“When I was 13, I went to the psych ward for the first time,” recalls Emi Nietfeld.

After a childhood spent in manipulative therapy, institutional facilities, foster care, and even times of homelessness, Emi got into Harvard, and then went on to get a great job at Google. This is the classic American rags-to-riches story, of someone overcoming misery to find success and happiness, right?

Not exactly. “Those perfect human interest stories are fictions,” she says. “We really do expect people to be perfect in a way that I knew I was not.” In this episode, the nuance of learning to accept one’s pain, and yet refusing to stand for it.

** Please be advised that this episode contains details that may be upsetting to some listeners including references to suicide, sexual assault, and disordered eating. **

Additional resources are available at: 

SAMHSA

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

National Alliance for Eating Disorders

Show Notes

Resources mentioned this episode:

Acceptance by Emi Nietfeld

Quote from James Baldwin “Notes of a Native Son”

PDF of Lee’s Interview Notes

Transcription Link

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