I'm with Crazy: A Love Story
Madness To Magic is a podcast about finding the magic no matter what madness may surround us.
Sun, April 20, 2025
(Ep 24) Finding Peace and Joy with Diane Bell
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. This episode of my podcast is with Diane Bell who is probably best known for her work in film as a Sundance award-winning screenwriter + director as well as the author of the bestselling guide to making an indie film, Shoot From the Heart. Diane started out living in Barcelona as a Yoga teacher cultivating practices of her mentor Vietnamese Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh. Her path has taken her to where she is today -- an entrepreneur mentoring others on breaking free from their own conditioning to create the life of their dreams. You can learn more about Diane here . Here are a few golden nuggets from this episode with Diane Bell. “We are surrounded by madness at the moment. It really does seem like these times have challenges that are quite unprecedented, I think, for a lot of us, really. And, you know, to me, this question of how we navigate through that? It always comes back to we've got to reclaim our power. We've got to come home to ourselves." "You can't create peace in the world or in your society until you have peace in yourself." "What seeds do I wanna water in me. The greatest resistance you can give to the madness is by focusing on the joy and focusing on the peace, focusing on what is working." "If we wanna create change to the madness, it can't be from a place of just resistance and anger." "It sounds so like, corny. I'm like, 'yoga changed my life', but it changed my life because until I started practicing yoga, I had no real personal power. I had no sense of integrity. If we go back to that thing that peace within in order to create peace around you, you have to have peace inside yourself.” “You never control the outcomes, you only control the intentions." "Most of life is in the liminal, is in the transition, and in the middle, in between one place and another. It's obviously where we live a lot of the time, but it's how we handle this that determines where we end up arriving. And in a way there's no arriving, it's just we're always in the liminal in a certain sense, right? I feel like our ability to just to decide what stories we want to tell about what is going on in that space is really important." "Have your North Star. It's really important to have a sense of where you want to go if you want to go anywhere, right? Like, what do I really desire for my life? Where do I desire to be? That is important. That's a good thing to have. But then to know that the journey, you know, the journey, it is really all about the journey. And the journe
Sat, March 29, 2025
(Ep. 23) The Secret to Getting Your Life Humming with Sheri Salata
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. This episode of my podcast is with transformational entrepreneur of The Support System and The Prosper Network Sheri Salata. As the last Executive Producer of The Oprah Show, Sheri’s been on her own journey learning to evolve in mind, body, spirit, business, and more, alongside other like-hearted and like-minded women. You can learn more and join in at SheriSalata.com . Here are just a few of the gems from this episode with Sheri Salata. "I think it’s big and could be a big epiphany for people. ‘You’re living the life of your desires.’ Yes. I’m gonna tell you, a lot of people listen to that and they say, no, I’m not. No I’m not. But you are, you are. Because this is what you’ve created. This is what you’ve created so far. You’re living your limiting beliefs. You’re living the way you practice your energy. You’re living what you believe is possible. Maybe you don’t take the time to do any dreaming or any real thinking about how my life could really grow and be better. You’re living your desires. And so, the good and the not so great… You’re in charge. When you hear that, you might say, number one, yes. There’s so many things in my life that I desired, that I’m living now, that I manifested. Yay. And there’s so much more for me to dream up and get to work on. Because at any given moment, we are living our desires.” “If you are of a certain age in this human life, you have to remember we weren’t trained by people who had access to what we have access to, to any all kinds of spiritual work and all kinds of growth work and therapy up the wazoo and cold plunge and sound baths. And we weren’t raised by people who had access to any of that. We were raised by people of the patriarchy who grew up very fear-based. And you got, you know, that you’re not the center of the universe. Money doesn’t grow on trees, like all that scarcity. So part of our work being of a certain age is we have to re-pattern. We have to retell those stories. We have to really work on that until it becomes automatic. Because that’s how we were trained. And we were trained like that for a long time. And we’ve been practicing those limiting beliefs for a long time. So that’s why…to consciously work on your money story…" “We have a capacity for happiness or joy. And I think most of us would be stunned at how low ours is. That we can just only take so much. Because things get flipped. Like, you know, when’s the other shoe gonna drop? When’s the bad stuff gonna happen? When you were a little girl
Mon, October 03, 2022
(Ep 22) Mental Illness in The Family: Author Marin Sardy Shares Insights
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.
