rachelstarlive

05/15/2026

Anasognosia- unable to recognize you are sick (Via “Out of Mind Out of Sight”)

04/27/2026

Headlines of Horror: Schizophrenia Portrayals in News Media

“Paranoid schizophrenic admits to attacking dog walker.” When we watch a horror movie, we know the “madman” on screen is a work of fiction. But when the nightly news leads with a diagnosis to explain a tragedy, the fear it creates is very real — and often permanent.

Why does the media lead with schizophrenia only when the story involves violence, yet remain silent when it comes to stories of recovery, hope, and humanity?

In this hard-hitting episode, host Rachel Star Withers (who lives with schizophrenia) and co-host Gabe Howard explore the Lead with Fear phenomenon — the dangerous journalistic trend of linking a diagnosis to a crime before the facts are even in — and why schizophrenia seems to have the worst PR team in the world.

Later in the show, we sit down with two media heavyweights who are using their platforms to overhaul how the world views mental health. Leading the way is Janet Yang, an Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning producer and former President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Consistently named one of the 50 most powerful women in Hollywood, Janet brings a massive industry footprint to the conversation on authentic representation.

She is joined by Frank Kosa, an Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker with an extensive career crafting narratives for National Geographic, the History Channel, and A&E. Together, these industry titans explain why the media relies on dangerous tropes and how they are reclaiming the narrative with their series, “Brain Stories.”

Listener Take-A-Ways:
-why “paranoid schizophrenia” is an obsolete clinical term that journalists refuse to let go of
-the startling statistic that fewer than 20% of news stories about schizophrenia include themes of recovery
-practical ways you can hold news outlets accountable and promote stories of hope

It’s time to stop letting clickbait define a diagnosis. Tune in to learn how we can start telling the whole story.

“Real life is many times scarier than horror movies. When people see schizophrenia portrayed on the news and they feel scared, they believe that that thing is 100% verified to be legitimately scary.” ~Rachel Star Withers, Host
Healthline PsychCentral.com Brain Stories Podcast

Beyond clickbait: Podcast episode explores how sensationalized news fuels schizophrenia stigma. Featuring Janet Yang as a featured guest.

03/23/2026

What Do I Say? Communication Strategies for Schizophrenia

“How do I talk to my loved one?” It is the most frequent question the show receives. In this episode, host Rachel Star Withers (who lives with schizophrenia) and co-host Gabe Howard dive deep into the nuances of communication, moving away from reactionary “crisis mode” toward intentional, empathetic connection. They explore why validating emotions and feelings — rather than schizophrenia symptoms — is the key to building trust and how to ask for permission before broaching difficult topics.

Later in the show, Gail Simmons, culinary expert and judge on Bravo ’s Top Chef, joins the conversation to share her personal story. Gail opens up about her brother’s schizophrenia diagnosis and how her family used the universal language of food and the dinner table to maintain their bond during challenging years.

Listeners will learn:
-how to acknowledge someone’s fear without confirming their delusions
-why caregivers must prioritize their own mental health and boundaries to be effective supports
-lessons from Gail Simmons on using hobbies, like cooking or trail running, to bridge the gap when words aren’t enough

Whether you are a caregiver, a friend, or living with a diagnosis yourself, this episode offers a roadmap for turning difficult conversations into productive discussions through patience and perseverance.

Special thanks to Cobenfy Connections for connecting us with Gail Simmons of Top Chef . Cobenfy is a sponsor of this podcast and we appreciate them for their partnership and support.
https://psychcentral.com/blog/is/podcast-what-do-i-say-communication-strategies-for-schizophrenia Healthline PsychCentral.com

Featuring Bravo and Food Network TV personality, Gail Simmons, on this podcast episode of Inside Schizophrenia. Listen Now!

03/19/2026

Connected by Schizophrenia
Three mental health advocates speak with Healthline about stigma, misconceptions, and successes of living with schizophrenia.

Always lovely to be featured along side Schizophrenic NYC and Kody Green

What’s one small action people can take to help people living with schizophrenia?

Rachel: We’re “normal,” so just treat us that way.

I’m really good at telling people I have schizophrenia. In whatever way you tell someone something, your emotions when you tell them will determine how they react. If I’m nervous or freaked out about it, they’ll act nervous and freaked out in return.

