Maria Bamford’s Former Psychiatrist Googled Her During A Session | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend

[@lu1845]

There's something so endearing about Maria that I just want to give her a hug

[@awkwardboy]

I hugged her once, with her permission. It was marvelous.

[@thehumanconversationalist1527]

Same here. Absolutely!

[@angiemalone8262]

Thank you Conan, for recognizing the pain or situation Maria was describing was a pain you had not experienced. I have desperately wanted this from people and believe it or not just hearing a human do that even on a podcast creates a shift for me. Thank you for having that capability

[@Bighawkeye46]

I spent 12 days in a mental hospital in Maryland, and while I very much didn't want to be there, it was the best place for me at the time and I'm thankful for the opportunity to get well there. I really appreciate Maria speaking about her experiences so publicly. It's absolutely vital that these stories are shared so people know that they can get help, and that they aren't the first nor will they be the last person to go through such a profound personal struggle.

[@jeremiahshackelford9656]

I ❤ Maria. Also, thank you Conan for saying, "I cannot relate." So many people don't understand why that is such a supportive and important thing to say.

[@wuhaninstituteofvirology]

she has much courage to talk about these heavy topics (most people shy away from, even/especially if they themselves are suffering from them too)

[@jaybestnz]

This was such a touching and authentic interview. It's so nice to have a variety of types of people and sharing experiences.

[@andymoody8363]

Love Maria, she's so painfully honest and brave, and funny by the way. I wish her nothing but love.

[@Askalott]

I love Maria Bamford. Her show Lady Dynamite was fantastic and so underrated.

[@ezziboo]

Maria Bamford is a national treasure.

[@A_A_K_123]

Maria is awesome. My hat's off to her, including breathtaking honesty about mental illness. Amazing impressions and absolutely hilarious comedy. I'm listening to "Sure I'll join your cult" and it holds nothing back.

[@deborahmulkey1627]

❤❤❤❤ Maria Bamford!! Terrific support for mental health and illness prevention and treatment!

[@dmsanct]

i love Maria. She is S class funny + smart af

[@Zonker66]

7 out of 10? Nah... regular people pointed to Richard Pryor types... Jonathan Winters was a comedian's comedian. I grew up in that time and he was pretty damn underrated.

[@SeeStuDo]

Maria is a gift to us. ❤

[@PhirstPlays]

well said.

[@BuddhaFang]

There wasn’t a better picture of Maria for the thumbnail?

[@justayoutuber1906]

Maria does great voice-over work

[@melann4522]

Love this Woman.

[@MichaelLasotaWheresWaldo]

So yea. She's right. 2023 has been a weird year for my mental state. Spent ~10 years in Taiwan after living in the US since I was born, then going to the Philippines. Stress from a divorce and new relationship brought hallucinations and - trigger warning: attempted ..... you know the rest of the phrase. Thankfully I was unsuccessful. Voices in the head, paranoia, hallucinations again. THANKFULLY *knock on wood* only happened twice. Asia does not treat mental health seriously. I didn't want to ...... harm self. Or others. But it happened to self. Yes, I'm keeping it vague. Thankfully my scars healed mostly. With a few exceptions. It really, really sucks. Although in retrospect I found the "comedy" in it. I know it's not at all funny. NOT. I had a seizure during the first of 2 episodes. I remember trying to put my eyeglasses and cellphone on the counter so I didn't hurt them whilst convulsing. My fiance holding me down while doctors just stared at me in the ER and did nothing. They gave me some kind of brown goop to go into the MRI and I freaked out and went even worse, trying to claw through the MRI machine. Needing help to the ER bed again, thinking they were trying to poison me, and then thinking my fiance wasn't her and walking myself up to the radiation hazard room, trying to knock down a guard. It as bizarre. All my life I've been known as the guy that always smiles. But something just broke me in a time of uncertainty. The voices went away. Anytime I hear them now - I say "You aren't real, GTFO". Thank you Conan for posting this. Psychosis is real. And I hope more countries address it in better ways. I don't take medication, I just take walks and try to call my friends and family as often as possible. That's been the best medicine for ME. I hope none of you ever have to experience this. But if you do - know you are loved. And there is help.

