E001 Beth Beattie Living With Bipolar Disorder
Participants: John Webster, Sammy Damaren, Cameron Earnshaw and Sheila Webster
Guest: Beth Beattie
Summary: It’s the debut episode. Our podcast grew from concepts in John’s book, Accidentally Well. He’s developing a framework to seek balance and fulfillment, taking into account eight categories of wellness: Physical, Mental, Economic, Social, Artistic, Environmental, Spiritual and Intellectual. If he ignores some areas, even if he’s thriving in others, it affects his overall well-being. He needs to act – to take active steps – to foster wellness in the different areas. Most interviews relate to one or more the eight facets of wellness that we’re exploring.
Meet the team:
Sammy Damaren is a Co-Host. She works in the real estate business and graduated from the University of Waterloo (Peace and Conflict Studies). Her passions include travel and the arts. She's been dancing he whole life. Sammy's looking forward to starting conversations about wellness with different cultures and generations – about how to be well and healthy in our own lives, while building a community.
John Webster is a Co-Host. He's a litigation lawyer. His wellness journey started him thinking, which led to notes, which turned into a manuscript and then a book. The podcast is an extension of that journey. It provides opportunities to explore concepts in his book, including with the other hosts, guests and listeners.
Cameron Earnshaw gives us the Adventures of the Starving Artist. He's a full-time teaching, performing and recording musician and a graduate of Berkeley College of Music in Boston. He tells stories from the road and the studio.
Julie Wilson - behind the scenes and occasional co-host. Julie's a lawyer who plays an active role in a large law firm in reducing the stigma around mental health in the workplace.
Sheila Webster - an artist who has been dancing her whole life. She ran a dance studio for 15 years, juggling many roles, as the sole proprietor of a vibrant business. Sheila and John have been married for many years. They engage in banter in the Flipside of the Coin segment, chatting about wellness and even relationship issues.
Segment Summary and Show Format, including discussions in Episode 1:
[0:03:20] What’s On Your Mind: chat between hosts about a wellness topic (10 minutes).
This week: John and Sammy talk about a social media post that compared toxic positivity to genuine optimism.
Link to Mental Health Commission of Canada for Mental Health First Aid Training: https://www.mhfa.ca/en/home
[0:12:21] Expanding Minds Interview: We talk to guests about their experiences in the 8 areas of wellness we’re exploring. Some are from organizations that foster wellness (15 minutes).
This week: [Mental Wellness] Part 1 of our discussion with lawyer Beth Beattie. Her story of living and working with bipolar disease is well publicized. She’s been a mentor to law students and junior lawyer on how to foster their own mental health. She works to eliminate stigma associated with lawyers who face mental health issues. It’s so important for business leaders to publicly disclose their mental illnesses. Beth is one of the brave leaders willing to do so.
[0:31:04] Adventures of the Starving Artist: hear about Cameron’s adventures as a musician (3-5 minutes):
This week: Cameron introduces his segment and tells us about himself.
[0:34:46] Move That Body: we highlight physical activities people enjoy and how the activities make them feel (great!) (5 minutes).
This week: Sammy and John talk about how great it feels – the sensations – when they hit the right level of physical activity – a good amount but not overdoing it.
[0:40:06] Running Popup: John shares a thought on a topic, which often comes together on a long run (3-5 minutes).
This week: John explains the popup that led to his book and ultimately this podcast.
[0:47:49] Flipside of the Coin: banter between Sheila and John – some fun while discussing wellness in the context of a relationship (5 minutes).
This week: Find out how John and Sheila met.
Quotes and Take-Aways:
Sammy – The saying “good vibes only” leaves no space to be sad or upset or angry, but you need to let people feel what they feel.
Beth – The problem was the stigma associated with being bipolar. The stereotype was an is that we are inherently unstable and unreliable, and I didn’t want to be seen in those terms. So, I kept my illness quiet for 14 years.
Beth – When we are trying to help someone who seems to be going through something, it’s important to reach out and ask them what they need rather than us assuming what they need.
Cameron – “Be less like sponge. Be more like duck”. Let it roll off your back. Keep paddling and stay afloat.
John – I thought that balance would come to me somehow, that it would arrive. Maybe some magical person would tap me on the shoulder and welcome me to the club. Then I thought, “Hey, what if there’s something I can actually do about it?
Bulletin Board quote brought to you by Cameron: Where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs.
Guest Information: Beth Bettie is Senior Counsel at the Ministry of the Attorney General Civil Law Division, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Long-Term Care Branch. She has a broad litigation practice. Beth “came out of the mental illness closet,” as she puts it, after 14 years of working as a lawyer with bipolar disorder. Her story has been broadly featured on television, newspaper and other media. Beth has made presentations to thousands of people, including professionals and the public at large. Beth works hard and volunteers much time to help improve the lives of those living with mental illness as well those who care for them.
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Thanks for joining us,
(-(-_(-_-)_-)-) Your wellness check-in team
John, Sammy, Cameron, Sheila and Julie