Sun, October 03, 2021
(Ep 21) Self-love and Being Unapologetically Ourselves: Uga Carlini "Angeliena" Film Inspires
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.
Wed, August 25, 2021
(Ep 20) From the Inside Out: Mental Health & Writing Therapy with Jennie Nash
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.
Sun, April 11, 2021
(Ep 19) Caregiving for Mental Illness - SiriusXM DOCTOR RADIO SHOW
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.
Mon, May 18, 2020
(Ep 18)Mental Health Awareness Month: The Madness That's Making Us Not Who We Are Meant To Be
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.
Sat, February 29, 2020
(Ep 17) When the strongest fall apart: Learning to find yourself again
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 De
Fri, January 17, 2020
(Ep16)-Dealing with grief: Self-care and living your own life
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.
Sun, November 24, 2019
(Ep15)Thanksgiving: Celebrating Dysfunctional Families with Friends
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.
Wed, October 09, 2019
(Ep 14)Mental Illness Awareness Week: Resilience, Strength & Self-Care
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.
Mon, August 26, 2019
(Ep 13) Interview with My Therapist: Shattering Stigmas, Sharing Secrets
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.
Wed, July 31, 2019
(Ep 12) The Power of Place: Rockhaven Sanitarium and Wonder Women
Today's podcast is with "Wonder Woman" Joanna Westerholm Linkchorst. Joanna is the spirit behind the effort toward saving Rockhaven Sanitarium. Rockhaven is a place that was built in 1923 by a woman RN named Agnes Richards who found a better way to care for women with mild mental & nervous issues. Joanna, as founding member and president of the Friends of Rockhaven, has embodied the legends from this historical site and has become its living history. She shares with us a few stories of mental health treatement so ahead of its time: Rockhaven being one of the first facilities to give women, who often were put away for no reason, a homelike setting and dignified safe care. Rockhaven became known as a place for rest and rehabilitation for women suffering from overwork and exhaustion. Rockhaven is a place whose spirit still provide that quiet and respite. And thanks to Joanna and her teams' efforts, its place in history will still be known for generations to come. The Power of Place - this particular place - is what Joanna has been dedicating her life to for the past several years. She tells stories of the famous women who found peace here. Joanna also shares her own descent into madnesss with anxiety and depression, and explains how she has been able to triumph with tools and learned best practices. This history buff and storyteller personifies the very essence of a caregiver. I know you'll love her and what she has to say in this great homage to caring for the caregivers. Let us know what you think by posting in the comments. #friendsofrockhaven #saverockhaven www.friendsofrockhaven.org --------------------- 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.
Sun, June 30, 2019
(Ep11) You Are Enough: A Mother Daughter Relationship Podcast
“Sometimes people with the issue don’t know they have the issue, so how are you supposed to get somebody help who doesn’t think they need it?” - Great insight from Jeanne, the daughter in this mother-daughter special episode of my podcast. Jenny, her mom, is one of my first friends in life. We met back in grammar school. We've seen one another at our best and at our worst. This single mom and recent college graduate daughter are in many ways polar opposites. Lucky for us, they openly share their struggles, their triumphs, and their approaches to navigating this crazy thing we call life (and love). This mother daughter relationship is as unique from others as it is the same as others. I think you all will relate to what they have to say and how they say it. I want to thank Jenny and Jeanne both for letting us eavesdrop on their conversation about being in love with crazy -- Their story helps us to better ourselves. --------------------- 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.
Mon, June 24, 2019
(Ep10)Greatest caregiver of crazy: Remembering my Papa
This one’s all about a caregiver of crazy who is for me the single greatest male influence in my life - my Papà – Antonino Milana. Today’s the anniversary of his death - 29 years ago. I can’t believe he’s been gone that long. I was only 24 when he died unexpectedly. Not a day goes by that I don't think of him and all the life lessons he gave to me. Who has been your greatest influence? --------------- 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.
Sun, May 12, 2019
(Ep9) Mother's Day And Mental Illness: Missing Out On A Mom
Hello again! Thanks for joining me. With this being Mother’s Day, today’s podcast is all about moms. Or at least my mom. Mother’s Day is hard for me. The fact that it falls in the very same time frame as Mental Health Awareness month makes it even harder. Anne Lamott one of my favorite authors said it best in an article she once wrote, sharing her reasons on why she hates Mother’s Day. She wrote: “It celebrates the great lie about women: That those with children are more important than those without.” I’ve regretted, at times, not having had children – just as much as I’ve rejoiced that I don’t have children. I’ve felt “less than” other women because I don’t have children – just as much as I’ve felt more empowered than other women because I don’t have children. So as much as I agree with Anne Lamott, I also have come to disagree. Just depends on what I’m feeling in the moment – and I’ve evolved enough to know that I can feel both and it’s ok – it’s not a sign of a split personality disorder. LOL But part of why Mother’s Day is such a struggle for me is because I do feel robbed AND I feel as if my mom was robbed... If this episode resonates with you, let me know. I'd love to hear your story, too. 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.
Wed, April 10, 2019
(Ep 8) Celebrating National Siblings Day (sort of)
Yup. Today is, indeed, National Siblings Day. We're supposed to be honoring our brothers and sisters on this day. I'm paying homage to mine with this podcast. Sort of. Those of you who have siblings might understand why. Thanks for listening! And let me know if you have a story to tell and would like to share here. 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.
Tue, March 26, 2019
(Ep 7 Part 2)Siblings: Living & Loving Crazy
Thanks for coming back to hear part 2 of my conversation with my brother Ross. Today’s podcast is a continuation of the last episode. It’s been enlightening for me – and it’s dawned on me that this is really the first time my brother and I – NOT being in the thick of madness with our mom or our little sister – have actually sat down as siblings to chat about our experiences – those shared and those that are unique. One thing is for sure – Humor helped us cope and still plays a major role in our relationship. For me listening back to this unscripted and unedited recording, I’m learning lots and becoming aware of memories and misperceptions and each individuals’ way of looking at their circumstances. What a gift…for me, that’s been the magic in reliving some of our madness. I hope it means something for you, too. 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.
Tue, March 19, 2019
(Ep 7 Part 1)Siblings: Living & Loving Crazy
"...It’s a whole different world…." My brother Rosario is definitely right. I listen back to some of these stories and think WOW what we were going thru and hiding from the world…? And then I think WOW what must you listeners be thinking? LOL While there’s much more to this podcast – so much more than I thought I’d break it up into two episodes – I’m pausing this first part to comment on a few things, the biggest of which is PERSPECTIVE. As much as I have always known that each person’s perspective is unique to them, I guess that for some reason, I didn’t think that applied so much to my brother and our upbringing and dealing with the mental illness in our family. From my brother’s memories, his focus in on the madness being in great part due to our Sicilian culture and to the disciplinarian upbringing. I do agree that that influenced the cray-cray of our lives. I also was surprised at how much he really wasn’t present in the house. It makes sense now with his age and his wanting to always be out, and me with my age – not yet driving and being stuck inside. I think Ross summed it up best: our mom was super intelligent, ahead of her time maybe, ran a business and a household without any kind of personal freedom or outlet, she was so very talented and a protective mother, and, yet, she did have a mental illness that at that time wasn’t understood. She was, indeed, Don Quixote fighting windmills. In part two of this conversation with my brother (I'll post it later), you’ll hear about how much worse it can get when mental illness takes root in your family tree and our little sister is diagnosed as a schizophrenic and committed. Thanks for joining us for this episode, and I hope you’ll listen in on the second half for the rest of the 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.
Wed, March 13, 2019
(Ep6) Leaving Neverland and The "S" Words
I hadn’t planned on doing a podcast on this particular topic – that of sexual predators and sex abuse -- and for some of you, you may wonder what this has to do with mental illness and caregiving, and to that I’ll give a simple answer – A LOT. Having just watched for the second time the HBO Documentary “LEAVING NEVERLAND” - something I encourage everyone to do - it brought back for me the very same swirl of emotions that I experienced when I was 14 years old trying to navigate not only my mom's schizophrenia, but also my own sexual awareness and very confusing relationship with an authority figure who was 40 years old. He was a father figure, a friend, a protector...just as much as he was a young girl's fantasy, a flirt, and at best an inappropriate sexual game player. I stop short still of labeling him "sex predator" even though from the documentary, so much points to him having been just that. Just as in Leaving Neverland, I, too, have struggled to understand my own feelings about what had happened, and I kept silent for so long about so many things -- the shame of which still impacts me to this day. The book I wrote that got published in May of 2015 - The S Word: A Memoir About Secrets - was about the "S" words that were suffocating me: Schizophrenia, Sicilian, Seduction, Sex, Shame... Wade and James in Leaving Neverland explained so much of what I experienced and felt, and I am grateful for the insight to help further clarify this particular brand of madness that happened in my own life. As Oprah said in her After Neverland show, this director Dan Reed was able to do in these four hours what she wasn't in more than 200 episodes of her own show. I hope the message helps further the conversation and the understanding of this cancer in our society. I know it will make a difference for those of us who have walked in similar shoes. I hope my story helps as well. 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.
Tue, February 12, 2019
(Ep5) Happy Birthday: The Gift of Change
Funny how things change…sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. And whether or not we see that change as “better” or “worse” has everything to do with whether or not we’re even aware of the change AND how much we ourselves have actually changed – for better or worse. 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.
Thu, January 17, 2019
(Ep4) The Death of A Sibling: An Unexpected "IT"
A phone call came 5 years ago today announcing the unexpected end of my little sister’s life and of my own life as I had known it to be up until that point… A phone call with a childhood friend I hadn’t spoken to, let alone thought about in at least a decade, connected the past with the present… A phone call from some wrong number or from nobody at all – or so it would seem – opened my eyes to something I would have missed…and gave to me a message that – again – shifted my perspective and gave me yet another higher level of understanding. The unexpected "IT" takes so many shapes and forms, bringing to us what we may not realize in the moment exactly what is meant to be. 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.
Wed, January 02, 2019
(Ep3) "You Have Arrived": New Year's Revelations
New Year's Revelations. Remembering the day my human GPS lost his way home...and realizing: We all lose our way. We all feel worthless. We all feel guilty. We all fall apart. We all are surrounded at times by madness. Finding the magic in those moments…embracing them…realizing that they are exactly what we need, exactly when we need them IS how we learn to love the journey and to stop being focused on being anywhere but exactly where we are. There is no "there" to get to. We've already arrived. 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.
Tue, December 25, 2018
(Ep2) Christmas and Crazy
Every Christmas, I can’t help but think of the irony. After all, both schizophrenia and the holidays involve retreat into a world of bizarre delusions: Santa Claus, flying reindeer, little elves, a virgin birth, angelic voices, Christmas miracles, peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men, and on and on. During this time of year, millions of people suspend logic and, in part, believe in the unbelievable. It’s all acceptable, even laughable, as long as the sum of the parts keeps you in society’s scope of the norm, far enough away from clinical insanity. 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.
Mon, December 24, 2018
(Ep 1) I'm with Crazy: A Love Story
Welcome to Madness To Magic's podcast "I'm with Crazy: A Love Story" -- This show is for those of us who find ourselves surrounded by madness and wanting to find the magic within. We’re going to come together here as caregivers to those who have been diagnosed with a mental illness. Maybe it’s someone in the family we’ve been born into…maybe it’s someone we love…maybe it’s someone we work with…maybe – even – it’s ourselves. Whether we’ve been thrust into this caregiver role or taken it on by choice, this podcast is where we’re going to share our stories and learn to realize the magic in all the madness we may be experiencing. 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. #women #storytelling #podcast #mentalhealth #madness #caregiver #crazy #magic
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