Episode 8-Sandy Naiman: The Power of Possibility

Nellie Jacobs interviews Sandy Naiman. Within moments of conversation with Sandy, it's very evident that she loves what she does. When Sandy takes on a job, she flies with it. She's a well-known journalist (with awards too numerous to mention), crusading mental health advocate (also award-winning), in-demand inspirational speaker and now, enthusiastic community college professor pioneering her own courses. In spite of her shocking personal experience with a mental illness, Sandy is an upbeat messenger who sometimes considers herself both 'writer' and 'righter.' You get a sense of Sandy's wry humour in the quote by Groucho Marx ending her emails: "Blessed be the cracked for they are the ones who let the light in." Sandy is, however, completely serious about her purpose: from her teens until 1988, she was hospitalized twenty times for mania. She has endured chronic repercussions caused by a prescribed, yet badly monitored medication. Tune in to hear Sandy speak frankly about her personal and professional history. Highly intelligent and piercingly perceptive, she is happy to express her fresh viewpoints and carefully-considered opinions. She offers a dozen ways to unleash the power of possibility. You are guaranteed to leave this interview reeling with plenty of ideas to consider. From 1977-2007, Sandy was a reporter, feature writer and columnist at The Toronto Sun. She's served as commentator on CBC radio and woman's editor on CHFI radio. She's a part-time professor — Leadership in Society, Women in Canada and Success Strategies for College at Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology in Toronto. Her latest freelance article appears in the Field Notes section of The Walrus magazine, January 2009 issue.Read Sandy's bi-weekly blog "Coming Out Crazy" for The Toronto Star at http://thestar.blogs.com/mentalhealth.