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Ghost: Mediums, Voices, and the Stigma of "Madness" – Why Do We Celebrate One but Pathologize the Other?

Kick off Season 2 with a raw, thought-provoking conversation inspired by the 1990 classic Ghost! Robyn Priest and Charlotte Armstrong dive deep into the film's beloved medium Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg) and ask the tough questions: Why does society adore psychic mediums in movies and cultural traditions, yet label people hearing voices or seeing visions as having a "serious mental illness"?

From the iconic pottery scene to those chilling shadowy "black blobbies" that drag away the villains (and mirror real experiences shared by Robyn and peers during mania, withdrawal, or schizophrenia diagnoses), this episode challenges stigma head-on.

Robyn shares personal stories of visual experiences, cultural views on spiritual openness, and parallels with religious figures who "hear God." Charlotte reflects on listening beyond the diagnosis – what if we truly heard people's truths instead of rushing to "fix" them?

A powerful call for autonomy, respect for individual stories, and peer support that honors lived experience over labels. If it's not harming anyone, why can't we let people live their truth?

Rewatch the original Ghost (a potential remake is in the works!), drop your thoughts in the comments, and join the conversation on redefining mental health.

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Invitation, Not Expectation: The Fine Line Between Sharing and Oversharing

In this raw and unfiltered follow-up to their previous episode on parental loss, Robyn and Charlotte peel back the curtain on what it truly means to hold space for others. What happens when an attempt to connect actually creates disconnection?

Robyn and Charlotte navigate the messy, beautiful complexities of vulnerability, exploring:

* The "Vulnerability Hangover": Analyzing a moment from their last recording where Robyn felt sharing enhanced the conversation, but Charlotte felt it detracted.

* Breaking Generational Silence: Charlotte shares a personal story for the first time in 29 years regarding pregnancy loss, tracing the echoes of grief through her mother and grandmother.

* The Power of "Me Too": How to distinguish between supportive sharing and "one-upping" someone else’s pain.

* Sitting in the Discomfort: Why the most important skill in mental health and peer support.

Join the hosts of Mastery Vibes Peer Support Unleashed as they model what it looks like to 'get it wrong' and make it right, proving that authentic connection isn't about being perfect—it's about showing up. Whether you work in peer support or just want to be a better friend, this episode offers a powerful reminder that your presence is often more valuable than your words. As Robyn says: Mic drop.

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The Club No One Wants to Join: Finding Hope in Peer Support After Infant and Pregnancy Loss

It is a statistic that staggers the mind: 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss. Yet, it remains one of the most stigmatized and silenced conversations in our culture.

In this powerful episode, Robyn and Charlotte sit down with Michelle LaFontaine from the PAIL (Pregnancy and Infant Loss) Network. Michelle isn't just an expert on the subject; she is a survivor who turned her own heart-wrenching experience with the loss of her twins 20 years ago into a lifeline for others.

Together, they peel back the layers of grief that society often tries to rush past. From the trauma of being on a maternity ward while leaving empty-handed, to the "toxic positivity" of well-meaning friends, this conversation gets real about what helps, what hurts, and why peer support is the vital medicine that doctors can't prescribe.

In this episode, we cover:

* The Power of "Me Too": Why connecting with someone who simply gets it can be more healing than professional advice.

* Navigating the Healthcare System: Michelle shares the gaps in medical care for grieving parents and how hospitals are (slowly) changing to be more sensitive.

* What NOT to Say: Why phrases starting with "At least..." (e.g., "At least you can get pregnant") are invalidating, and what you should say instead.

* Generational Trauma: Robyn has a breakthrough moment realizing the impact of her own mother’s silent grief over a lost child years ago.

* Identity Shift: How pregnancy loss changes who you are as a parent and a person forever—and why that’s okay.

Whether you have experienced loss yourself, or want to know how to support a friend, sister, or colleague who has, this episode is a masterclass in empathy, validation, and breaking the silence.

What people who experience loss want you to know is that the baby who died is irreplaceable... We talk a lot about integrating the loss into your life, not moving 'past' it." — Michelle LaFontaine

Learn more about PAIL: https://pailnetwork.sunnybrook.ca/

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