sargasso-

My question is about the blending of entertainment and information. What considerations do you make in providing a mental health podcast that's entertaining to your audience while still being safe and responsible?

To expand on my question, I think mental health content in particular can generate an "oh shit, they're talking about me!" response for some people. I have friends that tell me they're definitely suffering from x, y, and z because a youtube channel or podcast told them so.

I saw a previous answer about neurodiverse people and how symptoms of ADHD can be so relatable that many people diagnose themselves as ADHD (which resonates with me; half my social circle now claims to be neurodiverse, including some people that... probably aren't?)

FWIW I have been diagnosed with ADHD by a licensed psychologist, so "fakers" for lack of a better word may strike close to home for me.

I'm also troubled sometimes by the way various mental health communities can become problematic echo chambers rather than channels for support and good-faith sharing of experiences (thinking of some popular subreddits here, and the lack of empathy I see there).

What do you think of the risks posed by the integration of social media and entertainment products with medical topics? Obviously it's great for generating awareness... but is there any element of voyeurism/self-diagnosis/misinterpretation that concerns you about this medium over others?

Wow, thank you so much for such a thorough response. I admit I went into this AMA thinking I was going to hate-read (that's healthy, right?) a bunch of answers from either kind of podcast you contrasted yours to. Instead, you've been honest, relatable, and refreshing. I'll check out the podcast and see if I jive with it. If so, you'd be the first in your category that didn't turn me off :)

You mentioned a few of your hobbies/interests in your opening post. Do you have any favourite (fiction) books or authors? What have you been reading recently?