[@anitakephart3851]

This is why it's hard to listen to Conan. He constantly cuts people off and then he tells his whole story with her sitting there hanging and waiting to finish telling the story she's started trying to say. He took her subject matter and ran with it.

[@Hermitthecog]

If Maria Bamford ever says she's Richard Pryor, book her two nights.

[@blankroyai]

If i close my eyes, I can think that it’s chase o'donnell who’s talking 😂

[@AaronLaZox]

i am the "young" listener thanks conan 3:40

[@joshuatheargonaut4412]

Holy hell, when did Maria turn into an old lady? She’s only 53. She looks like she dedicates her evenings to shuffle board and bridge club.

[@archangel807]

Don't trust anyone today that does not want to end it

[@effurfeelings]

Ow! Corn!

[@gregmock6808]

I would love it if I could see someone interview Maria and not take her down the rabbit hole of her past mental breakdowns. She's charming and intelligent and funny as hell. Ask her about comedy for a change. I feel every podcast does this with her. She looked clearly uncomfortable when Conan probed that chapter of her life and dug in.

[@deborahmulkey1627]

I kind of agree, But perhaps she doesn't mind because she can do a public service by openly talking about it and taking away the stigma.

[@gregmock6808]

I feel she at times is being made to be the stigma...she's a comedian and I'd find it refreshing to hear her interviewed without that being the go to topic every interview. She does a lot for mental health awareness as it is. @@deborahmulkey1627

[@randyzeitman1354]

Johnathan Winters? ... funniest? Top 10? Please.

[@milquetoes]

I find Cohen a bit too pokey and bored as an interviewer to this Legend

[@Whatarewetalkingabouthere]

She looks so old. Lol she’s hilarious but she does look old..

[@angellacanfora]

Jeezus, are you 12??? What's the point of making a comment like this? To shame a woman for growing older? Do you have a mom? A sister? A girlfriend? Do you whine to them about their aging???

[@thedude4672]

I don't think she looks old.

[@mismay360]

What is this comment? What does it mean?

[@Whatarewetalkingabouthere]

@@mismay360 it means she’s aged to me…

[@angellacanfora]

@@Whatarewetalkingabouthere it’s true, people do age. But we all know that when it’s said about a woman it is meant as a pejorative.

[@dirtybastardlittle7485]

“Ouch”…ROFL

[@itslizmcmahon]

Maria touches on something so important, which is having empathy for people who have died by suicide. Most will never understand the kind of excruciating pain and altered state someone is in when it happens. We don't normally get angry at someone who's died of cancer or dementia, for example. But people who have died by suicide have also died of a horrific disease.

[@saharharhar86]

This. Thank you.

[@classictalkies]

💯💯💯

[@RJHart1214]

Insightful and inarguably true. 🙇‍♂️

[@Staceysprobablycrying]

Wonderful point, thank you.

[@RioRav]

Well that, but also a lot of those those were just people without diseases who came to a breaking point because of outward stressors. Many times those could've been prevented if we wanted to give people resources to what they need but we as a society haven't put our foot down and demanded for things we deserve like free universal healthcare and sufficient social security and mental health support, access to food and water, reasonable priced housing. The resources exist but were letting our communities, our own friends, kids, spouses down by cutting funds from the wrong places and allowing politicians to keep giving themselves and their rich "friends" tax breaks for their greed while our real friends take the beating for it and have to struggle and suffer for no real reason.

[@StefveoX]

I work as a therapist in a hospital, and I’m really thankful that a celebrity would go on a big podcast to demystify and de-stigmatize mental illness at that level. Way to go, Maria!

