Speak Out Sunday

Belle Hooks

Belle Hooks

I’ve read Belle Hooks' All About Love recently, and I expected a lot from it, considering I’ve heard a lot about how prolific an author Belle Hooks is. I was not disappointed picking up this read, as it took a lot of the thoughts I was feeling and said them with significantly more eloquence. Love is an interesting concept in modern society and Belle Hooks delves into it beautifully. She describes how we are both greedy for love and afraid of it. While it may seem paradoxical, it is a truth many of us live in.

Vaishnavi KattaApril 12, 2023Comment

Sarah Marshall

Sarah Marshall

I discovered Sarah Marshall through her podcast, You’re Wrong About. Listening to early episodes of the show, which featured Sarah and her former co-host, Michael Hobbes, I learned in-depth about topics like the life of Princess Diana, the story that led up to the OJ Simpson trial, and the moral panic-ridden narratives about gangs in popular culture and political discourse.

Vaishnavi KattaApril 2, 2023Comment

Dolly Alderton

Dolly Alderton

I recently finished reading Dolly Alderton’s memoir “All I Know About Love” and walked away from it feeling quite reflective. Previous to having picked up her novel, I didn’t know much at all about Alderton, but her book came up a lot on “Best Reads for 20-somethings”. Having read it, I can see why.

Vaishnavi KattaMarch 12, 2023Comment

Julia Michaels

Julia Michaels

he first song I remember hearing by Julia Michaels was “Issues.” I was in the awkward

throes of early high school and to me it was just another pretty-good pop song in the

background of rides to school, the pop station perpetually played at my weekend job, and the

occasional high school dance at which I was honestly less focused on the music and more

focused on how to wear heels without tripping in front of the guy I liked.

Noe ConahanFebruary 20, 2023Comment

Lizzo

Lizzo

Lizzo has achieved an iconic level of fame both on- and off-stage. While she’s widely

known for her creative songwriting and powerhouse vocals, she’s also been an outspoken

advocate for body acceptance and positivity, and her inclusive approach to engaging with these

issues has often thrust her into the spotlight as as an emblem of something that shouldn’t be

radical but often is perceived as such: taking up space.

Noe ConahanNovember 1, 2022Comment

Quinn XCII

Quinn XCII

His name is Mikael Temrowski, but we don’t know him by that; to us, he is Quinn XCII (ninety-two, not “ex-see-eye-eye” as he reminds us on his Tik Tok and Twitter). His reggae-esque, smooth-like-butter songs, like “Straightjacket” and “Another Day in Paradise,” leave listeners feeling like they are laying on the beach with a cold beverage in hand, and his relatable and candid social media presence is sure to give you a good laugh.

Katie GoodSeptember 18, 2022Comment

Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl is a popular musician, singer, and songwriter known for his role as Nirvana’s drummer from 1990-94, and the frontman of The Foo Fighters from 1994 to present. In 1994, Nirvana’s lead singer, Kurt Cobain, passed away from suicide after struggling with depression, a heroin addiction, and the pressures of fame.

Nicole CorrunkerApril 3, 2022Comment

Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone

When you hear the word Bollywood, it’s automatically associated with Shah Rukh Khan. But if you dig deeper into the industry, you’ll not only forget about the king of Bollywood but also stumble upon the modern-day queen herself: Deepika Padukone.

Vibha MoorthyMarch 21, 2022Comment

Pete Davidson Part 3

Pete Davidson Part 3

Since his joining “SNL” in 2014, Pete Davidson has risen to fame for his self-deprecating humor. Often, this includes jokes about his own mental health struggles. He is very candid in sharing his experiences living with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and depression. So much so, that this is the 3rd Speak Out Sunday recognizing his contributions to the conversation of mental health.

Hannah QuinnFebruary 6, 2022Comment

Kristen Bell

Kristen Bell

If you watch TV and movies, you’ve probably heard of Kristen Bell. She’s been Eleanor in the Good Place, Anna from Frozen, and the titular character in Veronica Mars. It’s safe to say she has been in the industry for a while now, and being in a high-stress industry like entertainment is bound to take a toll on one’s mental health. This is true for Kristen Bell who has described facing issues with her mental health throughout various points in her life.

Vaishnavi KattaJanuary 30, 2022Comment

Sandra Oh

Sandra Oh

Grey’s Anatomy star Sandra Oh opened up about her challenges with mental health following the success of the popular ABC show. Her performance in a leading role as Dr. Christina Yang won five different emmys and significantly contributed to her rise to fame. In an interview with Women’s Health, Oh described her fame as traumatic and discussed the stress that comes with constantly protecting her privacy.

Speak Out SundayElena ChambersDecember 5, 2021Speak Out SundayComment

Chyler Leigh

Chyler Leigh

It’s been increasingly clear that struggling with mental health is a completely normal experience for many. However, the labels that we attach to different mental health challenges still see a lot of stigma. Actress Chyler Leigh, who appeared in Grey’s Anatomy and Super Girl, has been vocal about her acceptance of her bipolar disorder and she advocates for its destigmatization.

Vaishnavi KattaNovember 14, 2021Comment

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

This week’s Speak Out Sunday recognizes Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a positive psychologist who coined the term ‘flow’, and who recently passed away at the age of 87.

Diane YuOctober 31, 2021Comment

Chris Evans

Chris Evans

“Nothing like anxiety for no reason whatsoever. Looking like a 4pm bedtime for me. Happy Friday!” This tweet by Chris Evans is a perfect example of something a lot of people run into with anxiety.

Nicole CorrunkerOctober 25, 2021Comment

Matt Haig

Matt Haig

Haig himself was ready to end his life at age 24, when he fell into a deep crippling depression. He’s talked about the experience candidly in both interviews and his novel Reasons to Stay Alive, where he shares his personal experiences with depression and anxiety.

Vaishnavi KattaOctober 17, 2021Comment

Simone Biles

Simone Biles

Simone Biles, a 24 year old US competitor, considered to be one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, came to the Tokyo Olympics with the eyes of the world on her.

Esha LalOctober 10, 2021Comment

Joyner Lucas

Joyner Lucas

Although it can be heavy to listen to, the stories Joyner tells through his album allow him to share the difficult parts of his life in a way that allows others to understand his struggles.

Tristan SirlsOctober 4, 2021Comment

Bella Poarch

Bella Poarch

Singer and Tiktok star Bella Poarch, who first went viral for a lip syncing video on Tiktok in August of 2020, began talking about her struggles with past abuse, PTSD, depression, and anxiety in December…

Elena ChambersSeptember 19, 2021Comment

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston

…I’m sure if you ask these people about Aniston’s mental health and happiness, they would say something similar to “well she’s gotta be happy, she has it all.”

Nicole CorrunkerAugust 30, 2021Comment

Faith G. Harper

Faith G. Harper

Faith G. Harper is a therapist who was in a similar boat as me and wanted to indirectly voice her opinion on the coldness of therapy and psychology. Harper is a licensed therapist in St. Austin, Texas who specializes in trauma recovery. That being said, her books and zines fall into the niche genre of self-therapy and have redefined the genre of relatable psychology if not indicated by her love for the word f*ck.

Noah LarsonApril 18, 2021Comment