Bipolar Opposites is a three-episode podcast series exploring bipolar disorder. In 2024, it won the award for the “development and implementation of an audio documentary based on journalistic research and documentation,” as part of the collaboration between the nonprofit journalism organization iMEdD and the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival.
Its creator, journalist Valia Dimitrakopoulou, intertwines her personal testimony as a patient, with in-depth research and interviews with individuals living with bipolar disorder in Greece and abroad, people close to them, as well as psychiatrists and psychotherapists. The podcast addresses topics such as the stages of mania and depression, medication and support networks, stereotypes and functionality in various social roles, while also examining the current institutional framework for mental health. By shedding light on a condition that remains taboo for some and a “terra incognita” for many—often misunderstood and surrounded by misinformation—the podcast aims to destigmatize bipolar disorder and foster a more informed and open dialogue.
Episode 1: “Sunrises have never been more beautiful”
Creator Valia Dimitrakopoulou recounts moments from episodes of mania. Gabe Howard, a bipolar disorder patient and host of the popular podcast “Inside Bipolar”, shares a story about a night at a bar when he unknowingly angered his friends. Meanwhile, psychiatrist Nikos Tsitas and psychotherapist Rozita Christofideli attempt to paint a clearer picture of bipolar disorder—a condition we know far less about than we think.
Evros Behind The Fence
What happens in Evros when the wildfires die down and the border fence slips out of the spotlight? Journalist Apostolos Staikos travels to Northern Evros, exploring life in the remote border villages. He delves into issues of demographic collapse, the local economy, wildfires, and the border fence.
Episode 2: “One day I wake up thinking I’m a god; the next, I feel like I’m nothing”
Depression—the other side of the coin. Anastasis, who lives with bipolar disorder, shares his story of enduring years of deep darkness and how he eventually left them behind. Gabe Howard compares medication to crutches—uncomfortable but ultimately essential for walking. Meanwhile, psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dimitris Vasiadis explains the different types of medication and the crucial role of psychotherapy. Why did the recent mental health bill spark controversy? And how class-based is the treatment of bipolar disorder, after all?
Episode 3: “Cold water makes my mind go silent”
Can someone with bipolar disorder live a “normal” life? Have healthy relationships, raise children, pursue professional ambitions? Experts weigh in, alongside personal accounts from patients navigating life at home, at work, and within their families. Motherhood as a source of salvation, the workplace as both a refuge and a battleground, and the coping mechanisms that patients develop—like winter swimming, which helps poet and translator Krystalli Glyniadaki.
Credits
Research – Script – Narration: Valia Dimitrakopoulou
Sound mixing – sound design – original music: Daphne Tsiouni
Illustration: Till Noon
Production and Content Manager for the iMEdD podcasts: Panagiotis Menegos
