Beat The Mental Health Out Of It! | Dark-Humor Conversations On Serious Mental Illness & Trauma
If you live with mental illness—or love someone who does—and you’re tired of sugar-coated wellness talk, this show is for you!
"Beat The Mental Health Out Of It!" blends dark humor with real recovery so you feel seen, steadied, and a little lighter. We tell it like it is, so you don’t have to.
Hosted by Nicholas Wichman (“The DEFECTIVE Schizoaffective”) and often joined by co-host Tony Medeiros ("IndyPocket"), this is a brutally honest mental health podcast about what it’s actually like to live with serious mental illness on the schizophrenia spectrum. We talk schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, BPD, PTSD, addiction, religious trauma, bad therapy, psych wards, meds, disability, and trying to build a life in a system that isn’t built for us. You’ll get:
– Lived-experience truth from someone who hears voices, dissociates, relapses, parents, plays music, and still shows up.
– Grounded insight from a mental health professional who has sat across from hundreds of clients and worked inside the system.
– Edgy, stigma-smashing, sometimes controversial conversations about mental illness, relationships, family dysfunction, religion, work, creativity, and survival.
– Challenging takeaways and coping ideas you can actually try—along with laughs that punch up, down, left, right… everywhere.
This show is for people juggling therapy, meds, trauma, and everyday chaos who want honest talk, gallows humor, and zero judgment. Whether you’re schizoaffective, living with schizophrenia or psychosis, dealing with PTSD, supporting a loved one, or just trying not to lose your mind, "Beat The Mental Health Out Of It!" gives you language, community, and brutally honest hope.
We’re not your therapists—we’re fellow passengers on “The Struggle Bus,” sharing what we’ve learned the hard way and refusing to suffer in silence.
Episodes
29 episodes
CTE, Hyperbaric Therapy & The Hidden Toll Of Olympic Bobsledding | William Person
Olympic bobsledder and mental health advocate William Person opens up about repeated crashes, CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), and the terrifying mental fallout—panic, memory loss, “lost years,” and suicidal thinking—in this conversation...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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1:11:50
Empathy, Respect & Culture Change In Schools: Building Safer, Supportive Educational Communities w/ Mike & Jeff
In this episode, our hosts dive deeper with Mike and Jeff—longtime guests and mental health advocates—to explore critical themes of empathy, respect, and culture change in schools and communities. We address how pressures from standardized test...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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1:15:03
Cyberbullying & Kids’ Mental Health: Understanding Digital Age Bullying Impacts w/ Mike & Jeff
In this eye-opening episode, hosts dive deep into the intersection of cyberbullying and kids’ mental health, unpacking how bullying in the digital age has evolved and intensified. Join Mike and Jeff, longtime friends and experienced mental heal...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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1:11:15
Exploring Family Trauma & Mental Health: A Mother-Son Conversation w/ Kim Wichman
In this episode of "Beat The Mental Health Out Of It!", we dive into the complex intersection of family trauma, mental health, and grief through an intimate mother-son conversation with Kim Wichman and host Nicholas Wichman.Discover how ...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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39:40
Public Safety & Crime Prevention | Perception Vs. Reality w/ Officer Manning
Gender dynamics, trauma, and preparedness: why many women excel in the police force, the emotional toll of critical incidents, and how public safety has drastically improved over the last several years.We talk perception vs. reality of d...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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57:32
Policing & Mental Health | Authority, Stereotypes & Stress Management w/ Officer Manning
Law enforcement meets real-world mental health. Training intimidation, what police authority really allows (and doesn’t), and how officers manage stress in high-pressure calls.A candid, on-the-ground conversation about domestic violence ...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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55:00
Alcoholism & Recovery | Reclaiming Life After Addiction w/ Jake Miller
Alcohol is the most dangerous drug most of us normalize. Recovery is daily and relentless—but it’s how you get your life back.A candid mental health episode about what alcoholism really costs, losing your main coping skill to injury, lif...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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44:36
Rebuilding After Trauma | Aftermath Of Domestic Abuse & Divorce w/ Kristi Morris
Adulthood after childhood trauma: a suicide attempt, single motherhood (with four kids), domestic abuse, a devastating divorce, custody and court battles, and what actually helped.A candid mental health episode with trauma-recovery tools...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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46:09
Healing, Trauma & Disassociation | Surviving Sexual Assault & Child Abuse w/ Kristi Morris
In this episode, we delve into how sexual assault, childhood abuse, and early dissociation shape trust, identity, and coping mechanisms in trauma recovery—a survivor’s poignant story shared by Kristi Morris.Join us for a candid discussio...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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50:31
Exploring Men's Mental Health | Toxic Masculinity, Feminism & Vulnerability w/ Josh Guffey
In this thought-provoking episode, we delve into men’s mental health and the intersection with toxic masculinity and feminism.Join us as we uncover the critical issues of suicide risk and the strengths that men carry, challenging the not...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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3:28:43
Living With Schizophrenia | Embracing Creativity During Psychosis w/ Rachel Star Withers
