What stood out right off the bat was Hudson’s willingness to have his guard down around Bialik, detailing his experiences in a recovery centre, his marriage and his relationship with his sister. Ever heard an actor openly discuss what medication they’re on for anxiety? It was a first for us, as Hudson went on to comfortably talk about his mental health and what he does to keep it in check.

Tackles several mental health topics on her weekly podcast show titled Breakdown; (top,left) Guest Oliver Hudson spoke of his relationship with his sister Kate Hudson. Pics/Instagram

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Vulnerability is an important factor; while we will never really be able to entirely empathise with struggles that stars experience, the episode can be a lesson in understanding why mental health must be seen through multiple lenses, as the root cause of Hudson’s angst-filled experiences seemed to stem from raw human emotion. Our praises to the episode with, in Bialik’s words, ‘cool Rabbi’ Steve Leder, where Bialik opens up about her own experiences with faith and identity, and how Judaism aided her in mourning the loss of her father. The episode sits at the intersection of mental health and religion, and how one factor inevitably shapes the other.

Now, here’s why we feel a podcast or show like this from a person like Bialik matters — it normalises many conversations we’re afraid to have. Every episode has a nugget or two of wisdom to take home. Although it is a podcast, we’d highly recommend tuning in to the video format available on YouTube, for a far more engaging and informative hour of content. 

Our picks from the series

>> Rabbi Steve Leder: Clearing out the clutter, nonlinear grief, and finding gratitude  
>> Leslie Jordan: Gay, sober and fabulous
>> Dan Matthews: PETA, prostitutes and a schizophrenic success story

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