“I’ve always told people who deal with a family member or someone they love with schizophrenia or some severe or even brain trauma, the essential person is in there. It’s this disease or accident or whatever, that’s hijacked the brain.”

This is our second episode in Mental Health Awareness Month, and our guest is National Book Critics Award-winning memoir author Mira Bartok. This conversation is for anyone who loves someone struggling with a mental health condition or is looking for inspiration to create their way out of a difficult place. We spend much of our time discussing Mira’s The Memory Palace, a beautiful memoir about keeping the connection with our mothers no matter how difficult the task. (So, in a way, this episode is a Mother’s Day episode, too.)

Mira Bartok is a Chicago-born artist, writer, and the author of over twenty-eight books, including the children’s book “The Wonderling,” which will have a sequel in 2025.

I loved my time with Mira and hope you will too.

To learn more about Mira’s books, events, and writing, please visit mirabartok.com.

I hope this episode is helpful to you. If it is, please subscribe to this podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with others.

To learn more about my latest book, Bounce Back Stronger—Finding Peace and Purpose No Matter What Happens, click here. To join our email list and receive our newsletter, which includes essays on ways to live a more peaceful and purposeful life, book reviews, TV and movie reviews, funny memes, and inspirational quotes, click here.

Follow me on Instagram @donnayferris or join my Bounce Back Stronger Facebook group by messaging me @donnayatesferris or emailing me at donna@donnayferris.com.

And if you’re looking for mental health resources, please click here or reach out to your insurance provider. If you are in crisis, please dial 911, go to your nearest emergency room, or dial 988 for the suicide hotline (US only).