We're All Mad Here

According to modern day psychologists, when16 year old Florence Nightingale said that God had told her that she needed to be a nurse, she wasn’t speaking metaphorically; it was her first experience with auditory hallucinations. Using Florence’s private writing and her correspondence, historians and psychologists determined that she dealt with bipolar disorder, which both helped […]

NOTE: In this episode, you’ll hear my volume going up and down slightly. This isn’t my mic or my editing; it’s my actual voice due to currently having COVID and being unable to support my voice for a full sentence. I’ll most likely re-record this episode once I have my lung capacity back, but I […]

Just outside Detroit, Michigan, a poorhouse was built in the early 1800s. In addition to treating the mentally ill, Eloise Hospital had many other uses, pioneered treatments, and was once pronounced the most expensive psychiatric facility in the world. www.patreon.com/allmadpodcast SOURCES: https://web.archive.org/web/20140512231142/http://www.thewaynedispatch.com/history-of-eloise/ https://www.hometownlife.com/story/news/local/westland/2020/08/07/former-eloise-asylum-westland-could-become-hotel-event-space/3305085001/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eloise_(psychiatric_hospital) https://fornology.blogspot.com/2018/05/when-we-called-insane-asylum-eloise.html

Princess Deok-hye, the last princess of Korea, started life as a happy child. But when she was 8, her father died and a series of unfortunate events quickly followed. Forced to move to Japan due to annexation, where her mental health declined, historians consider Deok-hye’s life to have been stolen by colonization. SOURCES: https://historyofyesterday.com/the-tragic-life-of-the-last-princess-of-korea-b6812df49041 http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20121211000831 […]

Have you ever been a fan of someone famous and just KNOW that the two of you would be friends if you met? That’s known as a parasocial relationship. But are parasocial relationships normal? Are they safe? What does the object of affection get from the relationship? www.patreon.com/allmadpodcast SOURCES: https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/parasocial-relationships-online-cancelling-bon-appetit Parasocial Relationships: The Nature of […]

We all know Judy Garland as one of the most successful actors of the classic Hollywood days. But behind the scenes of her famous movies, Judy- with some help from MGM Studios- was struggling with mental health and drug addiction. www.patreon.com/allmadpodcast

This week I interviewed Emilie Leyes, who is a performer and a specialist in neuroplasticity and brain training. Currently working on her Master’s and PhD in Mind and Body Medicine, Emilie works with actors and non-actors alike to keep their minds and bodies safe during performances.

Why does it seem like so many artists are mentally ill? Are mentally ill people more likely to go into the arts, or do the arts create mentally ill people? Hello everyone, I’m back! I sorely needed the break, but I also missed podcasting so much! I’m back on my crappy mic in this episode […]

CW: Child abuse, suicidal ideation, sexual assault JT Leroy became famous almost overnight for his novel SARAH, a fictionalized version of his upbringing with his sex worker mother who later forced him into sex work. But as he published more and his fame grew, people started to wonder who JT Leroy really was.

CW: Child abuse, suicidal ideation, sexual assault JT Leroy became famous almost overnight for his novel SARAH, a fictionalized version of his upbringing with his sex worker mother who later forced him into sex work. But as he published more and his fame grew, people started to wonder who JT Leroy really was.

Despite not having any qualifications in psychology, Bruno Bettelheim managed to do irreparable damage to the autistic community in his 40 years of practice. He promoted the theory that neglectful parenting, or “refrigerator mothers” caused autism and psychopathy, and while the director of a school for troubled children, exercised corporal punishment constantly. It wasn’t until […]

“Autism” first got its name in the early 1900s, when a doctor believed that certain children were so obsessed with themselves (the Greek word “auto” meaning “self”) that they chose to block out everything and everyone outside of their own mind. Over the next hundred-plus years, doctors and researchers, as well as celebrities, would throw […]

Princess Alice, the mother of recently deceased Prince Philip, is described as a princess who “refused to fit the royal mold.” Alice was born different, with congenital deafness. But starting as a toddler, she learned to speak and lip read German, English, French, and Greek. Once married to Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, she […]

With two well-publicized mass shootings happening last month, America yet again set to blaming the criminals’ violence on mental illness. Former presidents have also claimed over the decades that mental illness is the cause for all shocking violent acts. But research shows that actually, the mentally ill make up only 4% of ALL gun violence. […]

Mary and Charles Lamb were a brother and sister team who spent decades both in and out of private psych hospitals AND making their mark on the 19th century British literary scene. www.patreon.com/allmadpodcast

When Colleen Adams disappeared on November 22, 1973, her husband Geoffrey told authorities that her violent post partum depression had inspired her to desert her husband and daughters. While Colleen’s family never believed this was true, her mental instability was backed up by a past boyfriend as well. Did Colleen choose to leave, or was […]

