Joel is a human being filled with all the trappings and contradictions of, well, being a human. In the fall of 2016, Joel became a first year middle school teacher in a Title I school north of Denver. It's at this time that he began to feel his mental foundation rumble and eventually break apart completely. Joel shares the intimate details of his descent into madness with clarity, levity, grace and wisdom. I highly recommend this episode. It is a rare and interesting first-hand account of psychosis. --- Consider supporting The Soul Stories Podcast at Patreon.com/soulstoriesdenver where you can get bonus podcast content --- Beginning - Growing up in the valley under Horsetooth Rock 10:50 - Setting the stage for the breakdown 18:35 - Surviving as a first year teacher in a Title I school 24:12 - When a music album becomes a part of you 27:54 - Paranoia sets in 39:40 - Detaching from reality 49:13 - How art can show us our darkness 53:50 - A "Bon Iver" concert ushers in an era of madness 1:09:25 - The resolution 1:14:45 - Family, time and space