In this episode, entrepreneur Frank "Super Frankie" Waszkun sits down with John Haremza for an honest conversation about the mental health breakdown that almost took his life, and the slow, real road back. Eight years ago, while running a successful business, with great parents, a stable home and his high school sweetheart by his side, Frankie couldn't get out of bed. He spent a year and a half there, couldn't brush his teeth, and ended up spending four months in CAMH, Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, where he received shock therapy three times a week. Today he is back leading his company, hosting the Untucked golf tournament for mental health, and talking openly about it so nobody else feels alone.
You'll learn:
• Why mental health can happen to anyone, no matter how good life looks from the outside
• The panic attack at 25 that showed him how fast the mind can spiral
• Why "just snap out of it" doesn't work, and what families get wrong
• The two words from a coworker that told him he was finally back
• Why his wife begged him to go work at Starbucks, and why having somewhere to be matters
• The orange juice and water story: why negativity spreads faster than positivity
• How naps give you "two days" in one, and why rest protects your mood
• What to do when a friend is struggling: make the call, go for the walk
• The 15 minutes a day for 100 days challenge that can help you get out of the house
Whether you're going through something yourself or you love someone who is, this episode is a reminder that the mind can lead you up and the mind can lead you down, so be mindful of your mind.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:41 Welcome Super Frankie
01:35 Untucked golf and why mental health is personal
01:45 His breakdown and his time at CAMH
03:20 John's sister and "just snap out of it"
05:39 Shame, stigma, and why families don't understand
07:07 A year and a half in bed
08:43 What is normal?
09:20 Medication and living between a three and a six
11:02 The panic attack at 25
15:51 Why walking and talking helps
16:30 Four months in a psychiatric ward and shock therapy
17:05 Coming off medication and feeling again
17:57 Life before the breakdown
20:00 Seek first to understand: the subway story
22:30 Born in Poland and the people who were kind to him
23:33 Rasta Phil and the biggest heart in the room
24:41 Social media, bullying, and one comment that lasts a lifetime
26:10 "Frank, he's back"
28:14 "Just go work at Starbucks"
29:08 Coming back by delivering machines
30:19 The orange juice and water story
31:58 Walking away from gossip
32:58 How one person sets the tone at home
33:56 Naps and the double day
36:25 You become who you're around
37:29 Lifting people up by leading by example
38:34 Schizophrenia, postpartum, and the right medicine
42:15 November 1st: the day he decided to feel better
42:57 Be mindful of your mind
43:41 How to help a friend who is struggling
44:45 Social media and the next generation
45:49 15 minutes a day for 100 days
46:18 Thank you
Guest:
• Frank "Super Frankie" Waszkun: @superfrankiedisco
• Untucked Golf: untuckedgolf.com
Resources:
• CAMH mental health toolkit: toolkit.camh.ca
• If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 any time (Suicide Crisis Helpline in Canada, 988 Lifeline in the US).
This episode mentions suicide, psychiatric treatment and mental illness. Frankie's experience with medication is his own story, not medical advice: talk to your doctor before making any changes.
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