They work together to educate the public about the disease, as well as other disabilities. When he started this project several years ago, the rest of his family decided to pitch in. His wife, the manager of an orthodontist's office, now directs the show, and his parents are on the board of directors. Guests include people with the disease, family members, politicians, judges, and health care professionals. Both of the shows use the interview format.
People really open up on the shows and talk about being hospitalized or discriminated against.
Both programs reach about 65,000 households in Reno, and 5,000 in Carson City. They will soon be airing in Las Vegas' Joe says he became personally exposed to the realities of stigma when his first wife left him after she discovered his condition. She had a sister with schizophrenia and wanted no part of this. Years later, he married a woman he had known before he became ill. Bunchie, as she is nicknamed, has educated herself about mental illness by taking classes in psychology and attending NAMI meetings.