[MUSIC] >> Bonnie: HELLO.

I AM BONNIE ERBE.

WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY", A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

THIS WEEK, MENTAL FITNESS: ACTOR AND SINGER SELENA GOMEZ, HER MOTHER, MANDY TEEFEY, AND NEWS ITS FOUNDER DANIELA PEARSON ARE CREATING A MULTIMEDIA PLATFORM TO HELP YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN.

THEY ARE ON A JOURNEY TO DE-STIGMATIZE MENTAL HEALTH AND OFFER RESOURCES FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS.

MANDY TEEFEY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> Mandy Teefey: NO.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US BRING AWARENESS TO THIS.

THIS IS WONDERFUL.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU.

>> Bonnie: TELL US ABOUT YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTER.

HOW DID YOU -- WHY THIS COLLABORATION?

WE UNDERSTAND YOU ARE VERY CLOSE.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR DAUGHTER.

>> Mandy Teefey: YEAH, OF COURSE.

WE BOTH HAVE STRUGGLED FROM MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES PERSONALLY.

AND AS MOTHER AND DAUGHTER WHEN THIS CAME TO FRUITION, JUST LIKE WITH "13 REASONS WHY", IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WE COULD WORK TOGETHER ON AND HOPEFULLY ENCOURAGE CONVERSATION BETWEEN PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL FITNESS, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST AN ORGANIC FIT BECAUSE IT HAS AFFECTED OUR FAMILY PERSONALLY.

>> Bonnie: AND IT DOES RUN IN FAMILIES.

IT RAN IN MY FAMILY AND I HAVE SUFFERED WITH DEPRESSION MY WHOLE LIFE.

LUCKILY THEY CAME UP WITH MEDICATION ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO THAT, FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, NOT EVERYBODY, KEEPS IT UNDER CONTROL.

BUT I PERSONALLY REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT ON THIS SHOW, AS FAR BACK AS 25 YEARS AGO, WE WERE -- WE WENT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD IN BALTIMORE WERE AFRICAN-AMERICAN DOCTORS WERE WORKING WITH PEOPLE THERE TO TRY TO DE-STIGMATIZE -- YOU KNOW, TEACH PEOPLE TO GO FOR HELP WHEN THEY FACE MAJOR DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY OR ARE HAVING VISIONS, AND SO THIS IS NOT A NEW EFFORT.

TELL ME WHAT WONDERMIND BRINGS TO THE TABLE THAT IS NEW AND HOW YOU EXPECT IT TO CHANGE THINGS.

>> Mandy Teefey: WELL, WE ARE HOPING TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT ALSO HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO KEEP GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT THERE, BUT ALSO WE ARE DOING IT IN A MEDIA FORMAT AND LESS MEDICINAL.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO, IS THROUGH MEDIA, WE HAVE TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE WAY MENTAL HEALTH HAS BEEN PORTRAYED.

THEREFORE, WE NEED TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY TO HOW WE CAN SHOW IT'S, LIKE, DIFFERENCES.

THEIR WONDERFUL MOVIES OUT THERE LIKE "GIRL INTERRUPTED", BUT THAT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT MENTAL HEALTH IS TODAY.

THAT ISN'T EXACTLY EVERYBODY'S JOURNEY.

AND, YOU KNOW, TAKING AWAY BEING STRONG AND JUST ALWAYS BEING IN CONTROL, IT'S LIKE WE ALL NEED TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION IN A MORE COMMUNITY WAY.

>> Bonnie: IS THERE A PARTICULAR DEMOGRAPHIC YOU ARE GOING AFTER?

OBVIOUSLY SELENA IS A LATINA AND A YOUNG LATINA, AND THEY ARE DEFINITELY AN UNDERSERVED GROUP IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND KNOWING ABOUT IT AND BEING EDUCATED ABOUT ITHAT ARE YOU DOING PARTICULARLY TO REACH THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER COMMUNITIES?

>> Mandy Teefey: YES.

WE ARE DEFINITELY LOOKING TO OFFER NOT SERVICES, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT A SERVICE COMPANY, BUT, FOR INSTANCE, THERE IS CBD, COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPIES; DVT, DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY.

