Off The Cuff with Danny LoPriore

Latest Episodes:

The Funny Thing About Trauma with Mona Shaikh Jul 13, 2022

Show notes

Childhood trauma shapes us in different ways. For some people, it’s a lifelong source of pain. But others, like comedian Mona Shaikh, seem to use it as a source of strength – not to mention laughs.

Today, Mona joins me for a wild conversation about the funny side of life (being catfished by a fake Indian finance bro in LA who turned out to be lying about his identity for reasons you won’t believe) and the not so funny (Mona’s childhood abuse, her brothers’ battle with polio and her rocky relationship with her parents).

“As you get older, there's a turning point where you're like, my parents are just fucking people who did the best they could. They did the best they could with all their issues and all their traumas. And don't get me wrong. I am super grateful to my mom, to my dad for bringing us to America, for giving us good education, even all the fucked-upness they gave us. I'm grateful for it. Right? ’Cause I chose to take all that shit and turn it into gold. Turn it into something good. You have to.” – Mona

Mona also shares about why she incorporates her trauma into her act, the challenges of being a woman in comedy, what needs to change about the American approach to mental health and how 15 years of therapy saved her life.

“The greatest gift you'll ever give to yourself is to learn to be alone. It's the single greatest gift you'll ever give yourself. There is no greater gift than the power of sitting alone in your thoughts and sitting with your pain and your trauma and all the fucking mess, just sitting with it and saying, ‘I'm gonna find my way out of this. I'm gonna go to therapy. I'm gonna do self-help, I'm gonna work out whatever the fuck it takes, but I'm gonna carve my way out of this and I'm gonna make a life for myself.’” – Mona

In This Episode

(02:47) How Mona got her start in comedy and whether she still gets nervous performing
(09:42) Mona’s experience emigrating from Pakistan to the U.S. in high school
(14:59) Self-hatred, the Kardashians, and “f*cking your way to the top”
(19:03) Getting catfished on dating apps by a Pakistani Jewish witch with a federal indictment against him
(34:04) Beating up a classmate for making fun of her brothers with polio
(42:51 ) The state of mental health and the predominance of gun violence in the U.S.
(48:27) Mona’s complicated relationship with her mother, and owning your trauma
(56:36) Using her childhood trauma in her act, and being a woman in comedy
(1:15:08) How therapy saved Mona’s life

Our Guest

Stand-up comedian, host, and actor Mona Shaikh grew up in Pakistan and started her comedy career after moving to New York.

Mona has headlined The Laugh Factory, where she became the first Pakistani female comedian to win the venue’s Funniest Person in the World Competition, and is a regular at major LA comedy clubs including The Comedy Story, Flappers Comedy Club, Ice House Pasadena, and more. She also made history when she became the first Pakistani female comedian to headline Hollywood Improv.

Mona can be seen regularly on The Young Turks, The Stephanie Miller Show on SiriusXM and Mo’Kelly Show on IHeartRadio.

Resources & Links

Off The Cuff

https://www.offthecuff.fm/
https://www.youtube.com/c/OffTheCuffwithDannyLoPriore
https://www.instagram.com/1and1otc/
https://www.instagram.com/dannylopriore/

Mona Shaikh

From Active Duty to the Psych Ward to the Stage with Rudy Caseres Jul 06, 2022

Show notes

Serving in the U.S. military is a challenge for anyone – but it can be especially tough when you’re dealing with mental health conditions.

Public speaker and mental health advocate Rudy Caseres, who was serving in the Army during his first experience with catatonic schizophrenia, understands this firsthand.

In today’s episode, I sat down with Rudy to discuss his experience with mental health in the military, being discharged from the Army, and what he learned from his time in psych wards.

Rudy also talks about the difficulties of being formally diagnosed, and the conflicting feelings his diagnoses brought.

“When you're going through this stuff, you have no fucking idea what's going on with you. And then you're just entrusting your life to these strangers that you never met. It takes a lot to take that leap of faith to be like, okay. And when I heard my diagnosis though, I was like, you know what, thank God. Because that at least gives me some kind of explanation of why this is happening to me. But my thing was ‘All right, diagnosis. That's great. What the fuck am I supposed to do now?’” – Rudy

Rudy also shares how his difficult journey eventually led to his “aha moment,” which helped him find his niche as a public speaker.

“It kinda wakes me up to like, realize like, ‘Hey, you don't have to let the universe, like, just have its way with you. Like, you don't have to completely just be sucked into the depression and let the depression win. … You can actually turn a negative into a positive and make the most of it. You're not a freak. You're not a mutant. You're just built differently. And we need people like you and you can still contribute a lot to this world. Not just in spite of it, because of it.” – Rudy

In This Episode

(01:43) When Rudy first noticed he might have mental health concerns

(03:29) What drew Rudy to public speaking
(15:56) Rudy’s first catatonic episodes during his time in the Army
(20:23) Being considered “mentally ill” in the military
(27:13) Coming home after being discharged from the Army and leaving the psych ward
(30:00) Rudy’s first experiences with catatonic schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
(38:59) The “aha moment” of finally being diagnosed
(41:11) Harnessing bipolar energy
(53:28) What Rudy’s manic episodes feel like, and his second time in a psych ward
(59:41) How Rudy began his public speaking career
(1:12:48) Rudy’s next steps

Our Guest

Rudy Caseres is an award-winning public speaker, live-streamer and social media influencer who has given over 100 presentations across the country sharing his story of surviving a mental breakdown while in the U.S. Army and living with bipolar disorder.

