Inside Mental Health

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 nearly losing everything.

Despite her success, Carrie saw many of the same warning signs many people face: denial, escalating drinking, and the belief that achievement meant she couldn’t possibly have a problem. Surrounded by a culture that celebrated alcohol, she ignored loved ones’ concerns and spiraled into dangerous behaviors — until a crisis forced her to confront the truth.

Listen and learn:


how cultural messages about alcohol normalize addiction

the early warning signs of alcohol misuse, even for high achievers

why recovery is not instant — and how resilience leads to lasting change


Carrie’s story is more than a cautionary tale. It’s proof that recovery is possible, even after relapse and setbacks. By learning to surrender, ask for help, and reframe what strength truly means, she found lasting healing — and now uses her voice to help others do the same.



Our guest, Carrie Bates, is an advocate for recovery. As a three-time Olympic gold medalist (OLY) in swimming and a person in recovery, she deeply understands the interplay of the drive for excellence, trauma, life changes, and addiction. Sharing her truth and living her recovery out loud has been at the center of her work. Since 2012, she has helped others access treatment and fought to end the stigma that surrounds the brain disease of substance use disorder.

Carrie came to Caron Treatment Center in 2025 as director of strategic growth and advocacy. In her role, she works with partners in recovery to help more families in need access treatment and support services, promote Caron’s neurorestorative approach to treatment, reduce stigma, and advance awareness about addiction as a brain disease and the benefits of recovery. Carrie is passionate about prevention, the importance of mental wellness, the impact of addiction on families, the difficulties women face in accessing treatment and recovery support, and the role of employers and workplaces to support recovery.

Before coming to Caron, she served as an outreach manager for Hazelden Betty Ford where she worked directly with employers, patients, and their families to navigate the process of finding the treatment they need for sustainable recovery. Carrie has been a fixture in traditional media, podcasts and as a keynote speaker sharing her personal story, tips for families, and hope.

Carrie spent the better part of her career before entering the treatment and recovery field as a sales and marketing career at Nike, Inc.

She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin.

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.
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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.Together, they explore why both introverts and extroverts can feel this way, introducing concepts like “experience efficiency” and “memory optimization.” Learn how our brains process peak moments, why leaving on a high note can actually enhance our memories, and why you don’t have to “get your money’s worth” by staying until the very end.

Key takeaways:


Find out why some people feel “full” on fun faster and don’t need to stay until the end to enjoy an event.

Reframe early exits as a smart way to manage energy, time, and joy—without guilt.

Learn practical language for confidently setting boundaries when you’re ready to go, without shame.

Discover how even the most outgoing people can feel “peopled out.”


If you’ve ever snuck out of a party, left a holiday dinner before dessert, or wondered why you plan your exit before you even arrive — this episode is for you.



“And yes, there is a purpose to the dinner and the tasting menu that goes all the way to the end. And yes, of course, we rationally know that. And yet, those of us who are experience minimalists are still OK to say, I got my fill. I got the appetizer and I had part of the entree. And admittedly, not many of us are kicking back our chairs and leaving halfway through dinner. But metaphorically, this works. When we know we've had our fill and we feel truly good that, wow, I got the songs I needed and wanted or look, I did most of the hike and I don't have to get to the top. I'm cool to go back. I feel good about myself. That's the thing. Are you having a good time and do you want to end on a high? That is, to me, sound judgment about living a life worth living.” ~Jodi Wellman, MAPP



Our guest, Jodi Wellman, is the founder of Four Thousand Mondays, a speaker, author, and assistant instructor in the Master of Applied Positive Psychology program at the University of Pennsylvania. Her book, "You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets," made Adam Grant’s Summer Reading List and was a “Top 3 Psychology Book of 2024” by the Next Big Idea Club (curated by Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Dan Pink). Jodi has been featured in The New York Times, Oprah Daily, Fast Company, CNBC, Forbes, Psychology Today, The Los Angeles Times, and more. Jodi’s TEDx talk is called How Death Can Bring You Back to Life; with over 1.3 million views, it is the 14th most-watched TEDx talk released in 2022, out of 15,900!

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.
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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 hallucinations in schizophrenia, going beyond a diagnostic perspective to consider the actual experience, and the profound impact on an individual's sense of self and connection to the world around them. Guest host, Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and guest Christopher Grant have a real, raw discussion about what experiencing schizophrenia hallucinations is like.Please Note: Our regular host, Gabe Howard, will be back next week!