AND SO WE HAVE AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WILL HELP US COME WITH FREE TOOLS THAT IF YOU CANNOT ACCESS THE PRODUCT THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO CREATE, YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND DOWNLOAD THOSE RESOURCES FOR FREE AND, LIKE, WITH OTHER COMPONENTS, A PODCAST.

THEY CAN TAKE IT AND JOURNEY WITH A PODCAST THAT, YOU KNOW, DEPARTMENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO KIND OF START TAKING OUT.

BUT WE WANT TO CREATE A PRODUCT THAT IS ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYBODY THAT WILL BE A MAJOR RETAILER.

SO WE ARE STILL IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, BUT SOMETHING DEFINITELY THAT'S ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.

>> Bonnie: BEFORE WE GO ON, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WONDERMIND, WHY YOU SET IT UP.

YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, BUT HOW DID THIS IDEA COME TO YOU AND WHY -- IS IT ONLY A MEDIA PLATFORM OR ARE THERE OTHER ELEMENTS TO IT?

>> Mandy Teefey: ME AND SELENA WERE INTERVIEWED BY THE NEWS AT BY DANIELA PEARSON, WHO IS ALSO LATINA.

AND WHEN WE WERE HAVING THE CONVERSATION, SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO REALLY ASK, LIKE, THESE HEAVIER QUESTIONS THAT WERE RESPECTFUL OF WHO WE WERE AND, LIKE, WHAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH IT BUT REALLY KIND OF UNDERSTOOD IT.

THEN AFTER THE INTERVIEW, SHE CONFIDED TO ME THAT SHE'S HAD EARLY OCD HER WHOLE LIFE AND SHE NEVER KIND OF CAME OUT TO HER PARENTS, NEVER TALKED ABOUT IT BECAUSE SHE FELT LIKE SHE WANTED TO JUST GO INTO A HOLE TO HAVE TO ADMIT THAT.

THEN ME AND HER, SHE'S LIKE I REALLY WANT TO DO SOMETHING IN THIS SPACE.

WE HAVE DONE 13 AND THAT REALLY HELPED START CONVERSATIONS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO HAVE BUT WAS VERY NECESSARY TO HAVE.

AND SO, WE CAME TOGETHER AND WE, DURING THE PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, SHE'S THE EAST COAST GIRL AND WE ARE WEST COAST GIRLS.

WE DID IT ALL THROUGH, YOU KNOW, ZOOM, AND THEN WE CAME UP WITH WONDERMIND.

AND ACTUALLY GOT COVID AND WAS IN THE HOSPITAL WITH DOUBLE PNEUMONIA WHEN I CAME UP WITH THE NAME WONDERMIND.

I WAS LAYING THERE LIKE, I KEPT WONDERING, WHAT CAN I DO?

HOW CAN I DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

AND THEN I JUST STARTED WRITING WONDER, WONDER, WONDER TO TRY TO TRIGGER SOMETHING ON HOW I CAN HELP.

AND I WAS LIKE, OH, WONDERMIND!

IF WE CAN WONDER ABOUT OUR MIND AND KIND OF CREATE, LIKE, SOMETHING AND THEN WE CAME UP WITH ONE REMINDER, AND HERE WE ARE.

IT'S JUST SLOWLY COMING TO FRUITION.

AND WE HAD A LOT OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO HELPED INVEST IN IT DURING A PANDEMIC BECAUSE I THINK IT ALSO, EVERYTHING THAT CAME ALONG NEGATIVELY WITH THE PANDEMIC, OPENING UP AND PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING WHAT ACTUAL SOME MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE THAT MAY NOT HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED IT FROM BEING, YOU KNOW, CONSUMED WITH THEMSELVES AND THE HOUSE HOLDING DOWN, UNLOCKING.

THAT CAUSES A LOT OF ANXIETY.

AND I THINK THAT HELPED PEOPLE THAT WERE MAY BE NONBELIEVERS BELIEVE THAT IT REALLY EXISTS.

SO WE WERE JUST VERY FORTUNATE TO FIGHT EACH OTHER AND ALL CAME TOGETHER WITH WHAT -- WE WERE ALL RUNNING BUSINESSES, LIKE, SEPARATELY.

WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH.

SO IT'S LIKE, WE CAN SHOW EVERYBODY THAT WE CAN DO ANYTHING THAT WE WANT IF YOU LEARN HOW TO WORK YOUR BRAIN AND THAT'S HOW WE CAME UP WITH MENTAL FITNESS.

>> Bonnie: X.

ME EVERYTHING OR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S ON THE PLATFORM AND WHAT YOU DO THAT IS OFF -- WHAT, IF ANYTHING, YOU DO, ORGANIZED EVENTS, I DON'T KNOW, WHATEVER, THAT'S OFF THE PLATFORM.> Mandy Teefey: I MEAN, PERSONALLY, I HELP -- I WORK WITH A COUPLE ORGANIZATIONS IN MENTAL HEALTH, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION RIGHT.

YEAH, WONDERMIND IS OBVIOUSLY STILL IN THE BUILDING PROCESS.

AND THE PROJECT I AM MOSTLY EXCITED ABOUT IS DEVELOPING PRODUCT TO HELP PEOPLE GET OFF THEIR DEVICES, LIKE THEIR ELECTRONIC DEVICES, AND LEARN HOW TO RECONNECT WITH HER MIND AND THE BODY AND, YOU KNOW, SO WE ARE DEVELOPING SOMETHING TOTALLY NEW.

BUT, LIKE, YEARS AGO, THERE WAS NOT A WELLNESS OIL AT THESE STORES.

SO WHAT DOES THE FIRST MENTAL FITNESS AREA LOOK LIKE?

>> Bonnie: THAT'S ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS BECAUSE SO MANY KIDS ARE GETTING HOOKED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THERE IS SO MUCH LONELINESS IN SOCIETY ALREADY AND IT'S INCREASING AND THAT, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IS A PRELUDE TO MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.

>> Mandy Teefey: OH, NO.

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THEY FEEL -- THEY SELL IT AS YOU ARE CONNECTING MORE, BUT YOU ARE REALLY DISCONNECTING I FEEL MORE BITE, YOU KNOW, THE REALITY OF WHAT -- LIKE HUMAN FEELINGS ARE AND BEING ABLE TO HIDE BEHIND THAT AND JUST SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.IT AFFECTS YOU NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ONLY READ SO MANY NEGATIVE COMMENTS BEFORE YOU ARE PERSONALLY AFFECTED WITH THEIR OWN MENTAL HEALTH, NO MATTER AGE, RACE, OR ANYTHING.

IT'S JUST -- IT'S THERE AND IT'S THERE FOREVER AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO GROW UP WITH, WHICH IS ANOTHER REASON WHY OUR PARTNERSHIP IS REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE WE HAVE A GEN Z, AGE AND SEX AND WHATEVER I'M SUPPOSED TO BE OVER 40.

SO WHATEVER I AM!

SO WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND HAVE DIFFERENT JOURNEYS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO INCORPORATE INTO OUR MOLDING EVERYTHING WE EXECUTE.

>> Bonnie: AND HER DAUGHTER, SELENA GOMEZ, DROPPED OVER SOCIAL MEDIA A WHILE BACK, RIGHT?

TELL ME ABOUT THAT, PLEASE.

>> Mandy Teefey: IT HAS HELPED HER IMMENSELY THAT I CAN, YOU KNOW, REALLY -- HER MENTAL HEALTH IS SOMETHING FOR HER TO SPEAK ON.

BUT AS A MOTHER, WATCHING HER NOT SEE THE HATEFUL COMMENTS AND NOT TO SIT IN IT, YOU KNOW, SHE DOES STILL COMMUNICATE WITH HER FAN BASE ON HER SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY TO GET TO THAT GENERATION.

BUT SHE, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD GET DEATH THREATS LIKE, YOU KNOW, SEND.

LIKE, YOU KNOW, AND THEN THESE PEOPLE ARE JUST REALLY WANTING YOU TO REPLY.

THEY DON'T ACTUALLY MINUTE.

THEY ARE JUST LIKE, OH, IF WE SAY SOMETHING REALLY CRAZY, SOMEONE WILL REPLY.

