Our Fractured Minds
46 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 16 ratingsOFM is a raw look at mental illness from people who suffer to understand how it impacts the lives of people who are just like you. The show has evolved over time and with two queer co-hosts, one of whom is transgender, the show has started to look more often at how the queer community is impacted by the topic.
As we work to change society's understanding of these illnesses, we hope to show that we are defined by more than the illnesses we have to live with. Then, together, we can #EndTheStigma and help others find the comfort, and the help, they need.
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Episodes
OFM S3 E11: Mental Health in Quarantine
May 18, 2020 05:00 - 28 minutes - 26 MBWe discuss our mental health and how we're caring for ourselves in this era of social distancing and quarantine. We will talk about how we are doing, how we are coping, and ideas for how you could cope too. Contact us: [email protected] Instagram: @jenninrinth Twitter: @renoe Resources: Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 The Trevor Project: 866-488-7386 Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860 NAMI HelpLine: 800-950-6264
OFM S3 E10: Pop Culture's Impact on Dysphoria and Dysmorphia
January 27, 2020 06:00 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBPop culture surrounds us 24/7 and it sculpts not only our personalities but our self-image and self-worth. In this episode, we continue a conversation we started earlier this season about dysmorphia and dysphoria while discussing the importance of visibility but ask if it is valid to struggle with how transgender stars continue to forward cis-heteronormative beauty standards. We ask the questions: Is it okay to be triggered by some visibility? Can you still be supportive of the ...
OFM S3 E9: Mental Health Interventions
January 21, 2020 06:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBInterventions are commonly recognized as a way to help someone struggling with chemical dependance, however, are they ever appropriate to help a friend who may be in crisis? Is there ever a time when it is okay to bring others into the conversation? Is there a right way to have the conversation? What are some things you should think about if you're considering staging one? In this episode we discuss interventions and a few experiences we've had from being a part of mental health i...
OFM S3 E8: Trauma and New Beginnings, a Special 2019 Recap
January 06, 2020 06:00 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBA look at where we've been since July and the reasons it's been so hard for us to record an episode since our last release, as well as a look at why, even with the trauma of 2019, the year was still pretty darn good. Content Warnings: Sexual Assault Self Harm Suicidal Ideation In this episode, we'll chat about feelings surrounding a sexual assault, suicidal ideation, self harm, as well as some of what we've worked on to recover from the trauma that's occurred and look ahead to ...
OFM S3 E7: Coming out Later in Life, a Pride Month Special Conversation
June 24, 2019 05:00 - 29 minutes - 26.6 MBIn this week's episode we discussed how coming out later in life can impact your life. We talked about our experiences, what the research suggests, the reasons why people wait to come out, and how it has impacted our mental health over time through both living in the closet and identity denial. That and more - today, on Our Fractured Minds. As always, I just want to remind everyone that we are not in anyway experts or doctors. What you hear today are our own personal life experien...
OFM S3 E6: Racism in the LGBT w/ Nico Bolton, Queer PoC
June 11, 2019 05:00 - 28 minutes - 26 MBIn continuation of our special pride month coverage where we focus on exclusion within our own community, we talk with Nico Bolton, a queer POC, about her experiences growing up queer and feeling, and being, excluded in both queer and mental health spaces. In this episode we cover: Exclusion in the LGBT as a Queer WoC The importance of safe spaces for minority communities The critical impact of love and respect How to overcome our own ignorances Check out this week's episode t...
OFM S3 E5: Trans Exclusion in the LGB w/ Amanda Jette Knox, Author and Advocate
June 04, 2019 05:00 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBToday we’re launching our second annual pride month celebration. This episode is especially important for a few reasons. One of them being, this week marks one year since I came out as transgender here on the podcast. It’s also very important to me because we were joined by Amanda Jette Knox to talk about trans exclusion in the LGBT community. Amanda is an award-winning writer, LGBTQ advocate and public speaker from Ottawa, Canada. Her work has been featured in both national and in...
