In this episode of Schiz & Giggles Podcast, hosts Kody Green and Kit Wallis sit down with schizophrenia advocate Michelle Hammer to discuss her experiences living with schizophrenia and her work to reduce stigma through education and advocacy. The conversation explores the realities of living with a serious mental illness, the challenges of navigating public misconceptions, and the importance of sharing lived experiences.
Michelle discusses her journey as the founder of Schizophrenic.NYC, a mental health clothing and lifestyle brand created to start conversations about mental illness and challenge stereotypes. She shares insights into what it is like to be an advocate in New York City, the impact of stigma on people with schizophrenia, and why visibility and honest discussions are so important.
Throughout the interview, the hosts and Michelle compare their experiences living with schizophrenia, highlighting both common challenges and individual differences. The episode emphasizes that people with schizophrenia are more than their diagnosis and can build meaningful careers, relationships, and creative projects while managing their mental health.
The discussion offers an honest, relatable, and often humorous look at life with schizophrenia while encouraging greater understanding, acceptance, and compassion for those living with serious mental illnesses.
Schiz & Giggles Podcast
Schiz & Giggles is a mental health podcast hosted by schizophrenia advocate Kody Green and schizoaffective disorder advocate Kit Wallis. Through candid conversations, humor, personal stories, and guest interviews, the podcast explores schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, mental health, recovery, advocacy, and life with serious mental illness. By combining lived experience with education, Schiz & Giggles aims to reduce stigma, foster understanding, and create a space where honest discussions about mental health can thrive.
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🎥 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SchizandGiggles
Michelle Hammer
Michelle Hammer is a well-known schizophrenia activist, mental health advocate, artist, and founder of the brand Schizophrenic.NYC, using her own experiences to challenge stigma and start conversations about mental health. Diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 22 after an earlier misdiagnosis, she turned her journey into purpose by creating a clothing line in 2015 that blends bold design with awareness-raising messaging. Michelle has been featured in the WebMD documentary Voices, which was nominated at the Tribeca X Festival, and her work has appeared in major outlets like Mashable and The Daily Mail, as well as on ABC, NBC, and CBS. Through videos, public speaking, and creative projects, she humanizes schizophrenia, educates audiences about living with the condition, and inspires others to look beyond stereotypes toward understanding and acceptance.
Connect With Michelle
🌐 Website: https://www.schizophrenic.nyc/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schizophrenic.nyc/
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR5_ez7c5rhC6mIpcs6tAWg
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@schizophrenic.nyc