Episode Details

On Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Avik Chakraborty talks with Noah May, creator of the Lethal Venom podcast, about navigating depression since age 13, an atypical anxiety diagnosis in 2020, and why speaking openly became his turning point. This direct, no-fluff conversation covers stigma, isolation, therapy, and using media to normalize mental health dialogue for young adults. If you’re building resilience, clarifying what “success” means beyond burnout, or looking for language to start your own conversation, this episode is for you.

About the Guest  :

Noah May is a journalist and host of the Lethal Venom podcast (plus two additional shows). He uses long-form conversation to tell the unfiltered truth about mental health, giving voice to those who feel unheard.

Key Takeaways:

• Early signs can be confusing: Noah’s anxiety presented primarily as persistent morning nausea and weight loss—proof that symptoms don’t always match the textbook.

• Stigma is shifting, slowly: more people share today than a decade ago, but fear of judgment still keeps many silent.

• Isolation compounds pain: feeling like an outcast led Noah to “stay small”; sharing his story reversed that pattern.

• Speaking up is a first step to healing: openness revealed real support and helped Noah reclaim self-trust.

• Redefining success: without self-care, “achievement” becomes another form of burnout; sustainable success includes mental health.

• Therapy works: professional help and ongoing self-work were pivotal in Noah’s recovery and day-to-day stability.

• Community matters: platforms like podcasts can normalize help-seeking and model vulnerability for younger listeners.

• Practical cue: if symptoms don’t look “typical,” still seek evaluation—atypical presentations are real and treatable.

If you’re in immediate crisis, contact local emergency services or your regional suicide prevention helpline.

Here are reliable, widely used crisis lines by region:

United States  :  

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org (24/7). SAMHSA+1

• Crisis Text Line — text HOME to 741741 (24/7). Crisis Text Line

• LGBTQ+ (The Trevor Project, youth) — call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678 (24/7). The Trevor Project+1

• Trans Lifeline — US (877) 565-8860 (hours vary; peer support). translifeline.org+1

Canada  :  

• 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline — call or text 9-8-8 (24/7). 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline+1

• Crisis Text Line (via Kids Help Phone) — te