Jason Tougaw on Finding Your Own Mental Stability When Your Family Didn’t Provide it
Acclaimed writer and university professor Jason Tougaw finds time to reflect on a chaotic childhood marked by instability, inherited family myths, and the search for identity in a time when being gay felt unsafe. In conversation, he shares how paying close attention to the patterns he didn’t want to repeat—and finding unexpected sources of healing—helped him build a calmer, more intentional life as an adult.Listen to Podcast
NPR’s Peter Sagal On Breaking Cycles and Learning From His Past
NPR’s Peter Sagal joins Dr. Michelle K. Murray for a candid conversation about mental health, family history, and personal growth. Known for his humor on Wait Wait... Don’t Tell Me, Peter shares his experience with undiagnosed ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and how reflection and therapy helped him break unhealthy patterns and build stronger family connections.Listen to Podcast
A Helpful Message During Difficult Times
In this special episode, Dr. Michelle K. Murray offers some practical advice on taking care of yourself and your loved ones during these tumultuous events. She discusses creating a safety plan, setting healthy boundaries, and staying grounded in your values. A short, compassionate guide to help families navigate uncertainty together.Listen to Podcast
Dessa on the Importance of Taking Care of Family, Body, Mind, and Curiosity
Rapper, singer, and author Dessa shares how she faced big feelings as an adolescent and how she got the help she needed when she needed it. Dessa tells us how family support and a curiosity about health and medicine have served her well.Listen to Podcast
Bill Corbett on Anxiety, Being a Son, Being a Dad, and How He’s Breaking Cycles
Actor and writer Bill Corbett shares an honest look at his journey with anxiety, addiction, and recovery, reflecting on how growing up without conversations about mental health shaped his life. He opens up about his breakdown in New York City, his path to sobriety, and the work it took to regain balance.Listen to Podcast
Clancy Martin Unlocked the Secret of How Not to Kill Himself
Author and professor Clancy Martin tells Dr. Michelle K. Murray about what a lifetime of trying to die feels like, about his own complex family, and how just in the last few years he has managed to finally lose that urge to make the worst decision one can make.Listen to Podcast
Dr. Michelle K. Murray on Managing the Anxiety and Stress of Holiday Gatherings
Family gatherings during the holidays are a time of connection and joy. They can also be a cause of anxiety or lead to triggering situations. In this special holiday episode of In This Family, Dr. Michelle K. Murray provides practical tips on thriving or maybe just surviving family events.Listen to Podcast
Sarah LaBrie’s Mom Had Severe Mental Illness So Sarah Had to Figure Out Her Past and Her Future
Sarah LaBrie reflects on growing up with a mother living with severe mental illness, including psychosis and schizophrenia, and the impact it had on her life. Supported by her grandmother and aunt, Sarah navigated childhood instability, complex family relationships, and the long-term effects of trauma.Listen to Podcast
Comedian Maria Bamford Loved Her Parents, Learned From Them, Makes Fun of Them
Comedian and author Maria Bamford reflects on growing up with loving parents who did their best to support her through bipolar II, OCD, and intrusive thoughts—despite not having the mental health awareness we have today. Maria shares how their compassion, humor, and willingness to adapt shaped her life and continues to influence her work, including the way she lovingly (and hilariously) portrays them in her comedy.Listen to Podcast
Breaking the Silence on Mental Health While Keeping Cultural Identity with Vivien Lee
Vivien Lee recalls the first inklings of an existential crisis when she was eight years old. As she grew older, Vivien endured severe trauma. As the oldest of several children in a family that was part of Minnesota’s Hmong community, mental health was not something that was discussed in her family.Listen to Podcast