Welcome back to My Niche is Human! After a long hiatus, we're diving into a fresh season, exploring topics beyond the labels that once defined us. In this personal episode, I share my journey of starting the podcast to break free from my diagnosis, facing unexpected fears, and my growth over the years. Join me as I introduce a new four-part format designed to break down complex topics, offer unique perspectives, and provide actionable insights for your own life.

I’m excited to explore themes like death, growth, and letting go of identities that no longer serve us—plus the importance of sharing scars, not wounds, in the stories we tell. Thank you for being here, and welcome to Season 2!

I've always been fascinated with comedians. I used to come home from junior high school and watch ComicView on BET or even many years later, memorizing Robin Williams' comedy special, Live on Broadway. It's always seemed like comics had a special eye for society and human behavior. I mean how else do they come up with their jokes, mostly geared towards many of the societal norms we take for granted?

There have been studies trying to quantify the psychology of comics and better understand what both motivates them to do what they do and also what gives them their special talents. Famous comics such as Robin Williams, Richard Pryor, and Ellen Degeneres are often referred to when talking about this special kind of intelligence. They are also often put in the Mental Health/Illness category as well; to which correlations have also been explored. Though most studies find that they are not necessarily more "sick" than non-comedians, most often their personalities come with a high drive for acceptance.

To better understand if anything of this has merit, or to at least attempt to hear it from the horse's mouth; I sat down with my friend, Jojo White to talk about his passion for sharing the connection between Comedy and Depression in what might be the show's most heartfelt episode yet.

Buckle in, this one is going to take you for a ride. I hope you enjoy - Steven.

For show notes, visit: https://mynicheishuman.com/podcast/the-dark-side-of-comedy/

I always thought you had to be in the military to get PTSD. Clearly, I didn't understand what trauma really is...

But PTSD, or trauma is so much more than being exposed to war. I've often wondered about the idea of "micro-trauma"; almost getting hit by a car, losing a job, being betrayed by a loved one... anything that causes us to question our reality in an instant. How do these events change our lives, how does our behavior change, our outlook on ideals like trust, family, and hard work?

If you're just as curious as I am, give this episode a chance. I sit down with my friend Taryn Greene who is currently seeking her PhD in Health Psychology from UNC with a focus on Post Traumatic Growth. This is a very candid interview with some surprises.

To see the video and show notes, visit, https://mynicheishuman.com/podcast/understanding-ptsd-post-traumatic-growth/