Pop& Down

Lisa Anita Wegner is a Toronto-based storyteller, performer, actor, artist, performance artist, podcaster and filmmaker. After a breakdown at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, Lisa received a diagnosis of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). After many years of needing a lot of experiencing exhaustion and brain fog - and just thinking she was "tired and extremely bendy," Lisa was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Lisa chats with Shaunna about creating through her mental and physical health issues, the artistic milestones she's accomplished and her influences from Annie to Lady Gaga to David Bowie, being reflected in She's Gotta Have It and Rushmore, and the soothing rewatchability of United States of Tara, Transparent and I Love Dick. Lisa Anita Wegner's performance art piece, Intangible Adorations, will be showing as part of Workman Arts' Rendezvous With Madness Festival. In its 27th year, Rendezvous With Madness is the largest mental health festival in the world, showcasing film, art, comedy and much more, beginning on World Mental Health Day (October 10) through October 20th. To learn more about the festival and to purchase tickets to Intangible Adorations, as well as their other events, please visit https://workmanarts.com/rendezvous-with-madness/ You can find Lisa Anita Wegner online at: Instagram: instagram.com/lisa_anita_wegner instagram.com/think_blank_human Twitter: twitter.com/lisaanitawegner Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisaanitawegner URL: http://www.mightybraveproductions.com And listen to her podcast, She's Gotta Have It! on your favorite podcatcher! Pop& Down's music is provided by Neil Quin Pop& Down is written, produced, edited and hosted by Shaunna Quin Support Pop& Down on Patreon at www.patreon.com/popanddown and give us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts! ***TRIGGER WARNING: Today’s episode of Pop& Down includes references to CPTSD, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, depression, bipolar disorder and rape. Listener discretion is advised.***

Growing up in Toronto as a teenager, Mike Stroh became not just a drug user, but also a drug dealer. On top of that, he lives with anxiety, depression, OCD and ADHD and helps act as a caregiver for his brother who lives with schizophrenia. Now Mike uses his vast experiences to help facilitate mental health programs and workshops for youth and beyond through his organization, Starts With Me. He also produces the podcast, State of Mind, as well as the State of Mind Festival. Shaunna and Mike met for coffee to chat about his experiences and the difference he's been making for youth in the Toronto area. Mike talks about seeing him and his old group of friends in high school reflected in the Larry Clark film, "Kids," how much he looks up to pro-skateboarder Rodney Mullen and how much Eminem's music resonated with him when he first heard it. We also get a bit into spirituality and how paramount twelve-step work has been in his personal recovery. Find Mike online! Instagram: www.instagram.com/startswithme_ Twitter: www.twitter.com/startswithme_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startswithmementalhealth/ URL: www.startswithme.ca Pop& Down's music is provided by Neil Quin Pop& Down is written, produced, edited and hosted by Shaunna Quin Support Pop& Down on Patreon at www.patreon.com/popanddown and give us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts! ***TRIGGER WARNING: Today’s episode of Pop& Down includes references to depression, anxiety, OCD, OCPD, ADHD, drugs, addiction and schizophrenia. Listener discretion is advised.***

We're back! On today's new mini-sode of Pop& Down, our host, Shaunna Quin reviews the hottest album you're streaming right now, Taylor Swift's "Lover." Find out which songs she loves, which songs she loathes and why Taylor endures! Pop& Down's music is provided by Neil Quin Pop& Down is written, produced, edited and hosted by Shaunna Quin Support Pop& Down on Patreon at www.patreon.com/popanddown and give us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts!

Depression can be a funny thing, so it's no wonder so many comic greats and legends have struggled with depression and other forms of mental illness, as well as addiction. Freelance Mental Health Educator and Author, Rebecca Higgins, joins Shaunna in conversation to talk about some of her faves. Comic strips like Hyperbole and a Half, comedians such as Maria Bamford, Neil Brennan and Aparna Nancherla and the joy of TV shows like Shrill and Lady Dynamite and listening to EDM! Rebecca talks about her depression - which she's referred to as "The Festival" - because “It’s really easy to get tickets, but nobody has the energy to go.” Find Rebecca online! Instagram: www.instagram.com/mentalhealthworkshops Twitter: www.twitter.com/rebeccaehiggins Websites: www.mentalhealthworkshopstoronto.com www.rebeccahiggins.org Pop& Down's music is provided by Neil Quin Pop& Down is written, produced, edited and hosted by Shaunna Quin Support Pop& Down on Patreon at www.patreon.com/popanddown and give us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts! ***TRIGGER WARNING: Today’s episode of Pop& Down includes references to depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, drugs, addiction and suicide. Listener discretion is advised.***