[@cindyd.01]

She is the best ❤

[@michaelhauser6440]

Everybody does it nowadays. They want sympathy

[@ianrastall]

She does a great job of advocating. This is really cool of her.

[@montananerd8244]

I believe historically, she'll be a really important person in the history of the psych disability rights movement...she opened the door for so many other comedians & public people/celebs to be more open and honest about mental health and functioning with a serious lifelong illness/disorder/issue.

[@rajnikanth1776]

I wish she put a button at the end of her talk about her psych admission that you should still seek help if you feel your going through something, cuz her anecdote dealt mostly with her frustration with the established system. I'm sure she believes you should ,but I just wish she reinforced that idea cuz ppl may take away the wrong message.

[@OhHiNebulae]

@@rajnikanth1776 She has said in her standup before, after telling stories about her bad experiences, that shitty help is still better than no help at all.

[@Metjammer]

Anyone judging people who tried or actually commited suicide has no idea what profound suffering feels like...

[@foxe2465]

True. Very true. My ex fiancee had the same bipolar. She tried to ____ herself many times. I found her wounded and unconscious a few times. Holding someone like that waiting for an ambulance changes your life view. And to lose someone to that is the worst, most unfathomable feeling.

[@terryrueckert9540]

❤

[@h3artands0uLL]

@@foxe2465❤️‍🩹🫂😔

[@emu_warrior]

except no one does that?? whats with the victim complex. no one makes fun of suicidal people anymore.. maybe b back in the 80s/90s but it's gone, suicide and mental health is so normalized buy y'all want to be victims, its part of ur psychosis

[@MasonKane]

Or the deep suffering when you come back from the ward and no one is there to help you recover emotionally. Society just doesn't care. Thank God for Maria for being as brave and down to earth as she is. People need to hear these things.

[@dagfincarp1113]

I think Maria was one of if not the first famous person I was aware of brave enough to speak about her mental health issues. She's awesome and hilarious.

[@khayes1995]

Johnathon Winters would occasionally mention it in interviews. But he’d frame it in the old style, “I was in a loony bin” way.

[@jasonchicago7276]

I am listening to her audiobook right now, and it's SO GREAT!!

[@montananerd8244]

Tbh, I used to be a little smug about how sick I was (BP1, but functional, not considered SSA disabled)...fortunately knew better than to say it. But I somehow lost my mania (no one can tell me why, but likely linked to the onset of a serious GI illness), and I have to say, moody and deeply depressed without an occasional euphoric holiday might be worse... my decisions are better but my inner life sucks...

[@gal1885]

At least you’re seeing the positive piece of it and I hope you have a good support system ! One day at a time

[@WillBravoNotEvil]

I first listened "audio only" a coupla days ago while scampering around working on a renovation house. I'm now watching here, laughing, bc I can remember where -to the foot - I was on the property when she mentioned the names of the two psych-wards. Can't remember breakfast, though. 😂

[@purdymarie9904]

When he asked “are you thinking about comedy when you are going through these bad episodes?” Her answer being“No”. I really appreciate when folks who face these so so misunderstood illnesses are able to give such insight into what they have gone through.

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

Jonathan Winters is like the original Robin Williams... everyone loved him. I loved him as a little kid when he was on Mork and Mindy (he was their son, Mearth, which was perfect casting because you really believed this old man could make you believe he was a newborn baby). Later I found out about his past while reading Lenny Bruce's autobiography. You could tell Lenny really respected him and was bothered about what was happening to him because, at that point, he hadn't come back yet.

[@cg2642]

I never knew that about jonathan winters

[@WillBravoNotEvil]

He made a lot of references, but only later did I realize that they were pulled from real life. Things like, "guys in all white" with "butterfly nets... " all while mimicking their actions. He was a huge positive influence on my outlook & humor (such as it is).

