What is Rio Mad Hotel?

Rio Mad Hotel is a podcast, community, and creative project about survival.

We explore dissociation, trauma, mental health, chronic illness, identity, recovery, storytelling, friendship and what it means to keep living when life has been complicated.

Some episodes focus on Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and plurality. Others discuss living with Chronic Lyme Disease. Still others explore broader experiences shared by many survivors, whether they have a diagnosis or not.

Think of it as a late-night conversation in a hotel lobby where everyone has a story.

Why “Rio Mad Hotel”?

The Rio Mad Hotel began as a metaphor for our internal world. Many people imagine the mind as a single house occupied by a single self. Our experience has been different. For us, it has often felt more like a hotel (and indeed, it looks like one inside): a shared space with many stories, many perspectives, and people coming and going through the lobby. It began as a gentle joke and evolved into more. The name reflects the beautiful, strange, sometimes chaotic ways humans survive.

Who hosts the podcast?

Dane is the primary host and creator of Rio Mad Hotel. They are a plural system and trauma survivor.

Anna is the co-host. She brings with her lived experience with chronic illness, trauma recovery, and navigating life when your body and nervous system have their own plans.

Together, we approach difficult topics with curiosity, humor, honesty and a healthy respect for absurdity.

Do you have DID?

Yes.

Dane was diagnosed with traumagenic DID in 2017 by a licensed practitioner. DID is a trauma-related state of being involving multiple identities sharing one body, memory disruptions, and dissociation.

The podcast discusses these experiences openly, but Rio Mad Hotel is not exclusively a DID podcast. Many conversations focus on universal topics such as relationships, grief, resilience, creativity, identity and healing.

How do you talk about DID?

We view DID primarily as a survival adaptation rather than a disorder. Different people use different language to describe their experiences. We respect that.

With Rio Mad Hotel, you may hear terms such as:

• System

• Headmates

• Alters

• Fronting

• Co-Consciousness

• Switching

• Dissociation

Guests are always encouraged to use whatever language feels most accurate and respectful for their own experiences.

Is Rio Mad Hotel therapy?

No.

Rio Mad Hotel is a podcast and community project, not a therapy service, crisis line, support group or medical practice.

Nothing on this website or the podcast should be considered medical, legal or mental health advice.

If you need professional support, please consult a qualified provider that fits your needs and honors your experience.

Can I listen if I don’t have DID?

Absolutely.

Most listeners probably never experience DID. The podcast is ultimately about being human: surviving difficult experiences, making meaning out of chaos, building relationships, and learning how to live authentically.

You do not need any prior knowledge of psychology or mental health to enjoy the show.

Will there be triggering topics?

Sometimes.

Episodes may include discussions of:

• Trauma

• Dissociation

• Mental health struggles

• Abuse

• Addiction and recovery

• Medical experiences

• Chronic illness

• Grief and loss

• Systemic oppression

When possible, we provide content warnings so listeners can make informed decisions about what feels safe for them.

Do you support self-diagnosis?

Our view is nuanced.

Professional assessment can be incredibly helpful when it is available, affordable, safe, and informed by current research. Unfortunately, many people face barriers to care, including cost, long waitlists, medical trauma, discrimination, geographic limitations, or a lack of providers knowledgable about dissociation and complex trauma.

We believe people are the experts on their own experiences.

Thoughtful self-reflection, research from reputable resources, and community learning can be valuable parts of understanding yourself, especially when professional evaluation is inaccessible. At the same time, we recognize that many conditions can share similar symptoms and misdiagnosis can be detrimental.

Our goal is not to tell people what diagnosis they do or do not have (neither of us is a licensed professional). Our goal is to encourage curiosity, critical thinking, compassion, and access to reliable information.

If you are able, we do recommend seeking professional, safe assessment and treatment.

Can I be a guest on the show?

Possibly!

We’re interested in speaking with:

• People with lived experience of dissociation or plurality

• Trauma survivors

• People living with chronic illness or disability

• Mental health professionals

• Authors, creators, advocates and researchers

• Anyone with a meaningful story about survival

If you’re interested in appearing on the show, visit our Contact page.

Do guests have to disclose a diagnosis?

Not at all.

Guests are welcome to share as much or as little of their personal history as they choose. We believe people deserve ownership over their own stories.

Do you use real names?

Sometimes.

Some hosts and guests may use legal names, chosen names, online names, pen names, or pseudonyms. We respect every person’s right to privacy and self-determination.

Is this community only for trauma survivors?

No.

Many of our conversations begin with trauma, but they rarely end there.

We also talk about:

• Books

• Movies

• Music

• Gaming

• Creativity

• Friendship

• Philosophy

• Pop Culture

• Weird Internet Rabbit Holes

• Occasional Existential Crisis

Basically, all of the things people discuss when the hotel lobby stays open past midnight.

How can I support Rio Mad Hotel?

You can support the project by:

• Listening to the podcast

• Sharing episodes with friends

• Following us and interacting on social media

• Joining our Discord community

• Leaving ratings and reviews

• Participating in discussions respectfully

• Subscribing to our Substack and Patreon

Every conversation keeps the lights on in the lobby.

I have another question.

Reach out through our Contact page.

Whether you’re a listener, potential guest, fellow survivor, curious skeptic, or someone who wandered in because the neon sign looked interesting, you’re welcome here. The hotel never sleeps.