“Just because something is in the uncanny valley, it doesn't always mean it's terrifying or deserves demonization. I’m not blind to that fact that it’s off-putting to people through the perspective of a neurotypical person. I'm glad to say today most of my hallucinations are pretty, I don't even want to say friendly. They're just content, like a neutral energy. But, for a long time, I was constantly in a state of like terror, like fight or flight terror when I'd experience it.” ~Christopher Grant aka XO RAD Magical



Our guest, Christopher Grant, is a Mi’gmaw filmmaker from Pabineau First Nation, New Brunswick. Inspired by the intense absurdity of life and death, Chris animates to express the humour and terror of existence. He has worked with the NFB’s Hothouse project, and his work has been exhibited at galleries, museums and film festivals internationally. He is also known for his role on TikTok as XORADMAGICAL, where he creates art and answers questions all relating to his experiences with schizophrenia in daily life.



Our guest host, Rachel Star Withers, (www.rachelstarlive.com) is an entertainer, international speaker, video producer, and schizophrenic. She has appeared on MTV’s Ridiculousness, TruTV, NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Marvel’s Black Panther, TUBI’s #shockfight, Goliath: Playing with Reality, and is the host of the Healthline podcast “Inside Schizophrenia”. She grew up seeing monsters, hearing people in the walls, and having intense urges to hurt herself. (Our regular host, Gabe Howard, will be back next week!)

Rachel creates videos documenting her schizophrenia, ways to manage, and letting others like her know they are not alone and can still live an amazing life. She has created a kid’s mental health comic line, The Adventures of ____. (Learn more at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Fearless-Unstoppable-Light-Ambitious/dp/B0FHWK4ZHS )



Fun Fact: She has wrestled alligators.



The Inside Schizophrenia podcast is available on your favorite podcast player.
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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 depression don’t work? You’ve probably heard the term treatment-resistant depression, and it may sound terrifying. Dr. Emanuele and host Gabe Howard dig deep into what this label actually means — and spoiler alert: It’s more about strategy than severity.

You’ll also discover lesser known but evidence-backed options that go beyond talk therapy and antidepressants, including:


transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

ketamine and esketamine treatments

radically open dialectical behavior therapy (RO-DBT)

electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) without the Hollywood horror spin

psychedelic-assisted therapy using psilocybin 


Key takeaways:


the difference between sadness, grief, and clinical depression

what treatment resistant actually means

a breakdown of advanced, research-backed treatment options

why individualization is key to recovery


This episode is your roadmap for understanding treatment-resistant depression on a deeper level — and for finding hope when treatment doesn’t seem to be working. Whether you’re managing this yourself or supporting someone who is, you’ll walk away knowing there are more options — and find that labels aren’t life sentences.


Special thanks to Johnson & Johnson for providing funding for today's episode.


Our guest, Jill M. Emanuele, PhD, is Founder and Executive Director of Urban Yin Psychology, PLLC, based in New York City.  She is also Secretary and board member for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). 

Dr. Emanuele completed her undergraduate studies with degrees in Psychology and Music from the University of Richmond, and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from George Mason University. Dr. Emanuele has presented at academic medical centers, professional conferences, public and private schools, and community organizations on the topics of mindfulness, adolescent depression and suicide, adolescent self-injury, DBT, and adolescent borderline personality disorder, and co-authored book chapters on some of these important topics.  She also provides education through multiple forms of media including television, radio, internet, and podcasts. 

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.
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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 Howard points out America’s strange mix of selling sex while shaming it, and together they unpack why so many couples struggle in silence instead of having honest, non-blaming conversations about their desires. Along the way, they reveal how redefining intimacy, owning your choices, and using your “sexual energy” as a navigation system can lead to more connection, better sex, and improved mental health.

Key Take-aways:


Why “the one” isn’t true for everyone and could set you up for failure.

How monogamy, open relationships, and other structures can all work - if you choose them deliberately.

Practical tips for starting sensitive sex conversations without triggering alarm bells.


If you’ve ever wondered whether your relationship rules are helping or hurting your love life, this episode just might change everything.



“So monogamy is originated in feudalist society when there was like, someone who had money and, you know, possession. We moved into needing to know who our offsprings are. And that's exactly what monogamy started, because we wanted to know where are we inheriting our money to and the church came in and religion and it started to become like a, a standard to live by. But it's not necessarily our nature and it's not necessarily what everyone should be doing.” ~Dr. Danielle Harel



Our guests, Danielle Harel, Ph.D., and Celeste Hirschman, M.A., are pioneers in intimacy, sexuality, and relationship coaching. Co-founders of the Somatica® Institute, they’ve transformed how love and connection are taught through their experiential, science-based Somatica Method. Together, they’ve trained over 1,000 coaches and helped countless individuals and couples embrace vulnerability, rediscover desire, and create deeply fulfilling relationships. Authors of three influential books—Making Love Real, Coming Together, and Confidence—Danielle and Celeste blend authenticity, humor, and bold honesty to inspire transformation. Their relatable insights into intimacy and connection make them captivating guests, offering audiences practical tools to enhance relationships and live passionately.



Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington.

Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.



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