OFM S3 E4: Mental Health in the Workplace
May 20, 2019 05:00 - 30 minutes - 58.2 MBComing out as mentally ill is hard, especially when it comes to our workplaces. Will people see us differently? Will it impact my ability to grow in my career? Will it even keep me from finding a job? These are all important questions that keep us, all too often, from letting people know when we're struggling. In this episode we address a number of critical issues including: The importance of an empowering workplace Why is there such a stigma ? The difficulty of managing mental ...
OFM S3 E3: Mental Health in a Queer Relationship
May 13, 2019 05:00 - 30 minutes - 56.1 MBManaging a relationship is hard. Managing Mental Health is hard. Combining the two while being queer? That's difficult on an entirely different level. Today we look at our experiences to try and understand the best way to cope while maintaining your relationship. Jenn Defines her sexuality Rachel defines her sexuality The dynamics of our relationship Ways that Jenn struggles Ways that Rachel struggles What are some times we’ve struggled together? How have we managed these iss...
OFM S3 E2: Dysphoria vs. Dysmorphia
May 06, 2019 05:00 - 31 minutes - 59 MBDysphoria and Dysmorphia are serious issues for people who struggle from either. But, what's the difference between the two? In this episode we take a look at what makes these two conditions different, how they can be similar, how our feelings are often shaped by society as well as our own experiences with both conditions. Remember, we are not in anyway experts or doctors. What you hear today are our own personal life experiences that we hope will help end the stigma surrounding me...
OFM S3 E1: Anxiety, Depression, and Queerness w/ Rachel Dick, Co-Host
April 29, 2019 12:15 - 28 minutes - 53.4 MBRachel Dick is a queer identifying grad student at Fordham University with a passion for hanging from aerial apparatuses, and the new co-host of the OFM Podcast. She grew up in Memphis but never went to Graceland, and has spent the last 7 years in Chicago without ever once seeing a Cubs game. She’d love to eventually obtain a Ph.D in Human Sexuality with an emphasis on sexuality in spiritual traditions so she can spend her life writing niche pieces about people’s sex lives that no ...
OFM S3 E0 - New Season, New Format, New Co-Host w/ Rachel Dick, Aspiring Social Worker
April 22, 2019 05:15 - 10 minutes - 9.24 MBWe're back with a quick teaser on what's coming this season at OFM, complete with a new cohost. Meet Rachel, an aspiring social worker with a desire to help out humanity with her care, mind, and empathy. This season we're going to focus on communities more often overlooked. We're still trying to decide if the show will be weekly this year, but, regardless, great content is coming your way. Strap in, see what's coming, and we can't wait to have you along for the ride. If you enjoy ...
OFM S2 E11: Get Out the Vote, An Election Week Special w/ Jenn Renoe
November 05, 2018 18:08 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBAfter a long break, I couldn't stay silent this week. The importance of this year's vote is critical for both the mental health community, and myself as a transgender woman. As you take time and evaluate the issues, if you listen to this podcast I can only assume that mental health is important to your life. If someone you know suffers and struggles with their own mental health, please educate yourself on how each party will impact care. In this episode, I'll discuss the issues sur...
OFM S2 E10: LGBT Knowledgeable Therapy w/ Edie Hitchcock, Psychodynamic Psychotherapist
July 09, 2018 05:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBIn our return from the holiday, I spoke with Edie, a psychotherapist who works with the LGBT community to help manage the anxiety and depression that comes with managing the stigma it often faces. We discuss treatment options, anxiety, who you should see, how difficult it can be to see someone, and the difference between being LGBT Friendly and LGBT Knowledgable. Edie specializes in what we might term "identity conflict" and works with individuals toward a deeper sense of integrati...
OFM S2 E9: Gender Dysphoria Part 2 w/ Denise Bowker, Tech VP
June 25, 2018 05:00 - 32 minutes - 30 MBIn this week's episode of Our Fractured Minds, I speak with Denise Bowker about her experiences with gender dysphoria. We discuss the way it makes us feel, how we can get over it, and the anxiety and depression such an issue can cause. Denise, herself, was born in New Jersey, and grew up in a small bedroom town halfway between New York City and Philadelphia. After graduating from a small private liberal arts school in Connecticut, she married her college sweetheart and quickly mov...
