To Write Love on Her Arms

In the final episode of season four and to close out the Another Day With You campaign, we talk to someone who attempted suicide at the age of 27 and went on to write a book inspired by his own experience. That person is author Bill Konigsberg and that book is The Bridge. In our conversation, you’ll hear about Bill’s chronic, untreated depression which led to an attempt, and how writing the book became a way to dispel the lies his brain was telling him while encouraging readers to realize how valuable and interwoven their lives truly are.

Along with The Bridge, Bill is the author of five young-adult novels, which have won awards including the Stonewall Book Award, the Sid Fleischman Award for Humor, and the Lambda Literary Award. He currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with his husband, Chuck, and their two Labradoodles, Mabel and Buford—who you might hear barking in the background during the interview.

Show Notes (Links of ours and guests):

Download a transcript of this episode at twloha.com/podcast.

Follow TWLOHA on social media at:

twitter.com/TWLOHA

instagram.com/twloha/

facebook.com/towriteloveonherarms/

Visit our FIND HELP page of mental health resources at twloha.com/find-help/.

Get connected for free, 24/7 to a trained crisis counselor via Crisis Text Line by texting TWLOHA to 741741.

Connect with our team by emailing [email protected].

Learn more about the podcast and previous episodes at twloha.com/podcast.

Read Bill’s words on the TWLOHA at twloha.com/blog/stay-another-day/.

Purchase The Bridge by going to store.twloha.com and typing in The Bridge in the search bar.

Learn more about and connect with author Bill Konigsberg at billkonigsberg.com/about/.

Visit store.twloha.com/ to purchase merchandise that supports TWLOHA’s mission.

Download The Hopeful, a free daily-use self-care app from TWLOHA, at twloha.com/thehopeful/.

Credits:

This episode of the TWLOHA podcast was hosted by Chad Moses and produced by Rebecca Ebert. Music assistance was provided by James Likeness and Ben Tichenor.

Even before social media and influencers, celebrity culture has permeated our senses through magazines, billboards, advertisements, TV shows, and movies. We’re told what is and isn’t attractive or desired when it comes to the way we look on the outside. And now, with technology at our fingertips, with filters on nearly every image our eyes take in, and with products and routines that will supposedly transform us into the individual we’re admiring, it’s no wonder so many of us deal with dysmorphic thinking when it comes to our bodies.

In addition to body dysmorphia, there’s also body positivity and more recently, body neutrality. To explore all three of those things and more, we’re joined by Alex Jones and Auslyn James.

Alex Jones (he/him) is an Ohio native and has been a designer at TWLOHA for seven years and counting. Alex grew up doodling on any scrap of paper that came his way and still enjoys creative pursuits like photography, illustration, and lettering. When he’s not slinging designs at work or at home, he can often be found at the nearest theater watching the latest Oscar winners or nominees or playing games like “Up and Down the River” with friends.

Auslyn James (she/her), TWLOHA’s Director of People Operations, has spent a number of years honing her craft and is a Senior Certified Professional in Human Resources as well as Certified in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. When she isn’t doing all things HR, she can be found traveling, walking along the beach, hanging with friends, or video-chatting with her family. Auslyn is originally from the small island of Antigua but has spent the majority of her life living in NY before moving to Central Florida seven years ago.

Show Notes (Links of ours and guests):

Download a transcript of this episode at twloha.com/podcast.

Follow TWLOHA on social media at:

twitter.com/TWLOHA

instagram.com/twloha/

facebook.com/towriteloveonherarms/

Visit our FIND HELP page of mental health resources at twloha.com/find-help/.

Get connected for free, 24/7 to a trained crisis counselor via Crisis Text Line by texting TWLOHA to 741741.

Connect with our team by emailing [email protected].

Learn more about the podcast and previous episodes at twloha.com/podcast.

Download TWLOHA’s daily-use self-care app, The Hopeful, at twloha.com/thehopeful/.

