A podcast dedicated to reducing the isolation and stigma of depression, one story at a time. Listen to our latest episode or explore our archive of 400+ episodes.
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Sharedstories Podcasts

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How to Help Someone Who Refuses Help: Compassionate Intervention for Depression and Mental Illness
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26:06When someone you love is struggling with depression, anxiety, or addiction, knowing how to help can be agonizing — especially when every attempt seems to fail. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, licensed psychotherapist and professional interventionist Evan Evan Jarschauer explains what real mental health interventions look like — far f…
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How Pets Help with Depression: Healing Through Unconditional Love and Companionship
17:50
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17:50When depression makes it hard to get out of bed, eat, or even believe things will ever get better, a loving pet can be a lifeline. In this moving episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Lori shares how her dogs helped her survive and heal after divorce and severe depression. Lori describes days spent “swimming through mud,” unable to function—until …
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Grieving After Suicide: How to Support Loss Survivors with Compassion and Understanding
27:06
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27:06The grief that follows a suicide is unlike any other. It’s layered with guilt, confusion, trauma, and the persistent question: Why? In this powerful episode of Giving Voice to Depression, guest Lisa Sugarman shares her journey after losing her father, cousin, and close friend to suicide — and what she’s learned about navigating the unique and compl…
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What to Say (and Not Say) After Suicide: Supporting Grieving Loved Ones with Compassion
18:52
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18:52After a suicide, words can either comfort and connect — or cut and cause more pain. In this powerful episode of Giving Voice to Depression, journalist and suicide loss survivor Deb Sherwood shares her personal experience navigating the unthinkable grief following her husband’s death by suicide — and the devastating impact of well-intentioned but hu…
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Coping with Suicide Loss: Breaking the Silence and Stigma Around Grief
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20:26Award-winning journalist and author Meg Kissinger joins Giving Voice to Depression to share the extraordinary and heartbreaking story behind her memoir “While You Were Out.” In her conversation with Terry McGuire and Carly McCollow, Meg opens up about growing up in a large family marked by bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and depression—as well as …
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Breaking Mental Health Stigma: Family Trauma, Suicide Loss, and Healing Together
26:42
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26:42Award-winning journalist and author Meg Kissinger joins Giving Voice to Depression to share the extraordinary and heartbreaking story behind her memoir “While You Were Out.” In her conversation with Terry McGuire and Carly McCollow, Meg opens up about growing up in a large family marked by bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and depression—as well as …
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Forgiving Yourself After a Suicide Attempt: How to Heal from Guilt and Shame
18:29
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18:29In this deeply human episode of Giving Voice to Depression, John, a survivor of a suicide attempt, shares his ongoing struggle with self-forgiveness — and what healing looks like when you’re still learning to forgive yourself. While many conversations about suicide focus on grief or prevention, John opens up about what comes after survival: the gui…
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Bipolar Disorder and Addiction: Understanding Dual Diagnosis and the Path to Recovery
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25:19What happens when mental health and addiction collide? In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, David Shamszad shares his raw and revealing story of living with bipolar disorder and alcohol addiction — a combination often referred to as a dual diagnosis. From self-medicating through college to hospitalization, reckless mania, and rock bottom,…
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Self-Help for Depression: Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Practices That Help
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23:26In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Dr. Barbara Moser, a trained teacher in mindful self-compassion, shares three simple yet powerful practices you can use anytime to cope with stress, anxiety, and depression. These tools are free, backed by credible research, and require no appointment, transportation, or side effects. From mindful brea…
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Bullying and Depression: How Isolation Impacts Mental Health and Recovery
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27:27In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Kevin Lepine shares his deeply personal journey of growing up misunderstood, bullied, and isolated — experiences that fueled his depression long before he had words to describe it. He opens up about the pain of being unseen, living with undiagnosed ADD, and the crushing loneliness that often comes with…
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Depression, Bipolar Disorder, and Hope: Rebecca Lombardo’s Decade of Progress
22:31
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22:31In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, we revisit the powerful story of author and advocate Rebecca Lombardo, who has openly shared her struggles with bipolar disorder, depression, and suicidality. Now 10 years removed from her last hospitalization and self-harm attempt, Rebecca reflects on her growth, resilience, and the coping strategies …
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Intergenerational Depression: How Family Trauma and Genetics Shape Mental Health
28:37
28:37
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28:37In this intimate, unscripted conversation, Giving Voice to Depression hosts Terry McGuire and her daughter Carly McCollow open up about their personal experiences with depression across generations. They reflect on how genetics, trauma, and family silence shape mental health — and why speaking openly can break cycles of shame and stigma. Listeners …
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Managing Depression with Spoon Theory: How to Conserve Energy and Cope Daily
