Inside Mental Health

​​Ever wonder why some of the smartest people, like doctors, can still get it wrong? In this eye-opening episode, Gabe Howard talks with Dr. Marty Makary, author of “Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong,” to uncover how groupthink and cognitive biases influence not just medicine but also parenting and our everyday decisions. In this episode, Dr. Makary reveals why questioning authority is essential for better health outcomes.
Parents, this episode is a must-listen! Learn why you don’t need to follow the crowd when it comes to screen time, added sugar, and more. Packed with fascinating insights, this conversation challenges what you think you know about health, medicine, and parenting—and might just change how you see the world.
“Maybe adults have done this to children? We have induced this problem. We have to look at our poisoned food supply. These engineered addictive food chemicals that are added, the role of pesticides, how we're changing the microbiome, throwing antibiotics loosely at people. Maybe we need to talk about school lunch programs, not just putting every kid on Ozempic? Maybe we need to talk about screen time addiction and its dopamine surge, not just putting every kid on medications?” ~Marty Makary, MD

To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page.

Our guest, Dr. Marty Makary, is a New York Times bestselling author and health care expert at Johns Hopkins University. He writes for The Wall Street Journal and served in leadership at the World Health Organization. Marty is the recipient of the 2020 Business Book of the Year Award for his book, “The Price We Pay,” which has been described by Steve Forbes as “A must-read for every American.”
A public health researcher, Dr. Makary leads efforts to improve the health of communities and focuses on the “redesign of healthcare” to make healthcare more reliable, holistic, and coordinated, especially for vulnerable populations. He leads national efforts to increase medical transparency and lower health care costs for everyday businesses and consumers.
Clinically, Dr. Makary is the chief of Islet Transplant Surgery at Johns Hopkins and is the recipient of the Nobility in Science Award from the National Pancreas Foundation. He has been a visiting professor at over 25 medical schools, has published over 250 peer-reviewed scientific articles, and has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine. A graduate of Bucknell, Thomas Jefferson, and Harvard Universities, he completed his surgical residency at Georgetown University and his specialty training at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington.
Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.
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Do you often feel exhausted, resentful, or underappreciated in your relationships? In this episode, Gabe Howard and licensed psychotherapist Terri Cole explore the complexities of codependency, including its less-talked-about form: “high functioning codependency.” Terri shares practical tools like the “resentment inventory” to identify unhealthy relational patterns and explains how overgiving can be an unconscious attempt to control chaos.
You’ll also learn how societal pressures, especially on women, play a role in this dynamic and how setting boundaries can lead to healthier, more fulfilling connections. Whether you're managing relationships with friends, family, or colleagues, this episode will help you understand the line between healthy care and codependent behaviors. If you’re tired of saying yes when you want to say no or struggling to let others help you, this is a must-listen conversation.
“I coined the phrase high functioning codependency because my clients were these highly capable women, in particular, who did not identify with sort of the old school, Melody Beattie, “Codependent No More,” it's enabling an addict. That's all it is, basically. They're like dependent? I'm not dependent on squat. Everyone's dependent on me. I'm making all the money. I'm making all the decisions. I'm kind of the boss around here, so I can't be codependent, which is not true.” ~Terri Cole

To learn more -- or read the transcript -- visit the official episode page.

Our guest, Terri Cole, is a licensed psychotherapist and global relationship and empowerment expert and the author of “Boundary Boss” and “Too Much.”
For over two decades, Terri has worked with a diverse group of clients that includes everyone from stay-at-home moms to celebrities and Fortune 500 CEOs. She has a gift for making complex psychological concepts accessible and actionable so that clients and students achieve sustainable change.
She inspires over a million people weekly through her blog, social media platform, signature courses, and her popular podcast, The Terri Cole Show. For more, see terricole.com.

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington.
Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is your child moody — or is it something more serious? Dr. Christine Crawford, associate medical director at NAMI, joins Gabe Howard to break down the subtle signs of mental health struggles in kids and teens. Learn how to spot red flags, approach tough conversations, and take action without overreacting.
From understanding brain development to navigating crises, this episode offers expert tips and practical tools to help parents feel confident supporting their child’s mental health. Tune in for insights that could make all the difference.
“It's important that we kind of see past some of the worries about what a mental health diagnosis could do for a kid in terms of a label, because we're really thinking about the kid and hoping that they can be on a trajectory in which they can live out their best lives. But we have to provide them with the tools in order to get there, and we can't deny them that and deny them access to it, because we're worried that having a label of depression is going to ruin their lives. What will ruin their lives is not getting the help and treatment that they actually need.” ~Christine Crawford, MD, MPH

To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page.