Life coach, addictions counselor and motivational speaker, Joe Mintzer's struggle with addiction began in his early teens. Over the years, his addictions to alcohol and crack cocaine had him ending up in and out of various rehabs, as well as a stint in jail. Today, proudly sober, he's in a place where he can help others with their recovery. As the Spiraddict Warrior, Joe incorporates spirituality and meditation in his own, as well as others' recovery processes. He's also been inspired to write his experiences with the law into a play! Shaunna and Joe bond over how triggering the creative process can be, as well as drinking to calm the anxiety becoming drinking being *the cause* of anxiety. Joe also shares about his body image issues factoring into his teenhood and first panic attack-- when he learned about the death of a relative while he was under the influence. Though he cites The Basketball Diaries as a movie with the most accurate portrayal of addiction, he generally finds movies and shows about addiction to be problematic. However, he cites Samuel L. Jackson as an inspiration-- Jackson had just gotten clean from his crack addiction when he filmed his breakout role of Gator, a crack addict, in the Spike Lee film, Jungle Fever. Another celebrity Joe admires is Keanu Reeves and his ability to stay humble with all of his fame. If you are struggling, Joe encourages you to reach out to him. You can follow Joe on Instagram at: www.instagram.com/mintzerjoe And visit his website! www.spiraddictwarrior.com Pop& Down's music is provided by Neil Quin Pop& Down is written, produced, edited and hosted by Shaunna Quin Support Pop& Down on Patreon at www.patreon.com/popanddown and give us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts! ***TRIGGER WARNING: Today’s episode of Pop& Down includes references to body image issues, addiction, drugs, anxiety, legal troubles and sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised.***

Jaene Castrillon is a person of many identities, professions and experiences. They are a Chinese/Colombian-Indigenous settler of Turtle Island who identifies as trans, genderfluid/genderqueer and Two-Spirit. Jaene works as an activist, an artist, a healer and a youth worker, where their own frankness about their deep experiences of mental illness, addiction, disability, and trauma inform their teachings and advocacy and help others shine through their own spirit. Being the first Two-Spirit-identifying guest on Pop& Down, Jaene was gracious enough to give context and history to what being Two-Spirit actually encompasses - possessing both "male" and "female" spirits and being able to act in both roles in Ceremony. They also discuss how being introduced to their Elder and attending sweat lodges and Ceremony did more for her mental wellness than therapy ever had. Jaene talks about everything from changing diagnoses, the lack of affordable housing in Toronto, how the Ontario government's cuts to disability in the 90s groomed them for sex work and how Judeo-Christian shame has impacted the Indigenous community. Jaene also points to Lizzo, Massive Attack& Van Gogh, who are just a few of the many artists they're passionate about and crucial to their self-care. You can follow Jaene on Instagram at: www.instagram.com/whitebearcreative And visit their website! www.whitebearcreative.com Pop& Down's music is provided by Neil Quin Pop& Down is written, produced, edited and hosted by Shaunna Quin Support Pop& Down on Patreon at www.patreon.com/popanddown and give us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts! ***TRIGGER WARNING: Today’s episode of Pop& Down includes references to body image issues and weight gain, depression, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia, BPD, autism, disability, stroke, drug use, sex work, molestation, incest, child rape, gang rape, missing and murdered Indigenous women, cultural genocide, racism, oppression, colonization, domestic violence and attempted murder. Listener discretion is advised.***

