DeepSummary
The episode features an interview with Lulu Miller, co-founder of the NPR radio show Invisibilia and a contributor to Radiolab. She discusses her long-standing struggle with depression, starting from a young age when she felt pressure to ease the cruelty of the world and cheer up others. Lulu talks about her suicide attempt in high school and how therapy finally helped her open up.
Despite achieving her dream job at Radiolab, a breakup led Lulu to cheat on her boyfriend and leave radio to pursue fiction writing, where she initially struggled. She became fascinated by the story of David Starr Jordan, an obscure 19th-century ichthyologist who painstakingly sewed labels onto fish specimens after an earthquake destroyed his collection. Researching his life helped Lulu find meaning and a path forward.
Lulu discusses how realizing that the category of "fish" is not scientifically valid served as a metaphor for her that the world still holds many surprises and uncertainties to be uncovered. She highlights the importance of therapy, humor, exercise, and accepting that good times will follow bad periods in managing her depression. The episode provides an intimate look at Lulu's personal journey intermixed with her signature scientific storytelling.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Lulu Miller's journey with depression started at a young age and included a suicide attempt in high school.
- Researching the life of obscure 19th-century ichthyologist David Starr Jordan helped provide meaning and perspective for Lulu during a difficult period.
- Learning that the category of 'fish' is scientifically invalid served as a metaphor for Lulu about the world still holding many surprises and uncertainties.
- Strategies like therapy, humor, exercise, and accepting ups and downs have helped Lulu cope with her depression.
- Lulu believes maintaining some level of positive self-delusion or hope, in moderation, can have beneficial effects.
- Sharing personal stories intermixed with scientific storytelling is a hallmark of Lulu's work.
- The episode provides an intimate look at Lulu's personal struggle with mental health issues.
- Depression is a common but often stigmatized mental illness that many people experience.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “And then it just spiraled into this weird ass book.“ by Lulu Miller
- “There are all these measurable effects about what a little sprinkle of positive illusion can do. And I think that started to get me to see it is okay.“ by Lulu Miller
- “I think age has just helped me to understand my body and my brain more like a machine, and just know very simply the things that help me.“ by Lulu Miller
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Episode Information
The Hilarious World of Depression
American Public Media
4/20/20
Public radio and podcast audiences have been listening to Lulu Miller’s storytelling for years on Radiolab and on Invisibilia, a show she co-founded. Her work is generally about other people but on this episode, she shares her own story, which is by turns harrowing and triumphant. Lulu’s new book is “Why Fish Don’t Exist” (Link: https://bit.ly/2XNTnq4) and it’s about her history with depression, the scientific curiosity that helped get her back on track, and, yeah, why fish don’t exist.
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Visit MakeItOK.org to get resources, tips for talking about mental health, and more.
If you or anyone you know is struggling, there's help available, any time. It's free and you'll reach a trained volunteer. You can reach the Crisis Text Line by texting the word HOME to 741-741, or call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.