What if the story of bipolar disorder was told not just through textbooks—but through real people, real lives, and real hope?

In this deeply moving and insightful episode, Shaley sits down with author Sarah Schley and filmmaker Bonnie Weltch to talk about Brainstorm, a powerful new documentary that brings together lived experience and cutting-edge science to reshape how we understand bipolar disorder.

Sarah shares her personal journey—what it was like to live for 25 years without the correct diagnosis of bipolar II, the toll that took, and what finally changed. She opens up about turning decades of pain, confusion, and stigma into her memoir, and ultimately into a film designed to reach people all over the world.

Bonnie takes us behind the scenes of creating a documentary from the ground up—what it takes to commit years to one story, how they found and chose the individuals featured in the film, and why it was so important to weave together both human stories and scientific research. The result is a film that doesn’t just inform—it connects, validates, and inspires.

Together, they explore the realities of bipolar II, including why it’s so often misunderstood or misdiagnosed, and why it is not a “lesser” form of bipolar disorder. They also dive into fascinating, evidence-based science featured in the film—from genetics and brain function to circadian rhythms—and how this research can actually translate into practical, everyday strategies for staying well.

This conversation also highlights something many people living with bipolar struggle with: the ongoing nature of the illness. Even when things look “together” on the outside, there is often continuous effort behind the scenes—protecting sleep, maintaining routines, advocating for needs, and staying aware of early warning signs. Sarah and Shaley speak candidly about what it really takes to live well, and why self-advocacy is not selfish—it’s essential.

Most importantly, this episode is filled with hope. Through storytelling, community, and science, it reminds us that while bipolar disorder is complex and lifelong, it is also manageable—and a full, meaningful life is possible.

Whether you live with bipolar, love someone who does, or simply want to better understand it, this episode will leave you feeling more informed, more connected, and less alone.

YOU can watch Brainstorm on World Bipolar Day 🌍

Get your ticket here (there is a sliding scale to make is accessible to all)

Brainstorm World Bipolar Day Screening

Chapter Markers:

(00:06:12) Meet the Voices Behind Brainstorm Sarah and Bonnie share how a memoir turned into a global documentary project

(00:11:48) 25 Years to Diagnosis: The Reality of Bipolar II Why bipolar II is often missed—and the cost of getting it wrong

(00:18:55) From Book to Film: Taking the Story Worldwide The leap from personal story to powerful, large-scale impact

(00:26:40) Blending Science + Lived Experience Why this film weaves real stories with research—and why that matters

(00:34:22) The Science That Changes Everything Circadian rhythms, brain function, and what we can actually do to stay well

(00:44:05) Living Well with Bipolar: Boundaries, Routine & Hope Practical strategies, self-advocacy, and a reminder you’re not alone

Bonnie Waltch is the director, producer, and writer of BrainStorm, a feature-length documentary film about the bipolar spectrum. She is the award-winning senior producer and writer of the one-hour PBS and international broadcast documentary, Earth Emergency, and series of five short films, Climate Emergency: Feedback Loops, narrated by Richard Gere. She has worked on a variety of science series for PBS and the Discovery Channel, and has produced, directed, and written short films for museums around the U.S.

Sara Schley is the author of the memoir BrainStorm: From Broken to Blessed on the Bipolar Spectrum which inspired BrainStorm the documentary. Her mission in both the book and the film is to end stigma, save lives, and maximize healing. Sara is co-producer, co-writer, and one of six characters who live with bipolar in the film. Prior to becoming a full time bipolar health advocate, Sara worked as a business consultant, social change entrepreneur, speaker, and author and led systemic transformation at renowned companies around the world.

In this powerful World Bipolar Day episode, host Shaley is joined by mental health advocates Rudy and Tatyana to unpack the realities of hypomania and mania—often misunderstood, sometimes romanticized, and deeply complex experiences within bipolar disorder. Through raw storytelling, they explore early warning signs, grandiosity, sleep disruption, sensory changes, and the fine line between productivity and danger. They also share vulnerable moments around diagnosis, paranoia, delusions, and the emotional aftermath of manic episodes. This conversation sheds light on why mania is often missed, how it differs from hypomania, and the importance of tracking symptoms, building support systems, and creating preventative care plans. Whether you live with bipolar disorder or support someone who does, this episode brings clarity, honesty, and hope.

Timestamps (Key Moments):

• (00:00:00) Introduction & why mania/hypomania are often misunderstood

• (00:05:30) Rudy’s first manic episode & recognizing the signs

• (00:12:45) Grandiosity & feeling “like your true self” during mania

• (00:20:10) Tatiana’s early warning signs & rapid speech

• (00:26:40) Delusions, paranoia & losing touch with reality

• (00:36:15) Sleep disruption, time loss & hyperfixation

• (00:48:20) The crash: depression after mania & emotional impact

• (01:05:50) Coping strategies, prevention & support systems

In this powerful and practical conversation, Shaley sits down with therapist and author Diana Partington to unpack what Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) actually is—and why it can be a game-changer for people living with bipolar disorder.

Diana shares her deeply personal story of living with suicidality for decades before discovering DBT, the therapy that finally gave her the “toolbox” she had been searching for. Together, Shaley and Diana explore how DBT differs from traditional CBT, why mindfulness doesn’t mean “emptying your mind,” and how skills like Wise Mind, emotional regulation, and the PLEASE skill can help stabilize mood, increase awareness, and create buffer zones before episodes escalate.

This episode is a relatable, stigma-breaking look at learning skills after years of thinking you already should know them—and how small, practical tools can make a life-saving difference.

Whether you’re newly diagnosed, supporting someone with bipolar disorder, or looking for concrete strategies that actually work in real life, this conversation brings hope, validation, and actionable insight.

(00:10:32) Why DBT felt different from every therapy Diana had tried before (00:13:48) The “toolbox” metaphor—and why skills matter more than insight alone (00:18:21) How DBT was originally developed to treat suicidality, not just diagnoses (00:22:05) The problem with CBT for highly sensitive or suicidal individuals (00:26:40) The DBT philosophy: therapists are not the experts—you are (00:30:12) Understanding Emotion Mind, Reasonable Mind, and Wise Mind (00:34:55) Can you access Wise Mind during bipolar symptoms? Practical realities (00:39:18) Catching hypomania early: recognizing patterns “at the beginning of the curve” (00:44:02) The PLEASE skill explained—why sleep, medication, and routine are foundational (00:49:27) Mindfulness redefined: it’s not meditation, it’s learning to observe your mind

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening. If this episode or podcast means something to you, I would be forever grateful if you could give a five star review so it can reach people that need it.

You can also share this conversation with someone who could use a few more tools in their toolbox—and remember: skills can be learned at any stage of the journey.

We have a peer support group on instagram and you are invited to connect on IG: @this.is.bipolar

Want to connect or work with Shaley? email thisisbipolarpodcast@gmail.com

Buy "DBT for Life" by Diana Partington here

Register for Online Workshops

More about Diana:

Diana Partington is a licensed professional counselor and author of DBT for Life: Skills to transform the way you live. She offers online DBT skills classes, workshops, and training for clients and clinicians across North America. She wrote her master’s thesis at Vanderbilt on effectively teaching DBT skills for different learning styles. Passionate about making DBT skills accessible to everyone, Diana also speaks at major conferences and provides bespoke training for mental health professionals. Her website, DBTforLife.com (https://dbtforlife.com/talking-and-training/www.DBTforLife.com), is a hub of information about Dialectical Behavior Therapy, her educational offerings, her book, and her podcast "Suffering Optional: DBT and the Dharma" You can also connect with Diana on IG @sufferingoptional.