I'm with Crazy: A Love Story

World Mental Health Day on October 10 with its theme of "Make mental health for all a global priority" couldn't be more appropriate during these times when mental health in the family and mental health as a society is suffering more than ever. Having been raised by a mom diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and then having a younger sister also diagnosed with the same mental illness gave me first-hand knowledge early on in my life of the challenges that come with caring for loved ones who have a mental illness. To be able to talk about the experience with someone else -- a fellow writer -- who also had a mother and a sibling with schizophrenia has been incredible. This episode of my podcast features award-winning published author and essayist Marin Sardy whose work has appeared in numerous journals and publications including Tin House, The Rumpus, and the New Yorker, wherein an excerpt from her memoir, THE EDGE OF EVERY DAY: SKETCHES OF SCHIZOPHRENIA, was published.  Marin shares her history with mental illness in the family, telling of her own experiences with schizophrenia claiming both her mother and brother. You can read Marin's book and learn more about her at MarinSardy.com. --------------------------- A storyteller at heart who built a career in writing, media & marketing, Paolina Milana is grateful for the magic AND the madness she's experienced. Her roots are entangled with mental illness and taking on caregiving roles -- something she has come to realize is not unique to her; rather, it seems to be common on several levels among others, especially the high-functioning women who from the outside looking in seem to have it all together. Madness To Magic brings to listeners stories of real world encounters with what we all experience and yet feel shamed to keep silent. Embracing ALL of us is key to tapping into our own power to make all things possible. Special thanks to the creators of the beautiful instrumental you hear during this podcast - Philippa Dowding & Allister Thompson - Original song “Sarah Tiptoes” from their album BIRCHES. Also love to the guy who's the master behind this podcast's production and audio engineering -- Joseph Dean Edwards.

On Friday, October 8, 2021, multi-award winning filmmaker Uga Carlini's fiction feature "Angeliena" premieres on Netflix. It's a story about self-love and being 'good enough' and having dreams and caring for one another. It has characters you'll hiss at and the ones you'll cheer on. THIS is the kind of story - the madness to magic - that I love. It was an honor and such great fun to chat with Uga who, for me, has been such an inspirational storyteller and one of those creative souls that makes this world better by being who she is and doing what she does. Uga is the founder of Towerkop Creations a boutique production company situated in Cape Town, South Africa where she lives and makes it her mission to tell female-driven heroine stories. Watch "Angeliena" and be sure to share it with #Angelienamovie, and visit Uga and her brilliant team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @Angelienamovie.  --------------------------- A storyteller at heart who built a career in writing, media & marketing, Paolina Milana is grateful for the magic AND the madness she's experienced. Her roots are entangled with mental illness and taking on caregiving roles -- something she has come to realize is not unique to her; rather, it seems to be common on several levels among others, especially the high-functioning women who from the outside looking in seem to have it all together. Madness To Magic brings to listeners stories of real world encounters with what we all experience and yet feel shamed to keep silent. Embracing ALL of us is key to tapping into our own power to make all things possible. Special thanks to the creators of the beautiful instrumental you hear during this podcast - Philippa Dowding & Allister Thompson - Original song “Sarah Tiptoes” from their album BIRCHES. Also love to the guy who's the master behind this podcast's production and audio engineering -- Joseph Dean Edwards.

On Thursday, September 1, 2021, the book, "Blueprint for a Book: Build Your Novel from the Inside Out" by Jennie Nash publishes. What a treat it was to chat with Jennie who has been my book coach and mentor for years and who has been instrumental in my own books getting written and published. Jennie Nash is the founder and CEO of Author Accelerator, a company that's "on a mission to raise the bar on book coaching." She's the author of several books, and her latest is a "how-to" that emphasizes the inner work that needs to be done when one embarks on a book writing journey. Her "inside out" blueprint to writing a book concept is so aligned with how I view writing therapy, self-care, and the core of what is mental health. I hope you enjoy and learn lots from what Jennie had to share. And be sure to buy her book and grab her free blueprint download at https://jennienash.com/blueprint --------------------------- A storyteller at heart, Paolina Milana is the author of several books, all of which tell stories to inspire, enlighten, and heal. For those who don’t know her personal story, she grew up surrounded by madness, raised by a mom who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, and then becoming primary caregiver not only to her, but to her little sister, also diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Keeping it secret and being ashamed of the insanity that had taken root in her family tree is what nearly did her in. Spoiler alert: It didn’t. She journeyed on, and what an incredible ride it’s been. For anyone listening who is struggling with their own mental health or that of a loved one, this podcast is for you. Know that you aren’t alone. Your life isn’t “just” about the cray-cray. And your story isn’t finished. “I’m with Crazy: A Love Story” is a place to come together to share our stories and to realize that there’s magic to be found in whatever madness we may be experiencing. ------------------- Madness To Magic brings to listeners stories of real world encounters with what we all experience and yet feel shamed to keep silent. Embracing ALL of us is key to tapping into our own power to make all things possible. Special thanks to the creators of the beautiful instrumental you hear during this podcast - Philippa Dowding & Allister Thompson - Original song “Sarah Tiptoes” from their album BIRCHES. Also love to the guy who's the master behind this podcast's production and audio engineering -- Joseph Dean Edwards.