In this episode, we dive into the intersection of living with schizophrenia and the role of creativity emerging from psychosis.Join us for a raw, candid conversation with Rachel Star Withers as we explore the emotional toll of stigma, su...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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2:19:17
Faith, Religion & Mental Health | Finding Spirituality Without Judgment
Explore the intersection of faith and mental health in this candid episode, where we discuss how to build a personal spiritual path that honors your journey without the constraints of judgment or societal expectations.From examining the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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3:04:19
Navigating Shadow Work | Safe Expression Vs. Exploitation In Managing Dangerous Urges
In this episode, we delve into the complexities of navigating shadow work and managing dangerous urges through safe expression and guided exploration, while staunchly opposing exploitation. We openly discuss themes of consent, boundaries, and t...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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1:33:03
Acceptance As Growth | The Power Of Friendship & Accountability w/ Josh Guffey
In this compelling episode of "Beat The Mental Health Out Of It!", we explore how acceptance, accountability, and friendship serve as catalysts for personal growth. Discover how to own your truths, embrace your regrets, and choose r...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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2:15:19
How To Embrace Your Shadow Self | Harnessing Authenticity In Darkness
In this episode, we explore how accepting your shadow self can lead to greater safety, sanity, and wholeness. By facing the parts of ourselves that we tend to hide, we can foster a more authentic existence—moving away from performative behavior...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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1:31:19
Overcoming PTSD | A Veteran's Journey Of Healing After War w/ Marc Wichman
In this episode, we dive deep into how PTSD, childhood trauma, and the chaos of coming home impact a veteran's life.Join us for a candid conversation with Vietnam veteran and my Great Uncle, Marc Wichman, who shares his journey of combat...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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2:44:16
Rhythm & Cognition | How Drumming Boosts IQ & Learning w/ Chris Brien
In this episode, we explore how drumming shapes cognition by improving attention, learning, and neuroplasticity—alongside the fascinating concepts of synesthesia and authentic ASMR.Join us for a candid discussion on practice systems, tea...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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2:29:14
Recovery From Infidelity & Alcoholism | A Candid Talk w/ Josh Guffey
In this episode, we delve into how infidelity, alcohol misuse, and family trauma can devastate lives, while exploring what real mental health recovery looks like.Join us for a candid discussion on betrayal, trauma, and suicidal ideation,...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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3:09:31
Drumming With ADHD | Creative Coping Strategies For Mental Health w/ Jay Fenichel
Explore the unique ways drumming can serve as a powerful focus tool for those with ADHD/ADD, enhancing attention and creativity.In this episode of "Beat The Mental Health Out Of It!", we delve into how rhythm acts as a coping mechanism ...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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1:40:44
Navigating Mental Health With AI | Ego Death, Self-Discovery & Insights w/ Alexis Krebs
In this episode, we dive into how AI conversations, including EchoAI dialogues, can drive radical self-discovery, turning technology into concrete mental health support, rather than a mere substitute. We engage in a grounded discussion about eg...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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1:50:26
Unmasking Authenticity | Overcoming Insecurity To Be Seen
In this episode, we delve into how masking, people-pleasing, insecurity, and shame can keep us from being our authentic selves. Discover the tiny actionable steps—what we call 'tiny reps'—that help you build real authenticity without overwhelmi...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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32:05
Friendship & Mental Illness | The Power Of Peer Support w/ Ryan Manning
Explore how friendship and peer support can be lifelines in the face of mental illness with my guest, Ryan Manning.In this candid episode about mental health, we delve into how the quiet presence of friends can make a world of difference...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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2:09:53
Suicide Survival & Recovery | Why You Are NOT A Burden — My Personal Journey
In this heartfelt episode, we delve into suicide survival and recovery, shedding light on passive suicidal ideation and the intricate dance of grief. We aim to debunk the harmful myth that you are 'a burden.' Through a raw, first-person narrati...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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2:25:24
Transforming Isolation Into Restorative Solitude | A Guide To Depression Recovery
In this episode, we explore how to harness isolation and intentional solitude as valuable tools for depression recovery. Learn how to differentiate between moments when solitude supports healing and when isolation may lead to rumination and hei...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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1:56:16
Turning Pain Into Music | Insights On BPD, Addiction & Songwriting With Trevor Wischmeyer
In this candid episode, we explore how BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder), addiction, and the art of ruthless editing can transform pain into meaningful art—without glamorizing the damage done.Join writer and musician Trevor Wischmeye...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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2:20:29