Children's Mental Health

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Dr. Michelle K. Murray sits down with her brother Aaron and nephew Asher to discuss Asher’s journey with depression, anxiety, and OCD, and how discovering his gender dysphoria helped him find clarity and self-acceptance. Aaron shares how he and Asher’s mom supported him along the way, guiding him toward a more peaceful and confident place.