Welcome to Brain Stories Connections! Now available in video format available on our Youtube channel.

Today, Rachel Star Withers talks about the hallucinations she has had since she was a kid, and how she learned to manage them. It became the basis of a brilliant children's book she has written. Rachel is buoyant, refreshingly open, and has forged a method to deal with hallucinations and depression that could help millions.

Rachel is a speaker, entertainer, teacher and the host of a terrific podcast called Inside Schizophrenia. Check it out here. You can find out more about her on her webpage.

Her children's book, "The Adventures of _____________, volume 1" is available here. It includes a workbook and ought to be required reading for any child living with depression, ADHD or hallucinations - and anybody who is supporting those children. There are one part each for hallucinations, depression and ADHD - you can buy them individually if you prefer.

Subscribe or follow Brain Stories so you never miss an episode. The next episode will be released in two weeks.

This episode was edited and co-produced by Kate Rusk-Kosa. Theme music comes to us from Paul Swartzel. It was executive produced by Frank Kosa and Janet Yang.

Find out more about this episode and the Brain Stories documentary series at www.BrainStoriesProductions.com.

This show is a copyright of Brain Stories Productions and the SamoBé Corporation. The use of this episode or any of its content in any form or way for Artificial Intelligence, its development or training is copyright infringement, and expressly prohibited without prior written agreement.

Welcome to Brain Stories Connections! Now available in a new video format available on our Youtube channel.

Is the word "curating" often overused and pretentious? Yes, thanks for asking. Nevertheless, Brain Stories is curating - sifting through the massive podcast landscape to present the very best of our recs.

In this episode, we recommend Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined.

It's the podcast of the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society (BCSS). Led by their CEO, Faydra Aldridge, BCSS has delivered invaluable services, support and education in Canada for years.

This episode features an interview with Dr. Xavier Amador. We told his compelling chronicle in Episode 1 of Brain Stories; *this* is the perfect companion.

With interviewer Myles Constable, Dr. Amador delves into why it will never work to tell someone their reality is false, their truth not true. And explains the value of his technique Listening, Empathizing, Agreeing and Partnering (LEAP).

The episode ends with a short conversation about how important it is to tell stories about serious mental illness - something BCSS has done for years. Spoiler alert: that interview is with Brain Stories EP, Frank Kosa.

Go to the BCSS website because there is so much more to see. Or go straight to their podcast, Look Again, and binge.

Find out more about Dr. Amador's LEAP method, videos and information at his website, leapinstitute.org. Btw, LEAP works with anyone who wants to be heard, seen and validated, that is, basically everyone.

Subscribe or follow Brain Stories so you never miss an episode. The next episode will be released in two weeks.

This episode was edited and co--produced by Kate Rusk-Kosa. Theme music comes to us from Paul Swartzel. It was executive produced by Frank Kosa and Janet Yang.

Find out more about this episode and the Brain Stories documentary series at www.BrainStoriesProductions.com.

This show is a copyright of Brain Stories Productions and the SamoBé Corporation. The use of this episode or any of its content in any form or way for Artificial Intelligence, its development or training is copyright infringement, and expressly prohibited without prior written agreement.

Welcome to Brain Stories Connections! And a new video format available on our Youtube channel.

Gail Freedman's new film is just out. A documentary called "No One Cares About Crazy People," it was inspired by the book written by Pulitzer-prize winning journalist, Ron Powers. The film follows several people with serious mental illness and their families as they seek the most fundamental help against "inconceivable odds."

In her interview, Gail shares surprising insights, and opens up around her own experience of growing up with a mom who lived with borderline personality disorder. She's interviewed by Sarah Haufrect, whose mother also lived with borderline personality disorder.

For the latest information about where to stream "No One Cares About Crazy People" and to watch the trailer, go to https://noonecaresfilm.com/now-streaming/.

Ron Powers' book is deeply moving, and full of wry, hard-won insight. It's available at your local bookstore. Find the NY Times review of the book here.

Subscribe or follow Brain Stories so you never miss an episode. The next episode will be released in two weeks.

Sarah Haufrect was the episode producer. She is a writer and mental health activist. Check out her work at her website.

This episode was edited and co-produced by Kate Rusk-Kosa. Theme music comes to us from Paul Swartzel. It was executive produced by Frank Kosa and Janet Yang.

Find out more about this episode and the Brain Stories documentary series at www.BrainStoriesProductions.com.

This show is a copyright of Brain Stories Productions and the SamoBé Corporation. The use of this episode or any of its content in any form or way for Artificial Intelligence, its development or training is copyright infringement, and expressly prohibited without prior written agreement.