Episodes

  • In Memoriam of JD Derbyshire, comedian, theatre-maker, innovator.

    In Memoriam of JD Derbyshire, comedian, theatre-maker, innovator.
    Oct 7 2025
    In Memoriam of the incredible JD Derbyshire, writer, comedian, mad activist, performer, playwright, theatre maker, director, inclusive educator and innovator.

    Tonight on ReThreading Madness we re-air JD Derbyshire talking with Bernadine about being mad and the need for individuals who live with mental health challenges to have agency in their lives and to consider coming out. And laughing - we laughed a lot. But one always did in the company of JD.

    “I don’t think we know much about the human brain and mental illness. The more I talk to other people; it seems like we all have are individual experiences with our moods and our thinking. Medication may be a part of that but we need to empower people to become aware of their emotional lives and thinking styles. Like this idea; Maybe it is possible to learn how you think and feel and know your limits and what happens when you get triggered and to still live a life taking calculated risks.”

    “There are just so many negative representations of people with mental illness in theatre and film and television, often written and performed by people who haven’t experienced mental illness. And these characters are almost always twisted or broken… In my experience and with a lot of MAD people I know, it is not like that at all. “ from Auburn Lane



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    1 hr
  • Meditation and Mindfulness with Alan Murdock & Impact of child sexual abuse survivors with Charlene Hellson

    Meditation and Mindfulness with Alan Murdock & Impact of child sexual abuse survivors with Charlene Hellson
    Oct 1 2025
    Meditation and Mindfulness with Alan Murdock & Impact of child sexual abuse survivors with Charlene Hellson

    Since 1992, Alan Murdock has immersed himself in Soto Zen practice, seeking the stillness and clarity meditation can bring. But as a survivor of child sexual abuse, Alan also knows that mindfulness isn’t always gentle—sometimes it can open the door to old wounds and deep discomfort.

    Today, Alan serves on the practice committee at the Cedar Rapids Zen Center in Iowa, while also working professionally as a creative consultant and founder of Murdock Media Production. In this conversation with Bernadine, he speaks candidly about the complicated relationship survivors may have with meditation. Together, they explore both the healing potential and the hidden risks of mindfulness when one’s sense of self has been fractured by trauma.

    Alan offers insight into how survivors can recognize when meditation is helping—and when it might be hurting—and shares practical guidance on what to do if negative responses arise.

    his is not just a conversation about meditation. It’s about navigating the fine line between healing and harm, and how survivors can approach mindfulness with both hope and caution.

    And then, Charlene Hellson is a proud Blackfoot who comes from the Siksika nation. Her grandfather was from the Kainai nation both of which are from the Blackfoot Confederacy in Southern Alberta. She currently lives on the west coast of Canada. Charlene has a background in the arts and is an actor, and writer who produces poem and short plays. Academically, she was trained in psychology and anthropology. She is currently working the College of Physicians and Surgeons as an Indigenous Patient Navigator. Charlene came to the program to chat about the impact on survivors of trauma when they are told that they are strong. Charlene gives us a good insight into how trauma operates in her life and inside of her, especially that which we are not conscious about. Dealing with the trauma helped her to understand not just herself but her mother as well. She described her trauma as a shawl of pain that was heavy, poisoning her, and then how taking it off lightened the load immensely.
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    1 hr
  • Mental Health and the Post-Secondary Experience with Angela Sterritt

    Mental Health and the Post-Secondary Experience with Angela Sterritt
    Sep 16 2025
    Mental Health and the Post – Secondary Student with Angela Sterritt

    A few weeks ago, Angela Sterrit, an award-winning investigative journalist, TV, radio, and podcast host, and national bestselling author from the Wilps ‘Wii K’aax of the Gitanmaax community (Gitxsan Nation on her dad’s side and from Bell Island, Newfoundland, on her maternal side) gave a keynote address on mental health and the post-secondary student. What she has to say is shocking. Not only is mental health a serious problem among post-secondary students a problem, it is such a known problem university install bars in windows of residences to stop students from jumping.

