Episode 32: Yvette Caster – hip hop and bipolar disorder

Yvette Caster is an award-winning freelance journalist, podcaster and speaker. At the time of interview, she was the long-standing co-host of Metro UK official mental health and wellbeing podcast 'Mentally Yours' along with Ellen Scott.*

I interviewed Yvette about how hip hop music has supported her over the years in her experiences with bipolar disorder. We talk through her attendance as an out-patient in a mental health unit during the late 90s after her first manic episode and how she's managed things since, exploring the impact of bipolar disorder on her dating and relationships. We also look at how the news of the death of Tupac Shakur affected her as a teen.

You can still listen to the episode I did with the Mentally Yours podcast during the pandemic on music and mental health here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7975995-music-and-mental-health

*I recorded this episode in January 2023. Since then, Yvette has left Mentally Yours, but the podcast is still going strong, now run by Rachel Moss.

Follow Yvette Caster @YvetteCaster on Twitter 

For help and support with bipolar disorder: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/bipolar-disorder/useful-contacts/

Follow Hip Hop Psych for academic research on hip hop and mental health here: https://www.hiphoppsych.co.uk/

Follow Sound Affects Podcast: @SoundAffectsPod (Twitter) @sound_affects_podcast (Instagram) Email soundaffectspodcast@gmail.com