John Haremza takes The Power of Influence on the road to Toronto for a live panel recorded backstage at the first annual White Party, an event in support of CAMH, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
Five guests, five very different paths, one shared truth: everybody has something.
Frank "Super Frankie" Waszkun opens up about the panic attack that spiraled into psychotic depression, being physically brought into CAMH, and the simple daily habits (walks, naps, and leaning on the people around him) that helped him come back. Cynthia Grace Miranda, founder of SINTA, shares how being diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at 16 shrank her world to "a box," and how she spent the next 40 years making that box the world. Sara Byrnell of the CAMH Foundation talks about why the stigma around asking for help is still so strong, and how CAMH's research is building new treatments for the people traditional care isn't reaching. Jason Hutton of the Toronto Timepiece Show talks about building community around a shared passion. And Rasta Phil, childhood friend of Mark Wahlberg, closes the night with a live performance of his song "The Neighborhood."
John also shares his own story of growing up with dyslexia, being labelled "slow" in school, and the moment on a stage in front of 5,000 people when telling the truth about it changed everything.
In this episode:
• Why asking someone "how are you really doing?" can change a life
• The shame that keeps people from getting help, and how to get past it
• Why a 15 minute walk with a friend can matter more than advice
• "Vulnerability is growth": doing life one step at a time
• Knowing that a hard moment is a moment, not the rest of your life
• Being conscious of the influences you allow around you
Chapters:
00:00 Cold open
00:53 Welcome: live from the White Party in Toronto
01:50 Jason Hutton: the Toronto Timepiece Show
05:45 Sara Byrnell: CAMH and breaking the stigma
11:46 Frank "Super Frankie" Waszkun: "CAMH saved my life"
26:20 Cynthia Grace Miranda: going blind at 16 and getting out of the box
31:36 John on dyslexia and the speech that changed everything
34:37 Rasta Phil: giving back and Municipal
38:00 "The Neighborhood," performed live
38:51 About The Power of Influence book
Guests:
• Frank "Super Frankie" Waszkun: @superfrankiedisco
• Cynthia Grace Miranda, SINTA: @trysinta.world
• Sara Byrnell, CAMH Foundation: @camhfoundation
• Jason Hutton, Toronto Timepiece Show: @torontotimepieceshow
• Rasta Phil: @rasta_phil
• Event: Chapter 6 White Party, @chapter6.to
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).
Get The Power of Influence by John Haremza on Amazon, or grab the audiobook on Spotify.
This episode mentions suicide and mental illness.