OFM S2 E8: Acquired Trauma w/ Dr. Dan Cohen and LICSW Emily Blefeld
June 18, 2018 05:00 - 31 minutes - 28.5 MBDan and Emily are two of the United States’ most skilled innovators in merging advanced consciousness and spiritual principles into therapeutic practice. Scientists by background and Mystics by practice, Dan and Emily approach constellating and consciousness from both experiential and evidentiary standpoints. Their unique therapeutic approach has revolutionized both their practices and created scores of extraordinary success stories. Together Dan and Emily access the ordinary, ance...
S2 E7: Anxiety and Depression w/ Emily Kelley Kunin, Game Development
June 11, 2018 05:00 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MBIn week two of our content special during Pride Month, Emily and I discuss her dealings with depression and anxiety, coming out with regards to bisexuality, and, in the wake of last week's celebrity suicides, why it can be so difficult to ask for help when you need it. If we're willing to be honest with each other, it's quite likely that Emily is one of the coolest people I know. She’s an award-winning writer who currently develops mobile games for both the iOS and Android platform...
S2 E6: Gender Dysphoria w/ Jenn, Transgender Woman
June 04, 2018 05:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBTo kick of Pride Month 2018, Jenn, a transgender woman, discusses her battle with something called gender dysphoria on our podcast, and, in doing so, is introducing herself to the world. Jenn grew up knowing who she was for most of her life, but was ashamed of the person she knew she was meant to be. Instead, she thought she could choose to ignore that person. After living through al lifetime of shame, depression, self loathing, and suicidal ideation, she finally came to a realizat...
S2 E5: Social Media and Mental Health w/ Tony Astacio, Creator
May 28, 2018 05:01 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBFive weeks into season two, I sit down with Tony Astacio, a born and bred New Yorker who likes to travel to new baseball stadiums. Professionally he’s a Social Media Coordinator and besides baseball he likes to swim, watch movies and send gifs whenever possible. He recently started a dating and relationship podcast and whenever possible writes about mental health and how he deals with it. We spoke in our short time together about the cost of seeking help, the difficulty of opening ...
S2 E4 - Miscarriage's Impact on Mental Health w/ Leslie Browning, Award Winning Author
May 21, 2018 05:01 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBLeslie Browning is an award-winning author of twelve books. In her writing, she explores the confluence of the natural landscape and the interior landscape. In 2010, she debuted with a three-title contemplative poetry series. These three books went on to garner several accolades including a total of 3 pushcart-prize nominations, the Nautilus Gold Medal for Poetry, and Foreword Reviews’ Book of the Year Award. She has freelanced for several publications and has a biannual interview c...
S2 E3: Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault w/ Kristen Lo, Surviver
May 14, 2018 05:01 - 29 minutes - 27 MBThis week's episode is conversation about dealing with PTSD, depression, and anxiety following an attack on one's self and having to manage the fallout from domestic abuse and sexual assault. Our guest, Kristen Lo, is a self-proclaimed professional dog wrangler and conqueror of Netflix specials. She hails from the little Caribbean nation of Belize, and immigrated to Canada at a young age. She spent time exploring the Canadian wilderness ever since. Kristen's currently finishing up ...
OFM S2 E2: Suicidal Ideation w/ JMatt, Radio DJ
May 07, 2018 05:01 - 29 minutes - 27.5 MBIn this episode I speak with JMatt, a radio DJ out of Milwaukee about his own experiences with suicidal ideation and how they led to his work as an advocate for mental health. JMatt--the weekend radio DJ for 103.7 Kiss FM in Milwaukee--is a mental health advocate that promotes suicide awareness and prevention through his daily Instagram videos for the #22PushupChallenge (he’s up to 475 days in a row and counting). With his career in digital media strategy, he knows the power that s...
