"Non-bipolar moods" are feelings that come in reaction to things that happen. I think everyone has a different emotional range, and mine is larger than most even without the bipolar, this is particularly obvious in my house as my husband has a smaller emotional range than most. So, I might fall apart, get angry, jump around like a lunatic in reaction to something that happens. That's just me.

Episodes are a sustained mood, that tends not to react to the situation. Something negative happens when I'm (happy) manic, I see it as an opportunity. Something great happens when I'm depressed, and I couldn't care less.