In the final episode of season four and to close out the Another Day With You campaign, we talk to someone who attempted suicide at the age of 27 and went on to write a book inspired by his own experience. That person is author Bill Konigsberg and that book is The Bridge. In our conversation, you’ll hear about Bill’s chronic, untreated depression which led to an attempt, and how writing the book became a way to dispel the lies his brain was telling him while encouraging readers to realize how valuable and interwoven their lives truly are.
Along with The Bridge, Bill is the author of five young-adult novels, which have won awards including the Stonewall Book Award, the Sid Fleischman Award for Humor, and the Lambda Literary Award. He currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with his husband, Chuck, and their two Labradoodles, Mabel and Buford—who you might hear barking in the background during the interview.
“When we talk about balancing hope and reality, I'm not sure that I see it as a balance as much as the truth. I think that hope is the truth. We talked a little bit about all of those lies that our brains can tell us. If we uncover the lies, you know, as I said, ‘it doesn't matter if I'm here or not.’ The truth is, it did matter. It did matter. This book isn't written. If you had told me at 27, that one day, I would be an author talking about, writing about depression and suicide, that my books were out in the world, I would have said, ‘That's not going to happen. That's garbage.’ And here we are. So what is that other than, you know, moving forward with hope?”
This episode of the TWLOHA podcast was hosted by Chad Moses and produced by Rebecca Ebert. Music assistance was provided by James Likeness and Ben Tichenor.
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