BUT THEN YOU CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING LESSER THAN, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN ONE PERSON'S GOING TO BE THAT PERSON.

SO SHE'S JUST BEEN HAPPIER, MORE LAID-BACK.

I FEEL LIKE EVEN, YEAH, YOU CAN SEE THE CONFIDENCE AND THE PRIDE IN HER WORK DIFFERENTLY THAN WHENEVER SHE WAS LIKE FOCUSING ON WHAT EVERYONE WAS TELLING HER WHAT TO DO.

>> Bonnie: SO TELL ME.

SHE STILL ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT -- >> Mandy Teefey: OTHER PLATFORMS AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND SHE DOES STILL HURTING WHAT TO PUT ON THERE AND HOW TO WORD THINGS.

BUT SHE DOES NOT ACTUALLY HAVE ANY OF IT ON HER PHONE.

SO SHE CAN'T GET WEAK AND GO AND LOOK UP ANYTHING.

SHE DOES NOT HAVE A LOGIN OR ANYTHING.

I DO KNOW OUT OF CREATING WONDERMIND, A LOT OF THESE DIGITAL PLATFORMS HAVE COME TO US ABOUT POSSIBLE PARTNERSHIPS ON HOW TO MAKE IT A MORE, A MORE POSITIVE PLACE FOR EVERYBODY.

>> Bonnie: I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION YOU MAY NOT HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT A LOT AS A MUCH SMALLER PUBLIC FIGURE THAN YOUR DAUGHTER, BUT A PUBLIC FIGURE AND MEDIA NONETHELESS.

>> Mandy Teefey: YES.

>> Bonnie: A LOT OF THE PEOPLE I HAVE SEEN SUCCEED IN MEDIA SEEM TO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

AND I WANT -- AND I KNOW, HAVING SUFFERED FROM DEPRESSION, CERTAINLY I AM ONE OF THOSE, BUT THERE'S -- YOU'RE CRAZY FOR OUTSIDE APPROVAL.

THAT'S ONE THING THAT DEPRESSION DOES TO YOU.

AND INSTEAD OF LOOKING INSIDE TO YOURSELF AND BELIEVING IN YOURSELF, YOU CRAVE PUBLIC SUPPORT.

DO YOU SEE THAT?

IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?

DO YOU SEE IT IN THE MEDIA?

>> Mandy Teefey: I UNFORTUNATELY SEE IT ALL AROUND NOW BECAUSE KIDS THAT GO TO SCHOOL AND HAVE NO DESIRE TO BE IN THE PUBLIC EYE ARE ON THESE PLATFORMS TRYING TO GET LIKES AND TRYING TO GET, YOU KNOW, JUST A POLITE COMMENT ABOUT HOW THEY LOOK.

SO NOW IT'S CREATED ALMOST THESE SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS TO WHERE THEY ARE DOING ANYTHING TO GET MORE ATTENTION AND THAT'S DANGEROUS OR HARMFUL, NOT MAYBE TO THEM, BUT MAYBE THE PERSON, YOU KNOW, THE PRANK ONES THAT THEY DO AND THEY JUST KEEP GOING FURTHER AND FURTHER.

SO I DO FEEL, BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE IN AN ENTERTAINMENT MYSELF AS A STORYTELLER.

AND IDEA WITH ADHD AND TRAUMA.

AND FOR ME, I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF.

IF I AM ABLE TO TELL STORIES THAT HELP MAKE CHANGE AND HELD IT MAKES SENSE OF WHAT I WENT THROUGH, THAT'S WHAT I TRIED TO EXECUTED AS.

IT'S ALMOST THERAPEUTIC FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO KNOW, EVEN IF I JUST HELP ONE PERSON.

>> Bonnie: WELL, TELL ME WHAT YOU MEAN BY BEING IN ENTERTAINMENT AS A STORYTELLER.

>> Mandy Teefey: I AM PRODUCED, SO I TRY TO FIND THE CONTENT AND THEN BE PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT.

I DO RIGHT ON THE SIDE.

I DO HAVE A BOOK IDEA THAT I WANT TO DO, BUT I ALSO HAVE FOUND MY SUCCESS AND I THINK ALMOST LIKE SAFETY IN TV AND FILM.