Braden Alexander loves talking about his feelings, and he's bringing an opportunity for other queer and trans men in Toronto to share theirs! He is guest curator for With/out Pretend's newest event, Tender Hearts, where 10 of these men can share their stories of their life experiences with vulnerability and courage in a welcoming, safe environment. On how it hurts to be a man in the world right now, and how it hurts to be a queer person in the world right now. Braden offers some insight on owning not having our shit together and treating our feelings as sacred territory. Braden also discusses how Grindr has changed dating in the queer male community, and how it can be explored beyond its hookup intentions into making other kinds of connections with other queer male-identifying folks, as well as how Grindr can help and hurt feelings along the way. He also shares a bit about his experience as a white man loving an Indigenous man and its complexities, particularly from a Canadian perspective. Nola Darling, the main character from the Netflix series, She's Gotta Have It, is a character Braden relates to in finding different gifts and lessons while loving different partners at the same time. Braden also cites the music of Young Galaxy and the comic series, The New Mutants, as pop culture touchstones paramount to his self-soothing... and a little a bit about how being a Beach Witch is a self-care ritual for him! You can follow Braden on Instagram at: http://www.instagram.com/bradenalexander And you can purchase tickets for Tender Hearts on Wednesday, June 19 at the Tranzac in Toronto at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/tender-hearts-a-space-for-mens-feelings-tickets-62200673890 Pop& Down's music is provided by Neil Quin Pop& Down is written, produced, edited and hosted by Shaunna Quin Support Pop& Down on Patreon at www.patreon.com/popanddown and give us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts! ***TRIGGER WARNING: Today’s episode of Pop& Down includes references to depression, anxiety, bipolar, drug use, missing and murdered Indigenous women, cultural genocide, racism, oppression, colonisation, alcoholism, abuse, residential schools. Listener discretion is advised.***

Catherine Migel is a licensed (soon to be clinical!) social worker who's been working with clients living with mental illness for more than four years. Catherine is also a huge fan of unwinding with some TV! Shaunna and Catherine have a conversation about shows like One Day at a Time, This Is Us, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Grey's Anatomy and all of their different representations of mental illness and mental health issues, what they've done well and what could be better, and why Grey's Anatomy's Arizona Robbins resonated so much with Catherine. In Catherine's career, it can be hard not to take home her clients' tough lives and situations, so she talks about how crucial it is to avoid burnout. Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at how people who work in the mental health need to make sure they're taking care of their own mental health as well! Follow Catherine online at www.instagram.com/catmig Pop& Down's music is provided by Neil Quin Pop& Down is written, produced, edited and hosted by Shaunna Quin Support Pop& Down on Patreon at www.patreon.com/popanddown and give us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts! ***TRIGGER WARNING: Today’s episode of Pop& Down includes references to depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, homelessness, addiction, overdose, schizoaffective, bipolar, suicide attempts, bpd, perfectionism, childhood sexual abuse, trichotillomania, narcissism, OCD, alzheimer’s. Listener discretion is advised.***

@bigpharmaslut is an art project by Alissa, an artist and student based out of California. Alissa’s art is informed by her experiences living with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, complex post-traumatic stress disorder and depression--and the medications she’s used to regulate her mental health issues. With @bigpharmaslut, Alissa is looking to bring vulnerability and realness to a medium that can often be overly-curated--Instagram. @bigpharmaslut does not advocate for pharmaceutical use, and doesn’t aim to pill-shame; the project is to simply share and relate to experiences with mental illness, with pharmaceuticals being a big component--particularly with Alissa's years-long struggle in trying to wean herself off of Paxil (those brain zaps are a hell of a thing). Alissa shares how her art has been key in her recovery, how important activism is in her art and pop culture’s influence in her art and her life. We talk Kardashians, Jenners and the power of influence, Demi Lovato’s no-holds-barred openness about her mental health and addiction struggles, some TV and movie faves and Kanye West and Kid Cudi. You can check out Alissa’s work at Instagram.com/bigpharmaslut and you can visit her exhibit, Bigpharmaland, at Scripps College in Claremont, California until September! Pop& Down's music is provided by Neil Quin Pop& Down is written, produced, edited and hosted by Shaunna Quin Support Pop& Down on Patreon at www.patreon.com/popanddown and give us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts! ***TRIGGER WARNING: Today’s episode of Pop& Down includes references to anxiety, OCD, CPTSD, depression, panic attacks, inpatient treatment, hospitalization, medication withdrawal, drugs, alcohol, pharmaceuticals, withdrawal symptoms, sexual assault, suicidal ideation& overdose. Listener discretion is advised.***