When America was born, founding father Patrick Henry was newly married to his much younger new wife. But what happened to his first wife, Sarah Shelton? Why did she spend the last four years of her life locked in the family cellar? www.patreon.com/allmadpodcast SOURCES: Sarah Shelton Henry: The Wife Patrick Henry Kept in the Cellar […]

Quite a few accomplished chess players ended up becoming mentally ill later in their careers- but is chess itself responsible for its players’ problems? www.patreon.com/allmadpod SOURCES https://members.tripod.com/HSK_Chess/steinitz.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/five-myths/five-myths-about-chess/2020/11/20/529fb63a-2a79-11eb-9b14-ad872157ebc9_story.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Steinitz https://www.chess.com/article/view/can-anyone-be-an-im-or-gm Chess and Mental Illness: 12 Chess Player Who Suffered From Severe Mental Problems http://tartajubow.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-tragic-story-of-brilliant-alvis.html https://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2020000300169 https://bleeckerstreetmedia.com/editorial/the-most-dangerous-game#:~:text=After%20he%20lost%20his%20championship,inmate%20up%20for%20a%20game.

It’s the first episode of Rachel’s new podcast HOOKED! On May 15 2001, one of the most beloved bloggers of the early internet died from a brain aneurysm after battling leukemia.  On May 19, 2001, the internet learned that Kaycee Nicole Swenson had not, in fact, died. She had never existed.   www.patreon.com/hookedthepod SOURCES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaycee_Nicole  […]

Why do we want to squeeze or nibble on things we find overwhelmingly adorable? It’s called “cute aggression!” www.patreon.com/allmadpodcast “Tears of Joy” May Help Us Maintain Emotional Balance https://www.brainfacts.org/thinking-sensing-and-behaving/emotions-stress-and-anxiety/2019/cute-aggression-why-you-want-to-squeeze-adorable-creatures–091019 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271503312_Dimorphous_Expressions_of_Positive_Emotion_Displays_of_Both_Care_and_Aggression_in_Response_to_Cute_Stimuli https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cute_aggression https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/12/31/679832549/when-too-cute-is-too-much-the-brain-can-get-aggressive https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181204143857.htm

Did you know that in addition to creating a cereal empire, John Harvey Kellogg was a doctor AND ran a sanitarium for most of his life? Obsessed with purity of mind and body, Kellogg created a home-away-from-home resort where people with all kinds of illness could relax, eat his food inventions, and get all the […]

Happy holidays and a merry New Year!

James Taylor is one of the most successful American musicians alive today. Coming from a musical family, James wrote his first song on guitar at 14. By the time he was 22, he was being called “the new voice of rock.” But as he’d risen in his career, James’ family history of depression and addiction […]

It’s been awhile since I gave voice to a piece of writing: this week, I read Virginia Woolf’s ON BEING ILL. www.patreon.com/allmadpodcast

CW/TW: Suicide/ suicidal ideation, childhood sexual abuse Virginia Woolf is as famous for her suicide as she is for her writing. Born into a family with a history of mental health and being a victim of sexual abuse, Virginia never stood a chance. Even so, she produced some of the most famous English literature in […]

Many true crime podcasts have covered the death of Elisa Lam, a Canadian college student. But few have covered what was considered a large factor in her death: her bipolar disorder. This is a different look into the mysterious Elisa Lam case. www.patreon.com/allmadpodcast

TW: Eating disorders, suicide Happily retired from her running career, Suzy Favor Hamilton was looking forward to leading a more normal life. But soon, Suzy found quiet life in Wisconsin unbearable; she needed something exciting to fill the space running had left. Hoping to satisfy her insatiable sex drive, Suzy signed up to be a […]

TW: Eating disorders, suicide, adult language Suzy Favor Hamilton went to the Olympics three times. She was one of the fastest runners in the world. But her undiagnosed bipolar disorder gave her performance anxiety that showed itself in panic attacks and depression. Suzy felt that, even as an Olympian, she was never good enough, and […]

We’re talking about bipolar disorder this week!   www.patreon.com/allmadpodcast

Philadelphia, one of the oldest cities in the United States, prides itself on preserving and remembering its history. So why is it that the story of Mary Lum Girard, business assistant and wife to one of the richest men in American history, has been swept under the rug? Her husband, Stephen Girard, has several locations […]

CW: This episode contains discussion of suicide Mark Drybrough and Nadia Kajouji both completed suicide after being sent instructions on how by a friend on the internet. But who was this friend really, and why did they encourage dozens of people online to kill themselves? www.patreon.com/allmadpodcast    

A “catfish” is a person who hides behind a fake identity to hook someone into a relationship, usually in a way that benefits the catfish. While the term only came to be in 2010 and is usually applied to online relationships, “catfishing” has been happening since the birth of Lonely Hearts ads in the 1600s. […]