I just say it very casually: “Oh yeah, by the way, I have schizophrenia. It’s a mental disorder.” When I rattle it off like that, people usually respond calmly with, “Oh, OK.” It’s taken me a long time to get there.

In the past, when I didn’t have that confidence, people would freak out when I told them. So I think it’s important to learn how to respond to things like that.

Sharing a diagnosis is a lot like “coming out” — it’s intense, it’s hard, and there’s real fear that the person will see you differently. I’ve lost friends who no longer felt comfortable around me, and living in the Bible belt, I’ve even been told I was demon-possessed many times.

If someone tells you something like that, take a second before you react. Even well-meaning reactions like, “Oh my God, I had no idea!” can be difficult for someone who is just starting to talk about their diagnosis.

If someone tells you they have a condition like schizophrenia, you don’t have to say anything. You can just accept what they’re saying. If they want to tell you more, they will; otherwise, just appreciate that they wanted you to know.
https://www.healthline.com/health/schizophrenia/connected-by-schizophrenia Healthline

Three advocates share the reality of living with schizophrenia, from the power of support systems to overcoming stigma and thriving on their own terms.

03/17/2026

Expressing Your Schizophrenia Journey
Living with schizophrenia is traumatic — full stop. Hallucinations, delusions, hospitalizations, lost relationships, and stigma can fracture how you see yourself and the world. But how do you process all of that without being labeled dangerous, unstable, or misunderstood?

In this episode of “Inside Schizophrenia,” Rachel Star Withers (who lives with schizophrenia) and cohost Gabe Howard explore practical, safe ways to express your schizophrenia journey — without needing to be an artist, writer, or performer. From journaling (even if you hate it) to movement, storytelling, and simple word exercises, they break down how expression can support emotional regulation, restore personal agency, and help organize traumatic experiences.

Listeners will learn:

-why you don’t need artistic talent to benefit from expressive outlets
-how storytelling helps organize traumatic memories into something manageable
-what caregivers and loved ones should know about encouraging safe expression

Later, Rachel is joined by singer, songwriter, and poet Susan Wojnar, who shares her powerful lived experience with late-onset schizophrenia and how creativity both challenged and supported her recovery. Susan discusses hearing voices within music, reclaiming her guitar from psychosis, and why sharing her story through poetry helped her — and others — feel less alone. Susan’s new book, “White Darkness: Poetic Tales of the Schizophrenic Experience,” is available now.

This episode isn’t about creating masterpieces. It’s about finding your way to release what you’ve been carrying and take control of your narrative.

https://psychcentral.com/blog/is/is-podcast-expressing-your-schizophrenia-journey?fbclid=IwY2xjawQmaS5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeIZUaESFwd44qdjjbyyY0pSB4B39loFmHpSAsiaICNh4L0MVHEjLuXW5nhpM_aem_SLau_7xuwuMr67wCtPqZqw Healthline PsychCentral.com

Discussing healthy ways to express schizophrenia, process trauma, and heal is discussed on this podcast episode featuring Rachel Star Withers

02/16/2026

Michelle Hammer and Rachel Star have a candid interview about living with Schizophrenia and just plain living. With the wonderful Schizophrenic NYC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsG_TObE9tE

Michelle Hammer and Rachel Star have a candid interview about living with Schizophrenia and just plain living. 00:00 INTRO00:14 INTRO TO RACHEL STAR LIVE00:4...

01/26/2026

Redefining Recovery in Schizophrenia
For decades, the narrative surrounding schizophrenia has focused almost exclusively on controlling symptoms. But with no cure, can someone actually get better? Recovery in the context of schizophrenia isn’t about the absence of symptoms. It’s a deeply personal process — one that centers on restoring hope, self-determination, and a meaningful life, even when hallucinations, delusions, and setbacks continue to exist.

In this episode, host Rachel Star Withers, who lives openly with schizophrenia, and co-host Gabe Howard explore what recovery really means for people with serious mental illness. From clinical symptom remission and functional abilities to redefining purpose and identity, they unpack how recovery can look — and why it rarely fits the “back to normal” expectation held by loved ones and society.

Later in the episode, Dr. Mark Ragins, who is a pioneer and leading voice in person-centered, recovery-based psychiatry, joins the conversation. He shares insights from decades of working with some of the most underserved and difficult-to-engage individuals, introduces practical frameworks like the psychosis triangle, and challenges illness-centered models of care.