Emma Chapple is a legal babe and a writer. She's especially known for writing about her experiences living with Crohn’s disease-- or, as she’d joke, “being the girl without a butthole!” Along with chronic physical illness, Emma struggles with depression, anxiety and body image issues. The comorbidity of chronic physical illness and chronic mental illness and mental health issues is something that's rarely discussed when talking about conditions such as Crohn's. Emma is part of changing this in a big way. Emma has laid out all of her experiences with Crohn's and her ileostomy, not just in today's episode, but in her essays on Medium. Which, in Emma's true spirit, included tons of pop culture references! Shaunna and Emma's conversation also spans topics such as academic anxiety, self-stigmatization, Girls' Shoshanna and Broad City's Abbi and Ilana as examples of portrayals of young women in their 20s trying to get it together, having to watch "dudebro" films in film class, Carrie Fisher's brutal honesty and vulnerability and the joys of being an Adult Disney Fan. Find Emma online! IG: www.instagram.com/emma_chapple Twitter: twitter.com/emmalchapple Website: emmachapple.com Pop& Down's music is provided by Neil Quin Pop& Down is written, produced, edited and hosted by Shaunna Quin Support Pop& Down on Patreon at www.patreon.com/popanddown and give us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts! ***TRIGGER WARNING: Today's episode of Pop& Down includes references to Crohn's Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, raphic descriptions of surgical procedures and medical treatment, chemotherapy, needles, fistulas, depression, anxiety and body image issues. Listener discretion is advised.***

During his 9-5, Asante Haughton is a Toronto-based mental health professional. Outside of that, he's a full-time mental health advocate. One of CAMH's Top 150 Difference Makers for Mental Health, Haughton is dedicated to sharing his story of perseverance through depression and anxiety while growing up in a marginalized neighborhood with a parent with mental illness. A big fan of music, particularly hip hop, Asante began writing poems and raps. The rapper, Nas, was someone he could identify with as a young black male who grew up in the projects trying to figure out how to make a difference. Today, he incorporates rap in his public speaking engagements and advocacy. Asante also shares how connected he has felt to Antwone Fisher, Boyz N The Hood's Tre and the father and son duo from The Pursuit of Happyness. A huge sports fan, Asante praises the basketball players, Kevin Love and DeMar DeRozan as athletes who are opening up the conversation about mental health on behalf of the NBA. Find& Follow Asante Haughton online! IG: www.instagram.com/nerdy.black.guy Twitter: twitter.com/asanteV TEDx Talks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SipgIIf-Ehw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnYTy45NR18 Pop& Down's music is provided by Neil Quin Pop& Down is written, produced, edited and hosted by Shaunna Quin Support Pop& Down on Patreon at www.patreon.com/popanddown and give us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts!

Laura Silverman is the founder of The Sobriety Collective, an online community for creatives living a substance-free life. The Sobriety Collective provides resources, like book, podcast and blog recommendations, and profiles creatives everywhere living with addiction and/or mental illness, as well as those who are sober-curious, straight-edge and more! Laura lives with obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and depression. She has also been sober for 11 years. Laura points to a couple of movies that have really resonated with her - 28 Days and As Good as it Gets - as examples of great, reflective portrayals of her own experiences with alcoholism and OCD. Memoirs written by Sacha Zimmerman, Koren Zailckas and Sarah Hepola have resonated with her, as well as the music of her friend, Shane Hines. We also praise This is Us' encompassing portrayals of anxiety, alcoholism, addiction, body image issues and coming to terms with one's sexuality during puberty and how we've both seen ourselves reflected. Find Laura& The Sobriety Collective online! IG: www.instagram.com/wearesober/ Twitter: twitter.com/wearesober URL: https://www.thesobrietycollective.com/ Pop& Down's music is provided by Neil Quin Pop& Down is written, produced, edited and hosted by Shaunna Quin Support Pop& Down on Patreon at www.patreon.com/popanddown and give us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts!

