Every Christmas, I can’t help but think of the irony. After all, both schizophrenia and the holidays involve retreat into a world of bizarre delusions: Santa Claus, flying reindeer, little elves, a virgin birth, angelic voices, Christmas miracles, peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men, and on and on. During this time of year, millions of people suspend logic and, in part, believe in the unbelievable. It’s all acceptable, even laughable, as long as the sum of the parts keeps you in society’s scope of the norm, far enough away from clinical insanity.

A storyteller at heart who built a career in writing, media & marketing, Paolina Milana is grateful for the magic AND the madness she's experienced. Her roots are entangled with mental illness and taking on caregiving roles -- something she has come to realize is not unique to her; rather, it seems to be common on several levels among others, especially the high-functioning women who from the outside looking in seem to have it all together.

Madness To Magic brings to listeners stories of real world encounters with what we all experience and yet feel shamed to keep silent. Embracing ALL of us is key to tapping into our own power to make all things possible.

Special thanks to the creators of the beautiful instrumental you hear during this podcast - Philippa Dowding & Allister Thompson - Original song “Sarah Tiptoes” from their album BIRCHES. Also love to the guy who's the master behind this podcast's production and audio engineering -- Joseph Dean Edwards.