Inside Bipolar

Inside Bipolar

Join Gabe, who lives with bipolar, and Dr. Nicole, a board certified psychiatrist, as they explore the spectrum of this misunderstood illness. They tackle bipolar disorder using real world examples, the latest research, and just enough funny to keep you intrigued. Signal Award Gold Winner, 2024. Signal Award Listener's Choice Winner, 2024. Webby Honoree two years in a row -- 2024 & 2025!

Episodes

January 12, 2026 47 mins
Advocacy isn’t yelling, protesting, or going viral — and for people with bipolar disorder, doing it the wrong way can actually make things worse. In this episode, we break down what real, effective advocacy actually looks like, starting where the stakes are highest: your everyday life and expanding to social and political activism — covering everything in between. From setting boundaries with family members who won’t stop asking a...
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Being told to “calm down” has never calmed anyone down — especially if you are experiencing symptoms of bipolar disorder. In this surprisingly funny episode, Gabe Howard (who lives with bipolar disorder) and Dr. Nicole Washington break down why the world’s most common advice backfires… and what truly helps instead. Whether you’re spiraling at 2 a.m., overwhelmed in your car, or suddenly flooded with anxiety for no clear reason, th...
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Traveling is supposed to be fun — but when you live with bipolar disorder, even a short trip can disrupt sleep, routines, and stability. In this episode, Gabe Howard (who lives with bipolar) and Dr. Nicole Washington get honest about why vacations can feel overwhelming, how to plan without fear, and the exact safeguards that make travel not just possible, but enjoyable.From jet lag to family expectations, from “what if I’m not stab...
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The mental health system didn’t start out fair — and in many ways, it still isn’t. In this powerful episode, Dr. Nicole Washington sits down with fellow psychiatrist Dr. Leesha Ellis-Cox to unpack the long, painful history that continues to shape the experiences of Black Americans seeking mental health care. From the horrifying “diagnosis” of drapetomania in the 1800s to the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, they trace how mistrust, stigma,...
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People with mental illness, including bipolar disorder, have long been denied the right to make their own reproductive choices. This episode looks at how psychiatry’s history and stigma continue to shape who gets to decide. Dr. Nicole Washington sits down with mental health advocate Dr. Keris Myrick to unpack the intersection of reproductive justice and mental illness — and how stigma, outdated systems, and silence continue to rob...
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Life with bipolar disorder often feels like a constant battle, so being told to find hope can seem like a cruel joke. But what if hope isn’t naïve — it’s necessary? In this episode, Gabe Howard, who lives with bipolar disorder, and Dr. Nicole Washington dive deep into the real, practical power of hope and how to find it even when it feels impossible. From planning something to look forward to, to saying “yes” to new experiences, t...
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October 20, 2025 43 mins
In this episode, Gabe Howard (who lives with bipolar disorder) and psychiatrist Dr. Nicole Washington unpack what the research actually shows, why supplement quality is inconsistent (and sometimes downright sketchy), and how side effects — even with “natural” products — are very real. In short, they dig into the science, hype, and hope surrounding omega-3 supplements. Listener takeaways: why omega-3s may help with certain bi...
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What happens when binge eating disorder and bipolar disorder collide? Research shows they co-occur in as many as one in four cases — and yet, many people living with both conditions feel completely alone. In this episode, host Gabe Howard shares his personal journey of living with bipolar disorder and binge eating disorder, including how food was his form of self-medication.Board certified psychiatrist Dr. Nicole Washington breaks ...
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What happens when bipolar disorder collides with hypochondria? Is it even possible for someone to have both conditions? In this episode, Gabe Howard (who lives with bipolar) and Dr. Nicole Washington (a psychiatrist) tackle the complex overlap between bipolar disorder and what’s often called hypochondria but is now known as illness anxiety disorder.Together, they explore the confusion that comes when symptoms of panic, mania, or de...
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What if managing bipolar disorder wasn’t just about medication? Too often, conversations around bipolar treatment stop at the pharmacy counter. But what about therapy that helps you process trauma? What about learning your triggers before a full-blown episode hits? What about diet, exercise, creativity, and community support? These are not extras — they’re essential.In this episode, hosts Gabe Howard (who lives with bipolar) and Dr...
