A Better Table is a coffee podcast about sustainability. Specifically, host Umeko Motoyoshi asks what sustains communities, relationships, and your heart.

“Today, I’m doing something a little different,” Motoyoshi begins this episode. “You might remember that last year I interviewed Julien Langevin on this show. Julien is the 2022 US Cup Tasters Champion, founder of the Tomato Coffee Class, and an outspoken advocate for mental health and trans rights. And a year after we spoke for the first time on this podcast, Julien and I are actually engaged.”

In this episode, Motoyoshi and Langevin share something personal and vulnerable.

Langevin shares their experience of losing access to their Bipolar I medication and experiencing a six-month psychotic episode. “As someone who suffers from Bipolar I, and will for the rest of their life,” Langevin explains, “I think it’s important to break the stigma and show that you can have a disabling mental illness and still live a full and happy life.”

“We wanted to share what we’ve been experiencing, what we’ve gone through, because there is so much stigma around psychosis, mental health, around Bipolar I, and we feel like it’s important for us to put our story out there so that other people can relate or learn something,” says Motoyoshi.

Podcast transcript available here.

Listen below for the whole interview with Julien Langevin and Umeko Motoyoshi.

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A Better Table is sponsored by Pacific Barista Series.

Show notes and links:

Help Julien with Emergency Recovery and Expenses GoFundMe

There’s so much happening in the coffee community right now. I’m asking if you’ve ever felt inspired, supported, or seen by either of us to take some form of action, be it:
Donating a few dollars to support us through this time
Sharing our Go Fund Me on your social media accounts
Telling someone you know about this page

Help Veronica Pearl Get Mental Health Treatment GoFundMe

A Better Table With 2022 US Cup Tasters Champion Julien Langevin

For additional resources or to connect with mental health services in your area, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. For immediate assistance, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or text HOME to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.

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This episode is available now via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or load it up on your favorite podcast platform using this RSS link. Subscribe, like, rate, and review A Better Table on Apple Podcasts.

Be sure to check out past episodes including interviews with Bianka Alloyn And Sabreen Naimah, Chris McAuley, Cydni Patterson, Nick CastellanoWill Frith, Laetitia Mukandahiro, Emily Haddad, Adam JacksonBey, Kim Elena Ionescu, Alice Wong, Latasha Barr Lewis, Madeleine Longoria Garcia, and Camden Myer.

Check out all of the Sprudge Podcast Networks show here.