GOING ROGUE Podcast with Angie Manson
Entrepreneur in Addiction Treatment, CrossFitter, Podcast Host, and Power Mom! Going Rogue is how I’ve made it this far in life and has been my mantra. Sometimes you’ve got to break some rules or ruffle some feathers to get anything truly meaningful done. It has served me well in my career and in helping me overcome challenges. Passion Turned Into Profession…CEO of Elevate Addiction Services I’ve worked in alcohol and drug rehabilitation full-time for over 28 years. I came into this industry after my own life had taken a turn and I was facing 10 years in prison, only to have been given a chance at rehab first. I saw what addiction could do to my life and that I was one of so many struggling with the same issue. I also saw how effective rehab could completely turn someone’s life around. After I got clean, I started helping others and have never looked back!The Elevate model is a unique and copyrighted method that aims to empower the individual to not only stay sober, but reach their true potential by addressing their core issues and reviving their purpose and place in the world. Elevate operates several facilities in California including both inpatient and outpatient facilities, as well as delivering group sessions online via Telehealth. Lear More About Me: www.angiemanson.com Learn More About Elevate Rehab: www.elevaterehab.org
GOING ROGUE Podcast with Angie Manson
Angie Manson with Brian Higgins - Bananas Over Bullets: Reframing Trauma with Creativity
Angie sits down with Irish-born creator and mental-health advocate Brian Higgins, founder of Mental Healthy Fit, to explore how creativity, storytelling, and community can rewire trauma responses and fuel long-term recovery. From growing up amid The Troubles in Northern Ireland and conflict-based PTSD to homelessness in the U.S., Brian shares the moment two kids “shot” him with banana guns—sparking a life-saving reframing that became his program helping veterans, students, and people in recovery transform pain into purpose.
Guest: Brian Higgins — Founder, Mental Healthy Fit (Films • Ideas • Tips)
Website: mentalhealthyfit.org
What we cover
- Growing up during The Troubles & conflict-based PTSD
- Why “everyone is affected by mental health” (the 1-in-1 idea)
- The line between diagnosis, experience, and language (e.g., PTSD in everyday speech)
- Homelessness, relapse, and the moment that changed everything: bananas over bullets
- Neuroplasticity in plain English: reframing, lucid dreaming, and replacing fear images
- Building Mental Healthy Fit: creative workshops that turn emotions into films
- Why the audience matters: making help actionable for families, staff, and communities
- LEAP: Listen • Empathize • Agree • Partner — a simple framework to “hold space”
- Youth, veterans, schools, and workplaces: adapting creativity for each setting
- Purpose as relapse prevention: staying sober by serving others
Key Takeaways
- Reframing works: changing the image your brain uses to encode fear can reduce triggers.
- Creativity is a bridge: stories built around emotions (fear, anger, love) connect people better than clinical labels alone.
- Community needs “how-to” help: it’s not enough to tell people “ask for help”—we must also teach supporters how to respond.
- Small catalysts change big lives: one imaginative moment can unlock recovery momentum.
- Purpose sustains sobriety: sharing your gifts keeps the lights on in recovery.
Suggested Chapter Guide (approx.)
00:00 — Brian’s introduction & “1-in-1” mental health lens
05:20 — The Troubles, family targeting, and hypervigilance
12:30 — Peace process, division, and learning to cross lines
18:40 — Coming to the U.S., when PTSD finally shows up
24:15 — Homelessness, psych wards, and the “banana gun” moment
31:10 — Neuroplasticity & lucid dreaming (rewiring the image)
36:45 — Early workshops: veterans, fruit → creativity
42:10 — Birth of Mental Healthy Fit (films, ideas, tips)
49:00 — The “monster under the bed” film & teaching communities to help
56:30 — LEAP: Listen, Empathize, Agree, Partner
1:01:00 — Youth, rehabs, workplaces & screening impact
1:07:30 — Purpose, sobriety, and where to find Brian
Resources & Links
- Mental Healthy Fit — Workshops, films, speaking: mentalhealthyfit.org
- Framework mentioned: LEAP (Listen • Empathize • Agree • Partner)
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- Share this episode with someone who needs hope today.
- If you or a loved one needs support with mental health or addiction, start by talking to someone you trust today and consider professional help.