Beyond Well With Sheila Hamilton

Lidia Yuknavitch is the author of several bestselling books, including her latest 'Thrust' which the Los Angeles Times calls the "Best Book of the Summer."  Yuknavitch talks about the power of storytelling to make sense of the world we are living in and the one we might just be barreling toward. She describes how, after the death of her infant daughter, Yuknavitch pieced her life back together with small scraps of paper and threads of awareness.  Please share this episode with anyone who is suffering from a traumatic loss. Yuknavitch holds the listener with exquisite care and tenderness--a gift to anyone who currently can't see their way forward. 

This was one of the first episodes we recorded. Performance artist Scott Erickson describes in intimate detail how mid-life, young children, little sleep, and a desire to feel again led to his creation of the one-man show, 'Say Yes, A Liturgy of Not Giving Up On Yourself.' Erickson's exploration of the spiritual journey of depression is one of the most fascinating conversations we've had regarding the role of art, faith, and getting out of bed even when you don't feel like it. Share this episode with anyone lacking the vocabulary for living through the hardest times.

Kelly Williams Brown wrote a bestselling book about adulting and then her life fell apart. In the book, "Easy Crafts for the Insane" Brown talks about how mental illness snuck up on her after divorce, friendship difficulties, and unexpected trauma, including breaking three limbs over the course of seven hundred days.  Warning: This episode deals with the impulse of attempted suicide and how common suicidal ideation is in the depths of deep depression.

The Anxiety Sisters (Abs and Mags) bonded in college over their shared difficulty with just about everything that seemed to come easy for other students. Decades later, the two have built a substantial community of people who share their experiences of living with anxiety while continuing to find joy, purpose, and happiness despite the ebbs and flows of their ongoing symptoms. (Part two)

The Anxiety Sisters (Abs and Mags) bonded in college over their shared difficulty with just about everything that seemed to come easy for other students. Decades later, the two have built a substantial community of people who share their experiences of living with anxiety while continuing to find joy, purpose, and happiness despite the ebbs and flows of their ongoing symptoms. (Part one)

Harris Goldberg is a skilled director and writer, and he also lives with debilitating anxiety and OCD. Goldberg's command of the internal parts of our lives that cause us pain and suffering is so evident in his interviews, and he shares how he may have finally cracked the code on how to live well with a severe form of anxiety. 

Portland-based pop-soul singer-songwriter Laryssa Birdseye is most known for emotionally powerful and sometimes scathing "break-up" songs. But Laryssa has plumbed emotional wreckage and heartache to get to the place where she creates rather than perseverates, and the end product is both grittily honest and relevant to the lives of so many women who have struggled with  subtance-use and anxiety.

Most people with bipolar disorder do not seek care when they are enjoying the perks of hypomania. They seek care when the behaviors of mania have destroyed their relationships, jobs, or careers, or they have sunk into the inevitable low of Bipolar Depression.  Dr. Pritham Raj talks about the unique characteristics of bipolar depression and why it is so dangerous.

Comedic writer Courtenay Hameister takes an unflinching look at her life through the lens of anxiety. This is one of our most listened-to episodes because Courtenay is as real as anxiety, and anyone who has ever been told to "stop being so anxiety-ridden" understands the madness of this instruction. It is through self-compassion and understanding, humor, and the right combination of meds that Courtenay keeps her razor-sharp ability to comment on her approach to managing a serious condition.

This month we are revisiting some of our favorite conversations with artists, musicians,, and influencers whose mental health journeys inspire and educate.  Brittani Warwick is the niece of the famous Dionne Warwick, and a social media manager for some of music's most influential artists. Her personal story of rising from the stigma of mental health to become one of her generation's greatest advocates is inspired and hopeful. 

During the month of May, we are revisiting some of our favorite conversations with artists who have come to a place of deep awareness and respect for their mental well-being. Storm Large is an Author, Actress, Performer and force of nature. You don't want to miss the story of inherited mental health vulnerability and how Storm battles her demons with profound honesty and individuality. 

This month, we are revisiting some of our favorite conversations with artists whose mental health is pivotal to their music and creative expression.  Zachary Carothers is a member of the Grammy Award-winning band Portugal the Man, and a fierce advocate for mental health awareness. We talk with Zach about his personal wellness habits, and how he balanced life and creativity during the pandemic.

During mental health awareness month, we are revisiting some of our favorite interviews with musicians whose mental health stories inspire and transform.  Israel Nebeker, lead singer with Blind Pilot talks about the darkest experience he's ever confronted and how he maintains his mental health awareness.

It is #mentalhealthawareness month and we are revisiting some of our favorite conversations with musical artists whose personal mental health challenges, victories and transformations are transformative. Sit back, listen and enjoy. Here's global superstar, Lauv

When a person fails a third or fourth anti-depressant, the chances of success on another round of medication fall to 6.7 percent. And yet many patients whose medications have stopped working are advised to keep trying.  Todd's story of depression worsening to the point of suicidal thinking is an example of the trap these patients find themselves in. Fortunately for Todd, transcranial magnetic stimulation provided an effective alternative to medicine.

Daryl Tol is the Executive Vice President overseeing the One Mind at Work programs. He brings more than twenty years of healthcare leadership to One Mind, where a global coalition of employers and partners is transforming the approach to workplace mental health and wellness.  Tol shares how his personal battle with anxiety continues to shape his work and his belief system regarding equity, diversity and inclusion. 

Dr. James Polo trained at the United States Army War College and has served two tours of duty as a behavioral health care specialist. Dr. Polo's expertise on how to remain psychologically grounded during times of war is especially relevant to the times we are in.  In part two, we discuss how to reduce the anxiety and depression brought on byevents outside of our control.

Dr. James Polo trained at the United States Army War College and has served two tours of duty as a behavioral health care specialist. Dr. Polo's expertise on how to remain psychologically grounded during times of war is especially relevant to the times we are in.  In part one, we discuss how to talk about war with children and young adults, why limiting media consumption is so important, and how to prepare for a long-drawn-out conflict.

Andrea Herron is a seasoned HR Executive, author of "There's an Elephant in Your Office," and host of the HR Scoop podcast. She is a passionate advocate for addressing mental health in the workplace, and bolstering diversity, inclusion, and belonging.  Andrea talks with Beyond Well about the important role of managers in creating a culture of mental health awareness, support, and belonging, and she answers some of the toughest "what if?" questions from our audience.  Andrea earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Western Kentucky University. 

Chris Cummings is the CEO of WellBeing at Work World, an integrated multi-channel platform to make the wellbeing of the workforce a strategic priority in every organization. In this interview, Chris talks about the profound changes the pandemic brought to mental health awareness in the workplace, and what companies can do to help support and better the lives of their employees.