Amanda and David Lederle are the minds behind CreateBeing, a custom design company and mental health support community based out of Toronto. The Lederles are a married couple who both live with mental illness. The Lederles join Pop& Down in the studio to discuss the importance of getting help for oneself while supporting a partner's mental illness (especially when you live with it yourself), the importance of the right kind of communication and self-doubt in artistry. David points to The Good Place's Chidi& Star Trek: The Next Generation's Data (& his brother Lore)& how he wishes he could be a little more like Homer Simpson! Amanda tells us about how important it was for her to see Chinese& Asian representation in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers' Yellow Ranger, Trini& Crazy Rich Asians& about how much she loves movies with a strong sense of community like The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert& Empire Records. Find CreateBeing& the Lederles online! IGs: www.instagram.com/createbeing/ www.instagram.com/amandalederle/ www.instagram.com/davidlederle/ Twitter: twitter.com/createbeing URL: createbeing.com Telehealth Ontario can be accessed via: https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-medical-advice-telehealth-ontario Pop& Down's music is provided by Neil Quin Pop& Down is written, produced, edited and hosted by Shaunna Quin Support Pop& Down on Patreon at www.patreon.com/popanddown and give us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts!

Tanya Turton is a Toronto-based creative entrepreneur and wellness educator. She has lived with anxiety for as long as she can remember. Having a tragedy happen in her family was a huge part of what lead her towards her calling of working in the black mental health community, particularly with young women and femmes. Tanya helps empower young black women and femmes with her Adornment Stories project, a space of healing and connecting the intersections of art, beauty and wellness. A longtime hairstylist with a degree in Social Work, Tanya's beauty and wellness service, NiaZamar: Redefining Beauty, is a space in which women and femmes can grow and flourish not just through hair and makeup, but through meaningful conversations of self-love and empowerment. Tanya also tracks her own journey through her personal space, TrapMy$tic, where she shares about her entrepreneurship, her favorite books, spirituality and her own podcast! Tanya joins Shaunna in conversation about how Jay-Z and Rumi influenced her TrapMy$tic philosphy, how important Janelle Monae has been for black queer femme representation, and how fictional characters such as Olivia Pope (Scandal) and the series Awkward Black Girl have provided some variant representation of black women in the media, and the faith she has in today's young women and femmes to expand the representation even further. Follow Tanya and her endeavors: IGs: https://www.instagram.com/trapmystic/ https://www.instagram.com/niazamar/ https://www.instagram.com/adornment.stories/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/niazamar URLs: tanyaturton.com niazamar.com Interested in becoming an Adornment Stories patron? Apply here: http://tanyaturton.com/sign-up/sign-up-2019-cohort Pop& Down's music is provided by Neil Quin Pop& Down is written, produced, edited and hosted by Shaunna Quin Support Pop& Down on Patreon at www.patreon.com/popanddown and give us 5 stars on Apple Podcasts!

Natasha runs an awesome business, The Handmade & Co, where she creates beautiful plant and succulent arrangements and macramé. The growth of her business is something she considers to be a bit of a part of her own growth – from healing in the aftermath of PTSD. As a person who struggled with anxiety and depression from teenhood, Natasha felt less alone listening to the Canadian pop-punk band, Billy Talent. Unfortunately, this became another thing Natasha was bullied for – for not being “black enough.” When the bullying turned to physical violence and there was little recourse, Natasha got a loud message – “You don’t matter.” In 2017, Natasha was raped by somebody she considered to be family – she received the same message from work, friends, family, her boyfriend and the cops. We are pleased to help Natasha share her story where we cover tons of ground; problems in the sexual assault reporting system, the culture of victim-blaming, lack of support in the workplace and the insidious “boys will be boys” mentality of sexual assault. Representation also matters to Natasha – and when she saw the women of Wakanda in Black Panther with hair the same texture as hers, it was a hugely emotional moment of feeling seen. She’d like to see this kind of representation grow. You can find Natasha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehandmade.co_/ Pop& Down's music is provided by Neil Quin Pop& Down is written, produced, edited and hosted by Shaunna Quin Support Pop& Down on Patreon at www.patreon.com/popanddown

