YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

“My coach raped me over 200 times”. The truth that Theo almost died trying to keep to himself. Only when he hit bottom with drugs, sex and gambling could he summon the courage to face what had happened when he was a rising 14 year-old phenom. He talks about his childhood, his hockey career, getting sober and his post-career mission of raising awareness and trying to change outdated sentencing laws that allow sexual predators to continue to abuse in Canada, especially the new documentary about it, Victor Walk.

To learn more about Theo’s cause and the film Victor Walk go to http://www.victorwalk.com

This episode is sponsored by BlueApron. For your first three meals free with free shipping go to http://www.blueapron.com/mental

Thanks to retired NHL referee Kerry Fraser and the Player’s Tribune website for permission to read his piece about Theo. It can be read here. http://www.theplayerstribune.com/2016-6 ... e-stories/

For tickets to LAPodfest (in person, live stream or 30 day archive viewing) go to http://www.lapodfest.com and use offer code HAPPY for $5 off (plus Paul gets some of the ticket price).

I feel a shame-filled surge of excitement whenever there's a male guest, especially one who is going to talk about their history/dealing with sexual abuse. I feel bad being excited over someone's pain and when I finally found the courage to admit this to a friend he said i shouldn't. He said it was as normal as him getting excited over documentaries about horrific events with gruesome details.

The pang of hesitation still comes but I was very excited for this ep. To hear about this topic from another adult dealing with the after effects, to compare their stories to mine and see how often things of that nature happen - but also there's a bit of jealously and I think that's why I felt the shame

In any case this episode was AMAZING. Paul was so excited to be talking about this topic and to these men and everyone felt so comfortable that the conversation never stopped. it was gripping inspiring and I want to watch that documentary immediately! I will be voting for this ep for best of the year for sure

One of the best episodes in a long time.