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
Om Podcasten
Welcome to Sound Affects Podcast – featured in NME's Podcasts for the People series. A music & mental health podcast exploring all crossovers between music and mental health: how music and sounds affect us somatically and psychologically, the songs that see us through, what drives people to music careers/a life on the road, the music industry climate, music therapy as support for mental illness, music fandom, music journalism and research in all these crossovers. I speak to well-known musicians and figures, experts, therapists, academics, researchers, authors, journalists, charities, and music fans. Each episode is an interview with a guest centred around a specific theme of music and mental health.
Sound Affects is produced, edited and hosted by me, Katerina – a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist working professionally in both the NHS and private practice. I'm also a freelance sub-editor and writer published in The Independent, The Guardian, The Times and Wellcome Collection. Before becoming a therapist, I was a Samaritan helpline listener supporting people struggling to cope with suicidal feelings, and I worked full time as a copywriter and editor for Samaritans during the time of the charity's male suicide research launch. I've worked in magazine and newspaper publishing for many years and spent a lot of time during this time speaking to musicians and creative people.
The idea for Sound Affects came while writing about and interviewing bands – I noticed a theme emerging around existential identity and just how sad some of the so-called "rock n roll" stories of excess were. I was also aware of just how much music impacts me, and in particular, specific bands and sounds. It is no secret that I'm a huge Oasis fan, and this theme features regularly in this podcast as alongside my interviews, I occasionally pause to reflect and consider what draws me to this music and how it has shaped me. When I trained as a psychotherapist, I drew together all my interests, culminating in this podcast. I often see musicians as clients for therapy, and I routinely appear in the press and radio commenting on various aspects of therapy and emotional health. I've been a guest on BBC Radio, and appeared in OK! Magazine, Psychologies, Stylist, Grazia, The Independent and more.