To read the blog by Claire Biggs mentioned in the episode, go to https://twloha.com/blog/demi-lovato-is-only-human-recovery-relapse-and-response/.

Credits:

This episode of the TWLOHA podcast was hosted by Chad Moses and produced by Rebecca Ebert. Music assistance was provided by James Likeness and Ben Tichenor.

The term “therapy desert” is relatively new. Or at least, many people are learning about it for the first time. Because while talking about and even going to therapy has become way less stigmatized over the course of the last three years, there are still places without the resources, necessary infrastructure (like internet access and public transportation), and even the language to be able to access it. Therapy costs money, a lot of money, but how can you address the financial barrier when there isn’t even a counselor within a 60-mile radius of where you live? And to put this into a number perspective: There are currently 570 counties in the US without psychologists, psychiatrists, or counselors. That’s 17% of counties in the country.

To assist us in answering some questions about therapy deserts like: What are they? Where are they? And what can we do to address them? We’re joined by two wonderful folks that are bringing professional and personal experience to the mic.

Our first guest is JoAnn or “Jodi” Davis, who is an MS, LPC, and NCC that currently works at a comprehensive homelessness program in Texas. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Texas A&M University and a Master of Science in Counseling from the University of North Texas. When not providing therapy or doing advocacy work, Jodi often volunteers at local therapeutic horsemanship programs. Jodi's favorite hobbies include drinking way too much coffee, cruising down backroads, and taking selfies with various dogs and farm animals.

And our second guest is no stranger to this podcast. Bianca Mujica is TWLOHA’s Community Care Coordinator, which means her work focuses on finding inclusive and creative ways to connect with supporters online. She is a Mexican-American queer woman from Texas with a background in journalism and a love for language. Outside of work, she can be found eating lots of pasta, cuddling with her dog, and creating colorful pieces of art.

Show Notes (Links of ours and guests):

Download a transcript of this episode at twloha.com/podcast.

Follow TWLOHA on social media at:

twitter.com/TWLOHA

instagram.com/twloha/

facebook.com/towriteloveonherarms/

Visit our FIND HELP page of mental health resources at twloha.com/find-help/.

Get connected for free, 24/7 to a trained crisis counselor via Crisis Text Line by texting TWLOHA to 741741.

Connect with our team by emailing [email protected].

Learn more about the podcast and previous episodes at twloha.com/podcast.

Download TWLOHA’s daily-use self-care app, The Hopeful, at twloha.com/thehopeful/.

To read blogs penned by JoAnn Davis, go to https://twloha.com/blog/author/joann-davis/

To read blogs penned by Bianca Mujica, go to https://twloha.com/blog/author/bianca-mujica/.

Credits:

This episode of the TWLOHA podcast was hosted by Chad Moses and produced by Rebecca Ebert. Music assistance was provided by James Likeness and Ben Tichenor.

Mental Health Month is upon us and we’re in the midst of our Show Up For Yourself campaign which focuses on finding 20 minutes a day to care for things that relate to your heart, mind, body, and community. This can look like gentle movement, calling a friend, journaling, and deep breathing. While we’re putting an emphasis on small, accessible, and tangible ways that we can all show up for ourselves, there’s obviously a bigger avenue for us, if we have the resources, to tend to our mental well-being: Therapy.

So that’s what we’re talking about today. But this isn’t just about the rather cliche vision we all have when we think about therapy. A shrink sitting upright in a chair taking notes across from their patient who’s sharing their thoughts. Of course, there’s great value to talk therapy, but there are more options. And that’s a good thing because therapy is not one-size-fits-all. We all have varying experiences, varying abilities, and varying needs, so naturally the therapy that suits us best might look different than what we are familiar with and what TV shows and films project out into the world.

In today’s episode, we have the honor of exploring alternative therapy options, like Art Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy in particular, with the guidance of the wonderful and creative Alyse Ruriani.