    Who is Angela: (from her website: https://angelasterritt.com/) She has “worked as a television, radio, and digital journalist at CBC for more than a decade. She also hosted the award-winning CBC original podcast Land Back. Her book Unbroken is part memoir and part investigation into the murders and disappearances of Indigenous women and girls. It became an instant national bestseller in May 2023. Unbroken was nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Awards, one of Canada’s oldest and most prestigious literary prizes. It was also nominated for the prestigious Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Award for Best Non-Fiction Book in Canada.” Angela announced her new book, Breakable, “will investigate how racism and colonialism cultivate harmful behaviors in men and how Indigenous men and communities are breaking cycles of unhealthy notions of masculinity.” Angela has won an Academy Awards (Canadian Screen Award) for Best Reporter of the Year in Canada, a national Radio Television Digital News Association award, an RTDNA award, along with being named in Vancouver Magazine’s Power 50 list of the city’s 50 most influential people. She is a motivation speaker who addresses issues such as “overcoming adversity, breaking stereotypes, and creating change and relationships in Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities”.
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    1 hr
  • Forrest Lang, Author of Angel Blue: A Song of Redemption talks about his journey through trauma

    Forrest Lang, Author of Angel Blue: A Song of Redemption talks about his journey through trauma
    Sep 2 2025
    Forrest Lang, Author of Angel Blue: A Song of Redemption, talks about his journey through trauma

    Trigger Warning: We talk about childhood trauma in this program. Please make sure you do what you need to to take care of yourself.

    Meet Forrest. With an artist’s hands and a life forged in resilience, Forrest Lang has lived a journey carved by trauma, tempered by addiction, and transformed through recovery. His path moves through child abuse, foster care, and homelessness to sobriety, service, and purpose. Today, he speaks not just for himself, but for every survivor searching for light in the dark—offering strength, truth, and the promise of healing.

    Forrest is a tattoo artist, father, and military veteran and resides in La Jolla, California. He is the author of Angel Blue: A Song of Redemption.

    Bernadine and Forrest virtually sat down and talked about trauma in the way only two trauma survivors can. From his website we grabbed this information and found that it was true for this program as well. "Forrest’s ability to connect with his audience stems from personal experiences. He understands the struggles and doubts that individuals face on their path to success, and he uses his own story as a source of inspiration. Through his engaging storytelling and relatable anecdotes, Forrest creates an atmosphere of trust and authenticity, allowing his audience to truly connect with his message. …

    Forrest covers a wide range of topics, including goal setting, overcoming adversity, vulnerability, and suicide prevention. … Forrest believes that true transformation occurs when individuals are equipped with the tools and mindset necessary to take control of their own destiny. Forrest is also the author of “Angel Blue, a Song of Redemption,” a memoir on overcoming trauma and success. His written works serve as a valuable resource for individuals seeking long-term guidance and inspiration."

    Join us.

    You can find his book on Amazon or on his website angelbluebook.com

    Music by Shari Ulrich and Siibii
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    1 hr
  • Heidi Little and Her Journey to Heart-based Learning and Education

    Heidi Little and Her Journey to Heart-based Learning and Education
    Aug 31 2025
    Heidi Little and Her Journey to Heart-based Learning and Education

    For 30 years Heidi Little hails out of Regina Saskatchewan before she moved to Mexico and then to Austin Texas. She has been teaching and using music to give people the sacred space to explore and decide who and what they are here for. Heidi has created The Center for Heart Based Education and The Center for Advancement in Social Emotional Learning. She has written 14 books on heart based education. Including the foundation of the Center for Advancement with it's 8 stacking modules offer tools and techniques that connect to the heart and inner guidance system we all have. According to Heidi, despite the ways in which we flounder trying to find ourselves, inside we know who and what we are AND when we are given safe, brave space to ‘come home to self’ we can find that for ourselves. Bernadine Heidi talk about single motherhood, dealing with terminal illness and finding your way out of that twice, find ourselves, participating in waterkeepers, Dr. Emoto’s work on how our intentions affect water and therefore ourselves. And she mentions things like soul house, source energy, plant medicine and other things that mostly went over my head. Come and listen as I try and keep up around navigating your own inner guidance systems to find what are your unique gifts, mission and purpose for being on the planet.

