When “Twin Peaks” and “Riverdale’s” Mädchen Amick’s son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she was already a famous actress. Many would think that would shield her family from the worst of the American mental health care system, but as we hear about the difficulties she and her husband faced getting their son the care he needed (and needs), we discover that their family’s story sounds very much like many family’s stories.  Join us as a mother walks us through her son’s bipolar disorder diagnosis and treatment and realize that mental illness cannot be contained by celebrity or fame. To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page here. Guest Bio Mädchen Amick is the lead of Greg Berlanti’s “Riverdale” for which she directed her second episode and simultaneously reprised her role in David Lynch’s acclaimed “Twin Peaks” reboot for Showtime. Previously, she starred on such prolific series as “American Horror Story,” “Witches of East End,” “Damages,” “Californication,” “Gossip Girl,” and “ER” among others. Mädchen recently launched her don’t MiND me mental health foundation, and next makes her feature directorial debut with “Reminisce.”  Inside Mental Health Podcast 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 learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com.

Do you understand concepts like code-switching and why the BIPOC community sees the need to do so? While we’re beginning to understand that the overall needs of the BIPOC community are different from the needs of the white community, that doesn’t mean it’s being applied everywhere — like in the workplace.  Join us as today’s guests, the founders of the mental health app Shine, explain their personal journeys as BIPOC women in corporate America and how they came together to offer a unique mental health space to their communities. To read the transcript -- or learn more -- visit the official episode page here. Guest BioMarah Lidey is the co-founder and co-CEO of Shine. She earned a spot in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in 2018 for Consumer Technology, and she was featured in Vanity Fair as one of the 26 Black female entrepreneurs who have raised more than $1 million in venture capital. She previously built her career in product and content at companies like American Express, Viacom, and Autotrader.com. Marah lives in Atlanta with her partner, daughter, and two cats, and in her free time enjoys cooking, binge-watching new Netflix series, and listening to podcasts. Naomi Hirabayashi is the co-founder and co-CEO of Shine. Naomi was named one of the "40 under 40 Marketers'' by DMN and the “Top 35 People to Watch in NYC Tech." Prior to co-founding Shine, Naomi built her career in digital marketing for mission-based companies, as one of the first employees at Attention, the first boutique social media marketing agency. Naomi lives in DC with her husband, daughter, and cat Angus. Inside Mental Health Podcast HostGabe 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. To learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com.

When it comes to addiction treatment, many people believe you need to start a 12-step program and practice complete abstinence. The general belief is that these are the only treatment options and ways to judge success. If you have a relapse and start using again, you’ve failed and need to start over.  But is that true? Join us as today’s guest, Dr. Michael Tkach, explains that there’s more to treating addiction than just the well-known abstinence-only approach. Listen as he discusses how important concepts like harm reduction, social support, and family and friends are to the recovery process. To read the transcript or learn more, please visit the official episode page here. Guest Bio Dr. Michael Tkach is the chief behavioral health officer for Affinity. He oversees the integration of mental health-informed practice and related research initiatives for select divisions of Affinity, as well as leads the Return-to-Work division where Affinity is an industry leader in providing enterprise-wide COVID-19 testing to employers, universities, and other business partners. Tkach has 15+ years of mental health and addiction treatment experience and is a published researcher on addiction treatment, semiotics, mobile therapeutics, employee recruitment and retention, evidence-based practice, and trauma-informed care. He’s also a seasoned presenter to a variety of audiences on numerous clinical and research related topics. He has been the recipient of professional awards for his work including the Distinguished Alumni Award and a Clinical Innovation Award, and has appeared on radio and other media platforms for professional interviews on a variety of topics. Inside Mental Health Podcast 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. To learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com.

Being diagnosed with breast cancer can be scary, and being told it’s terminal even more so. If it goes unaddressed, this kind of trauma can — and often does — lead to a mental health crisis. While the medical community does a stellar job addressing our physical needs, mental health is often ignored.   Today’s guest, Bershan Shaw, featured on this season of “The Real Housewives of New York” shares her journey from a stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis to reality TV star. She tells how during her cancer treatment her physical health was cared for, but her mental health was not. Listen in as she shares how we can do better to help people who are diagnosed with serious and terminal conditions manage their mental health. To learn more (or read the transcript) visit the official episode page here. Guest Bio Bershan Shaw is an international motivational speaker, business coach, author, entrepreneur, and tech founder who is appearing on this season of Bravo's “The Real Housewives of New York City.” Bershan is a powerhouse tech founder, recently launching a new health and wellness app, URAWARRIOR. She wants to bring some diversity to the tech space. The platform is centered on four pillars: personal development, self-improvement, motivation, and support, and is a one-stop-shop for mental health and wellness including resources, coaching, chat rooms, self-help quizzes, and more. Bershan has an incredible story. After being diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, Bershan’s experience with depression and loneliness led her to look to many places to find the answers and support she needed. After beating cancer (twice), it was important for her to create one dedicated platform where those in need could connect with others. The app is for all people and was coded by a team of Black women and is women-invested.Bershan recently released her new book, “The Unstoppable Warrior Woman,” highlighting the stories of incredible women who have survived unthinkable odds and found strength to succeed through their struggles. She also hosts her own podcast Buckle Up with Bershan where she challenges her listeners to live life on purpose. She also runs an interior design business, Shaw & Shaw Design. Inside Mental Health Podcast 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. To learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com.

Did you buy a lottery ticket this week? Did you contribute to the major league sports office pool? Gambling is an accepted part of our culture, but how do you know when a trip to the casino stops being fun and becomes a problem?  Listen as Allison Henning, LCSW, LCAS breaks down gambling and helps us understand the nuances of this common pastime. Where’s the line between recreation and addiction and how to help someone who has crossed it? To read the transcript, or learn more, please visit the official episode page here. Guest Bio Allison Henning, LCSW, LCAS, is employed by MindPath Care Centers. MindPath Care Centers is committed to supporting the highest quality and most comprehensive outpatient mindcare available to help people navigate life's challenges, whenever and wherever they need it. Their unique, collaborative care approach and integration of the latest mental health treatments and technologies ensure patients receive the continuum of care required for optimal outcomes.  MindPath’s services are delivered at more than 25 locations in the Carolinas and include medication management and individual therapy both in office and via telehealth, addiction recovery services at the Addiction Recovery Center (ARC), group therapy sessions and TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) therapy. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit mindpathcare.com.  About the Inside Mental Health Podcast Host Gabe Howard lives with bipolar disorder and is a nationally recognized speaker and podcast host. He is the author of the book, “Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations,” available from Amazon; signed copies available directly from the author. To learn more about Gabe, please visit gabehoward.com.