AND SO, FOR THAT, YOU ARE ABLE TO AS A PRODUCER GET YOUR HANDS AND EVERYTHING.

AND I AM -- I DEFINITELY TAKE MY TIME AND I HAVE THE LUXURY TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE STORIES THAT MEAN SOMETHING TO ME.

AND I LIKE TO BE A PART OF EVERY STEP OF THE WAY TO SUPPORT THAT STORY.

SO I AM NOT AN ACCLAIMED WRITER OR A SUCCESSFUL IN THAT ELEMENT OR DIRECTOR, BUT I DO PRODUCE CONTENT FOR A LIVING.

>> Bonnie: TELL ME ABOUT THE CONTENT YOU'VE PRODUCED WE DO WELL, WE DID "13 REASONS WHY", WAS THE FIRST WANT TO PUT MY NAME ON AS A PRODUCER, AND ACTUALLY FOUND THAT BOOK AT A BOOKSTORE LOOKING FOR A WHOLE OTHER STORY.

AND I WAS WALKING BY AND I SAW IT, YOU KNOW, CATTY CORNERED, THE COVER.

I SAW IT, IS THAT THERE AND READ IT.

I CALLED SELENA'S AGENTS, AND I WAS JUST LIKE, SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE WITH THIS, BUT SOMEONE HAS TO HAVE IT.

HOW CAN WE BE INVOLVED?

BECAUSE BEING ON TOUR WITH SELENA, YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THE LETTERS THAT SHE WAS GIVEN AND LIKE NOTES SHE WAS GIVEN FROM FANS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT TO HURT THEMSELVES.

SO I KNEW THAT STORY NEEDED TO BE TOLD AND I DID KNOW THE ADULTS -- >> Bonnie: DO ME A FAVOR, JUST BRIEFLY A SENTENCE OR TWO, TELL THE AUDIENCE WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

>> Mandy Teefey: "13 REASONS WHY" IS A STORY ABOUT A YOUNG GIRL WHO COMMITS SUICIDE AND SHE LEAVES 13 CASSETTE TAPES TO 13 DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT AFFECTED HER TOWARDS THE END OF THE DAY.

>> Bonnie: SO THAT SOUNDS LIKE A VERY SUCCESSFUL MEDIA PROJECT.

AND THE OTHERS?

OR IS THAT YOUR FIRST?

>> Mandy Teefey: THAT WAS MY FIRST AND THEN WE ALSO DID LIVING UNDOCUMENTED, WHICH WAS A DOCUMENTARY.

AND IT WAS KIND OF CREATING -- WE DIDN'T CREATE THE STORIES.

THESE ARE ACTUAL STORIES THAT WE FOLLOWED AND UNDOCUMENTED CITIZENS DURING THE DACA THING, WITHOUT BEING POLITICAL DURING THE DACA STORY.

AND WE MADE THOSE NUMBERS THAT WERE BEING THROWN OUT HUMAN.

SO WE ARE LIKE, LOOK, EVERY NUMBER THAT IF WE SAY THIS 32,000 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, JUST LOWERING A NUMBER OUT THERE, THERE'S 32,000 REAL STORIES AND HUMAN STORIES AND NOT JUST LIKE A NUMBER YOU CAN DISMISS.

>> Bonnie: YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTER WERE RECENTLY AT THE WHITE HOUSE WITH THE BIDENS, HELPING YOU PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH IN SOCIETY.

TELL ME ABOUT HOW WHAT YOU DID THERE, WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISH, IF ANYTHING, WITH THEM IN TERMS OF LEGISLATION OR LOBBYING FOR MORE ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND HOW IT HEALTHIER CAUSE.

>> Mandy Teefey: OKAY.

THAT, MY DAUGHTER HAS A RARE IMPACT FUND THAT'S PART OF A COSMETIC.

SHE HAS.

AND THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO RAISING $100 MILLION IN 10 YEARS TO GO TOWARDS MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE.

AND I CAN'T SPEAK FULLY ON THAT BECAUSE THAT'S HER BABY AND THAT'S LIKE RARE IMPACTS AND RARE BEAUTY'S MISSION.

