Chris Powell: Reality TV Star, Fitness Guru, Person With Mental Illness

Chris Powell is probably best known as the host of the ABC reality show Extreme Weight Loss, which ran for five seasons. On that show, Chris used his experience as a fitness trainer and all around motivational human to help people who wanted to lose 200 pounds or more. And Chris doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to experience mental illness. He comes across as very energetic, very positive, and someone not at all hounded by personal demons. But that’s the thing about disorders like anxiety and depression and substance use, anyone can get them and anyone can get damaged. In this interview, Chris talks about his childhood experiences with debilitating anxiety, his time spent as a flight instructor who was desperately afraid to fly airplanes, and his time addicted to painkillers. He also details the effect his divorce had on his mental health.

But Chris is healthy now and has some very practical advice based on how he’s been getting healthier.

Listen to the I Needed That Podcast with Chris Powell & Mathew Blades wherever fine pods are cast. Learn more about Chris at his website, www.ChrisPowell.com/About.

Thank you to all our listeners who support the show as monthly members of Maximum Fun.

Check out our I'm Glad You're Here and Depresh Mode merchandise at the brand new merch website MaxFunStore.com!

Hey, remember, you’re part of Depresh Mode and we want to hear what you want to hear about. What guests and issues would you like to have covered in a future episode? Write us at [email protected].

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

The Depresh Mode newsletter is available twice a week. Subscribe for free and stay up to date on the show and mental health issues. https://johnmoe.substack.com/

John’s acclaimed memoir, The Hilarious World of Depression, is now available in paperback. https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250209566/thehilariousworldofdepression

Find the show on Twitter @depreshpod and Instagram @depreshpod.

John is on Twitter @johnmoe.

Release date

Lydbog: 3. april 2023