Alyse Ruriani (she/they) is a queer femme art therapist, licensed professional counselor, illustrator, and person with lived experience. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and a Masters in Art Therapy and Counseling. Alyse’s work aims to communicate information, provide tangible tools, and validate the human experience through engaging illustrations and designs. They live in a colorful apartment in Chicago with their black cat/co-therapist Boo. When Alyse is not working, you can likely find her swimming in some body of water, making art with friends, or hyper fixating on some new ideas.

Show Notes (Links of ours and guests):

Download a transcript of this episode at twloha.com/podcast.

Follow TWLOHA on social media at:

twitter.com/TWLOHA

instagram.com/twloha/

facebook.com/towriteloveonherarms/

Visit our FIND HELP page of mental health resources at twloha.com/find-help/.

Get connected for free, 24/7 to a trained crisis counselor via Crisis Text Line by texting TWLOHA to 741741.

Connect with our team by emailing [email protected].

Learn more about the podcast and previous episodes at twloha.com/podcast.

Download TWLOHA’s daily-use self-care app, The Hopeful, at twloha.com/thehopeful/.

Follow Alyse Ruriani on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/alyseruriani/.

Keep tabs on Alyse by visiting https://alyseruriani.com/.

Purchase a copy of The Big Feelings Survival Guide at https://store.twloha.com/collections/accessories/books-and-journals.

Listen to “Look Up” by Paramore by going to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By8xCnMkAQM.

Credits:

This episode of the TWLOHA podcast was hosted by Chad Moses and produced by Rebecca Ebert. Music assistance was provided by James Likeness and Ben Tichenor.

Maybe you look forward to the solitude that comes after a long day of work or spending the weekends in nature with your dog. Maybe you find energy and comfort in game nights with friends or love the opportunity to meet new people. Or, perhaps you find yourself best suited somewhere in the middle—reading books in the company of a loved one. But how do those varying preferences, those gages for recharging and feeling restored and rejuvenated, affect our mental health? Are they connected? Do they share the same space? We’re curious to find out, so on this episode, we’re talking about introversion and extroversion, and how they tie into the mental well-being of a person. To help us, we’re joined by Jess McAuley (introvert) and Bianca Mujica (extrovert).

Jess McAuley an INFP, Virgo, and a new mom. She is a Niagara, Ontario-based arts worker and performer, as well as co-host of "The Introvert's Guide To.." podcast. While on maternity leave (and when she has free time), Jess is developing her craft of writing and indulging in her infatuation with Tombow and Copic markers. Between all of this, it is uncertain if she will ever sleep again.

Bianca Mujica is TWLOHA's Community Care Coordinator, which means her work focuses on finding inclusive and creative ways to connect with supporters online. She is a Mexican-American queer woman from Texas with a background in journalism and a love for language. Outside of work, she can be found eating lots of pasta, cuddling with her dog, and creating colorful pieces of art.

Show Notes (Links of ours and guests):

Download a transcript of this episode at twloha.com/podcast.

Follow TWLOHA on social media at:

twitter.com/TWLOHA

instagram.com/twloha/

facebook.com/towriteloveonherarms/

Visit our FIND HELP page of mental health resources at twloha.com/find-help/.

Get connected for free, 24/7 to a trained crisis counselor via Crisis Text Line by texting TWLOHA to 741741.

Connect with our team by emailing [email protected].

Learn more about the podcast and previous episodes at twloha.com/podcast.

Download TWLOHA’s daily-use self-care app, The Hopeful, at twloha.com/thehopeful/.

Check out The Introverts Guide to Podcast by going to ​​https://introvertsguideto.com/.

Purchase “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” by Susan Cain at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/quiet-susan-cain/1101870221.

Credits:

This episode of the TWLOHA podcast was hosted by Chad Moses and produced by Rebecca Ebert. Music assistance was provided by James Likeness and Ben Tichenor.