Everyone knows Charlie Chaplin, but few people know about his mother Hannah. The daughter of a mentally ill mother, and who developed syphilis-related psychosis, Hannah still managed to impart her performing skills to her son Charlie. While Hannah never reached the level of fame that her husband or sons, grandchildren, and great grandchildren did, her […]

Dr. Teleka Patrick suspected she was schizophrenic. But she was worried that if she got an official diagnosis, she’d lose her psychiatry license, so she kept her suspicions quiet and tried to get on with her life. But her mental illness ended her marriage. It earned her a restraining order from her pastor. And eventually, […]

What happened in the months and days leading up to the murder-suicide of the Hart family? What was the trigger? Mental illness? Marital problems? Or just the Hart mothers being unable to see a future for their kids?   www.patreon.com/allmadpod

On March 25, 2018, Jennifer Hart killed her family of 8 in a shocking murder-suicide. No one who knew the Harts could believe that this perfect, happy blended family met such a tragic end. Jennifer had kept everyone at arm’s length while crafting the picture of perfect family online. Behind the scenes was abuse, neglect, […]

Clennon King Jr. was the first black man to run for president. But before blazing that trail, the professor at an all-black college tried to enroll in the University of Mississippi to earn his doctorate. The school, also known as Ole Miss, was whites only, and it was declared that any black man who pursued […]

Empress Sissi of Austria is often compared to Princess Diana for her charitable work, her mental health issues, and her untimely end. This is the story of a reluctant empress. www.patreon.com/allmadpod

Jimmy Stewart is one of the most famous actors in Hollywood history. He was also a pilot during World War 2. Returning with hearing loss, a hair-trigger temper, and PTSD, Jimmy wasn’t sure if it was worth it to return to Hollywood, or even continue with his life. www.patreon.com/allmadpodcast

When Christine Collins’ nine year old son Walter went missing in 1928, she insisted the LAPD find him. When they introduced her to a boy who claimed he was Walter, Christine knew he wasn’t her son. Considering her too much trouble, the LAPD committed her to the Psychopathic Ward of the Los Angeles County Hospital. […]

Winston Churchill is one of history’s most famous depressives. But as one of the most noted Churchill biographer was working on his own book about the man, he realized that there was almost no evidence to support the claim that Churchill had a diagnosis of depression. How did someone with no depression diagnosis become famous […]

If Mary Wollstonecraft was the first feminist, her daughter, Mary Shelley, was the first “goth girl.” The author of Frankenstein, Mary battled with depression for most of her life. She doubted her writing talent, her husband had a wandering eye, and all but one of her children died. Still, she managed to created a completely […]

Mary Wollstonecraft is considered by some to be the first feminist. Brave though she was, she still suffered from depression, attempting suicide several times. In her short life, she had an impressive amount of adventures and produced an amazing amount of writing. www.patreon.com/allmadpodcast

Why are we furiously washing our hands to try and prevent getting the Corona Virus? Because of this week’s subject! www.patreon.com/allmadpodcast

Francesca Woodman, with her dark, Gothic photographs and a life ended in suicide, was the quintessential “depressed artist.” Or was she? patreon.com/allmadpodcast

Rachel talks about depression, something she is very familiar with. Artwork by Suhana patreon.com/allmadpodcast

16 year old Ethan Couch took a drunken joyride in 2013 that led to 4 deaths and 9 injuries- yet was only sentenced to rehabilitation. Why? Because a psychologist testified that Ethan suffered from affluenza- meaning, he was too rich to understand that actions had consequences. Is affluenza real? How will this ruling affect similar […]

Dorothea Dix suffered an abusive childhood, but escaped through school and, eventually teaching. After a nervous breakdown, Dorothea went abroad for a vacation, but ended up falling in with a group of healthcare reformers. She adopted their method of investigating hospitals and reporting her findings to the government and took it home to America. She […]

ADULT LANGUAGE is featured in this episode! This week’s episode was a collaboration with Kate from Ignorance Was Bliss. We talk about Narcissistic Personality Disorder, how it affects relationships, and what someone has to display to be diagnosed with it. Listen to Ignorance Was Bliss: https://iwbpodcast.podbean.com/ www.patreon.com/allmadpodcast

A teenager makes a splash in the Civil War scene with her incredible speeches. Backed by anti-slavery sponsors like Lucretia Mott and Susan B. Anthony, Anna Elizabeth Dickinson took the world by storm. www.patreon.com/allmadpodcast

What, a facility that didnt torture its patients?! That’s right, we’re taking it easy this holiday week and talking about the State Hospital for the Insane at Danville! www.patreon.com/allmadpodcast