17:41
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17:41In this rerun episode of Giving Voice to Depression, hosts Terry and Dr. Anita Sanz revisit The Spoon Theory, a popular metaphor created by Christine Miserandino to explain life with chronic illness. The conversation explores how the theory applies to depression and mental health, providing listeners with a way to explain their limited energy to ot…
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Living with Depression: The Power of Internal Family Systems and Self-Acceptance
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28:06In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Eric shares his deeply personal journey of living under the crushing weight of depression and how he found a path toward healing. Instead of fighting against his pain, Eric discovered the transformative power of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, which allowed him to engage with his depression in a…
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How Cancer Affects Mental Health: Depression, Therapy, and Healing
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18:14In this powerful episode of Giving Voice to Depression, J.J. Singleton shares his journey of living with terminal colorectal cancer and battling depression. After enduring over 170 rounds of chemotherapy, J.J. opens up about the toll cancer has taken not just on his body but on his mental health. He discusses the stigma men face in expressing vulne…
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression: How CBT Helps You Heal
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18:29In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Dr. David Jacobi of Rogers Behavioral Health explains how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) works as an evidence-based treatment for depression. Together with hosts Terry and Anita, Dr. Jacobi breaks down the CBT “triangle” of emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, and explains why behavioral activation —…
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Why Therapy Is Important for Mental Health: Beyond Crisis Care
26:19
26:19
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26:19In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Dr. Anita Sanz joins Terry and Carly to discuss the importance of seeking therapy as a proactive step for mental health, not just during times of crisis. Together, they break down what therapy actually looks like, why the stigma around it persists, and how people can find the right therapist for their …
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Suicide Prevention in Schools: How a Teacher Noticing Saved a Life
25:04
25:04
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25:04One caring adult can make the difference between life and death. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Chloe shares how her teacher noticed warning signs of her depression and suicidal thoughts — and stepped in to have a direct, lifesaving conversation. Her story is a powerful reminder that teachers, coaches, and mentors play a critical ro…
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Recovering from Depression: Signs of Healing and Hope
23:23
23:23
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23:23Depression can convince us that healing is impossible. But recovery doesn’t come all at once — it shows up in small, powerful signs of change. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Cara McErlain from Belfast shares her lived experience of depression, therapy, and gradual healing. She opens up about the darkest moments of her journey and th…
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Depression and Memory Loss: Why Happy Memories Disappear
30:10
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30:10Depression doesn’t just impact mood — it can also steal your memories of joy. In this episode, mental health advocate and author Natasha Tracy shares her lived experience with bipolar depression and how it robs her of the ability to recall happy times. She explains the cruel cycle of memory loss and depression, how “state memory” keeps us trapped i…
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Depression During Pregnancy: Understanding Antepartum Depression and Its Impact
11:43
11:43
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11:43When people talk about maternal mental health, postpartum depression often gets the spotlight. But what about the depression that begins during pregnancy? In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Isabelle shares her experience with antepartum depression — the deep sadness, hopelessness, and stigma she felt while expecting both of her children…
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Childhood Trauma and Depression: How Unspoken Pain Becomes a Lifelong Burden
28:00
28:00
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28:00What happens when the pain of childhood is never spoken aloud — or validated? For Trina Kennedy, it meant carrying an invisible backpack of heavy rocks: unresolved grief, shame, and loneliness. That burden grew into depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Trina shares her journey of living with the…
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Recovering from Depression: How Self-Worth Changes the Journey
21:51
21:51
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21:51Many people living with depression are told to “get better” for their families, their partners, or their friends. But what happens when you realize you deserve to recover for yourself? In this powerful episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Ari Cohen shares her lifelong journey with depression, from being diagnosed at age 11 to navigating suicidal …
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Men and Depression: Rebranding Therapy to Break Stigma and Save Lives
25:18
25:18
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25:18Men are less likely than women to seek therapy — but not because they don’t need it. Stigma, cultural expectations, and outdated ideas about masculinity often keep men silent when they’re struggling with depression or grief. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, mental health counselor Ethan Getchell shares his personal story of losing his…
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How to Recover from Depression: Small Shifts That Bring Hope and Healing
21:37
21:37
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21:37Recovery from depression doesn’t always come through major breakthroughs. Sometimes it begins with the smallest shift — a single degree of change that sets you on a new path. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Lori shares her raw experience of persistent depression and how discovering the “power of yet” helped her reclaim hope. With sup…
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