OFM S2 E1: The State of Mental Illness in the Workplace w/ Geli Mata, SXSW Speaker
May 01, 2018 05:01 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MBA review of Mental Health at Austin's SXSW conference in March, a recap of season one, and a preview of what's to come of the show in 2018!
OFM S2 E1: The State of Mental Illness in the Workplace w/ Geli Mata, SXSW Speaker
May 01, 2018 05:01 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MBAngelica Mata is a digital marketer who was a guest in season one of our show. Her field became an interest through her appreciation for film. This passion inevitably led her to pursue a Film degree at the University of Texas at Austin. To this day, she is captivated by the profound effect created by the various elements that comprise a film. These emotions create lasting memories that are sure to be shared amongst people. As and TEDxSanAntonio speaker curator and current Programm...
OFM S1 E20: Empathy, not Sympathy w/ Phoenix Underwood, Fonder of emp(a)t(h)y
September 05, 2017 05:00 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBOur Season One season finale is with Phoenix Underwood, founder of the social network, emp(a)t(h)y, a platform for people struggling with grief and mental health. The concept came from his own experiences dealing with the loss of his father, and similar losses suffered from those of his closest friends. We discuss the potential of such a platform to help, and even harm, its users, and how sympathy may be great, but it often doesn't make people feel any less alone.
OFM S1 E20: Empathy, not Sympathy w/ Phoenix Underwood, Fonder of emp(a)t(h)y
September 05, 2017 05:00 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBPhoenix Underwood is the brains behind emp(a)t(h)y, a type of social network that believes that, sometimes, the best way to get through something is knowing you're not alone. It’s meant to provide peer support for users who match with others based on shared feelings and experiences. As he and I discuss on our season finale episode, while sympathy is appreciated, it often doesn't end our loneliness and our isolation. What he is proposing isn't all that different from the point of ou...
OFM S1 E19: My Story on Suicide w/ Jeff Renoe, Host
August 28, 2017 05:00 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MBCAUTION: This episode involves a graphic description of a suicide attempt by strangulation. This past week, a young sophomore from my Alma Mater, Ball State University, was found dead in his dorm room, after tragically taking his own life. His last tweet, and the story of his passing, inspired me to reflect on this podcast and my own life experiences with mental illness and my own personal story with suicide. This is a change of pace from our normal episodes. It's just me, your ho...
OFM S1 E18: Living with Purpose w/ Johnnie Jae, Founder of #Indigenerds4Hope
August 21, 2017 05:00 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBThis week's guest has a resume that speaks for itself. Known as the Brown Ball of Fury, Johnnie Jae is a profoundly driven and unstoppable Indigenerd from the Otoe-Missouria and Choctaw tribes of Oklahoma. She is a writer, speaker, technologist, advocate, community builder and entrepreneur that loves empowering others to follow their passions and create for healing and positive change in the world. She is the founder of A Tribe Called Geek, a multimedia company dedicated to showcas...
OFM S1 E17: Both Sides of My Brain w/ Crystal Mata, Musician
August 14, 2017 05:00 - 31 minutes - 29 MBCrystal Mata was born and raised in Houston, TX. She graduated from HSPVA and went on to graduate from Berklee College of Music. She has since returned to Houston to become a member of the local theatre community, a representative of a local music festival, the lead vocalist of a Mariachi and a private instructor. She has also been a contributing writer to examiner.com for the last year and a half. We talk about depression, anxiety, confidence, bullying, echtelthernmal dysplasia, a...
OFM S1 E16: Putting Things into Perspective w/ Katy Bird, World Traveler
August 07, 2017 05:00 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MBI sit down with Katy, a world traveler and former couch surfer, about her experiences with mental health, and the impact suicide has had on her life. It's possible that she will have had to plan funeral arrangements for her mother, brother, and her father, all before turning 30. We touch on ADD, ADHD, medication, suicide, addiction, alcoholism, grief, counseling, stigma and more in our raw conversation about life and how even in our darkest days, there are always rays of brightness...
