College Student Wins National Podcast Award for Mental Health Story

Michael Vargas Arango faced a difficult choice when he started dating Elizabeth Pella at Miami Dade College. As a 22-year-old exchange student from Colombia, he knew he had to share something personal about himself: he lives with schizoaffective disorder, which causes him to hear voices and see things others cannot.

When Michael told Elizabeth about his condition, she accepted him but asked to keep it private from their friends. This response hurt Michael deeply and made him want to change how people think about mental health conditions like his. He decided to create a podcast called "The Monsters We Create" to share his real experiences.

In his podcast, Michael uses sound effects and voice changes to help listeners understand what living with schizoaffective disorder feels like. He also makes jokes about common misconceptions, having pretend conversations with the voices in his head to show that people with mental health conditions are not dangerous or crazy. Michael explains, "I'm just one more guy, with a mental health condition, living with it."

Michael submitted his podcast to the NPR Podcast Challenge earlier this year. Out of more than 500 student entries from across the country, his podcast won first place. The judges recognized his honest storytelling and creative approach to mental health education.

Today, Michael speaks openly about his condition with everyone in his life. He hopes his story encourages others in our community to embrace who they are and seek support when needed. Mental health resources and peer support groups are available for anyone who wants to learn more or connect with others who understand.