Stacy-Ann Buchanan is a Toronto-based actress, producer and filmmaker. She's also become one of the leading voices of mental health advocacy in Canada. Her documentary, The Blind Stigma, was released February 7, 2015. The Blind Stigma discusses mental health specifically in the black Canadian community, with different people sharing their stories - including Stacy-Ann herself. Stacy-Ann shares her experiences with anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation with Pop& Down and goes into further detail about The Blind Stigma and her perspective of the stigmatization of mental illness within the black community. Stacy-Ann also discusses how inspired she is by Star Trek: Discovery's Sonequa Martin-Green, Jordan Peele and Marsai Martin, the escapism of Disney films and how meditation is an important component of her self-care practice. Watch The Blind Stigma on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j1xTgAK1PA You can follow Stacy-Ann at: Instagram: www.instagram.com/stacyannbuchanan Twitter: twitter.com/stacynbuchanan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stacyannbuchananproductions/ URL: http://www.stacyannbuchanan.com/ Pop& Down's music is provided by Neil Quin Pop& Down is written, produced, edited and hosted by Shaunna Quin Support Pop& Down on Patreon at www.patreon.com/popanddown

Liz Worth is an acclaimed author and poet who, over the past few years, has added astrologer and tarot card reader to her resume. Liz sat down to chat with Shaunna about her experiences with depression, self-harm and suicidal ideation. She also discusses a traumatic event from her teenhood, where things escalated in the worst way possible at her school. Her parents provided very little support and her experience with therapy wasn’t great. But, over the past few years, she's found a good therapist, found harmony through fitness and has been able to focus on her spiritual self! My So-Called Life and The Craft are two pieces of pop culture that made Liz feel seen as a teenager, and she also talks about the comfort of just re-listening to beloved music (like Ministry’s With Sympathy). Visit Liz’s website at lizworth.com and follow her on social platforms: instagram.com/lizworthtarot twitter.com/lizworthtarot https://www.facebook.com/lizworthtarot/

Going to the bar can feel a little awkward if you're abstaining from alcohol - whether it's just for one night, or if you're in recovery. Chris Marshall is working on changing perspectives on what a bar can be with alcohol out of the equation with his pop-up bar, Sans Bar. Chris talks about his experiences growing up, from his father's schizophrenia to being unsure of his place among his peers. Chris reveals how his alcoholism escalated from his teens to his 20s and the cycle of depression and anxiety that went along with it -- as well as the suicide attempt that led to his self-harming -- and how grateful he is for his sobriety since February 16, 2007. Chris is a huge fan of Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, and talks about how he feels seen through Glover's prolific creativity and being a fellow blerd! He also chats about his admiration for Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith and their family, feeling seen through Black Panther, and how hard he was hit by the deaths of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Prince. You can follow Chris at: Instagram: www.instagram.com/sans_bar Twitter: https://twitter.com/sans_bar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesansbar/ URL: thesansbar.com Pop& Down's music is provided by Neil Quin Pop& Down is written, produced, edited and hosted by Shaunna Quin Support Pop& Down on Patreon at www.patreon.com/popanddown

In this mini-sode, Shaunna runs through a few of the mental health pop culture touchstones in 2018 Music by Neil Quin Support Pop& Down at patreon.com/popanddown

What happens when you grow up in a household with a father using drugs, a mother with mental health issues while knocking on doors in the name of Baptist fundamentalism... while coming to terms with your sexuality? Shaunna's long-time internet friend, David Baughman, shares this part of his story, as well as his experiences with anxiety and dissociation, the evolution of his bisexual identity and what it's like being a stay-at-home dad in 2018. David talks about how his celebrity crushes on Nicolas Cage and Sara Gilbert informed his sexuality, and praises Roseanne's portrayal of regular, small-town midwest folks who just happened to be queer. He also touches on how the music of Smashing Pumpkins helped him feel less alone as a dreamy, sensitive teenager and how he's recently felt seen by Tad Horvath, Hannah's dad in the HBO series, Girls. You can follow David on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/dlbkcmo/?hl=en Pop& Down's music is provided by Neil Quin Pop& Down is written, produced, edited and hosted by Shaunna Quin Support Pop& Down on Patreon at www.patreon.com/popanddown

