Episode notes
It was pretty simple in comedian and writer Zach Zimmerman’s mind when he was a kid: you had to accept Jesus Christ as your personal lord and savior or you would spend all eternity being tortured in the fiery pits of Hell. And he wanted to do that accepting. Problem was, God never spoke to young Zach or gave him any indication that he was saved. No revelatory ecstatic church service or voice from beyond to give Zach a sign, just constant doubt and terror.
And that can mess someone up. Zach struggled for years with depression and anxiety.
His mental health took a further hit when a close friend was killed in what was the largest mass shooting in American history at the time.
Zach got to college at Princeton and in short order figured out that he was atheist and vegetarian and that the guys playing volleyball shirtless outside his dorm were pretty darn attractive.
Now a successful author, Zach has received good therapy and can reflect on the experiences that formed his frame of mind.
Preorder your copy of Zach’s book, Is It Hot in Here (or Am I Suffering for All Eternity for the Sins I Committed on Earth)?, due April 18, 2023, wherever books are sold. For tour dates and more information about Zach, visit his website www.Zach-Zimmerman.com. Follow Zach on Twitter @zzdoublezz.
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Help is available right away.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALK
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.
International suicide hotline numbers available here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
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John’s acclaimed memoir, The Hilarious World of Depression, is now available in paperback. https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250209566/thehilariousworldofdepression
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John is on Twitter @johnmoe.
In this episode...
Guests
- Zach Zimmerman
About the show
Join host John Moe (The Hilarious World of Depression) for honest, relatable, and, yes, sometimes funny conversations about mental health. Hear from comedians, musicians, authors, actors, and other top names in entertainment and the arts about living with depression, anxiety, and many other common disorders. Find out what they’ve done to address it, what worked, and what didn’t. Depresh Mode with John Moe also features useful insights on mental health issues with experts in the field. It’s honest talk from people who have been there and know their stuff. No shame, no stigma, and maybe a few laughs.
Like this podcast? Then you’ll love John’s book, The Hilarious World of Depression.
Logo by Clarissa Hernandez.
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