How living with schizophrenia and creativity emerging from psychosis intersect—plus suicidal ideation, stigma, and finding meaning through your passions.
A raw, candid conversation with creator/advocate Rachel Star Withers on telling your truth online without glamorizing pain, and navigating relationships and employment while symptomatic.
Content note: explicit language; discussion of psychosis and suicide.
If you’re struggling (U.S.): Call/Text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 24/7).
Episode focus: the challenges of living with schizophrenia; how creativity and our passions can prevail through psychosis; the emotional toll of stigma; supportive resources; and sharing honestly without selling the suffering.
We cover:
- Schizophrenia day-to-day—what life actually looks like
- Suicidal ideation and the background noise of risk
- The emotional toll of stigma (and how to push back)
- Relationships & employment while symptomatic
- Supportive resources that help (and how to use them)
- Expressing truth online without glamorizing pain
- Prioritizing creativity to build a fulfilling life
- Comedy as a coping mechanism—and its limits
Hosts/Guest: The DEFECTIVE Schizoaffective (Nick) • Guest: Rachel Star Withers
Guest links:
• Website: https://www.rachelstarlive.com/
• Podcast: Inside Schizophrenia (all major streaming platforms)
• Movie: #Shockfight (2022) — streaming on Tubi
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelstarlive
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelstarlive
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@rachelstarlive
Draft a 15-second “truth clip or post” about your REAL experiences (as detailed as you want). Share your story on our Discord "The Struggle Bus" and we’ll help you feel right at home. (link below)
NEW EPISODES DROP EVERY OTHER MONDAY (BI-WEEKLY) AT 6AM (EDT)
FOLLOW, SHARE AND COMMENT!
Drop suggestions, topic and content ideas, potential guests… we want to know what you want from “BTMHOOI!”
Send us an email at beatthementalhealthoutofit@gmail.com
We’re a candid mental health podcast with lived experience—schizoaffective disorder, trauma recovery, coping skills, and dark humor that fights stigma!
Join Our Discord — “The Struggle Bus” - https://discord.gg/emFXKuWKNA
HOST / SOCIALS
The DEFECTIVE Schizoaffective (Nick)
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@defectiveschizoaffective
- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@defectiveschizoaffective
"BTMHOOI" (The Podcast)
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@btmhooi
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BTMHOOI
*Podcast Cover Art By Ryan Manning*
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.