Advocate and educator, AC Dumlao, is a queer trans non-binary first-generation Filipino-American. They also live with anxiety and depression. AC shares about how they saw themselves reflected in Disney's Mulan, their long-lasting love of Broadway, how Pose's Indya Moore needs to be the next big thing and how reality television is a crucial part of their self-care, particularly The Great British Bake Off. We also sound off on Scarlett Johanssen playing an Asian character and dropping out of playing a transman, only after being called out. AC also shares about their experiences as a non-binary person and why it's important for them to use their privilege to advocate for other trans and non-binary people. They also have a great piece at Broadly, called 100 Ways to Make the World Better for Non-Binary People which you can read here: https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/evkwm4/how-to-be-an-ally-to-non-binary-gender-non-conforming-people-support You can visit AC's website at www.callmethey.com and follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/callmethey/ and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/menswearselfcare Theme song by Neil Quin Support Pop& Down on Patreon: www.patreon.com/popanddown

When Toronto comedian, Jennie Steer-Welbourn first googled Borderline Personality Disorder, the results were mostly negative. One recurring example was Glenn Close's character, Alex Forrest, in Fatal Attraction. As much as Jen loves that movie, it didn't exactly give her much hope about her fresh diagnosis. Jennie shares what's it's like living with Borderline Personality Disorder while raising two daughters and co-parenting with her ex. She also walks us through some of her symptoms including depression, strained relationships, obsession and rumination, as well as what it looks like when she's high-functioning versus when she's low-functioning. Jennie & Shaunna also discuss how the portrayal of BPD has evolved from Fatal Attraction to Ingrid Goes West and Welcome To Me, and how they both relate to Christine (based off the real-life story of newscaster Christine Chubbuck). Follow and/or friend Jennie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennie.steerwelbourn Support Pop& Down on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popanddown

Diana Martinez is the creator, host and producer of Hollywood In Color, a podcast telling the stories of the stars usually left out of entertainment history — the people of color in front of and behind the camera who have been representing for over a century. On episode 11 of Pop& Down, Diana discusses her experiences with anxiety and disordered eating, and about how she saw her own depression reflected in Gretchen Cutler's on the FXX series, You're The Worst. Diana touches on mental health implications regarding Latina women in Hollywood, academic perfectionism and how pop music helped her through grief. She also shares about how Dawson's Creek impacted her views on love and romance and intellectual compatibility! Listen to Hollywood In Color on your favorite podcatcher, and find Diana and the podcast here: www.hollywoodincolor.org https://www.instagram.com/hwoodincolor/ https://www.instagram.com/dianaemmeline/ https://twitter.com/hwoodincolor https://twitter.com/diana_emmeline ***Support Pop& Down on Patreon for as little as $1 a month*** https://www.patreon.com/popanddown

Erin Williams, co-host of Totally Mental! joins Shaunna to discuss her struggles with OCD, stuttering, anxiety and depression, as well as her hospitalization. Erin shares what The King's Speech got right about speech impediments and what Monk got wrong about OCD. Erin also shares how her dog and surfing, as well as romantic comedies - especially the Sandra Bullock ones - are important parts of her self-care. Listen to Totally Mental! on your podcatcher of choice, and follow them on all your socials! IG: https://www.instagram.com/totesmental/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/pg/TotesMental/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/totesmental Erin's Blog - ECT, etc.: https://erinmary.wordpress.com/

Musician, artist& writer, Olivia, is a Grandson stan. Not only does she love Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson as a couple, but she relates to the two of them on a few levels. Olivia discusses her Borderline Personality Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and CPTSD. Shaunna and Olivia touch on moving fast in relationships and finding common ground in trauma with a romantic partner. Olivia also sheds light on the problematic stereotypes that come with Borderline, as well as a few other TV& movie characters that made her feel seen. For more on Olivia and her projects: IG: instagram.com/olivi___a FB: https://www.facebook.com/currintunes/ Twitter: twitter.com/currintunes Patreon: patreon.com/currin

Stephen Harvey of Toronto's Bi Arts Festival joins Shaunna in the studio to discuss Persistent Depressive Disorder and suicidal ideation, and his work in Toronto's bisexual community. Shaunna and Stephen reveal their bisexual awakenings and journeys and celebrate bisexual anthems, from Tom Robinson's "Glad To Be Gay" to Queen's "I Want to Break Free" to Halsey and Lauren Jauregui's "Strangers." Stephen gives an overview of what to expect for Toronto's second annual Bi Arts Festival, happening September 18-23 at various venues in the city. If you're in Toronto, check it out all week long - you don't wanna miss these incredible events! www.biartsfestival.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/biartsfestival/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/biartsfestival/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/biartsfestival Stephen online: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bearlybent IG: https://www.instagram.com/stephen.m.harvey/ Bi Beats - The Original Playlist on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4f9svT6NkGuRxnYL43LGdq

