The Bipolar Buzz

The Bipolar Buzz

I am your host, Lai, a Ph.D. dropout with diverse educational and personal experiences that ignite my passion for mental health. Fueled by the setback I experienced in 2017 due to bipolar I disorder and anxiety, I am continuing the fight for mental health by raising awareness and spreading courage to slay stigma through sharing and discussion. You can find me on the social platforms listed here: thebipolarbuzz.com/links. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

Emotional Vulnerability

July 22, 2025 • 4 mins
In this episode, Lai dives into two perspectives of emotional vulnerability. Is it a weakness or a strength? Let's talk about it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Autism with Jessica Penot: Embracing Neurodivergence

July 8, 2025 • 35 mins
In this episode, Jessica joins us to talk about her journey with autism both personally and professionally. She challenges us to think about autism as a neurodivergence instead of as a disorder. What would society look like if, instead of trying to fit people with autism into a neurotypical box, we allowed them to exist as they are and changed our own way of thinking about people on the spectrum? Thank you, Jessica, for sharing you...

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In Recovery from Alcohol Addiction: An Interview with Janice

June 24, 2025 • 55 mins
In this episode, Janice opens up about her struggle with alcohol addiction. She shares her experience with what she calls a family disease, discusses when and why she decided to seek help, and describes what recovery has been like for her. As someone who has lived this and who is also a social worker, Janice offers a unique perspective on healing, speaking up, and breaking the stigma surrounding addiction. Thank you, Janice, for sh...

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Challenges of Bipolar Mania

June 10, 2025 • 3 mins
Mania isn't always the "high" it appears to be. There are challenges, too. In this episode, Lai aims to educate her listeners on how mania can explain uncharacteristic behaviors.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Bipolar Mania: What's Good?

May 27, 2025 • 5 mins
What comes to mind when you hear "bipolar mania?" Good, bad, both? In this episode, Lai discusses what's good about bipolar mania by exploring her personal experiences of mania in the context of the DSM-5.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Living with Bipolar Disorder: An Interview with Sydney

May 13, 2025 • 29 mins
Lai sits down with Sydney for a candid conversation about living with bipolar disorder - the challenges, the strength, and the courage to slay stigma. Don't miss this powerful premiere.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Dating with a Mental Health Diagnosis

July 18, 2023 • 15 mins

In this episode, I share my thoughts on disclosing a mental health diagnosis to someone you're dating. While it is scary to share something like this with someone you're interested in, it is something to at least consider if you're planning to make your relationship serious. For me personally, bipolar disorder is a significant part of my life - to the point that my partner not knowing my diagnosis could be dangerous and result in a...

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Dealing with a DNA Surprise

July 4, 2023 • 34 mins
For almost 36 years, Alexis grew up believing that she was white and Mexican. She got the shock of a lifetime in July of 2021 when she received her Ancestry DNA test results and discovered that not only was her raised father not her biological father but also that she is a mixed race Black woman rather than a mixed race Mexican woman. In this episode of the Bipolar Buzz podcast, Alexis shares with us the different layers of trauma ...

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Am I Really Bipolar?

June 27, 2023 • 12 mins
Have you ever been doing so well mentally and/or emotionally that you started to question whether you have a mental health diagnosis at all? That's what I'm talking about in this episode. Diagnoses - especially mental health ones - are complex. Different people can have the same disorder yet present quite differently. My diagnosis was never simple to begin with; there was confusion among mental health professionals about what my la...

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Healthy Quitting When What You're Doing No Longer Serves You

June 20, 2023 • 8 mins
"Withdraw." A word that changed my life. It's so easy to remain stuck in a routine or in a place simply because it's all you know or because it's comfortable for you or because it's what you always wanted. However, sometimes in order to protect our mental health, we have to quit in order to not give up on ourselves. Check out this episode to hear how my therapist at the time encouraged me to quit in order to protect and nurture my ...

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The Story Behind The Painted Buffalo

June 13, 2023 • 35 mins

Jessica Rambo, a Marine Corps veteran, is the founder of a non-profit organization called The Painted Buffalo. The aim of the organization is to give veterans a space to unpack and share their stories through art, which is one of Jessica's passions. In this episode, Jessica shares The Painted Buffalo's origin story. Her love of country and art turned into her dream career - a camerawoman for the Marines. Due to a motor vehicle acci...

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Taraji P. Henson's Mental Health Organization

April 18, 2023 • 9 mins
Mental health advocacy can take place on scales big and small and anywhere in between. Actress and mental health advocate Taraji P. Henson founded the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation in honor of her father as a way to destigmatize mental health in the black community by improving access to mental health resources. Listen to this episode to learn more about the goals and initiatives of Taraji's non-profit organization as well as ho...

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Stigma as a Barrier to Mental Health Care

April 11, 2023 • 5 mins
Honesty and openness about personal mental health struggles can build trust and relationship. With regards to healthcare access, it is my opinion that stigma is a barrier that sets mental healthcare access apart from physical healthcare access. In this week's episode, I talk about how public figures can use their platform to help destigmatize mental health and create safe spaces for people to improve and maintain their mental well-...

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What does it mean that social media is bad for you?

April 4, 2023 • 8 mins
You have probably heard it said that social media is "bad for you." But what exactly does that mean? In this episode, I dive into how social media can negatively impact your mental health. Do you agree or disagree with my take on the topic? Any other thoughts? You can join the conversation by leaving a comment, sending a direct message, or tagging @thebipolarbuzz. Thanks for listening and be sure to like and follow for more!

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Gender Differences in the Diagnosis of Depression

March 28, 2023 • 7 mins
Did you know that women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression and anxiety? Does this gender disparity accurately reflect rates of depression in the population? Many might attribute this difference to the decreased likelihood that men seek help or treatment for depressive symptoms. Listen to this episode of the Bipolar Buzz podcast to find out what some other possible reasons could be for the gender difference.<...

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Peripartum Mental Health

March 21, 2023 • 20 mins

In this episode of The Bipolar Buzz podcast, Lety, an entrepreneur balloon artist at Lifted by Lety and a mother of two, discusses her experience with generalized anxiety disorder. She shares how her diagnosis and treatment led to her becoming a better mom and a healthier version of herself both mentally and physically. This is an episode you don't want to miss!


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Two "Secrets" to Recovery and Maintaining Your Mental Health

March 14, 2023 • 23 mins
In this first episode of The Bipolar Buzz, I welcome my friend Ed to discuss with me how we try to stay healthy despite us both having bipolar I disorder. Specifically, we discuss two "secrets" to recovery and maintaining your mental health that have helped us to stay healthy and might help you as well. Listen to this week's podcast to learn how practicing thankfulness daily and trying to live a meaningful life by helping others ma...

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The Bipolar Buzz - Trailer

March 14, 2023 • 1 min
Hey, it's Lai @thebipolarbuzz! I am living with a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder, but I don't let that stop me. Listen to this trailer to learn a little bit about me and what this podcast has to offer!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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