https://radiomilwaukee.org/story/local-podcast-sharing-firsthand-stories-depression/
(click on link above, and then click a 2nd time when the new window opens to hear the interview that aired.)
Terry McGuire is a former TV news reporter and anchor, and she has worked as a voice talent since leaving the local news business. Her sister, Bridget, is a massage therapist based in Washington state, and they are both certified in Mental Health First Aid.
While they are not counselors or mental health professionals, they have a personal connection to the disease.
They both have depression, and they’re not ashamed to talk about it.
Reaching a larger audience
Tapping into her media background, McGuire launched an online podcast earlier this year called
Giving Voice to Depression, co-hosted by her sister.
Instead of formal training, they share their firsthand experiences living with depression. Their own struggles, McGuire says, gives them valuable insight into the disease and allows them to connect with others dealing with it.
They produce at least one episode weekly, bringing in a variety of guests — both everyday people and professionals — to discuss various aspects of depression.
Each episode features a personal story, showing the human side of the illness, McGuire says.
Looking ahead
In its eight month run, the sister duo has produced about 40 short-form podcasts, and racked up thousands of listeners and streaming sessions.
And recently, the podcast received funding from the Charles E. Kubly Foundation allowing them to produce another season.
The podcast is connected to McGuire’s nonprofit, Giving Voice to Mental Illness.
Eventually the sisters hope to expand the podcast to cover more mental health topics like anxiety and bipolar disorder.
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