SO SHE WAS INVITED THROUGH THAT RARE IMPACT MISSION TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST YOUTH IMPACT COALITIONS THAT ARE ACTUALLY HELD IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

SO FOR ME AS A MOM, I WAS AGHAST.

AND I WAS VERY PROUD OF HER, AND I STILL DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT WAS REAL.

YOU KNOW, WALKING WITH THE BIDENS AND WATCHING HER TALK TO THEM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I CAME FROM EXTREMELY HUMBLE BEGINNINGS.

SO NEVER YOU KNOW, I HAD HER AT 16, NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS WHAT I EXPECTED MY CHILD TO BE MAKING SUCH AN AMAZING IMPACT JUST INDIVIDUALLY ON HER OWN TO MAKE THAT CHANGE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

IT WAS OVERWHELMING, BUT IT WAS -- WHAT WAS GREAT ABOUT IT WAS WE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE BIDENS IN THE SURGEON GENERAL REALLY UNDERSTAND MENTAL HEALTH, AND THEY ARE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

>> Bonnie: WONDERFUL.

SO YOU HOPE TO SEE MAYBE HELP GETTING MORE SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, WHICH OF COURSE GOES WAY BACK TO AND PROBABLY BEYOND, BUT AL GORE'S WIFE WHEN HE WAS VICE PRESIDENT, THAT WAS HER MAIN ISSUE.

>> Mandy Teefey: YEAH.

>> Bonnie: AND SHE WORKED VERY HARD FOR THAT.

BUT, AGAIN, NOW WE HAVE IN THE WHITE HOUSE PEOPLE WHO ARE SENSITIVE TO THAT ISSUE.

TELL ME ABOUT SELENA -- BECAUSE WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME, BUT TELL ME ABOUT SELENA'S START IN MEDIA, WHICH INCLUDED, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, BARNEY, A PART ON BARNEY ON PBS?

>> Mandy Teefey: YES.

THAT WAS ACTUALLY -- I DID COMMERCIALS AND MUSIC VIDEOS BACK HOME YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I WAS IN TEXAS.

AND SOMETIMES SHE WOULD COME TO SET AND IT WAS REALLY CUTE.

I USED TO THINK I WANTED TO BE AN ACTOR UNTIL I REALIZED I HATED BEING IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA.

AND SHE USED TO CONSTRUCT ME WHEN SHE WOULD COME TO PLAY REHEARSALS.

SHE'S LIKE, MOM, THAT WAS REALLY FUNNY, BUT THIS IS FUN YEAR.

SHE WOULD TEASE AND I WAS LIKE, OH, MY GOSH, SHE'S GOING TO BE AN ACTRESS.

LIKE, THERE'S NO MISSING IT WHATSOEVER.

AND SO ONE DAY SHE SAW A BARNEY COMMERCIAL ON TV AND SHE GOES, I WANT TO GO TO THAT OPEN CALL.

AND I WAS LIKE, WELL, THAT'S ON THE DAY OF YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY.

SO JUST KNOW THAT.

AND THEN WE WENT AND SHE WAS ACTUALLY IN LINE WITH DEMI LOVATO.

IF YOU -- SHE'S ALSO REALLY INTO MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL.

AND THEY MADE FRIENDS WITH EACH OTHER.

THEY GOT PUT ON THE SHOW TOGETHER AND THEY ENDED UP ON THE DISNEY CHANNEL TOGETHER.

SO I REALLY FEEL LIKE IT WAS MEANT TO -- IT WAS HER DESTINY.

AND I FEEL LIKE SHE JUST KIND OF KNEW IT ALL ALONG.

SHE WAS LIKE MAKING SHORT FILMS AS A YOUNG GIRL IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE HOLDING AUDITIONS, AND IT WAS JUST LIKE, YEAH, THIS IS GOING TO BE A JOURNEY SHE WANTS TO BE ON.

SO IT WAS -- IT WAS REALLY CUTE.

WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO BE ON SET AT BARNEY, SO I DIDN'T REALLY GET TO SEE ANYTHING WITH BARNEY.

BUT SHE DID JUST ON SNL SANG THE SONG ON BARNEY ABOUT BARNEY.

