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this is bipolar

this is bipolar

this is bipolar 100 Episodes Aug 3, 2026

This is Bipolar is an unfiltered and authentic podcast that shares stories of lived experience with bipolar disorder. Hosted by mental illness advocate Shaley Hoogendoorn, it offers a real-life glimpse into the condition. Each episode aims to provide insight, shatter stigma, and offer hope. The podcast encourages voices to be heard and stories to be shared.

Episodes

Living with Bipolar as a Man: Lee Formella on Acceptance, Anger & Breaking the Stigma
Living with Bipolar as a Man: Lee Formella on Acceptance, Anger & Breaking the Stigma Aug 3, 2026 3589 Living with bipolar disorder can look different for everyone, but one thing many people share is the pressure to pretend they're okay when they're struggling. In this honest conversation, Shaley Hoogendoorn sits down with returning guest Lee Formella to talk about what it's has been like living with bipolar disorder as a man. Together they discuss late diagnosis, learning acceptance, managing ange
Bipolar & Travel: Chaos, Coping, and Carry-Ons | BEST OF 2025
Bipolar & Travel: Chaos, Coping, and Carry-Ons | BEST OF 2025 Jul 16, 2026 2734 Join hosts Shaley Hoogendoorn and Dr. Andrea Vassilev as they delve into the complexities of traveling with Bipolar Disorder in this enlightening episode of 'this is bipolar'. Together, they explore how changing time zones and disrupted routines can impact mental health, offering practical tips to manage these challenges. They share personal stories and expert insights on maintaining balance and s
Beyond the Bipolar Label: Overcoming Self-Stigma & Shame | Dr. Andrea Vassilev
Beyond the Bipolar Label: Overcoming Self-Stigma & Shame | Dr. Andrea Vassilev Jun 30, 2026 2311 What if one of the biggest challenges of living with bipolar isn't just the symptoms—but the way we've learned to think about ourselves? In this powerful episode of this Is bipolar, Shaley Hoogendoorn welcomes back friend, psychotherapist, researcher, and bipolar advocate Dr. Andrea Vassilev to celebrate the release of her groundbreaking workbook, Beyond the Bipolar Label: A Workbook to Overcome S
Men's Mental Health l Work &. Bipolar Disorder with BRuss (2023)
Men's Mental Health l Work &. Bipolar Disorder with BRuss (2023) Jun 12, 2026 3501 What does bipolar disorder look like at work? In this candid and relatable conversation, Shaley sits down with mental health advocate Brandon to talk about the realities of navigating employment while living with bipolar disorder. From thriving in creative environments to struggling with organization, depression, anxiety, rejection sensitivity, and workplace expectations, they share personal stori
(BEST OF) EPISODE 19 | SUPPORTING A LOVED ONE -advice for those living alongside
(BEST OF) EPISODE 19 | SUPPORTING A LOVED ONE -advice for those living alongside May 29, 2026 2635 How to Support Someone with Bipolar Disorder (Part 1) In this deeply honest and compassionate episode of This Is Bipolar, Shaley Hoogendoorn and Julie Kraft tackle one of the most requested topics from listeners: how to support someone living with bipolar disorder or another mental illness. Speaking from lived experience, they open up about the realities of being on both sides of the relationship
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT Mania & Psychosis- Mel's Story
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT Mania & Psychosis- Mel's Story Apr 28, 2026 4564 In this deeply honest and powerful conversation, Shaley sits down with mental health advocate, author, and peer mentor Mel to share her lived experience with bipolar disorder. Mel opens up about her early struggles, being misdiagnosed, and what it was like to experience severe depression, mania, and psychosis. She shares the reality of a nine-month depressive psychotic episode, the impact of medic
From Memoir to Movie: A Story of Bipolar, Science & Hope
From Memoir to Movie: A Story of Bipolar, Science & Hope Mar 27, 2026 2734 What if the story of bipolar disorder was told not just through textbooks—but through real people, real lives, and real hope? In this deeply moving and insightful episode, Shaley sits down with author Sarah Schley and filmmaker Bonnie Weltch to talk about Brainstorm, a powerful new documentary that brings together lived experience and cutting-edge science to reshape how we understand bipo
(WORLD BIPOLAR DAY 2023) Hypomania & Mania: The Most Misunderstood Side of Bipolar
(WORLD BIPOLAR DAY 2023) Hypomania & Mania: The Most Misunderstood Side of Bipolar Mar 19, 2026 3517 In this powerful World Bipolar Day episode, host Shaley is joined by mental health advocates Rudy and Tatyana to unpack the realities of hypomania and mania—often misunderstood, sometimes romanticized, and deeply complex experiences within bipolar disorder. Through raw storytelling, they explore early warning signs, grandiosity, sleep disruption, sensory changes, and the fine line between producti
(BEST OF 2024) DBT Skills for Bipolar: Finding Your Wise Mind Diana Partington
(BEST OF 2024) DBT Skills for Bipolar: Finding Your Wise Mind Diana Partington Feb 20, 2026 3946 In this powerful and practical conversation, Shaley sits down with therapist and author Diana Partington to unpack what Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) actually is—and why it can be a game-changer for people living with bipolar disorder. Diana shares her deeply personal story of living with suicidality for decades before discovering DBT, the therapy that finally gave her the “toolbox” she had
Friendships, Bipolar Besties & Being Seen
Friendships, Bipolar Besties & Being Seen Jan 31, 2026 1938 In this heartfelt and hope-filled episode of This Is Bipolar, Shaley and Dr. Andrea Vassilev meet in real life for the very first time in Los Angeles and dive deep into one of the most meaningful (and complicated) topics when living with bipolar disorder: friendships. Together, they explore how bipolar disorder can impact connection, consistency, communication, and trust — from ghosting during dep
From Psychosis to Stability: A Bipolar I Story with Jess of OUR BIPOLAR
From Psychosis to Stability: A Bipolar I Story with Jess of OUR BIPOLAR Jan 16, 2026 3428 In this deeply honest episode of this Is bipolar, Shaley sits down with a guest Jess who shares her lived experience of being diagnosed with bipolar I after antidepressant-induced mania and psychosis in college — and what it took to rebuild a life of stability, work, love, and motherhood. Together, they unpack what psychosis and mania actually feel like in the body, how symptoms can be rooted in r
BEST OF 2025 / NEW YEAR & Navigating Bipolar
BEST OF 2025 / NEW YEAR & Navigating Bipolar Jan 2, 2026 2926 BEST OF 2025 Welcome back to 'This is Bipolar,' where Shaley Hoogendoorn, a passionate mental health advocate living with Bipolar 2 disorder, invites us into a heartfelt conversation about navigating change as we head into 2025. Alongside her friend and new co-host, Dr. Andrea Vasilev, a doctor of psychology also living with bipolar, they explore the complexities of the New Year's transition for t

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