On Tuesday, April 6, 2021, I joined in as a guest on one of SiriusXM’s radio programs. DOCTOR RADIO included a segment on caregiving for mental illness, and its host Dr. Michael Aronoff interviewed me. Dr. Aronoff MD is Attending Psychiatrist on the Senior Staff of Lenox Hill Hospital and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at NYU Medical Center. He's served the American Psychiatric Association for over 20 years and has been on New York Magazine and Castle Connolly Guide's “Best Doctors” list. Dr. Aronoff’s Psychiatry Show on SiriusXM’s DOCTOR RADIO is live on Tuesdays at noon ET. --------------------------- A storyteller at heart who built a career in writing, media & marketing, Paolina Milana is grateful for the magic AND the madness she's experienced. Her roots are entangled with mental illness and taking on caregiving roles -- something she has come to realize is not unique to her; rather, it seems to be common on several levels among others, especially the high-functioning women who from the outside looking in seem to have it all together. Madness To Magic brings to listeners stories of real world encounters with what we all experience and yet feel shamed to keep silent. Embracing ALL of us is key to tapping into our own power to make all things possible. Special thanks to the creators of the beautiful instrumental you hear during this podcast - Philippa Dowding & Allister Thompson - Original song “Sarah Tiptoes” from their album BIRCHES. Also love to the guy who's the master behind this podcast's production and audio engineering -- Joseph Dean Edwards.

Warning: This episode is a bit of a RANT. It’s my own melting pot of everything from feeling enraged, sadness, disgust, hysterical: So many feelings swirling within me – Madness within due to the madness of our circumstances. . We’ve always been a screwed up society. Humans are flawed. But we seem to have come to a point that we’ve embraced a notion that we can only change ourselves – which I believe – but we’ve taken it to a misunderstood level of “I’m only going to do what’s good for me,” with no regard to consequences or our impact to anyone else around. THAT is not self-care. It’s being selfish to a level that may cause harm to ourselves and to others. . Yes! Put your oxygen mask on first, take care of you, BUT not to the detriment of everyone and everything else outside of you. . Hoping we learn some lessons during this challenging time, and that we can be the best of who we can be, especially during the rest of this Mental Health Awareness Month. --------------------------- A storyteller at heart who built a career in writing, media & marketing, Paolina Milana is grateful for the magic AND the madness she's experienced. Her roots are entangled with mental illness and taking on caregiving roles -- something she has come to realize is not unique to her; rather, it seems to be common on several levels among others, especially the high-functioning women who from the outside looking in seem to have it all together. Madness To Magic brings to listeners stories of real world encounters with what we all experience and yet feel shamed to keep silent. Embracing ALL of us is key to tapping into our own power to make all things possible. Special thanks to the creators of the beautiful instrumental you hear during this podcast - Philippa Dowding & Allister Thompson - Original song “Sarah Tiptoes” from their album BIRCHES. Also love to the guy who's the master behind this podcast's production and audio engineering -- Joseph Dean Edwards.

