A couple of weeks ago, Brendan Anderer, Vice President of Programming and Executive Producer at HealthiNation, contacted me. HealthiNation has created a series on their site (an overall health video site) for who they call “True Champions.” These are people who are extraordinary advocates for an illness and live with the illness themselves. Brendan said he wanted to film me and make me a part of their series.
Now, in all honesty, I didn’t take it overly seriously. I get a lot of offers for a variety of things and, often, once people are told that I’m all the way on the West Coast of Canada, they are no longer interested.
But, surprisingly, HealthiNation still was.
Filming with HealthiNation
So an amazing produce, Charles Conyers flew out and we film almost all day yesterday. We filmed hours of one-on-one interviews, one of my presentations and some background shots. Oh, and did I mention I got to have a hair and makeup person follow me around all day making sure no curl was out of place? Yeah, that was pretty cool. It was thoroughly exhausting but well worth doing and I believe will result in great footage (I hope).
Final True Champion Segments at HealthiNation
Of course, Charles and co. need time to cut the footage together and actually make segments, but, at this time, there may end up being 15 minutes of tape over approximately four segments. So if you’re looking for more Natasha Tracy and my YouTube videos just aren’t cutting it, I really hope that these upcoming films will give you a better glimpse into my, personal story and some of my thoughts on subjects like antipsychiatriy, electroconvulsive therapy, advocacy, and the brain-mind split and enlightenment in mental illness.
For now, I say, “please watch this space for more.” But I also need to say a big thank you to Charles and HealthiNation for making me part of their True Champion series. Not only am I honoured to be a part of it but I’m particularly honoured to be the first one in the arena of mental health.
You can watch the (high-production) videos talking about my life and advocacy here.
At any point in the videos do you point out that Natasha Tracy is a pseudonym? No problem you use a pseudonym, just think you should definitely not give the impression that you are using your real name when you aren’t.
It does disturb me a bit if Natasha is using a fake name, but only if she doesn’t admit it. I don’t know if she is or isn’t and the reason if not in her case would of course be to avoid attacks on her by those with money and/or power. They would have better access to her family, bank accounts, credit cards, car license plates and so on. She especially with a company like TRUE HOPE and others with a lot to loose by her continued and non-stop vigilance would most likely do most anything to attack her. Especially if she is employed elsewhere and in connection with any business partners and so on.
I personally think this is a red herring put out their by REAL scumbags and bottom feeders such as those who run above said company and others like them. To actually protect her safety I have no problem with a stage name as long as it is stated. I know you claim to only have the same concern but for some reason I don’t believe it. Please come after me first before Natasha. I fight cowards. If not one please disregard.
Will B NIST, Scranton, Pennsylvania. 18505. Explain to me with your real name and address your complaints and all will be equal.
I don’t believe it is stated in the videos. Two of them begin with “My name is Natasha Tracy.” Admittedly, I didn’t watch all of them.
Hi Cataract,
I don’t consider that the least bit relevant. I have spoken about it and I believe Healthination knew about it but they cared about my safety, unlike others. Moreover, that interview was done via questions they asked, not just anything I felt like saying.
And yes, Will, I’ve admitted to it in several posts, including this one: https://natashatracy.com/mental-illness-issues/disclosure/natasha-tracy-nom-de-plume/
– Natasha Tracy
Natasha, didn’t really mind at all. I know you are for real and not scamming or playing anyone. You are a good woman, honest and with good intentions. You also believe in free speech almost as much as me, even with the situation you are in and the crap you deal with from certain greedy scum (sorry thats how I see these predators). Keep up the good work and fight the good fight in your way and I’ll do it in my way.
Financially I have nothing to protect, physically I don’t fear pitiful cowards. WN
Just read your link and totally understand as I said before. I lost the ability to hide anything and fit in a long time ago. Major reason I suppose where I am. But in so many ways I am FREE. I say what the hell I like when I like and with my real name. Let them kill me. I may do it myself at anytime. I have no children and so on. Only my mother and she is getting quite old. If they went for her that would be the end of their days on earth. I hope I am at least using this position in some positive way. As JJ said freedom is nothing but nothing left to loose. I do believe someone else wrote the song though. WN
NT – I watched the one they have on website for bipolar @ http://www.healthination.com/mental-health/bipolar-depression/ and found it very balanced and informative. I very much look forward to you adding to this conversation and continuing the dialog by sharing your own insight and perspectives particularly on treatments. Keep up the most fab work.
Natasha, linked and saw nothing about you there. Am I doing something wrong. Please if you become even better known continue your policy of no censorship and avoid anyone who asks you to do so. Once diluted the message becomes useless to the real sufferers. You are an extremely intelligent person and need money like the rest of us, but a diluted message is worse then none at all in my opinion. WN
that is brilliant – you are amazing – my husband has bi-polar and was diagnosed 14 years ago.
Congratulations Natasha!