New podcast looks at depression through the lens of comedy
Comedians talk about their experience in “The Hilarious World of Depression”
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – American Public Media, with sponsorship from HealthPartners and Make It OK, will launch a new podcast called “The Hilarious World of Depression,” on Monday, Dec. 12. Hosted by veteran public radio personality John Moe, this special edition podcast will feature conversations with comedians such as Dick Cavett and Maria Bamford about their experiences with clinical depression.
“Depression is most likely part of your life already, whether you have dealt with it or a friend, relative or co-worker has. And it can be scary and terribly lonely,” says Moe. “But talking about it helps and hearing stories of how other people have managed it helps. And certainly sharing some laughs with a funny person who has been there can help a whole lot.”
Both American Public Media and HealthPartners are committed to breaking the stigma around mental health. HealthPartners is sponsoring the show as part of its Make it OK campaign. It encourages open conversations about mental health and gives guidance on how to have those conversations.
“Humor can be an opening to a meaningful conversation between loved ones. Adding humor to the conversation about mental illness takes Make It OK to a new level and a broader audience,” said Donna Zimmerman, HealthPartners senior vice president for government and community relations.
About American Public Media
American Public Media Group is the largest station-based public radio organization in the U.S., combining multi-regional station operations, national programming creation and distribution and innovative digital, social and mobile services in one organization. Supported financially by contributions from individual donors, sponsors, philanthropic foundations as well as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, APMG’s operations include Minnesota Public Radio®, a 45-station network serving nearly all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states and Southern California Public Radio, a four-station network serving Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura County and the Inland Empire. Programs produced by MPR’s national programming division, American Public Media®, reach 19 million listeners via nearly 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes A Prairie Home Companion®, BBC World Service, Marketplace® and the leading classical music programming in the nation. APM also offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, business and comedy shows. YourClassical, APM’s lifestyle classical music stream, packages classical music in an unconventional and innovative way with streams suited for life’s biggest moments and everyday situations. For more information on American Public Media Group, visit americanpublicmediagroup.org.
Data are copyright Nielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.
About Make It OK
Make It OK was launched in 2013. It is sponsored by HealthPartners, Regions Hospital Foundation> Partners include the Minnesota chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Twin Cities Public Television (TPT). More than 80,000 people have visited makeitok.org. It includes videos with personal stories of people living with a mental illness, information and tips on how to talk about mental illnesses. Five Make It OK documentaries on Twin Cities Public Television won a Board of Governors Emmy® Award in 2014.
About HealthPartners
HealthPartners is the largest consumer-governed, non-profit health care organization in the nation. The company’s mission is to improve health and well-being in partnership with members, patients and the community. For more information, visit healthpartners.com.