[@mollaymarie92]

My psychiatrist used to say “completed suicide” saying “committed” is more accusatory vs what it really is- a heartbreaking completion

[@Erilis000]

That's interesting.... To me, "completed" sounds like achieving a goal. 😬

[@Vendrix86]

jesus....sounds like over-shrinking...semantics don't matter in that regard

[@waytospergtherebro]

It's so important to use goal-oriented language.

[@florete2310]

Absolutely true. That would actually be the proper expression here.

[@thedude4672]

Completed suicide is a more accurate way of describing it, but I don't think that suicidal people care about semantics.

[@kennetho2499]

The biggest way to combat mental illness is by de-stigmatizing mental illness. There should be no shame in needing help once in a while when stressed, imbalanced, grieving, etc. It makes me so happy to see Maria being open about her struggles and helping listeners who may be going through a similar situation

[@gal1885]

Well said !

[@Keylimelife]

I agree that it shouldn't be so stigmatized that people don't seek help when they need it. A certain level of social stigma should be there to prevent people from claiming mental illness for clout -which if you know anything about tik Tok then you know this happens.

[@lisah9394]

" was told to murder by my dog. That's when you say, "Bad dog!" - Steven Wright?

[@HalConick]

Fascinating and funny. When she said that she wasn’t there, which I assume means that her self concept went away, I was blown away. I seek that state through spirituality. Being dropped there out of nowhere, however, is very scary. I admire Maria for bringing so much of herself into her work.

[@ftuT]

I loved Lady Dynamite, she really did something with mania and life and awkwardness and forced normalcy without missing a single step on the hilarious.

[@florete2310]

"You're a monster" "Ouch, spicy..." I am lmao😂😂😂

[@u.s.m.c.fewproudthemarines2987]

❤😢Cool video I feel for her

[@gilpinsteven]

Side note: I really like Maria's earrings!

[@amandamckernan4376]

Maria is funny, unique, creative and SO herself. What an awesome person! And she seems to have endless content wtf this well does not run dry

[@pamnguyen4352]

I love this episode so much. First introduction to Maria and I've gone down the Bamford rabbit hole since. Love her openness and dark humor.

[@deborahmulkey1627]

Mee too! You have to read her book "Sure I'll join your Cult" It's fantastic

[@sarahmcinerney6409]

two of my favorite people together

[@TheAndyCzech]

I know!! agree. I wish Johnathan Winters could have joined them. : )

[@zanequillarts9050]

A relative of mine was hospitalized. He has 15+ music albums that he has created over 35-40 years. They thought he was making it up as delusions of grandeur. I had to inform them otherwise.

[@jrpipik]

Conan brings up all this dark stuff, then tries to keep things light. Guh.

[@85jongo]

Maria is a genius. Sad thing is most people who are geniuses have a dark/sad side. I love her and am so grateful for how she's shared her story. As a fellow mental patient it makes me feel less alone. Laughing at the darkness is a sort of superpower and Maria has it down.

[@burneshollyman2621]

She is the single most brilliant comedian alive.

[@deborahmulkey1627]

She actually is kind of like a female Robin Williams or Jonathan Winters. Her depictions and imitations of voices of other really weird types of people in this world are so on point

[@bobbarron6969]

Wonderful interview. Conan seemed to get Maria and what a brave woman she is, and you guys had me laughing out loud.

[@Alexs1234]

The depth of this interview was great to see and even happier to see the empathy Conan gives Maria. It takes guts to share this experience.

[@lachauntiswashington231]

Great interview 😂😂

[@jeremystroud3653]

Greatest comic alive today. She’s an icon

[@bradleyheck7204]

Jonathan winters was a deeply troubled commedic genius and a peerless natural improvisor. It was a privledge to have been made to laugh so hard I peed a little by that man. He enoromously enriched my life.

[@angelariebli4843]

Destigmatize mental illness. It's NO different than having allergies or being diabetic -- and yet there is so much shame around it. THANK YOU Maria!!

