Join us for a real, raw and powerful conversation that calls on all of us to do our part in removing the shame and stigma surrounding mental illness. In the United States, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness, affecting over 40MM adults -- over 18% of the U.S. population. It's the leading cause of disability, judged by years lost to disease, yet only a small percentage of people with the illness receive treatment.  In the latest episode of Spit, host Baratunde Thurston discusses mental health with a trio of folks who are working every day to combat the stigma, using their expertise, their research and their platform to make a difference. In part one of this episode, Baratunde sits down with singer, songwriter and mental health advocate Mike Shinoda and Dr. Gail Saltz, Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill-Cornell Medical College and a psychoanalyst with the New York Psychoanalytic Institute. Together they explore what mental illness is; how genetics and your environment together play a factor in triggering anxiety disorders; the importance of checking in with yourself and with those around you; and how we can all foster and create safe and positive spaces at home, at work and in the world. Mike speaks openly about his journey since losing best friend and Linkin Park bandmate Chester Bennington, asking Dr. Saltz, “Is there more we can do? And if so, how?” He also explores the notion that artists create from a place of “genius” and if that genius can ultimately lead to crippling pressures and self-doubt, further increasing the risk of depression and substance use. In part two, we get a deeper understanding of the genetic science behind mental health and the latest research about the brain's role in mental wellness when Baratunde speaks with Dr. Ahmad Hariri, a Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience at Duke University, where he is also the Director of the Laboratory of NeuroGenetics. Dr. Hariri is the author of Looking Inside the Disordered Brain. https://bit.ly/2ySrMa0 Spit is an iHeartRadio podcast with 23andMe. Enjoy this episode and subscribe, rate and review Spit on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to tell your friends all about it. Find out more about our host Baratunde Thurston at Baratunde.com or sign up for his text messages at 202-902-7949.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers