Mental Illness Happy Hour

Paul Gilmartin started this show in 2011, making it one of the OG mental health podcasts. After years of struggling with clinical depression and getting sober in 2003, he decided the best thing he could do was create a space where people could talk about their darkest stuff without judgment. And that's exactly what this is. The conversations run long, often over an hour, sometimes closer to two, and they go to places most podcasts won't touch: childhood trauma, addiction, suicidal ideation, codependency, shame. It's rated explicit for a reason. With 683 episodes and nearly 5,800 ratings averaging 4.8 stars, the show has built a genuinely devoted community. Psychology Today called it "remarkable" and Esquire described it as "a vital, compassionate gem." The NY Times, Oprah Magazine, and Women's Health have all named it a top health podcast. Gilmartin interviews comedians, therapists, writers, and everyday listeners with equal depth. His background in comedy gives the show moments of real humor even when the subject matter is heavy, but he never uses jokes to deflect from what's painful. The online community forum at mentalpodforum.com that grew alongside the podcast adds another dimension, giving listeners a place to continue conversations between episodes. Weekly releases keep the content fresh, and the back catalog is enormous. This is one of those shows that people describe as life-changing without any exaggeration.