Are you in need of something to listen to this summer? Have you been wondering about the realities of mood disorders? Have you been looking for information on bipolar disorder that is easy to access and available 24 hours a day? Well look no further!  The Balanced Mind Foundation has got you covered with Flipswitch!

Flipswitch: The Bipolar and Depression Connection is a 30 minute podcast (downloadable audio) series that deals with issues teens and young adults face when they have a mood disorder such as bipolar disorder or depression. The show is approaching the start of its third year and includes co-hosts from the ages of 16 to 21, all of whom have been touched by depression or bipolar disorder in some way. Led by knowlegeable psychology graduate student Chris Seale, the show’s goal is to get a conversation started on the myriad tough issues that teens and young adults living with mood disorders deal with on a daily basis as well as be a resource for information.

On each episode, the Flipswitch crew (consisting of Chris, Ryan, Emily and Gopi) takes one small issue related to living well with a mood disorder and discusses it. One week, the crew may talk about the ins and outs of stress, while on another episode, they may mull over the issue of struggles in college that often sidetrack people. There are literally no limits on the types of things that get presented on the show. Here’s just a sampling of some of the issues Flipswitch has covered to date: loneliness, mania, creativity, types of therapy, advocacy, medication, the media, time management and on and on and on!

The co-hosts present information and debate these issues in a wide variety of segments, from definitions, to gameshow style question and answer segments, to sometimes just simply having a conversation about things.  The show often deals with hard to answer questions and will be heading into more controversial territory in the upcoming episodes. Topics to be covered include hypersexuality, anti-psychiatry, how to be a good patient/how to talk to a doctor, and much more!

In addition to our co-hosts, the podcast interviews a number of noted experts on topics in the field. Interviewees have included: John Cacioppo of the University of Chicago and author of  the book Loneliness; Dr. James Hudziak, who co-authored one of the largest genetic studies of risk factors in youth; Lizzie Simon, who authored the famed book Detour: My Bipolar Roadtrip in 4-D; media critic and author Dr. Otto Wahl, and many other notables. Along with experts, Flipswitch has interviewed notable speakers and people in the arts such as Ross Szabo, White Oleander author Janet Fitch, and recording artist Brandi Carlile. And of course, a staple of Flipswitch has been interviews with people that have actually been afflicted with a mood disorder in some way. You never know who’ll turn up.

The Flipswitch crew is open to any suggestions or questions from the audience and posts a regular blog on various show topics and how they relate to everyday life. Give Flipswitch: The Bipolar and Depression Connection a listen or forward it to a friend. You can find an archive of shows, along with available flash players, at http://depressedteens.podbean.com/, access us on the http://www.depressedteens.com/ website, or look us up on iTunes!

FAQ

What exactly is a podcast and why do this sort of thing via the internet?

A Podcast is an internet audio program that you can listen to on your computer, or load onto your iPod or other MP3 player, to listen to on the go. It’s like listening to a specific radio program on your computer any time you want. Best of all, a Podcast automatically updates when a new episode is out if you subscribe to it.  You can listen to it at work. You can listen to it in your car, on the bus, while you’re hanging out, and on and on.

How do I get the podcast?

Our Podcast page (http://www.thebalancedmind.org/flipswitch/podcast) gives several options for ways you can listen to the Podcast, be it through a program like iTunes, or by clicking the play button on the site. You can subscribe to the podcast and your computer will automatically upload the next episode when it becomes available. The Podcast page has it’s own blog where we’ll be inviting comments and posting information from the show.