>> Bonnie: AND SHE DID A SHOUT OUT TO YOU WHEN SHE HOSTED.

>> Mandy Teefey: YEAH.

>> Bonnie: SATURDAY NIGHT LAYUP, GUEST TOASTED.

>> Mandy Teefey: YEAH.

>> Bonnie: YOU HAVE AN EIGHT YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, TOO.

HOW DOES SHE FEEL?

IS SHE HOW DOES THIS IMPACT HAVING THIS SUPER FAMOUS SISTER IMPACT?

FIRST OF ALL, HER RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU AND HER MENTAL HEALTH?

>> Mandy Teefey: YES.

GRACIE, SHE GOES TO -- IT'S VERY INTERESTING, BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE ENVIRONMENT, WE LIVE IN THE ENVIRONMENT WHERE FAME IS KIND OF ALMOST NORMALIZED, WHICH IS A SCARY THING.

BUT ALSO, THEN IT'S LIKE A BLESSING.

IT'S LIKE, HER FRIENDS HAVE, YOU KNOW, SHE HAS FRIENDS THAT HER PARENTS ARE FAMOUS .

SO BEING ON TV IS KIND OF JUST NORMAL FOR HER.

BUT, SO SHE WANTED TO GET ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL AND SHE JUST WATCHED HER SISTER DO THINGS, WATCHED US PRODUCE.

SO IT'S JUST ENTERTAINMENT AS PART OF HER WORLD.

BUT SHE IS AN AMAZING EDITOR.

SHE CAN TELL A STORY LIKE NO TOMORROW.

SO HOW -- WE PARTED WITH HER WAS LIKE YOUR FACE ISN'T ALLOWED TO BE ON SOCIAL MEDIA YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR OWN CHANNEL, BUT YOU CAN EDIT VIDEOS.

SO SHE TELLS STORIES.

IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE THIS ONE OUT BECAUSE EVERY GENERATION IS DIFFERENT AND YOU CAN ONLY BE SO MUCH OF A GOOD PARENT WHEN YOUR KID IS IN THE WORLD, MUCH LESS UNDER A MICROSCOPE.

SO WE HAVE TO KIND OF LEARN AS YOU GO.

BUT SHE'S LEARNED REALLY TO ENJOY BEHIND-THE-SCENES AND I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH HER EDITING.

SHE IS SMOKING MEAT AND STORYTELLING, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT> Bonnie: NOW, SELENA IS MAINLY KNOWN AS A SINGER EVEN THOUGH SHE STARTED OUT AS AN ACTRESS WITH THE DISNEY CHANNEL, WITH BARNEY, ETC.

DO YOU THINK SHE WILL KEEP ACTING?

>> Mandy Teefey: RIGHT NOW SHE'S ON HULU'S ONLY MURDERS, AND IT'S RE -- IT'S REINVIGORATED THAT ACTING BUG.

SO SHE KIND OF HAS A COUPLE OF THINGS LINED UP THAT I'M NOT LIKE -- I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'RE ANNOUNCING, SO I CAN'T REALLY SAY.

BUT LIKE ACTING SHE'S IT'S HER WORLD.

SHE LOVES YOU AND YOU CAN JUST SEE HER BE GRANTED AND, LIKE, IN AN AMAZING PLACE.

SO WE ALWAYS CALL MUSIC A HOBBY THAT GOT OUT OF CONTROL.

[LAUGHTER] >> Bonnie: INTERESTING!

WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO YOU HOPE TO SUM UP WONDERMIND WILL HAVE?

HERE DO YOU SEE AMERICAN CULTURE AND ITS ATTITUDE TOWARD MENTAL ILLNESS?

>> Mandy Teefey: WHEN WE DID "13 REASONS WHY" AND WE WERE OUT TRYING TO SELL THIS, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE, YOU KNOW, NERVOUS ABOUT THE CONTENT AND JUST SAYING, OKAY, YOU WANT TO DO SUICIDE WITH A DISNEY KID.

AND AND THEY'RE LIKE, KIDS DON'T WANT TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

I'M JUST LIKE, YES, THEY DO.