This podcast is with someone I'm blessed to call my friend: Thom Brodeur. He's a self-made man, he's a caregiver, he's an entrepreneur who has risen to the ranks of corporate CEO and now is head of his own beauty and fashion empire. He is both "Beauty Boss" and "Mister Congeniality" and he is a prime example of someone who has always gotten it done and taken care of everyone else in the process, except himself. In this episode, you'll hear from Thom about his trials and triumphs and how one person who is and always has been "the strongest among us" finally reached his breaking point of madness and how he's learning to find the magic within. As Thom shared his biggest lesson: "While you are loving through your life -- the work that you do, the people that you're with, the experiences that you're privileged to have -- don't forget yourself in the process. I spent a lifetime of loving and caring for other people, places and things to my own detriment. I'm finally awake and recognize that there is a reason why on an airplane they ask you to secure your own oxygen mask first, 'cause you're really a worthless pile to the little kid next to you, the old lady next to you or the able-bodied person next to you, if you're not breathing oxygen yourself. So don't forget yourself. Don't lose yourself in the will to achieve. Don't lose yourself in the want to be the best husband, wife, brothers, sisters, son, daughter, father, mother. Don't forget who you are. And don't forget to take some time to appreciate that. Don't forget to take time to ask other people to help you do better when you need it. You'll be more worthwhile and more valuable to anybody else or anything else that you apply yourself to. And that's been a huge lesson. I know it sounds so cliche and we always say it, but I'm living it now." This is such a powerful episode, full of wisdom about failure and resiliency and selfcare. I hope it speaks to you and helps you find the magic within whatever madness you're in at the moment. --------------------------- A storyteller at heart who built a career in writing, media & marketing, Paolina Milana is grateful for the magic AND the madness she's experienced. Her roots are entangled with mental illness and taking on caregiving roles -- something she has come to realize is not unique to her; rather, it seems to be common on several levels among others, especially the high-functioning women who from the outside looking in seem to have it all together. Madness To Magic brings to listeners stories of real world encounters with what we all experience and yet feel shamed to keep silent. Embracing ALL of us is key to tapping into our own power to make all things possible. Special thanks to the creators of the beautiful instrumental you hear during this podcast - Philippa Dowding & Allister Thompson - Original song “Sarah Tiptoes” from their album BIRCHES. Also love to the guy who's the master behind this podcast's production and audio engineering -- Joseph Dean Edwards.

The very thing I preach about in this podcast - CAREGIVING - is the very thing I wasn’t doing -- for myself. It's why I said "fuck it" to posting a Christmas episode: I just needed a time out. Something's been a bit "off" for a while with me. I only just realized what it was; hence, the reason for this episode. With all that's going on in the world, this time I find myself talking about dealing with grief and "getting over it" (three of my least favorite words). My little sister Viny's death (her 6-year anniversary is January 17), and I share how she's a great reminder that all we have is THIS MOMENT. So as someone once said: Get busy living or get busy dying. I then wonder what exactly "getting busy" means, and how we never know where or when our "divine intervention" or "lifelines" - the very people or things we may need - will cross our paths. Just as we never know when WE might actually BE that lifeline for someone else. This episode to kick of the new year and 2020 the next decade speaks to remembering who you are, and knowing that being who you are is all that we need to be. Trying to be something you think you’re supposed to be or something other than who or where you are – THAT is when we fail. Wishing you your best year yet! --------------------------- A storyteller at heart who built a career in writing, media & marketing, Paolina Milana is grateful for the magic AND the madness she's experienced. Her roots are entangled with mental illness and taking on caregiving roles -- something she has come to realize is not unique to her; rather, it seems to be common on several levels among others, especially the high-functioning women who from the outside looking in seem to have it all together. Madness To Magic brings to listeners stories of real world encounters with what we all experience and yet feel shamed to keep silent. Embracing ALL of us is key to tapping into our own power to make all things possible. Special thanks to the creators of the beautiful instrumental you hear during this podcast - Philippa Dowding & Allister Thompson - Original song “Sarah Tiptoes” from their album BIRCHES. Also love to the guy who's the master behind this podcast's production and audio engineering -- Joseph Dean Edwards.

This episode of my podcast is so fitting for Thanksgiving week. My crazy soul sister Sylvia, one of my dearest firends, shares her story of having grown up in a dysfunctional family, surrounded by madness, and the syncronicities and commonalitles and plain old divine intervention that has come into play throughout her life. This really is about loving crazy and giving thanks for both the madness and the magic that's part of all our lives. As Sylvia says, "...just sharing with one other person who completely understands is so powerful." And I think you'll agree when listening to Sylvia's story that SHE is powerful. We all have a choice: To take whatever happened to us in the past and allow it to continue to screw with us and drive our futures OR to take it and to use it to power our way to where we want and deserve to be. Some of Sylvia's biggest life lessons are that we are NOT alone and in being open to the extent we can, saying things out loud, and speaking our truth is healing in and of itself… During this Thanksgiving season, I am so grateful to have connected with my soul sista Sylvia. I know you will love her, too. If this episode hits home with you, be sure to comment and share with others. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! --------------------------- A storyteller at heart who built a career in writing, media & marketing, Paolina Milana is grateful for the magic AND the madness she's experienced. Her roots are entangled with mental illness and taking on caregiving roles -- something she has come to realize is not unique to her; rather, it seems to be common on several levels among others, especially the high-functioning women who from the outside looking in seem to have it all together. Madness To Magic brings to listeners stories of real world encounters with what we all experience and yet feel shamed to keep silent. Embracing ALL of us is key to tapping into our own power to make all things possible. Special thanks to the creators of the beautiful instrumental you hear during this podcast - Philippa Dowding & Allister Thompson - Original song “Sarah Tiptoes” from their album BIRCHES. Also love to the guy who's the master behind this podcast's production and audio engineering -- Joseph Dean Edwards.