OFM S1 E15: Always Moving Forward w/ Sasha Wolff, Founder of Still I Run
July 31, 2017 05:00 - 28 minutes - 26 MBSasha Wolff, founder of Still I Run - Runners for Mental Health Awareness, joined me for a conversation around her organization and own dealings with managing her mental health. We spoke about a variety of issues including her own dealings with depression and anxiety, her time in a mental hospital, how she came to launch Still I Run, and what keeps her running forward today. Spoiler alert, it's a lot. Sasha, herself, is a mental health advocate working to defeat the stigma through ...
OFM S1 E14: Minority Mental Health Awareness Month Special w/ Berrak Sarikaya, Solopreneur
July 24, 2017 05:00 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBIn recognition of Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, I sit down with Berrak Sarikaya, a Turkish Immigrant, and discuss her experiences with mental illness through the lens of another culture. We discuss the difficulties of fitting in, schizophrenia, the impact not seeking treatment has on others, and more.
OFM S1 E14: Minority Mental Health Awareness Month Special w/ Berrak Sarikaya, Solopreneur
July 24, 2017 05:00 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBIn recognition of Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, I sit down with Berrak Sarikaya, a Turkish Immigrant, and discuss her experiences with mental illness through the lens of another culture. We discuss the difficulties of fitting in, schizophrenia, the impact not seeking treatment has on others, and more. Berrak is a natural conversation driver with an undeniable belief in the power of community. Motivated by a firm belief in owning who you are instead of trying to fit the mo...
OFM S1 E13: The Dark Days w/ Mary, Presenter for the National Alliance on Mental Illness
July 17, 2017 05:00 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBIn this episode I speak with a woman, whose real name we've withheld, about her experiences dealing with depression with psychotic features. She presents her past experiences for the National Alliance on Mental Illness in the area she lives, but her concern is that people will learn her story before she has the chance to frame it herself. In a world where stigma is prevalent, that's a concerning proposition. Being able to frame yourself before another tries to frame you in their own...
OFM S1 E12: Being Better Off w/ Bree Palmer, Mental Health Advocate
July 10, 2017 05:00 - 27 minutes - 24.8 MBBree Palmer identifies herself as a social media chick. She's an interior decorator in Ottawa, Canada and is currently writing a blog all about Amazing Humans in this world. The amazing Human Series highlights inspiring humans who are not well known but are impressive or amazing in her eyes. Her personal mental health story began at the age of sixteen when her father took his own life. This launched her into learning about depression and mental health. It also lead her down the pat...
OFM S1 E11: Demystifying the Field w/ Dr. B, Clinical Psychologist
July 03, 2017 05:00 - 28 minutes - 26.3 MBRaffael "Dr. B" Boccamazzo is a doctor of clinical psychology and the clinical director of TakeThis.org, an organization that, like this podcast, seeks to inform our community about mental health issues, provide education about mental disorders and mental illness prevention, and to reduce the stigma of mental illness. Dr. B also runs a private psychotherapy and psychological assessment practice in the Seattle area and works with several local groups as a social skills coach, often ...
OFM S1 E10: (Dungeon) Mastering the Mind w/ Hawke Robinson, Recreational Therapist
June 26, 2017 05:00 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBHawke is the founder and president of RPG Therapeutics LLC, and is registered with the Washington State Department of Health as a Recreational Therapist. He’s currently working toward being a nationally certified therapeutic recreation specialist. RPG Therapeutics LLC provides research, education, and therapeutic services, utilizing music and role-playing games in all formats including tabletop, live-action, solo, and computer-based. Involved with RPGs since 1979, the founder of RP...
OFM S1 E9: Life is a Work in Progress w/ Ted Bauer, Content Writer
June 19, 2017 05:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBTed is a freelance writer and marketer living in the DFW area. He's originally from New York City, went to Georgetown, and has worked for Teach for America, ESPN, McKesson, PBS, and a number of other places -- mostly as a copywriter, but sometimes in other marketing roles. He has a daily blog called The Context of Things that, like this podcast to date, has an impressively low-average following. But, low followings don’t mean low impact, and Ted joined us this week to try and help d...