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Do you feel trapped in a therapy or psychiatry relationship that feels stagnant, unsettling, or just plain wrong? This episode pulls no punches as hosts Gabe Howard — who lives with bipolar disorder — and Dr. Nicole Washington — a board certified psychiatrist — tackle the uncomfortable question most people think about but rarely voice: “How, and when, is it time to part ways with your mental health professional?" This direct and p...
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Do you feel people are manipulating or using you because of your bipolar disorder diagnosis? If that question hits a nerve, this podcast episode is for you. When a listener emailed us because they felt they were being exploited due to their diagnosis, hosts Gabe Howard (who lives with bipolar disorder) and Dr. Nicole Washington (a licensed psychiatrist) dove headfirst into a frank conversation about loneliness, control, and the mes...
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You can be living in a storm and swear it’s a sunny day. That’s what it’s like when insight slips away. In this episode, Dr. Nicole (board certified psychiatrist) and Kit Wallis (lives with schizoaffective disorder) explore why people with serious mental illness, like bipolar disorder, often can’t see their own symptoms — even when the evidence is undeniable. Dr. Nicole unpacks the science behind lack of insight and explains how it...
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You’ve received a new diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Now it’s time to sharpen your survival toolkit. In part two of this essential series, Gabe Howard (Lived Experience) and Dr. Nicole Washington (Board Certified Psychiatrist) dive straight into the signals you can’t afford to miss: the subtle shifts in sleep, mood, and behavior that whisper “episode incoming.” Learn why tracking your patterns today becomes your superpower tomorrow...
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Imagine hearing, “You have bipolar disorder,” and feeling the ground drop out from under you. That moment of shock and confusion is the very reason we made this episode. Join Gabe Howard (lived experience) and Dr. Nicole Washington (board certified psychiatrist) as they transform that initial overwhelm into a powerful first step. In this episode, you’ll discover the essential truths no one tells you when you get a new diagnosis: w...
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In this female-centric episode, board certified psychiatrist Dr. Nicole Washington welcomes mental health advocate Kit Wallis, who lives with schizoaffective disorder, for a fearless “girl power” takeover. Kit shares raw stories of being dismissed, sexualized, and romanticized simply for being a woman with a serious mental health diagnosis — and how one doctor’s simple question, “What is it like for you?” completely changed her car...
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What if a secret weapon in managing bipolar disorder isn’t a new medication or a breakthrough therapy — but a brisk 20-minute walk? In this refreshingly honest and hilariously relatable episode, Gabe Howard, who lives with bipolar disorder, and Dr. Nicole Washington take on the least talked about pillar of bipolar stability: lifestyle management, and more specifically, exercise. During a recent bout of depression, Gabe’s doctor “t...
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Imagine being fully awake, yet your body refuses to respond — a terrifying state where time seems to warp as you stand paralyzed. In this riveting episode, we dive deep into the elusive world of catatonia as it intersects with bipolar disorder. Drawing from special guest host Kit Wallis’s (SchizoKitzo’s) firsthand experiences, including moments of being physically “frozen” while fully aware, this episode unpacks the surprising com...
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Have you ever felt the crushing weight of doubt when every day is a battle with your own mind? In this episode, Gabe (who lives with bipolar) and Dr. Nicole (a board certified psychiatrist) cut through the BS and get real about staying on track with bipolar treatment. They dive into moments when giving up seems like the easier option and Gabe recalls a painful wake-up call from a friend who wasn’t holding back their anger — a momen...
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Why is schizoaffective disorder so often overlooked — even by mental health professionals — and how does it relate to bipolar disorder? In this episode, Dr. Nicole Washington sits down with guest host Kit Wallis (aka SchizoKitzo) to discuss Kit’s life managing schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. Kit shares her decade-long journey through multiple diagnoses, from cyclothymia to bipolar I, before finally receiving the correct di...
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