This episode so speaks to Mental Illness Awareness Week. I interview Patty, a soul sister, who, like me, has experienced three different versions of mental illness: Her mom, her sister, and herself. Patty and I talk about mental illness stigma and shame and family dysfunction. We also get very personal with stories of our own bunny holes and what it really means to be resilient and selfish. We share similar feelings of what it's like to be a strong independent caregiver and to fight the fears that come with admitting we all need a little bit of help sometimes. As Patty explained, "I came to realize that, you know, it wasn't my crap. It was just realizing how to do self-care and realizing to look out for myself and realizing that my sister's problems were not my problems and that my mother's problems were not my problems, That was hard and it still is hard because you want to be there for your family members. But at that point, when I was in my own depression, I just couldn't do it. I didn't even tell anybody what was going on with me. You don't want to imagine yourself being there. And I think that was the other thing is that fear of, 'Oh God, is this going to happen to me? Do I have a mental illness? I think I always knew I wasn't, but it's always still there.'" If this episode rings true for you, leave us a comment below and share your story. --------------- A storyteller at heart who built a career in writing, media & marketing, Paolina Milana is grateful for the magic AND the madness she's experienced. Her roots are entangled with mental illness and taking on caregiving roles -- something she has come to realize is not unique to her; rather, it seems to be common on several levels among others, especially the high-functioning women who from the outside looking in seem to have it all together. Madness To Magic brings to listeners stories of real world encounters with what we all experience and yet feel shamed to keep silent. Embracing ALL of us is key to tapping into our own power to make all things possible. Special thanks to the creators of the beautiful instrumental you hear during this podcast - Philippa Dowding & Allister Thompson - Original song “Sarah Tiptoes” from their album BIRCHES. Also love to the guy who's the master behind this podcast's production and audio engineering -- Joseph Dean Edwards.

Wow. This podcast – with me interviewing my beloved shrink (licensed professional clinical counselor Lynn Drost) whom I had seen for well over a decade – had me BOTH tongue-tied and unable to stop talking! This woman saved my life. The fear I had in spilling my secrets to her were two-fold: To do so meant to me that I, too, was “nuts” or had the mental illness genes; and I thought I was supposed to be the strong one to take care of it all, so to talk to a shrink meant I couldn’t handle it all on my own. Lynn’s response further underscores how incredible she is: "Anybody who walks in my door has a lot of strength. That’s not an easy thing to do. We don’t like to expose who we really are. We like to keep up the game, the façade that we’re powerful, cool and strong. There's a certain stigma attached to any mental illness - even if you need help with the grieving process - we don’t want to reach out and ask for help. But by exposing who we are, that allows our hearts to touch, for us to really know one another, and know we’re not be alone in the world." I am so grateful to have crossed paths with Lynn. She gave me back my life and taught me how to find the power I always had within. She helped me believe that I was enough. I wish for everyone struggling that they find their own Lynn. If in the suburbs of Chicago, here’s her info: Lynn Drost, licensed professional clinical counselor, Arlington Heights, IL - (847) 981-0860. Share below your comments or your own story. I'd love to hear from you. --------------------- A storyteller at heart who built a career in writing, media & marketing, Paolina Milana is grateful for the magic AND the madness she's experienced. Her roots are entangled with mental illness and taking on caregiving roles -- something she has come to realize is not unique to her; rather, it seems to be common on several levels among others, especially the high-functioning women who from the outside looking in seem to have it all together. Madness To Magic brings to listeners stories of real world encounters with what we all experience and yet feel shamed to keep silent. Embracing ALL of us is key to tapping into our own power to make all things possible. Special thanks to the creators of the beautiful instrumental you hear during this podcast - Philippa Dowding & Allister Thompson - Original song “Sarah Tiptoes” from their album BIRCHES. Also love to the guy who's the master behind this podcast's production and audio engineering -- Joseph Dean Edwards.