LIKE THEY NEED THESE CONVERSATIONS AND PARENTS NEED TO BE AWARE OF, LIKE, WHAT THEIR KIDS GO THROUGH.

AND I'M INCLUDING MYSELF AND THAT.

I'M NOT JUDGING ANY OTHER PARENT.

YOU KNOW, AND I -- THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER A LOT OF THE WORLD.

LIKE THE SUICIDE HOTLINE'S WENT UP AND PEOPLE WERE NERVOUS ABOUT THAT AND I'M JUST LIKE, NO, THAT'S A GOOD THING.

NOW THEY ARE TALKING.

YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING ARE TALKING AND SOME SCHOOLS WERE USING IT TO TELL THE STORY AND THEN SOME CHURCHES EVEN ASKED TO SCREEN IT, WHICH REALLY SURPRISED US.

BUT THE MESSAGE THAT WE HOPE TO DO WITH WONDERMIND IS TO CREATE THAT, THAT SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO TELL A STORY, USES THE PLATFORMS TO TELL STORIES, AND THEN PEOPLE KIND OF USE IT WITHOUT BEING PREACHY.

BECAUSE I THINK THE MINUTE IT GETS REALLY PREACHY, PEOPLE KIND OF PUSH IT OUT.

SO WE WANTED TO BE IN THE FOREFRONT OF THAT.

WE DON'T WANT TO BE THE SOLE LEADERS.

WE WANT TO HELP PUSH THAT SO OTHER PEOPLE WILL START USING THE PLATFORMS AND CREATING THAT CONTENT.

SO WE ARE HOPING TO JUST MAKE IT A SAFE PLACE AND HOPEFULLY MEET OUT, MEDIA WILL ALSO, YOU KNOW, GET ON BOARD AND REALIZE THAT IT'S REALLY SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE -- ALL WE CAN DO IS TRY OUR HARDEST AND DO THE FOOTWORK AND HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL JOIN US IN THIS MISSION.

>> Bonnie: TALK ABOUT MEDIA AND ITS ATTITUDE TOWARD MENTAL ILLNESS.

>> Mandy Teefey: EVERYBODY HAS A PLATFORM.

AND THEN EVERYBODY CAN, LIKE, PUT THINGS OUT THERE THAT AREN'T CORRECT.

AND I FEEL LIKE, EXCUSE ME, SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE, AND I DON'T LIKE HAVING ANYBODY IN PARTICULAR, THE INTEGRITY OF DOING THE ACTUAL RESEARCH IS LESS IMPORTANT THAN JUST REACTING TO WHATEVER IS HAPPENING.

SO THEY CAN BE THE FIRST OF THE HEADLINE.

AND SO, I'M HOPING THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE I WILL GO ON THE WEBSITE FOR ONE NEWS THING AND THEY WILL BE LIKE 10 WAYS YOU ARE A SOCIOPATH AND I'M LIKE -- WE CAN'T DO THAT.

WE ARE NOT LICENSED TO BE ABLE TO PEG WHO IS A SOCIOPATH IN OUR LIFE.

SO I'M JUST REALLY HOPING RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM JUST KIND OF COMES BACK INTO PLAY.

THEN, YOU KNOW, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE ARE TELLING STORIES, LIKE I SAID, I LOVE "GIRL INTERRUPTED" AND THOSE KIND OF STORIES, BUT LIKE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, THEY HAD BIPOLAR BUT THEY LIVE LIVES, THEY HAD LIVES, AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO KIND OF REALIZE.

SO THAT'S THE KIND OF STORIES WE'RE HOPING TO TRANSFORM.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE MEDIA CONTENT AND THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY.

THAT'S THE ANOMALY.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE EXPLOITIVE AND MORE INTERESTING.

BUT THERE IS ALSO EDUCATION TO BE TAUGHT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YES, I HAVE ADHD IN MY DAUGHTER HAS BIPOLAR AND DANIELA HAS OCD, BUT WE ARE FUNCTIONING IN SOCIETY AND WE HAVE A LIVES BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S SAFE PLACES TO GO.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING FOR.

>> Bonnie: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR AND YOUR DAUGHTER'S WORK ON THIS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TOPIC.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.

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