DIY MFA Instigator Gabriela Pereira is an author, speaker, and self-proclaimed word nerd who has changed lives by challenging the status quo of higher education. In this insightful episode, Abigail and Gabriela discuss Gabriela’s experiences living with mental illness, and how Disney’s Frozen finally presented a perfect allegory for bipolar disorder. Additionally, Gabriela shares the becoming of her Do-It-Yourself-Master-Of-Fine-Arts writing company, DIY MFA, and how its invaluable resources and philosophy continue to inspire and educate writers eager to grow their craft. 

Listen to this episode to learn how stories can spark conversations about mental illness–while also teaching us how to better talk about this–why it’s important for people to read outside their comfort zones, and how writers can grow their craft by getting involved in the word nerd community that is DIY MFA. Email Abigail at abigailkperry [AT] gmail [DOT] com to continue the conversation.

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Interested in some other topics discussed in this podcast? Explore these resources for your own creative journey. 

• Gabriela's writing company, DIY MFA
• Disney's Frozen 
• Gabriela Pereira: Gabriela’s insurmountable contributions to the writing community. 
• Gabriela’s podcast, DIY MFA Radio
• Brandy Colbert’s books The Only Black Girls in Townand The Revolution of Birdie Randolph -- find them on Amazon, IndieBound, your local bookstore, or the library. (I know I will!)
• Intro Music: “Open Those Bright Eyes” by Kevin MacLeod, edited for this podcast’s intro and closing. License: Creative Commons