Inside Mental Health

Inside Mental Health

Award-winning weekly podcast that approaches psychology and mental health in an accessible way. Listen as our host Gabe Howard speaks candidly with experts, celebrities, and other notables to break down complex topics into simpler terms.

Episodes

January 8, 2026 28 mins
For many people, religion is a source of comfort — but what happens when it becomes a source of fear, shame, or lifelong anxiety? In this episode, author Cassandra Brandt shares her deeply personal journey through religious indoctrination, purity culture, and the hidden mental health consequences that followed her into adulthood.Cassandra unpacks the emotional toll of being raised in an evangelical Christian environment: fearing th...
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Medication nonadherence in schizophrenia is often framed as defiance — but that narrative misses the truth and harms the very people it claims to help. Guest host Rachel Star Withers (who lives with schizophrenia) unpacks why up to 70% of people with schizophrenia have trouble taking medication as prescribed — and why the reasons are far more complex than “noncompliance.” From severe side effects and cognitive symptoms to stigma, ...
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December 18, 2025 42 mins
Most people imagine schizophrenia beginning with dramatic hallucinations or sudden breaks from reality—but the truth is far more subtle, far more complicated, and far easier to miss. In this special featured episode from Inside Schizophrenia, host Rachel Star Withers, who lives openly with schizophrenia, joins co-host Gabe Howard to unpack the quiet red flags that often go unnoticed for months—or even years. You’ll hear how early ...
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Hallucinations are the most recognized—and most misunderstood—symptom of schizophrenia. Movies depict them as dramatic, terrifying commands or cinematic visions, but the lived reality is far more complex. In this episode we unravel what hallucinations actually are, why they happen, and how people learn to live with them. This episode is a special feature from our sister show Inside Schizophrenia. Hosted by Rachel Star Withers (who...
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Why does happiness always feel one step away? In this episode, we welcome back positive psychology expert Jodi Wellman to explore why so many of us keep “moving the goalposts” on our own success, and learn why accomplishments that once thrilled us eventually feel ordinary. Jodi breaks down why we convince ourselves that one more thing — a new job, a relationship, a move, a big purchase — will finally deliver lasting happiness. Usi...
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November 27, 2025 30 mins
Can a single conversation help rewrite centuries of racial trauma? In this episode, host Gabe Howard sits down with award-winning podcaster Dominic Lawson to explore how America’s racial wounds continue to shape our collective mental health — and what it takes to begin healing. From the generational echoes of slavery to the modern-day silencing of diversity and inclusion, Dominic breaks down why talking about race isn’t “divisive” ...
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Most of us think we’d never fall for a cult. We imagine the followers of Jim Jones as naïve, brainwashed, or broken people who “drank the Kool-Aid.” But what if that’s not the truth at all?In this eye-opening episode, host Gabe Howard speaks with the award-winning author of “Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown,” Candace Fleming, about the real story behind Jonestown, aka the Peoples Temple, and th...
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What happens when a neurodivergent flight attendant trades jet lag for guitar riffs and finds better mental health in the process? In this inspiring and wildly relatable episode, Canadian alt-rock singer-songwriter Harley Olivia joins Gabe Howard to share how embracing her creativity helped her manage ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and why ignoring your passions could make your mental health worse. From performing onstage to copin...
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What can the history of a Jim Crow–era mental asylum teach us about race and mental health today? MSNBC journalist Antonia Hylton joins Gabe Howard to discuss her powerful book “Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum,” a deeply researched look at Crownsville Hospital, once known as The Hospital for the Negro Insane.Antonia reveals how Black patients were forced to build their own hospital, how racism shaped their psychiatr...
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Imagine everyone around you — family, friends, even your doctors — insisting you have a serious mental illness, yet you’re certain they’re wrong. This isn’t denial — it’s a symptom called anosognosia, a lack of awareness that can make treatment nearly impossible. In this episode, guest host Rachel Star Withers, who lives with schizophrenia, speaks with Dr. Xavier Amador, Founder and President of the LEAP Institute and author of th...
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Intrusive thoughts are common for new parents — but when do they cross the line into something more serious? In this episode, you’ll learn how obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) latches onto what matters most — in this case, the safety and well-being of the baby — and how evidence-based treatment like exposure and response prevention (ERP) can bring relief.Joining host Gabe Howard is internationally recognized OCD and parenting ex...
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Hollywood has never shied away from portraying obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) — but it often gets it wrong. Typically, OCD is reduced to a punchline, a quirky habit, or a stereotype about neatness and handwashing. In this episode, TV & movie actor Rachel Alig and award-winning filmmaker Sam Sabawi take us behind the scenes of their acclaimed short film “For All I Know” to show how OCD can — and should — be portrayed with truth...
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How are punk rock and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) related? More than you think. In this episode, clinical psychologist and bestselling author Dr. J.J. Kelly — the “punk rock doc” — joins the conversation to break down DBT with raw honesty, humor, and zero fluff. Far from a gimmick, DBT is an evidence-based therapy that blends mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy to help people regulate emotions, improve relationship...
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The youth mental health crisis is one of the most urgent challenges facing families today — but what can be done at a policy level to create lasting change? In this episode, former Ohio Governor John Kasich joins host Gabe Howard to share his work with the Bipartisan Policy Center and their recommendations for addressing this national emergency. Governor Kasich explains why integrating mental health into primary care could be a ga...
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How exactly does a three-time Olympic gold medalist end up with alcohol use disorder? At just 16, Carrie Bates stood on the Olympic podium with a gold medal around her neck. To the world, she had it all — talent, drive, and glory. But behind the scenes, Carrie was fighting a growing battle with alcohol that nearly cost her everything. In this episode, Olympian Carrie Bates opens up about her journey from the top of the podium to ne...
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September 18, 2025 26 mins
Have you ever found yourself halfway through a concert, dinner party, or even a family gathering and thought, “OK, I’m ready to go now,” even though you’re having a good time? You’re not alone, and it doesn’t mean you’re antisocial or ungrateful. In this episode, host Gabe Howard sits down with Jodi Wellman, a positive psychology expert and TEDx speaker, to unpack the surprising psychology behind wanting to leave events early.Toget...
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For individuals living with schizophrenia, the world can be populated by voices, visions, or other sensory experiences that are intensely real yet imperceptible to others. These hallucinations, which are a defining feature of schizophrenia, are not mere figments of imagination but rather vivid, often distressing, and deeply influential aspects of their daily reality. Today’s exploration aims to shed light on the phenomenon of hall...
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What happens when therapy and medication don’t work? Treatment-resistant depression can feel like a dead end — but it’s not. In this episode, clinical psychologist and ADAA member expert Dr. Jill Emanuele unpacks the nuanced differences between sadness, grief, and major depressive disorder — and why misusing these terms can delay real help.But the conversation doesn’t stop there. What happens when traditional treatments for depress...
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We’re sold the fairy tale from birth: find “the one,” make them your everything, and you’ll live happily ever after. But what happens if that one person can’t meet all your needs - or ever could? In this convention challenging conversation, sex experts Dr. Danielle Harel and Celeste Hirschman take aim at America’s deeply rooted ideas about monogamy, intimacy, and what makes for a fulfilling - and lasting - relationship. Host Gabe ...
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August 21, 2025 25 mins
Ever feel like your fear of judgment is holding you back from college life? In this no-nonsense episode, host Gabe Howard teams up with ADAA member expert Ken Goodman, LCSW, to cut through the noise and tackle social anxiety head-on. Discover how everyday moments — like dropping a napkin or saying hello — can spiral into overwhelming anxiety and how you can flip the script. Ken offers real-world strategies that empower you to face...
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