"Finding the Rarest Flower" with K. J. Aiello

K.J. Aiello is a Canadian who describes herself as a mentally ill writer. It is, she says, who she is. K.J. discusses her fabulous new book, "The Monster and The Mirror." It's a unique blend of memoir, research, and cultural criticism in which K.J. tries to understand her own mental illness using "The Lord of the Rings," "Game of Thrones," and other stories as guides to heroism and agency as well as cautionary tales of how mental illness is easily stereotyped as bad and violent. K.J. and her work can be accessed at https://www.kjaiello.ca/ The views and opinions of the guests on this podcast are theirs and theirs alone and do not necessarily represent those of the host, Westwords Consulting or the Kenosha County Substance Abuse Coalition. We're always interested in hearing from individuals or organizations who are working in substance use disorder treatment or prevention, mental health care and other spaces that lift up communities. This includes people living those experiences. If you or someone you know has a story to share or an interesting approach to care, contact us today! Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Subscribe to Our Email List to get new episodes in your inbox every week!