About us
This podcast has been apart of my story since before I was 17. It all started with a big chapter of my life that I kept a secret. Mental illness was something I had never heard of before. After many years of working up the courage to shed light on a difficult topic that I am so passionate about, Giddy Up with Marnie was launched for the public to listen to in February of 2024. From the desire to spark real, meaningful conversations about the things we don’t often talk about, I want to create a space for people to share more of the realities of being human. There is stories, laughter, tears, and everything in between as we unfold more of our lives. My experience navigating mental illness since I was a teenager, diving into the unknown, chasing a west coast dream through a corporate world, to eventually finding joy in the slow island life of Tofino has taught me the importance of speaking up and putting my mental health at the forefront.
Created by myself, a surfer, optimist, self-taught podcaster, risk taker, and software advisor, the show dives deep into life stories and important topics that resonate with the human experience that we are all going through. Rooted in vulnerability and authenticity, Giddy Up encourages people to show up for themselves and for others, creating conversations that matter and empowering us to live fully in the present.
Why is it called Giddy Up?
Well, not only does it reflect the farm life I grew up in, but it’s a free spirited invitation to embrace life’s challenges and triumphs head-on. It symbolizes moving forward with courage, even when facing uncertainty, and finding joy in both the highs and lows of the journey. It’s about riding the waves of life with resilience, optimism, and a sense of community.
My Story
Everyone has a chapter they don’t read out loud.
I grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia. By the age of 17, I had lived in fear and denial of a tragic experience with my mom’s mental health state and the loss from our home situation. After many years of battling her mental illness quietly in my home, I had exhausted all my energy trying to find anyone that could help provide guidance on managing Schizophrenia, Psychosis, or could relate to my situation at all. I found nothing. After several attempts to get help from professionals, hospitals, and the authorities, I got nowhere. It became painfully clear that the mental health system in Nova Scotia is very severed and underdeveloped. We suffered a great deal, we lost our family home, our animals, and everything I grew up with. My mother’s illness only further declined, and I knew I wasn’t going to get any answers or help until something awful happened to her.
After hiding this huge part of my life for years,
I decided to tell my story on a public platform called Sickboy Podcast. While utterly terrifying to do so, through the experience I’ve learned the crucial importance of speaking up, diving into vulnerability, and breaking through the fears of discussing real struggle that we all face. Many of us don’t know the “best” way to help someone if we’re not familiar with their situation. But if none of us take the step to sharing our stories, how can we ever expect to see a community surrounding our struggles? Sharing my experience has dramatically improved my ability to address what’s going on in my life, and with those around me. Keeping this conversation going is incredibly important to me.
If I’m not speaking up for myself and others, then it would be impossible for me to see any positive changes for mental health and this stigma.
Use your voice.
After sharing part of my story on SickBoy, my mission has been to create a space for people to discuss their realities through open conversation, to break the stigma of mental illness, and inspire others to take advantage of the days that we have. I want this podcast to help people and prevent situations like mine from occurring again.
I hope my stumbles, missteps, victories, and humour can help others trying to navigate our human experience.
Thank you for being here!
- Marnie x