Mone't Ha-Sidi is an activist, a hairstylist, and the Ratchet Burlesque Queen. Like Shaunna, Mone't considers herself a recovering Smashing Pumpkins addict. Mone't talks about misogynoir and the racism she's faced in both the Smashing Pumpkins fan community and in the burlesque community. Shaunna and Mone't discuss how Billy Corgan's textbook narcissism makes it incredibly difficult to be a fan - and how some specific incidents have been betrayals to us, after his music had helped us through depression in our youth. Find Mone't online: Black Arts Matter https://www.facebook.com/blackartsmattersacramento/ Jezebelle's Army https://www.facebook.com/jezebellesarmy/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/nizzneyland

Jesse Ataide grew up in the Mennonite Brethren Church on a peach tree farm in the California Central Valley. In his own words, Jesse entered university, "conservative, religious and straight" and graduated, "liberal, areligious and gay!" Jesse shares how the musicians, Kacey Musgraves and Owen Pallett have resonated with him, as well as Richard Linklater's "Before Trilogy" of movies. Shaunna and Jesse also chat about 90s Contemporary Christian hits, Judy Garland and about how it wasn't that long ago that queerness itself was considered a mental illness. Links: Kacey Musgraves gets censored at the 2013 CMAs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbMrx8as9iM Owen Pallett's analysis of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream": http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2014/03/katy_perry_s_teenage_dream_explaining_the_hit_using_music_theory.html Jesse's Queer Modernisms Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queer_modernisms/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/popanddown

In Pop& Down's first mini-sode, Shaunna reviews the Netflix original movie, "6 Balloons," starring Abbi Jacobson and Dave Franco. "6 Balloons" is a harrowing look at how addiction is a family disease, and definitely worth a watch.

Sarah opens up to Shaunna about her major depressive disorder and her generalized anxiety disorder, as well as what it's like to have a father and a brother who are alcoholics. Sarah talks about how feminist romance novels - particularly those by Courtney Milan and Alisha Rai - have resonated with her, as well as her deep passion for Murder, She Wrote! Also in this episode: dental anxiety, news about both Michelle Williamses and a poem for Demi Lovato. Smart Bitches, Trashy Books: Romance novel resource website http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/ Support Pop& Down on Patreon at www.patreon.com/popanddown

Toronto actress and comedian, Heather Sanderson, joins Shaunna in the studio to chat about her struggles with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Anxiety and Addictions, as well as representation of fat women in the media - including her own experiences as an actress. Heather discusses women such as Beth Ditto and Ricki Lake, and characters such as Tracy Turnblad and DJ Tanner and their impact on her, and riffs with Shaunna on body positivity, fat fashion and the time Drake fat-shamed her. Check out Heather Sanderson on IMDB and Instagram! https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8360739/?ref_=nv_sr_1 https://www.instagram.com/heathcliffe_huxtable/ Support Pop& Down on Patreon: www.patreon.com/popanddown

Musician and music teacher, Holly, talks to Shaunna about living with clinical depression and disordered eating recovery. Holly explains how Fiona Apple & Bojack Horseman specifically have resonated with her.

In episode 2, Shaunna interviews local Toronto improv performer and producer, Stephanie Malek. Stephanie shares about her struggles with clinical depression and social anxiety, as well as the roles that RuPaul's Drag Race and Dear Evan Hansen have played as forms of self-care. Stephanie also talks about the importance of the character, Rosa Diaz from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and why queer representation matters - especially on the bi/pan/fluid+ front. Learn more about Stephanie Malek and Songbuster at songbustermusic.com

Pop& Down is a podcast about mental health... and pop culture! Shaunna Quin interviews guests who live with, or have experienced, mental health issues, addiction and/or trauma. They discuss where they've seen themselves in pop culture, how pop culture plays a role in their self-care and everything else to do with movies, TV and music from a mental wellness perspective! In this debut episode, Shaunna talks about how she saw herself in the 2011 film, Young Adult and in Britney Spears. Craig Ferguson's Britney monologue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGLzpt3caHw