S3E9 - I Didn't Have to Wear That Dress Today | Pakesta Washington on Mental Health, Living Beyond the Diagnosis, and Choosing Life One Day at a Time
Published: August 23, 2026
Duration: 1:08:43
What if one of the most powerful acts of courage isn't something extraordinary—but simply choosing to live another day?
In this deeply personal episode of The Story of Us, Jeff Ellison sits down with nurse educator, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate Pakesta Washington for an honest conversation about living with bipolar disorder, breaking stigma, and finding hope after a lifetime of struggle.
Pakesta's story begins in childhood, growing up with a mother who also lived with untreated bipolar disorder. Witnessing suicide attempts and mental illness at an early age shaped her decision to become a...