interview

Filed under: Themes, The UpDown Report, Interviews

Part of Tom Wootton’s standard opening to his talks on mental illness is to pause, scan the audience and call for a show of hands. ”How many of you have a condition such as bipolar, schizophrenia or depression?” he’ll ask and then do a quick count. “Quite a few. That’s wonderful.” Wonderful? Personality disorders, often debilitating and source of much heartache, are rarely spoken of in such glowing terms. Yet, Wootton, 53, is not your average advocate for the mentally ill. Diagnosed with all three conditions in 2002, the former Silicon Valley high-tech executive has made it his calling to point out the positives that come with the illness. As he wrote in his 2005 memoir, “The Bipolar Advantage,” controlled episodes of manic behavior and hallucinations, and even the flip side, depression, can be harnessed to one’s betterment. His new book, “Bipolar in Order,” is slated to be published in late September. The Sacramento Bee talked recently to Wootton. Here are the highlights:

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Filed under: Regular Contributors, Donna Williams, Themes, Auties & Aspies, Bum Deal, Interviews, Campaign Watch, Irked Videos

A doozy of an interview…after the jump!

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Filed under: Themes, The UpDown Report, Irked Videos

The Bipolar Buddha!

The Marathon Man of Mirth!

A whole lotta laughter…after the jump!

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Filed under: Themes, Bum Deal, Interviews

The internet is a gloriously diverse library (in which you don’t have to whisper!), and we recently “surfed upon” a short audio clip that was recorded several months ago, during the 2009 Homeless Count. WNYC News (New York Public Radio, very worth checking out) was speaking with a gentleman who’s striving to be honourable, right-minded and accountable to the people he loves.

When a microphone was put in front of him, he said this:

TRANSCRIPT:

“I owe this for me,

and I owe this for my family.

I’m just trying to live a right life now.”

.

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Filed under: Regular Contributors, Donna Williams, Themes, Auties & Aspies, Interviews, Irked Videos

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Filed under: Regular Contributors, Donna Williams, Themes, Auties & Aspies, Bum Deal, Interviews, Campaign Watch, Irked Videos

An Irked Magazine exclusive by Donna Williams

[Ed's note: Donna Williams is Irked Magazine's Melbourne correspondent. She's an internationally best-selling author, painter, sculptor, and composer. She has autism, and a "fruit salad" of other disorders. Mel Young is one of the planet's leading advocates for the homeless. In addition to being co-creator and President of the Homeless World Cup, he's also co-founder of The Big Issue Scotland, co-founder of the International Network of Street Papers, author of "GOAL: The story of the Homeless World Cup," founder of New Consumer Magazine, and a Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship Outstanding Fellow.]

Melbourne came alive this week to the glory and spectacle of the International Homeless World Cup and even I got swept up in it. Sacha Vais, founder and editor of Irked Magazine, contacted me offering me the opportunity to interview the founder of the HWC, Mel Young (also co-founder of The Big Issue Scotland in 1993). He arranged for a TV interview to be filmed with Mel Click to continue »

Filed under: Regular Contributors, Donna Williams, Themes, Auties & Aspies, Interviews

Donna Williams on KRNV TV in Nevada

Donna Williams is an internationally best-selling author, painter, sculptor, and composer. She has autism, and a “fruit salad” of other disorders.

Donna’s one of Irked Magazine’s most cherished Regular Contributors and most irreplaceable interviewers.

Donna was recently invited to give a series of talks throughout the United States (Philadelphia, Dallas, Nevada, LA…).

Click the link below to watch a truly fascinating interview she gave to KRNV TV in Nevada:

Click here to watch Donna’s TV interview.

For more, please visit http://www.donnawilliams.net.

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Filed under: Regular Contributors, Stuart Baker-Brown, Donna Williams, Themes, Auties & Aspies, Interviews

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Filed under: Themes, Bum Deal 

***

Selected writings from http://homelessmanspeaks.wordpress.com.

Tony has lived on the streets of Toronto for a long time.

Tony loves to talk and has so much to say.

One day Tony met Philip, and they talked and talked and talked.

Philip Stern is a Montreal-born entrepreneur who now lives in Toronto.

Philip had an idea, and asked Tony to “do a blog” together. And Tony accepted.

The words all come from Tony. Philip just posts them online, and adds a few explanations when they’re needed.

“Me, I’m still trying to think what the hell a blog is,” says Tony.

“He’s laugh-your-ass-off funny sometimes,” says Philip.

An unlikely friendship.

An extraordinary blog.

A Homeless Man to write home about.

3 essays after the jump…

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Filed under: Themes, Cerebral Ballsy,  Wheelchairman of the Board, Interviews

Day At Work

by David Gayes

I interviewed Chris and his mom, Sheila, (real names used with permission) about Chris’s job. Chris is a mail clerk for Rotary International. He has had this job since 1993. He works 40 hours a week, has full healthcare benefits, and paid vacation time.

Chris describes a typical workday:

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