He is the host of “No Restraints with Rudy Caseres,” which features live, candid discussions with mental health, human rights and suicide prevention activists, and hosts a monthly panel on mental health for The Mighty.

Rudy has been featured in This is My Brave, HealthyPlace, The S Word, OC87 Recovery Diaries, Sweatpants & Coffee, Stigma Fighters, and Schizophrenic NYC, and was named one of The Mighty's Mental Health Heroes of 2017.

Resources & Links

Off The Cuff

https://www.offthecuff.fm/
https://www.youtube.com/c/OffTheCuffwithDannyLoPriore
https://www.instagram.com/1and1otc/
https://www.instagram.com/dannylopriore/

Rudy Caseres

Mentioned

https://www.nami.org/Home

Mental Health Advocacy in the Trans Community with Nate Cannon Jun 29, 2022

Show notes

Mental health can be a tough topic for men – and it can be even tougher when you’re part of a marginalized group.

On this week’s episode, I sat down with public speaker and author Nate Cannon to talk about his work as a mental health advocate in the trans community, which faces a disproportionate rate of mental health challenges including depression, anxiety and attempted suicide.

“We've seen numbers coming out, for example, upwards of 55% to 60% of transgender men or boys have had suicidal thoughts just within the last year. And wow … that is very alarming. And so if I can help talk with folks and express some education and awareness around how intense the mental health symptoms can be around gender dysphoria, and how important it is to honor that identity, I wanna do everything I can to do that.” – Nate (11:07)

Nate, who is a transgender man, also shared about the stigma around mental health and being trans in the LGBTQ+ community, his own experience transitioning, and the importance of supporting kids who may be questioning their identity.

“If we don't allow [gender] exploration, I worry that there's going to be an exacerbation of baseline mental health challenges, which as we've discussed is already a significant issue for the trans population, especially kids right now. So I do think that it's important that we have those conversations and be open about it.” – Nate (28:12)

As a survivor of two suicide attempts and as a person who lives with mental illness, Nate also discusses his work in mental health advocacy, and talks about the life-saving freedom of living your truth.

“I do know that if I hadn't transitioned, I wouldn't be here. I would not be alive today. … I am still here. I am still alive. I'm still breathing. Thankfully I'm cognitively intact and able to share my story in a way that hopefully it’ll maybe give someone pause before they consider taking their lives.” – Nate (1:08:00)

In This Episode

(01:16) Nate’s story and how he got involved with mental health advocacy
(03:52) Stigma around mental health and being trans in the LGBTQ+ community
(07:17) Nate’s childhood experiences figuring out his gender identity
(18:01) How playing hockey helped Nate realize he was trans, not lesbian
(24:09) Nate’s advice for parents of trans kids
(36:52) The process of transitioning, and the challenges Nate encountered accessing gender-affirming procedures as a person with mental health and neurological conditions
(45:39) Differences in social expectations Nate’s experienced since transitioning
(50:30) The challenges of living as a trans person in a social system not built for trans people
(1:06:00) How Nate would’ve handled his transition differently

Our Guest

Acclaimed public speaker and author Nate Cannon has spoken about his experiences as a transgender man living with mental illness and disability at government agencies, univiersites and non-profits across the country.

He also provides organizational training in areas including diversity and inclusion, crisis intervention, disability justice and other LGBTQ+ issues.

He is the author of two memoirs, “Running On A Mind Rewired,” and “Dying to Hang with The Boys.”

Resources & Links

Off The Cuff

https://www.offthecuff.fm/
https://www.youtube.com/c/OffTheCuffwithDannyLoPriore
https://www.instagram.com/1and1otc/
https://www.instagram.com/dannylopriore/

Nate Cannon

From Rock Bottom To Recovery with Zac Clark Jun 15, 2022

Show notes

How does a person go from lifelong substance abuse to getting clean and starting an addiction recovery nonprofit (not to mention starring on “The Bachelorette”), all in just ten years?

I sat down with Zac Clark to find out.

“I know today the truth about my existence, which is whatever I've been through is my most important and greatest asset. And it gives me, I believe, an advantage against the world. It's just good to be here.”

In this episode, Zac shares his story – including a brain tumor, convincing a doctor to remove his gallbladder for access to pain pills, why he still remembers a bank teller named Rhonda Jackson, and how his recovery allowed him to be there for his family during a crisis.