Today's Guest, Christine M. Crawford, MD, MPH, is the associate medical director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), which is the country’s largest grassroots mental health organization, and the author of “You Are Not Alone for Parents and Caregivers: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Your Child’s Mental Health. She is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Vice Chair of Education at the Boston University School of Medicine and also provides outpatient psychiatric care to children and adolescents at Boston Medical Center. Additionally, she’s the Medical Director for the Boston Public Health Commission’s School Based Clinician Program, in which she provides direct guidance on how best to support the socioemotional well-being of children within the Boston Public School System.

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington.
Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does trauma-informed mental health care save lives and improve long-term recovery? Dr. Jasleen Chhatwal, psychiatrist and suicide prevention advocate, joins Gabe Howard to explain this vital yet often overlooked approach. With compassion and clarity, Dr. Chhatwal shares her personal story of losing her father to suicide, highlighting the ripple effects of trauma and the urgent need for systemic change. 
She reveals how healthcare systems — often unintentionally — can retraumatize vulnerable individuals and emphasizes the importance of safety, empowerment, and understanding in mental health treatment. Plus, learn actionable steps anyone can take to support loved ones, reduce stigma, and help lower the suicide rate. This candid, insightful conversation sheds light on how we can all become part of the solution. Whether you're a caregiver, someone in need, or a supporter, this conversation will inspire you to think differently about mental health and suicide prevention.
“Oftentimes folks who are struggling with thoughts of death or thoughts of suicide may feel that even though you're asking them how they're doing, you're not really up for truly hearing how awful they are feeling. So, in some ways, they might couch their words or under report something to you because they're trying to protect you, and they're worried that you will overreact and not be able to sort of handle it.” ~Jasleen Chhatwal, MBBS, MD

To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the official episode page.

Jasleen Chhatwal, MBBS, MD, serves as Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Mood Disorders Program at Sierra Tucson. She is a board-certified psychiatrist, integrative medicine, and addiction medicine physician with experience treating complex mental health disorders in inpatient, residential, and outpatient settings. She is intentional in treating the whole person, using psychotherapy, allopathic, neuro-therapeutic, integrative, evidence-based, and evidence-informed treatments. She believes each individual has a unique, authentic story and is grateful to all those who have entrusted her with their stories.
As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Chhatwal is responsible for managing the medical department, which includes psychiatrists, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, as well as overseeing the teams that provide integrative care, pharmacy, experiential therapy, nutrition services, applied neuroscience services, psychology services and treatment outcomes. She strives to ensure consistent, high-quality patient care through the optimization of internal processes that help increase provider face time with patients. She also serves on the facility’s executive leadership team with an identified mission to expand access to high quality mental health care across the continuum of care.
She is active in the medical community, advocating for her patients’, colleagues, and profession through elected and appointed positions in state, regional and national organizations. Amongst her service roles, she is Past President of the Arizona Psychiatric Society (APS), the Arizona Representative to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Assembly, Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and sits on various state government and non-profit boards.

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author.
Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without.
To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do kids freak out, and how can adults guide them through it without just saying, "Stop it?” Dr. Carla Naumburg, clinical social worker and author of How to Stop Losing Your Shit with Your Kids, joins Gabe Howard to unpack the science of emotional outbursts. Learn the surprising reasons behind freak-outs, how to manage them with humor (learn about acronyms FART and BuRP), and why telling kids to calm down often backfires. This episode is packed with practical advice for parents, teachers, and anyone who works with kids, helping them navigate tough moments with empathy and skill.
“Let's say you are a kid and you have a parent who stays 100% perfect and calm and smiley and always gives you what you want. When you go out in the real world, you're not going to be able to deal with life at all because that's never going to be recreated, right? And so, when your parent loses their temper with you from time to time, packs you a lunch you don't like, forgets to pick you up at school and you're left there for half an hour. When your parent does X, Y, and Z that are considered less than perfect parenting, what you learn is that people aren't perfect, and that's okay. That you can handle things not going the way you want, and you'll be okay. It actually makes kids more resilient.” ~Carla Naumburg, PhD

To learn more -- or read the transcript -- please visit the episode webpage.

Our guest, Carla Naumburg, PhD, LICSW, is a clinical social worker and the author of five books, including the bestselling How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t With Your Kids and its middle-grade companion How to Stop Freaking Out. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, CNN, and Mindful Magazine, among other places. Carla lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two daughters.

Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author.
Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without.
To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices