According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 22.8% of adults experience mental illness, with 5.5% experiencing “severe” mental illness. It’s clear that mental health is a serious issue, but only recently has the stigma around discussing mental health become less prevalent, often through discussions and social media platforms, allowing the world of mental health to become much better than it has been in the past.
Some of the pioneers of this movement are Micah Bravery and his co-host Crystal Davis, who use their “These Fukken Feelings” podcast to foster meaningful conversations about mental health. Bravery and Davis emphasize that “These Fukken Feelings” is not your typical self-help podcast — they don’t pretend to have all the answers and aren’t afraid to get vulnerable — but their unique approach to mental health discussions emphasizes understanding and embracing feelings and fostering a community that values mental health.
How “These Fukken Feelings” Fosters an Important Conversation Around Mental Health
By listening to the “These Fukken Feelings” podcast, listeners can expect to learn about a variety of skills, tips, and strategies that can help them enhance their well-being, improve their relationships, optimize their productivity and performance, and become more resilient to their challenges. The hosts and guests on the podcast are unafraid to get vulnerable, and listeners can expect to hear real stories from real people, sharing in their laughter and maybe even a few tears.
“These Fukken Feelings” has experienced tremendous growth and success in its first few years. The show took home the award for “Best Health Podcast” at the 2023 Podcast Awards and earned a number of accolades, such as being a top-ranked podcast in the “Alternative Health” and “Mental Health” categories several times on Good Pod. This acclaim is evidence of how much of a difference the podcast has made to its listeners.
In the latest season of “These Fukken Feelings,” the podcast’s third, Bravery and Davis explore its theme of love in an evolutionary way, allowing listeners to explore and challenge their understanding and feelings of love by focusing on the various aspects of the emotion. Season three also represents a massive leap for the podcast from a technical level, as the show has grown into a brand-new, cutting-edge studio that will help Bravery, Davis, and their listeners with their journeys.
Making a Difference in the Mental Health of More People
Bravery also seeks to expand his initiatives, first through his solo venture, the “Trauma Is Expensive” podcast. In this series, which releases a new episode every Monday, Bravery explores the intangible costs of unresolved trauma through thought-provoking conversations and healing insights, empowering listeners to initiate their healing process. On the podcast, listeners will hear both commentary from expert guests and inspiring personal stories from people who have undergone their own healing journeys, as well as receive recommendations for practical and accessible resources to help on their journey.
“Here at ‘These Fukken Feelings’ and ‘Trauma is Expensive,’ we believe in the power of conversation,” says Bravery. “We’re not just a podcast; we’re a community. A community that listens, learns, and grows together. Our mission is to make mental health a topic that’s accessible and relatable to all. We’re here to break down barriers, challenge stigmas, and create a safe space for everyone to express their feelings. We’re not just about discussing feelings; we’re about understanding them, embracing them, and learning from them. We’re about healing, growing, and most importantly, we’re about making mental health a priority.”
Bravery and Davis are just getting started, and their podcasts and the discussions they start are making the world a better place. So, if you’re on your own mental health journey and are looking for a podcast to help you learn and grow along with the hosts themselves, look no further than “These Fukken Feelings” and “Trauma Is Expensive.” Both series are available on whatever platform you use to listen to your favorite podcasts.
Published by: Holy Minoza