    Music by Shari Ulrich and Heidi Little
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    1 hr
  • Changing your Life with Improv and Speaking out about Therapy Abuse

    Changing your Life with Improv and Speaking out about Therapy Abuse
    Jul 29 2025
    Cass Freeman is an Improviser, Activist, Journalist and all-round funny person. She joins us to talk about the benefits of Improv theatre for our mental health. She teaches Improv and is setting up class starting in September specifically for folks with mental health challenges. She chats with Bernadine about what Improv is, why its important, and how it can help all of us overcome fear, embrace positivity and learn to inspire others. Classes are open to anyone who self-identifies as living with a mental health challenge and she does not require any disclosures.

    Then Shanice Docksin joins Bernadine for a very serious conversation about her experience with therapy abuse and exploitation. And while that is what we are going to talk about here, that is not the most important thing about Shanice. She is a leading Black businessewoman who has experienced her fair share of failures, challenges, and success. She transformed herself from a broken-home mentality to one of Oklahoma City’s very own published authors whose published works include "Unplugged". Shanice is also a public speaker, coach, and a mental health/domestic violence advocate. Shanice is one of those examples that tells us those who have been victimized by therapy abuse and exploitation are not chosen because they poor fragile, broken people.

    Music by Shari Ulrich, Kelly Clarkson, and Sons of Legions
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    1 hr
  • Courage to Come Back: Theresa Duggan’s Journey and Richard Lett chats about his Art

    Courage to Come Back: Theresa Duggan’s Journey and Richard Lett chats about his Art
    Jul 23 2025
    Courage to Come Back Winner in Mental Health: Theresa Duggan’s Journey
    From childhood trauma to becoming a beacon of hope for others, Theresa Duggan’s story is one of resilience and transformation. After surviving years of sexual abuse and a suicide attempt 12 years ago, she struggled with undiagnosed bipolar disorder for much of her life — so paralyzed by her condition she couldn’t even brush her teeth or leave the house. Everything began to shift when she was properly diagnosed. Theresa works in hospital psych wards, supporting others facing mental illness. As someone who has walked the same path, she builds trust quickly with clients, offering them something rare: true understanding. Theresa’s journey is a powerful example of how tragedy and healing can exist side by side — and how lived experience can become a lifeline for others. Although winning the award happened 15 years ago, she credits it with changing how she takes on the world.

    And Richard Lett/Comedian and Spoken Word Artist We are then joined by Richard Lett in an interview we did a couple months back – but really wanted to get his voice back out there. He talks about alcoholism and change and growth. He always brings his particular form of comedy and spoken word to whatever stage he is standing on.

    Music by Shari Ulrich and Omar Rudberg
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    1 hr
  • Off the Map (part 2)

    Off the Map (part 2)
    Jul 1 2025
    Off the Map 2

    In this episode of ReThreading Madness, Bernadine has the joy of talking to four more writers from Off the Map: Vancouver Writers with lived experience of mental health issues. Seema Shah was the powerhouse behind Off the Map. She along with Betsy Warland and Kate Bird compiled and edited 33 different authors to put together this anthology of stories and poems published by Bell Press. Seema is also one of the writers and she joins us today along Quin Martins, Sandra Yuen, and Merle Ginsburg to talk about what inspires them to write these pieces. Each one of them graces us with a reading of their work.

    Music by Shari Ulrich & Jake Banfield
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    1 hr