Show My Scars is a mental health podcast produced and hosted by the former award-winning journalist and content marketer Derek Dueker. Derek has always had a passion for storytelling but life circumstances and the severe lack of pay for journalists led him to a career in marketing. This led to a feeling of a lack of purpose in his life.

From the time he was in middle school, Derek has struggled with a generalized anxiety disorder and stymied depression. After exiting the journalism world, that lack of purpose mentioned above stacked on top of these mental health struggles became too much to bear. Meds were having little impact or making things worse, and it was difficult to find helpful therapists.

So, Derek did the only thing he knew he was good at – hunt down the answers with the same ferocity he used to when he was a journalist. He became fascinated with the world of psychology and spent the better part of his free time reading studies, articles, and listening to podcasts in the industry. Every time he’d devour new research or come across an individual in his own life with impressive resolve in the face of a traumatic experience, he’d share these stories with loved ones and his therapist.

One day, Derek’s therapist said, “You know, I use some of your discoveries and explanations in sessions with others.” That’s when he realized he could turn his curiosity of mental health into something that could fulfill his desire to return to storytelling and help others at the same time.

That’s when Show My Scars was born.