Akathisia Stories is a podcast produced by the Medication-Induced Suicide Prevention and Education Foundation in Memory of Stewart Dolin (MISSD). Each episode shares real conversations to raise awareness of akathisia — a dangerous, medication-induced disorder that can cause self-harm, suicide, and violence. By combining lived experiences with education, the podcast advances MISSD’s mission to improve patient safety, prevent avoidable harm, and save lives.
Episode 11 - Lisa Acquaviva on surviving cancer, polypharmacy, and akathisia
Lisa Acquaviva is a Survivor, Educator, Advocate, Speaker, and Lived Experience Consultant who shares her journey navigating extraordinary medical complexity, recovery, and rebuilding. As a Medication Safety Advocate, she brings the patient perspective to conversations about healthcare, medication awareness, informed decision-making, and patient advocacy. While pursuing her nursing degree, she was unexpectedly diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer, beginning a life-changing medical journey ...
27 Jul 2026
Episode 10 - Katinka Blackford Newman on Her Experience with Akathisia and Her Mission to Educate Others
What happens when a prescribed medication changes your life overnight? In this powerful episode of Akathisia Stories, host Ivan Kaiser sits down with journalist, documentary filmmaker, author, and advocate Katinka Blackford Newman to discuss her extraordinary journey from award-winning BBC filmmaker to international campaigner for medication safety. After being prescribed an antidepressant in 2012 to help with temporary insomnia following a stressful life event, Katinka experienced a devastat...
15 Jul 2026
Episode 9 - In Remembrance of Stewart Dolin, the founding of MISSD
This month marks a deeply significant milestone. July is the 16th anniversary of the death of Stewart Dolin, a tragedy later understood to have been caused by akathisia—a severe, drug-induced condition that remains widely under-recognized. Out of that loss, Wendy Dolin founded MISSD, the Medication-Induced Suicide Prevention and Education Foundation in Memory of Stewart Dolin. What began as one family’s search for answers has grown into a national and increasingly global effort to raise aware...
26 Jun 2026
Episode 8 - Cael from the PSSD Network
At 19 years old, shortly after moving out of his family home, Cael began experiencing severe anxiety and panic attacks. Seeking help, he turned to his longtime family doctor, who diagnosed him with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and prescribed Lexapro. Cael was not informed of the potential risks or side effects. While the medication initially brought relief, it soon led to emotional numbness, social withdrawal, depression, and persistent suicidal thoughts—symptoms he had never experience...
29 May 2026
Episode 7 - Brandon on advocacy, awareness, and being diagnosed with akathisia and tardive dyskinesia at the age of 25
Brandon Lawes is an independent natural health researcher, educator, and entrepreneur whose life was permanently changed after a devastating physical injury and severe medication-induced neurological complications. At 25 years old, Brandon developed Akathisia and Tardive Dyskinesia following the use of Ativan (lorazepam), which he says was prescribed in an emergency room without adequate warning of potential risks. He has now suffered with Akathisia for more than seven years, alongside seriou...
30 Apr 2026
Episode 6 - Stacey on living with akathisia for over 30 years
Stacey is a 48 year old housewife and artist residing in Southern California. She has had akathisia not just from pharmaceuticals, but also due to hormonal issues and what she believes was PANDAS in childhood. As a result, she has had bouts of akathisia since youth and has had it chronically since a protracted withdrawal from klonopin plus reinstatement that occurred approximately ten years ago. At the time of the withdrawal, she was wrongly diagnosed as bipolar and polydrugged. She is curre...
24 Mar 2026
Episode 5 - Katy and her husband share their experience with akathisia
Katy Duffy and her husband, Ben, from Oregon share their experience with akathisia—a medication-induced disorder that was missed, misdiagnosed, and mistreated. They speak openly in the hope that others can recognize the signs sooner and avoid the suffering Katy endured. Akathisia affects the entire family, not just the person experiencing it. Katy and her husband describe that impact with honesty and clarity. Katy also partnered with MISSD to bring an akathisia awareness billboard to her Or...
26 Feb 2026
Episode 4 - Katie Brennan returns with an update on her legal hearing
In Part 1, you met Katie Brennan — a Teacher of the Year, mother of six, and respected educator whose life changed after she developed medication-induced akathisia. With no prior history of mental illness, her symptoms were misdiagnosed as DSM-labeled disorders, leading to civil commitments that damaged her career, reputation, and her family. In Part 2, we turn to what comes next. Although medical experts have concluded that her civil commitments were rooted in misdiagnosed and mistreated aka...
30 Jan 2026
Episode 3 - Katie Brennan on her misdiagnosis and related legal battle
Katie Brennan is a former finalist for Minnesota Teacher of the Year, with a Masters Degree in Education and 48 additional upper division graduate credits in Education and English. During her 20 year teaching career, Katie taught high school English, including English for college credit. Katie is a woman of strong faith and the mother of six children and nine grandchildren. At age 48, with no history of mental illness, Katie was prescribed Ambien and Prozac during a stressful job transition a...
11 Nov 2025
Episode 2 - Derek Blumke, from the Grunt Style Foundation, and Wendy Dolin, MISSD founder, on their work with veterans to reduce prescribed harm
Derek Blumke is a writer, consultant, and veteran advocate dedicated to improving mental health outcomes and reducing avoidable harm. He served more than a decade in the U.S. Armed Forces and Michigan Air National Guard, and co-founded Student Veterans of America, Derek’s work now includes helping veterans who were harmed by the treatments meant to heal them, a journey he personally understands. Wendy Dolin is a licensed family therapist and the founder of MISSD. Widely recognized for her pu...
30 Sept 2025
Episode 1 - Kristina Kaiser on her daughter Natalie and her work with MISSD
Kristina Kaiser is a strategic communications consultant and educator with extensive experience in public relations, advocacy, and marketing across education, nonprofit, and public health sectors. She has directed large-scale awareness campaigns and academic programming that have strengthened organizational visibility and improved patient safety. Kristina has also developed accredited courses and educational resources, as well as fundraising campaigns and brand partnerships that expand impact...
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