Melissa Bernstein, Co-Founder of Melissa + Doug, Discusses Transforming Existential Depression, Living a Creative Life, and Her New Book (and community!) LifeLines

On Today’s episode of the podcast we have the most inspiring conversation with Melissa Bernstein. Melissa along with her husband Doug, is the Co-Founder of the toy company Melissa & Doug, which has created over 5,000 children’s products and sold billions of dollars of toys since its inception. Raised by educators, Melissa and Doug started the business in their garage in 1988, and they’ve been on a mission ever since to provide open-ended, inventive, and non-technologically driven playthings for young children. Today, we have a different conversation with Melissa about her personal lifelong battle with severe depression and anxiety, which she is chronicling in her first book, Lifelines out this month 

Throughout Melissa’s remarkable career, she had kept her lifelong debilitating battle with existential depression a secret. In LIFELINES, she hopes to help others who are suffering through her beautiful poetry, support, and her own transformation which we discuss today. Melissa’s book also heralds the launch of LifeLines.com, an online ecosystem she and Doug are underwriting to provide support and community anyone else struggling with their  mental health. Melissa lives in Connecticut with Doug and their six children. We do want to share a trigger warning since we do discuss depression, anxiety, and briefly cover Melissa’s experience with suicidal thoughts -- all while running a massively successful business. We truly have a beautiful conversation with Melissa and appreciate her honesty, vulnerability, and courage to share her incredible wellness journey.

To learn more about Melissa you can visit: 

https://www.lifelines.com or follow on instagram @seeklifelines

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