Two Standout Mental Health Podcasts Return This September

This September, American Public Media’s The Hilarious World of Depression and Terrible, Thanks for Asking both return for a second season.  This season of Terrible, Thanks for Asking debuts today (September 6, 2017) and will run for 16 episodes, uploaded each Monday. The Hilarious World of Depression returns  September 25th and will run for 20 episodes. Upcoming guests will include Margaret Cho, Russell Brand, Aimee Mann, Combat Jack, and John Green.

Both shows have a strong focus on mental health while being very distinct in tone and structure. The Hilarious World of Depression is an interview-style show where the host discusses depression with comedians and artists; Terrible, Thanks for Asking is a more intimate storytelling show with people who are, well, doing terribly.

Taken from its website, here is the description for The Hilarious World of Depression:

A show about clinical depression…with laughs? Well, yeah. Depression is an incredibly common and isolating disease experienced by millions, yet often stigmatized by society. The Hilarious World of Depression is a series of frank, moving, and, yes, funny conversations with top comedians who have dealt with this disease, hosted by veteran humorist and public radio host John Moe. Join guests such as Maria Bamford, Paul F. Tompkins, Andy Richter, and Jen Kirkman to learn how they’ve dealt with depression and managed to laugh along the way. If you have not met the disease personally, it’s almost certain that someone you know has, whether it’s a friend, family member, colleague, or neighbor. Depression is a vicious cycle of solitude and stigma that leaves people miserable and sometimes dead. Frankly, we’re not going to put up with that anymore. The Hilarious World of Depression is not medical treatment and should not be seen as a substitute for therapy or medication. But it is a chance to gain some insight, have a few laughs, and realize that people with depression are not alone and that together, we can all feel a bit better.

Taken from its website, here is the description for Terrible, Thanks for Asking:

You know how every day someone asks “how are you?” And even if you’re totally dying inside, you just say “fine,” so everyone can go about their day? This show is the opposite of that. Hosted by author (It’s Okay to Laugh (Crying Is Cool Too)) and notable widow (her words) Nora McInerny, this is a funny/sad/uncomfortable podcast about talking honestly about our pain, our awkwardness, and our humanness, which is not an actual word.

I’ve discussed The Hilarious World of Depression, and Terrible, Thanks for Asking is another must-listen for discussions on mental health, even if it verges on being too intense at times.

You can find both podcasts on any podcast streaming platform or on the American Public Media Podcasts website.