mental health disorder.” ~Rachael Beairsto, Healthline Senior Editor

Our guest, Rachael Beairsto, is a senior editor with Healthline Media. She covers many health topics, including mental health, chronic conditions, and skin care. Most recently, she supported the launch of Wellos, a mobile wellness app that helps members reach their stress, nutrition, and weight goals. She’s passionate about sharing accurate, engaging health information to help people lead their healthiest, happiest lives.

Our host, 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 A*****e 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.
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Paul Gilmartin, host of the “Mental Illness Happy Hour” podcast, and Gabe discuss Paul’s struggles with anxiety, financial pressures, and porn addiction. They emphasize the importance of support networks, self-compassion, and finding healthy coping mechanisms. Paul shares how he moved past pornography addiction toward more fulfilling hobbies and relationships. A vulnerable and eye-opening story—listen now!
“You'll never find out what your body feels like without being shocked by the intensity of pornography if you don't take a break from it. I think it's definitely worth some investigating because I also find I have way more sexual energy and desire to bring to my relationship. Because I'm not dissipating it. And it feels great. In many ways, it feels like self-actualization.” ~Paul Gilmartin
To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official page.

From 1995 to 2011, our guest 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 U.S. Rep. 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, the show is frequently chosen as an Editor’s Pick. It was chosen by Esquire magazine as one of the best podcasts of 2016 and featured in the PBS Documentary "A New State of Mind."

Our host, 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 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

On today’s episode, Gabe interviews Dr. Margaret Rutherford, a clinical psychologist and the host of “The SelfWork Podcast.” They discuss the pressing issue of loneliness as a global health threat, likening its mortality effects to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and explore its close relationship with depression. Rutherford emphasizes the importance of practicing social interaction, reevaluating perceptions of being alone, and taking small proactive steps to combat loneliness and build meaningful connections.
“I think you have to look at your definition of alone. And what are you telling yourself about being alone? I'm alone because, what? Because I'm a failure? Because I am undesirable? What are you heaping on yourself about being alone that is detrimental to you? As long as you are engaged in constant negative appraisal of you spending an evening alone or a week alone or whatever it is, as long as you are calling that highly undesirable and actually that means you are less than, then you're going to run into trouble.” ~Dr. Margaret Rutherford
To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page.

Our guest, Margaret Robinson Rutherford, PhD, is a clinical psychologist with 30 years of experience, an author, TEDx speaker, and podcast host. Her book, “Perfectly Hidden Depression: How to Break Free from the Perfectionism That Masks Your Depression,” has reached thousands in the United States and is having an international impact, with translations reaching Korea to Italy, Turkey to Germany. Her podcast, “The SelfWork Podcast,” has been continuously rated as one of the best podcasts for mental health and depression.

Our host, 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 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

Zach Tidwell transformed his life after a self-inflicted gunshot wound left him blind and deaf in one ear. Through perseverance, he has pursued numerous adventurous activities, including skiing and white water rafting. He demonstrated that with determination and support, one can regain independence and achieve remarkable goals despite significant challenges. 
Tidwell now focuses on inspiring others, promoting mental health awareness, and aiding in the creation of blind accessibility technology. He emphasizes that life improvement comes through active effort and resilience. Hear his story now!
To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page.
“That first snowboarding trip was eight and a half months after I shot myself. That next month, I got back into college. Six months later, I moved into downtown Denver to live on the college campus and had to learn to navigate the city with just my cane. It has been incremental, and those sports have been sprinkled in along the way, where even though I didn't have the skill to cook, I got a taste of independent snowboarding. And then when I moved out on my own, I got to OK, now the river was the new thing. And it's kind of supported all of the personal growth that I've had.” ~Zach Tidwell

Zach Tidwell is a blind Marine Corps veteran and suicide survivor best known for his lighthearted approach to the hard topics in life and his ability to inspire others. Having shot himself in the head in an attempt to take his own life, he woke up blind and deaf in one ear and with a new perspective on life.
At only 28 years old, Zach now shares his story and the lessons he’s learned along the way to save lives and motivate others to take control and write the stories of their futures.
In addition to sharing his hard-learned lessons, Zach has gone on to found his own software development company so he can lead the way in inclusive design by creating software everyone can use, regardless of disability or lack thereof.
Outside of work, he breaks down barriers and social perceptions of what the world thinks a disabled person can do. He skis, rock climbs, whitewater kayaks, skydives, and even competes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu against other practitioners without disabilities.

Our host, 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 A*****e 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

On today’s episode, sponsored by NOCD, designer and producer Sam Temple shares her experience living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and her long journey to getting a diagnosis. Today's episode is sponsored by NOCD (learn more at treatmyocd.com).

We delve into the many misconceptions about OCD, and Sam emphasizes how different forms of the disorder, like relationship OCD, severely impacted her life. Her psychiatrist recommended NOCD’s exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, and she shares her experience with ERP treatment and NOCD. 
Sam now advocates for treatment and community support, and she finds solace and purpose in helping others navigate their OCD journeys. Listen Now!
“I had the same misconceptions about OCD that most people had at that time. Where you think, ‘Oh, it's just, you know, being afraid of germs or being super tidy.’ I'm the messiest person there is. So, you know, it didn't make sense to me at first.” ~Sam Temple
To learn more -- or read the transcript, please visit the official episode page.

Today's guest, Sam Temple, is an artist, designer, and producer in the YouTube industry for the H3 show. She lives with obsessive compulsive disorder, and OCD advocacy has become a huge part of her life. She is here today to discuss her life with -- and her treatment for -- obsessive compulsive disorder.

Our host, 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 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

Hey, everybody, this is Gabe Howard, host of the Inside Mental Health podcast. And for the last nine years, we have released an episode every single week, including over the holidays, over the summer. I have never taken a break. Well, that schedule just got a bit cumbersome. So, instead of releasing weekly episodes, we are going to switch to bi-weekly episodes.
It's going to be the same great podcast, with the same great guests and the same cool things happening. But, instead of happening weekly, it will happen bi-weekly.
So tune in next week for the next episode of the Inside Mental Health podcast!
Gabe Howard (Healthline Media)
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