*Trigger warning: mental illness and suicide*
Welcome to Mad Poetry: Mental Illness Reimagined.
My name is Georgia Vrakas. I am a bipolar woman, a clinical psychologist, a university professor and I write poetry on my mental illness journey.
In this podcast, I will explore the ups and downs of mental illness. In each episode I will be sharing discussion points on mental illness as well one of my poems to encourage reflection on what it is to live with a mental illness.
Why poetry and mental illness? Poetry can offer us valuable perspectives and insights on living with a mental illness. It can also help us in our recovery process. Poetry has been a balm for me. It has grounded me and helped quiet my mind.
I hope this podcast offers you a soft place to land.
I would love to hear from you!
For questions and comments: themadpoetrypodcast@gmail.com
For updates on upcoming episodes check out my IG account @themadpoetrypodcast
Cover art by Jean-François Houle
Intro/outro music: Finding Hope (Emotional Cinematic Inspiring Piano, by Yudi Ashady (ASCAP) via Pond5
Suicide prevention ressources:
Please call 988 in Canada & US
Mental health resources:
For Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.html (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.html)
World: https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/ (https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/)
**Trigger warning: Mental Illness** This episode addresses our complex relationship with rest in a society that judges our worth by our level of productivity. This episode also looks at the challenges faced by those of us with a mental illness. Sometimes we are forced to rest and take leave from work in order to heal and take care of our wellbeing. It's not easy to reconcile the message society send us about work and productivity with the need to rest and breathe and be. I hope you enjo...
7 Jul 2026
The Right to Live With a Mental Illness
**Trigger Warning: Mental Illness, Suicide** ____________________________________________________________________ This episode focuses on the debate in Canada on medical assistance in dying (MAiD) for people living with a mental illness. The Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying Published its report in June 2026. They had one recommendation: to exclude mental illness from MAiD. In this episode, I also talk about the importance of helping people with a mental illness live be...
2 Jun 2026
Bipolar Life
** Trigger Warning: Mental Illness ** This episode is a short one and a personal one. It focuses on bipolarity. In it I also share with you my current experience with my bipolar disoder. Resources: If you or someone you know is suicidal, for immediate help, please call the suicide prevention phone line for US & Canada: 988 Canadian Psychological Association Mental health support - Government of Canada American Psychiatric Association Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (US) Reli...
28 Apr 2026
Madness as a Space of Resistance
Welcome to Season 2 of Mad Poetry: Mental Illness Reimagined. In this season, I will be delving deeper into madness, how it is constructed by social and cultural norms, how mad people are being oppressed and marginalized by society. I will also look at madness as a lived identity, as a strength and as resistance. *Trigger Warning: mental illness and suicide* In today's episode, I talk about madness as a space of survival, resistance and creation. This space is the margin (bell hooks+) w...
31 Mar 2026
Why do I hurt so bad?
Today’s episode is a short one but tackles a big issue: the inextricable link between physical and mental health. The poem I read is “My knee was born crooked”, the knee pain a metaphor for psychological suffering. Send us Fan Mail Instagram: @themadpoetrypodcast Email: themadpoetrypodcast@gmail.com
24 Feb 2026
Perimenopause and the Hysterical Woman
This episode is about perimenopause, an issue we do not talk about enough despite it being an important stage of life for women. We also delve into hysteria a long forgotten diagnosis. However, there persists an association between it and the perimenopausal woman in the collective imagination. ** I have added an addendum at the end of the episode correcting two errors that slipped through - you’ll see it’ll make you laugh, I hope 😉 Here are some ressources on perimenopause and menopause: The ...
20 Jan 2026
Suicide Prevention Through Hope and Connection
Trigger Warning: this episode will address suicide, suicidal ideation and behavior. If you are having suicidal thoughts please contact one of the resources below and your medical or mental health professional. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In this episode I use my personal story as well as scientific and clinical knowledge to talk about suicide and suicide prevention. Resources For immediate help call the suicide prevention phone line for US & Canada: 988 In...
16 Dec 2025
Breaking the Stigma
Trigger Warning: Mental Illness This episode explores how stigma shapes the lives of those of us living with a mental illness, personally, professionally, and socially. The dominant stories society tells about us cast us at best as dysfunctional, and at worst as unstable or dangerous. This episode is also about breaking the stigma, having our voices heard, and reclaiming our humanity. Poem: Madwoman (2025) Advocacy resources: Advocacy groups for mental health in Canada (includes international...
18 Nov 2025
Missing the Highs
Trigger Warning: mental illness & suicide This episode focuses on Bipolar Disorder which is characterized by highs (mania or hypomania) and/or lows (depressive episodes). Although this illness can have devastating effets and requires treatment, sometimes those of us who live with it miss the elements of the highs (eg., high self-esteem; high productivity; euphoria; etc.). An overall picture of what it means to be bipolar will be discussed, the good, the bad and the ugly. Reconstruction of...
15 Oct 2025
What is Wrong With Me?
*Trigger Warning: mental illness and suicide* Welcome to the first episode of Mad Poetry: Mental Illness Reimagined. Today's episode will focus on that "in-between space", the one in which we find ourselves when we first start feeling mentally unwell, when our symptoms first start, all the way to the moment we finally get answers regarding our condition. We will also talk about what mental illness is and the labels people use to define themselves living with a mental illness. We will al...
Contact Mad Poetry: Mental Illness Reimagined
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Mad Poetry: Mental Illness Reimagined?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