[@clydeg4274]

Just finished her book. I love Maria!

[@keysthomas1966]

It's amazing to me, because when I've seen her comedy in real time before this revelation, I really felt that she comedically has a Jonathan Winters/Robin Williams thing... I really hope she's ok for real.

[@maryleegagne]

I love Maria's honesty, perspective and COMEDY!

[@morbidmanmusic]

She's on the list of people I'd love to have a long chat with.

[@BriarRouge]

Maria Bamford has been one of my favorites since her first Comedy Central Presents!

[@triffus]

Have an hour and a half left in the audio book. IT'S THE BEST THING I'VE EVER LISTENED TOO!. Could not recommend it more. " Sure I'll Join Your Cult - Maria Bamford". I get so excited to get into the car just to drive to work to listen to it.

[@thisisit333]

I’m sending this to those of my friends and family that are fortunate not to suffer Bipolar 2 (I also have complex ptsd, grief and panic disorder, and crippling anxiety) keep asking ‘why can’t you just be happy?’ I have what’s called ‘passive ideation.’ Thank you, Maria, for always speaking your truth and advocating!!!

[@huhsayitagain]

I love her! 🫶💕✨

[@Draxtor]

Thank you, love Maria so much! I am wondering if she (or Conan) has read "Infinite Jest" which has such powerful descriptions of depression.

[@PhyllisRoestenberg]

I love you, Maria.

[@thedude4672]

I've been through what she's describing a number of times. It's horrific. I can't afford to see a psychiatrist and no meds have worked. I"ll kill myself one day.

[@nixeleth]

I also have Bipolar 2. It isn't actually "worse" than Bipolar 1, so whoever you competed with, Maria, was full of it. Bipolar 2 means that you lean more towards depression, and that the mania is more commonly classified as hypomania. Bipolar 1 means that you lean more towards mania. Actually, the--ahem--"spirit of competition" is what has led to shifting to terms like "bipolar depression" instead of "Bipolar 2."

[@Tommyr]

She's a treasure. And Johnathan is my all time favorite next to Carlin. I loved seeing Johnathan back in the day on TV.

[@brundlfly]

I've been a big fan of Maria since the first time I saw her. The more I know about her, the more I understand why. I admire her strength and resilience in facing her deep despair and struggle and her decision to keep a public career, all while daring to openly share and speak truth about it all. Thank you Maria. I see the goodness in you and you inspire me to keep trying.

[@JimNortonsAlcoholism]

That thumbnail did her dirty

[@xtraspecialmango]

Nothin' but Luv for the Bamford ❤

[@rossrobbins7707]

I just love her so much! 🥰

[@u.s.m.c.fewproudthemarines2987]

She seems very cool for person with strong Mental health issues. ❤❤❤❤

[@anthonymartinez2659]

Down with Conan since day one love the podcast WORST GUEST EVER TRUMP24'

[@rossrobbins7707]

@@anthonymartinez2659 are you brain damaged??

[@davebruneau6068]

Conans question.. "Are you looking for stuff to put in your act when you get admitted to an Insane Asylum?" (paraphrased) ..Easily one of the dumbest questions ever asked

[@annel.walton260]

12 step programs are not cults and she has provided a huge disservice to people who really need help. It is so destructive and disappointing to see her say this as I have followed her career for decades. What a shame to profit off of an absolute lie about 12 step programs.

[@caseyjones7404]

why does she not have a favio husband and an extreem disorder.

[@SiRedFox]

Her book is so great.

