After surviving a father whose mental illness consumed the family, a woman spirals down into psychosis and compulsive behaviors, finally leading her on the path to healing.
Jan 13
395: What if you were pushed into the path of an oncoming train?
After surviving a stranger’s shove into the path of a subway train, a man confronts his mortality and viral fame, and finds himself transformed by community, clarity, and the everyday poignancy of being alive. Today’s episode featured Joe Lynskey. You can email Joe at upfromthetr ... Show More
51m 40s
Jan 8
394: What if a devastating truth only deepened the mystery? [Rebroadcast Ep250]
Growing up Black and queer in the South, a man finds an identity for himself through the arts and establishes a wonderful marriage with children, until one day, when his husband is late coming home, there’s a ring at the door and his entire life unravels. Today’s storyteller chos ... Show More
54m 56s
Jan 6
393: What if you survived the Bosnian genocide? [Rebroadcast Ep277]
From an idyllic childhood in communist Yugoslavia, as a teenager, Mirsad’s world becomes a living nightmare as the Bosnian War brings shelling, torture, murder and ethnic cleansing to his village, leaving deep scars that haunt and transform his life. Today's episode featured Mirs ... Show More
1h 3m
Nov 12
Alisha’s Mom’s Story — Adoption, Addiction & Panic Attacks
<p>This episode includes discussions of domestic violence, addiction, and heavy mental health topics. Please listen with care or feel free to skip if these topics are triggering for you. </p><p>This week’s guest is a Pretty Basic legend in her own right — Alisha’s mom, Chris! </p ... Show More
1h 43m
Sep 2025
The Crisis of Despair w/ P.E. Moskowitz
Julia is joined by genius mind P.E. Moskowitz for a conversation about their new memoir Breaking Awake, which chronicles the mental breakdown that drove them to experiment with drugs, reckon with trauma, and draw meaning from suffering. From Klonopin and SSRIs to ketamine and LSD ... Show More
55m 51s