#795 Taking Off The Mask - A Best Of Ep w/Laurenne Sala
Mental Illness Happy Hour
Paul Gilmartin
4.8 • 6.1K Ratings
🗓️ 10 April 2026
⏱️ 180 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
A Best Of ep originally aired in 2014. What happens when the Homecoming Queen takes off her popularity mask and deals with the pain of her co-dependent mom and the suicide of her gay father? The critically acclaimed author is one of the most compassionate and truth-seeking guests we’ve ever had.
Some links for Laurenne:
Check out her critically acclaimed books (especially her children’s books): https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B015AJ8S5O?ccs_id=8ad74b39-41be-42dc-9e0a-ea3ee5da39f5
Her website: laurenne.com (for writing and work)
Instagram www.instagram.com/salisima
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/laurenne.sala/
The suicide support community she started at www.DontSendFlowers.co
This episode is sponsored Quince. Go to www.Quince.com/mental for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.
This episode is sponsored by Alma. Search their directory of over 20,000 therapists with different specialities, life experiences, and identities, and 99% of them take insurance. Go to www.HelloAlma.com/happyhour
This episode is sponsored by Timeline. Timeline’s clinically proven formula is now available at a new, lower price . Mitopure now starts at $99, with the exact same science and formula and listeners can still get 20% off when they go to www.timeline.com/MENTAL
This episode is sponsored by The Jordan Harbinger Show. Learn more about the world, improve your critical thinking skills and be entertained! Listen or subscribe here:
- jordanharbinger.com/subscribe
- Apple Podcasts: jordanharbinger.com/itunes
- Spotify: jordanharbinger.com/spotify
Here are the two episodes Paul recommended.
And
If you’re interested in seeing or buying the furniture that Paul designs and makes follow his IG @ShapedFurniture or visit the website www.shapedfurniture.com
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to episode 795 with my best of episode with Lorenz Sala. |
| 0:05.6 | This was recorded back in 2014. |
| 0:09.3 | And I have no idea what, I remember it was a great conversation with her, but I don't remember |
| 0:17.5 | what I was talking about. |
| 0:20.5 | I don't have the bandwidth to replay the whole thing and make out any edits where it's like, |
| 0:26.9 | well, I'm no longer married and that doesn't make sense. |
| 0:30.0 | And this, I'm just putting the whole thing up there. |
| 0:33.0 | My bandwidth is very limited right now. |
| 0:36.5 | I feel like I need a break. |
| 0:39.5 | Those of you that are regular listeners, first of all, thank you for your support. |
| 0:44.5 | As I explained in the last episode or two, I had a relapse on pornography about 15 days ago. |
| 0:57.2 | Actually, it was about 25 days ago, |
| 0:59.1 | but now I'm on about 15 days away from it. |
| 1:02.2 | And a lot of very intense feelings are coming up. |
| 1:08.3 | And I am hopeful because I've been through the ringer before with this. |
| 1:14.7 | I've never relapsed on drugs and alcohol, 22 years sober from that. |
| 1:21.2 | But man, this is a whole different beast. |
| 1:32.3 | Because the pharmacy is in your head and people who understand, I guess they'd be called process addictions, people who struggle with food issues, |
| 1:46.6 | shopping issues, et cetera, et cetera. |
| 1:50.3 | It's tough when it's not a literal substance that is a black and white thing that you |
| 1:58.8 | can refrain from. |
| 2:02.2 | But I do feel like my mood is improving. |
... |
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