From Panic Attacks to Prime-Time: Howie Mandel’s Survival Story

Michael Gervais (0:00)

Finding Mastery is brought to you by Momentus. When it comes to high performance, whether you're leading a team, raising a family, pushing physical limits, or simply trying to be better today than you were yesterday, what you put in your body matters. And that's why I trust Momentus. From the moment I sat down with Jeff Byers, their co-founder and CEO, I could tell this was not your average supplement company. And I was immediately drawn to their mission, helping people achieve performance for life. And to do that, they developed what they call the Momentus standard. Every product is formulated with top experts, and every batch is third-party tested. NSF certified for sport or informed sport. So you know exactly what you're getting. Personally, I'm anchored by what they call the Momentus III, protein, creatine and omega-3. And together these foundational nutrients support muscle recovery, brain function, and long-term energy. They're part of my daily routine. And if you're ready to fuel your brain and body with the best, Momentus has a great new offer just for our community right here. Use the code FINDINGMASTERY for 35% off your first subscription order at livemomentus.com.

Again, that's L-I-V-E-M-O-M-E-N-T-O-U-S, L-I-V-E-M-O-M-E-N-T-O-U-S, livemomentus.com. And use the code FINDINGMASTERY for 35% off your first subscription order.

Howie Mandel (1:28)

I was on a live broadcast, the Howard Stern radio show. I had a panic attack and I said, hey, listen, I'm going to pass out right now. Legitimately, I have something called obsessive compulsive disorder. I've been diagnosed. I'm medicated. And if you don't open the door for me right now, you're going to have to call 911 I thought I was in a commercial break. I saw that this whole thing had been broadcast nationally. There was probably the darkest, most devastating moment I can remember.

Michael Gervais (1:51)

What if the very thing you've been hiding from the world is actually the doorway to real connection?

Howie Mandel (1:56)

I wandered out into the street and right away, somebody came up to me and they were, are you Howie Mandel? And I didn't even make eye contact. I looked down and I went, yes. They go, I just heard you on Howard Stern. And I just went, oh shit, what do I do now? And he said two words, me too. And I went, me too. What are you saying? And he goes, I have obsessive compulsive. Thank you so much for talking about it.

Michael Gervais (2:18)

Welcome back or welcome to the Finding Mastery podcast, where we dive into the minds of the world's greatest thinkers and doers. I am your host, Dr. Michael Gervais, by trade and training a high-performance psychologist. And the idea behind these conversations, it's simple. It's to sit with the extraordinaries, to learn, to really learn about how they work from the inside out. This is not about hacks or shortcuts. It's about understanding what they are searching for, how they organize their inner world and the skills they've built to shape themselves and their craft. Today's conversation is with the one and the only, Howie Mandel. He's a legendary comedian, a TV host, actor, producer. Now the real story though, it isn't what he does, it's how he thinks.

Howie Mandel (2:56)

I happen to have mental health issues which were not addressed nor would be addressed in the era that I come from. Really late in life in my 40s, I was diagnosed. But living with these kind of, for lack of a better term, demons inside of me, I never felt comfortable.

Michael Gervais (3:12)

In this raw and revealing conversation, we go deep into Howie's psychology and how comedy has been both a shield and a bridge for him.

Howie Mandel (3:20)

April 19th, 1977, I went to a comedy club in Canada and somebody dared me to get up on stage. I have all these strangers just looking at me, expecting me to deliver something and I had nothing. And then I put my hands in my pocket and I didn't have anything to do and I carry latex gloves with me. And when I pulled my hands out, the glove came out of my pocket and I pulled the glove over my head, past my nose and I started breathing and the fingers were going up and down and up and down and people started laughing and then I blew it off my head. The audience roared and I went, good night. And ever since that moment, I've only tried to recreate April 19, 1977 again. That's why I go on stage.

Michael Gervais (3:58)

So with that, let's jump right into this week's conversation with the legend, Howie Mandel. Howie, I've watched you for a long time. I've laughed in my living with you for years. And to have the moment to sit with you is really cool. So thank you for all that you've already given.