OFM S1 E8: PTSD Awareness Month Special w/ Darrell Pruden, Navy Veteran
June 12, 2017 05:00 - 28 minutes - 26.3 MBAs we recognize PTSD awareness month, we spoke with Darrell Pruden, former submariner, as he discusses his own experiences with the disorder, how he worked to deny himself the help he now knows he needed, the process of seeking help, and how it's helped him no longer feel like a stranger in his own home. Daryl was born in Evansville, Indiana to two wonderful parents that always have meant the world to him. He did okay growing up through school but that began to change once he reach...
OFM S1 E7: Finding Redemption w/ Heidi Heilig, Author
June 05, 2017 05:00 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MBThe author of the Girl From Everywhere and Ship Beyond Time was gracious enough to take time out of her day to join me for episode seven of our podcast. If you’ve read either of those books you may already know that Heidi grew up in Hawaii where she rode horses and raised peacocks. She then made the move to New York City and grew up even more, as one tends to do. Her favorite thing, outside of writing, is travel, and she has haggled for rugs in Morocco, hiked the trails of the Ko’ol...
OFM S1 E6 : Suffering from Humanity w/ Nicole Vacherot, OFM SMM
May 29, 2017 05:00 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBNicole is a social media maven, and the new social manager of our podcast where she'll be developing content on IG. On any given day, Nicole is actively feeding her brain as much knowledge as she can before it’s too late and trying not to be too bummed that she cannot eat it all in one lifetime, all while nurturing an extremely talented, soon to be high-school graduate into early adulthood. She’s spent a lifetime exercising emotion through poetry and is now working on a full-length ...
OFM S1 E5: Entrepreneur's Best Friend w/ Eric Weiner, Business Owner
May 22, 2017 05:01 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBEric Weiner is a Brooklyn-based dog owner, food lover and music media entrepreneur. As founder and CEO of The Wild Honey Pie, he has built a distinguished destination for new music with brand properties such as Welcome Campers, Buzzsessions and The Beehive. Eric lives in Greenpoint with his amazing dog Buzz and in his free time loves to host dinner parties, enjoys live music, going to Transmitter Park and making friends with local business owners. After starting his own company and...
OFM S1 E4: The Happiest Place on Earth w/ Geli Mata, Social Maven
May 15, 2017 05:00 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBQuirky social media technophile. Pop culture junkie. Aspiring amateur cosmonaut. Global revolutionary. Karaoke enthusiast. That's just a quick peak into the night life of Geli Mata and probably explains why she can only define herself as, well, herself. By day she's a digital marketing specialist, filmmaker, and the TEDxSanAntonio Programming Chair. In her eyes, every story is important, and she has made it her mission to help bring stories to life, while visually captivating audie...
OFM S1 E3: Loyally (War)Crafted w/ Amber Young, Mother and Gamer
May 08, 2017 05:00 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBI sit down with Amber Young, an anxiety sufferer, as she discusses her experiences with anxiousness and how it has impacted her life and her family. We'll discuss misdiagnosis, her venture toward proper diagnosis, and how a fantasy world has become one of her favorite escapes.
OFM S1 E1: Redefining Life with Mental Illness w/ Jeff Renoe, Host
May 01, 2017 05:00 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBOur pilot episode where the host of the podcast, and a sufferer of bi-polar disorder, Jeff Renoe, discusses his vision of the Our Fractured Minds podcast as this week's co-host, Win Charles, helps him open up about some of his own experiences having to manage his own mental health. Together, the two discuss mental health, and work to learn the ins and outs of running, and recording, a podcast. Quality has grown since this pilot episode. Win explored her own experiences dealing wit...
OFM S1 E2: I am a Human Being w/ Noah Glick, Reporter
May 01, 2017 05:00 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBPodcaster and NPR news reporter, Noah Glick, comes on the show to discuss his own experiences battling both alcoholism and depression. Together we touch on co-dependency and the difference between being defined by these mental health issues and defining yourself. You can read more about the episode in detail and see an example of Noah's 'list' at ourfracturedminds.com