Listener takeaways

-why people — not illness — should be at the center of treatment
-how recovery can include setbacks and still be real progress
-how the psychosis triangle explains both breakdown and healing
-how relationships can stabilize psychosis even when symptoms persist
Listen now as this episode challenges outdated ideas of recovery, validating lived experience and showing how a meaningful life is possible with schizophrenia, symptoms and all.

https://psychcentral.com/blog/is/podcast-redefining-recovery-in-schizophrenia Healthline PsychCentral.com

Recovery with schizophrenia isn’t a cure — it’s about reclaiming your life. All this -- and more -- discussed on this podcast episode.

01/03/2026

Early Indicators of Schizophrenia
From shadow people to slipping grades, from forgotten appointments to unexplained sensory sensitivity, this episode pulls back the curtain on the earliest—and most misunderstood—phase of schizophrenia.

Most people imagine schizophrenia beginning with dramatic hallucinations or sudden breaks from reality—but the truth is far more subtle, far more complicated, and far easier to miss. In this special featured episode from Inside Schizophrenia, host Rachel Star Withers, who lives openly with schizophrenia, joins co-host Gabe Howard to unpack the quiet red flags that often go unnoticed for months—or even years.

You’ll hear how early symptoms differ across children, teens, and adults, why up to 80% of people with schizophrenia don’t realize they’re experiencing warning signs, and how everyday stressors can mask the earliest hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Carlos Larrauri, who also lives with schizophrenia, joins the conversation to explain what current research is uncovering about prodromal stages and early detection efforts.

https://psychcentral.com/blog/is-podcast-early-indicators-of-schizophrenia PsychCentral.com Healthline

The subtle early signs of schizophrenia revealed—long before psychosis begins is explored on this podcast episode of Inside Mental Health

12/23/2025

Go through a Psychiatric Evaluation with me
Many people manage symptoms of serious mental illness but hesitate to seek help. Fear, embarrassment, and uncertainty about what actually happens during a psychological assessment can keep someone from taking that crucial first step.

In this episode, host Rachel Star Withers (who lives with schizophrenia) undergoes an initial psych evaluation with psychologist Dr. Aaron Brinen to show you exactly what the process looks like for someone experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia. Their conversation demystifies the assessment, removes fear from the unknown, and helps you understand what professionals are really looking for.

Dr. Aaron P. Brinen, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist in private practice who uses evidence-based treatments to support people living with serious mental health conditions. He is the co-developer of Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy (CT-R) and trains clinicians worldwide. Dr. Brinen is also the author of the new book Living Well With Psychosis.

https://psychcentral.com/blog/is/is-podcast-inside-your-first-psych-evaluation-for-schizophrenia PsychCentral.com Healthline Gabe Howard

Learn how a psychological assessment for schizophrenia actually works on this podcast episode

12/14/2025

When You Don’t Know You’re Sick: Understanding Anosognosia

What if you were certain you were perfectly healthy — but everyone around you insisted you had schizophrenia? This may not be denial; it could be anosognosia— a neurological symptom that prevents people from recognizing they have a mental illness.

In this special bonus episode, host Rachel Star Withers, who lives with schizophrenia, sits down with Dr. Xavier Amador, world-renowned psychologist and founder of the LEAP Institute, to unravel one of the most misunderstood symptoms in psychiatry.

Dr. Amador, author of the bestselling book “I Am Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help!,” shares the science behind anosognosia, why logic and education often fail, and how empathy and connection can bridge the gap between awareness and treatment. Drawing from his own family’s experience, Dr. Amador introduces the LEAP method (Listen, Empathize, Agree, Partner) — a revolutionary communication strategy proven to help loved ones accept treatment, even when they don’t believe they’re ill.

Listen and learn:

The brain science behind why some people can’t recognize their own illness
How to tell the difference between denial and anosognosia
Why love and empathy — not confrontation — are the keys to connection
Practical steps for families to rebuild trust and encourage treatment
This episode offers understanding, hope, and tools for anyone supporting a loved one living with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or other serious mental illnesses.

https://psychcentral.com/blog/is/is-podcast-when-you-dont-know-youre-sick-understanding-anosognosia PsychCentral.com Healthline

What is lack of insight? When schizophrenia hides in plain sight is explored on this podcast episode featuring Rachel Star Withers