“I was the first one on the plane to Florida. … And the only reason I got to do that was because of my recovery, you know? Like I'm here and I'm present. When someone needs help, I know how to show up. No drug or drink or whatever was gonna give me the moxie to show up the way I showed up over that.”

Zac also discusses dating during recovery, “The Bachelorette,” starting his companies – Release Recovery, an addiction services organization, and Release Recovery Foundation, a nonprofit to help those struggling with addiction – and shares how you can get help if you’re in need.

“The first step is always asking for help. Once someone is at that place of asking for help, that's the hardest thing to do. And if you are listening to this, please, please, please, don't be shy. You can always reach out.”

In This Episode

Zac’s first time drinking as a child, and the dangerous lesson he learned (02:37)
How Zac’s relationship with alcohol and drugs evolved through college (07:34)
When Zac knew he had a problem (11:12)
The importance of family in the recovery process (12:29)
Zac’s first time in rehab (15:04)
Rock bottom or rebirth? (24:27)
Zac’s advice for people experiencing addiction alone (32:20)
Starting Release Recovery Foundation (41:19)
Zac’s experience on “The Bachelorette” and staying strong in his recovery (44:05)

Our Guest

Zac Clark is the founder of Release Recovery, an addiction services organization that helps people reclaim their lives from addiction.

He serves on the board of Release Recovery Foundation, a nonprofit that helps those struggling with addiction to access professional treatment including inpatient/outpatient treatment centers, interventionists, recovery coaches, therapists, and psychiatrists.

Zac was also a contestant on season 16 of “The Bachelorette.”

Resources & Links

Off The Cuff

https://www.offthecuff.fm/
https://www.youtube.com/c/OffTheCuffwithDannyLoPriore
https://www.instagram.com/1and1otc/
https://www.instagram.com/dannylopriore/

Zac Clark

Addiction Services & Resources

https://www.releaserecoveryfoundation.org/
https://releaserecovery.com/
https://twitter.com/releaserecovery
https://www.instagram.com/releaserecovery/

Destigmatizing Therapy for Teens with Dr. Justin Puder Jun 08, 2022

Show notes

“Crazy,” “heart attack kid,” “nuts.”

This week’s Off The Cuff guest, Dr. Justin Puder, heard it all as a kid who grew up struggling with mental health in small-town Ohio. That struggle, as well as the early loss of his father and brother from cancer and drug addiction respectively, introduced young Dr. J to therapy for the first time.

“[The therapist] didn't call it meditation. She didn't call it mindfulness. She's literally like, ‘We're just gonna do something together here.’ And she had me lay down and essentially she did a guided meditation. … I remember within minutes, like just two minutes into it, like I had opened my eyes because I was so excited. It was the first time I experienced peace in months.”

The experience inspired him to become a licensed psychologist himself. Now, Dr. J primarily works with teens at his Florida practice, where he specializes in mindfulness-based approaches to anxiety and stress reduction.

In this episode, Dr. J discusses growing up around mental health stigma at home and at school, the life-saving importance of destigmatizing therapy, the dangers of self-diagnosis, and how social media can both help and harm mental health.

“We've gone from like, again, never talking about mental health to sort of swinging. I feel like the pendulum swung far the other way, where it's just like, everybody wants to have the sticker label of some diagnosis. [But] clinging to a label isn't actually going to help you, in the long run, understand how to get better.”

If you’re unsure whether therapy is right for you, Dr. J shares some tips:

Work through a mental health workbook written by a licensed expert. You’ll learn more about the psychological principles that make therapy work, and gain a better understanding of yourself in the process.
Journal. You’ll become more comfortable putting your thoughts, fears and struggles into words, which can help you when you decide to talk to a therapist.
Remember that your well-being and mental health are worth the effort.

“For so many people out there, like if you're going through something mental health-wise and you're in that state [of panic and despair], I hope you can hear me and Danny that it can and does get better.”

In This Episode

The real-life childhood trauma that inspired Dr. J to become a therapist (04:30)
Dr. J’s first panic attack and the stigma of mental health in the Midwest (08:18)
The “breaking point” that led to Dr. J’s first therapy session (13:25)
Overcoming the stigma of therapy for teens (15:24)
The cultural and regional differences that contribute to stigmatization (18:48)
Social media and its impact on mental health (23:32)
The future of neuroscience in mental health treatment (26:35)
“Dr. Google” and the dangers of self-diagnosis (33:25)
Starting the therapy process (39:19)
The relationship between therapy and psychotropic medication (58:39)
The progress of mental health destigmatization in schools (01:09:33)

Our Guest

Dr. Justin Puder is a Florida-based licensed psychologist who earned degrees in psychology from Kent State University, Florida Atlantic University and Auburn University. He specializes in anxiety and stress reduction using mindfulness-based approaches.

Dr. Puder especially enjoys working with teens. As a mental health influencer, he uses social media (@amodertherapist on Instagram) to crush mental health stigma, and has worked with outlets including Vice, The DailyDot and LA Mag.

Resources & Links

Off The Cuff

Dr. Justin Puder