[@gabrielmaroto18]

I had force myself to go back to therapy I meet a therapist and our second meeting I tell her something Deeply personal and she replied that can’t be true 😢🙃😞 I decided to up my marijuana intake no more therapy for me 😂😊

[@cleekersneaker]

Argument that the greatest scene on film in the 20th century is Jonathan Winters destroying a small gas station by hand in "Mad Mad Mad Mad World"

[@Football__Junkie]

Jonathan Winters did a whole film for NFL Films back in the 1980s and it was my first impression of him. Funny stuff

[@khayes1995]

People who’ve never experienced the deep, deep darkness of depression and mental illness just don’t get it. They think it’s just like sadness but it’s so much worse. There is a stigma. People often say “just cheer up”. But it doesn’t work like that. I often say that if you’re in a wheelchair, people will hold the door open for you. If you’re dealing with mental illness, they just think you’re weird and they avoid you. It’s so hard.

[@kettyspikes]

More conversations about mental health, YES.

[@svporqueno]

Pretty sure I met with that psychiatrist to do their PR. Awful licensing procedures. They really should not hire former Wal-Mart employees.

[@clascaulfieldjr3653]

I volunteered at Las Encinas in 2001 when Dr. Drew was working there. Didn’t seem bad but I was only on the adolescent ward.

[@ethannickerson1901]

This was one of the funnier interviews in a while. I can't understand why Conan and the chums weren't laughing more - she's brilliant.

[@leoshest9651]

Conan please... get a bus, dont be afraid to reach out, your name carries more weight than you think.

[@cindyd.01]

I love this conversation so much! Hilarious people who are also genuine and decent. And weird as hell. ❤❤❤

[@MrShivshank]

shes the best! her telling jokes just for Sona was pretty great

[@Xx-ib6bf]

Usually Conan is more empathetic & professional.

[@bluekitty3731]

Is it horrible i had to google her during this interview?

[@ReivecS]

So long as it wasn't in front of her while she is trying to talk to you.

[@JAMinerViews]

Conan asking an awkward and way off question about comedy while she was under extreme mental duress... bet he wished he could take that question back..

[@Metjammer]

I hear you. But at least he admitted he can't relate and I think that makes hiw question genuine and legitimate. People need to ask in order for them to be able to understand...

[@amandapowell3331]

Idk he's done a lot of interviews with comedians that have had similar mental health and physical health experiences and a lot of them say they are thinking of their next bit while there, most recently John Mulaney. I don't think he was trying to be rude it's just something he's noticed a lot throughout his career. But I get what you mean.

[@JAMinerViews]

@@Metjammer Agreed. And I think she did a good job just making it clear without going down the rabbit hole of what despair feels like and without making him feel bad. Yes. More people need to understand, so these questions need asking. But I'm sure he felt it.

[@JAMinerViews]

@@amandapowell3331 I don't think it was intentional. Just figuring he probably feels bad. I've never been as bad as her, but rationality and bits take a back seat when my depression kicks in overdrive. So when someone is thinking about how to make situations into jokes and bits, they're forward-thinking and not on the verge of suicide. Maria Bamford is a successful comedian so she generally lives forward-thinking.. just not in those times of extreme duress. And that's the clarification I think that came from this.

[@emu_warrior]

it's not his fault, she was so damn boring, why was she even on. sounds like she needs more mental health support before she does interviews like this. he was trying to save the interview but she just kept making it awkward and boring and stuttering every second word like shes about to have a melt down. maybe dont go on a podcast if you can't even care for your own mental health first

[@thisorthat4195]

Jonathon Winters was a US Marine at age 17 and spent 2 1/2 years in the Pacific theater.

[@tbd-1]

As an AA gunner on board USS Bon Homme Richard. He did not drop bombs but he would have fought off kamikaze attacks.

[@tbd-1]

As an AA gunner on board USS Bon Homme Richard. He did not drop bombs but he would have fought off kamikaze attacks.

[@tbd-1]

As an AA gunner on board USS Bon Homme Richard. He did not drop bombs but he would have fought off kamikaze attacks.

[@196cupcake]

From Jonathan Winters's Wikipedia page, "During his senior year at Springfield High School, Winters quit school, joined the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of seventeen and served two-and-a-half years in the Pacific Theater during World War II."