Publication Date: 2016-12-27
Carrie Fisher died today at the age of 60. She was a Hollywood icon, best know for her role as Princess Leia in the original "Star Wars" film. But she was also an extremely talented writer, and it was in this role that she was able to express herself eloquently and honestly about her struggles with drug addiction and mental illness, giving voice to many people who felt stigmatized by similar conditions.  In 2004, Leonard spoke to her about "The Best Awful," her sequel to her first, and best-selling, novel "Postcards From the Edge." The novel's heroine is a star, an addict, has just been diagnosed as bipolar.   In 2008, Fisher was back on the show to discuss her new memoir "Wishful Drinking," an open, honest, and yet surprisingly comedic look about her own experiences with alcoholism, drug addiction, mental illness, and death.

We are sorry, but the audio for this podcast is no longer available from the podcast author