Episode #50: We’re joined by Laura Vollset & Maggie Muir to discuss Perinatal Depression & Anxiety (PPD). While this is one of the most common complications of pregnancy, it is often unrecognized and under-diagnosed. Laura shares her experience of having had debilitating PPD after the birth of her twins. She sought treatment, found support, and wended her way to back to wellness and joy in parenting. Maggie Muir, a Licensed Psychotherapist, Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and Perin...
Dec 29, 2022•58 min•Season 5Ep. 50
Episode #49: This episode features a collection of nuanced and highly personal stories about making reproductive decisions and how these choices impact mental health. Some of what you’ll hear may be difficult, but we urge you to listen and challenge yourself to hold the complexity, the diversity, and the common humanity in each tale. Our feature story is by writer, teacher and poet Patrice Vecchione. Joining us to listen, reflect on, and respond to these important reproductive health stories is ...
Dec 04, 2022•59 min•Season 5Ep. 49
Episode #48: While Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (commonly called HIV and AIDS), has been transformed from a deadly disease to a chronic, manageable condition, there is still stigma, discrimination and misunderstanding that can have a significant impact on the mental health of those living with it. Guest host and psychotherapist Kaleo Kaluhiwa is joined by mental health counselor Bryan Golson to discuss the unique and complex physical and mental health needs of those living and aging with HIV. ...
Nov 02, 2022•59 min•Season 5Ep. 48
Episode #47: To honor Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re turning our attention to bipolar disorder, a serious mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings. If not treated and managed, bipolar disorder can be dangerous and cause great disruption in a young adult’s life. Guest Allyson Makuch shares her experience of living with and managing bipolar disorder throughout her college and graduate school years. University of California, Santa Cruz Director of Psychiatry, Dr. David Lo also ...
Sep 28, 2022•59 min•Season 5Ep. 47
Ep. 46: An inside look at traumatic brain injury, or “TBI,” and how these injuries influence mental health. People of all ages get them in a variety of ways—from sports injuries to car accidents to domestic falls and many of these individuals develop mental health symptoms that can last for months or even years. Our guest and author JoAnne Jones talks about recovering from a severe traumatic brain injury that occurred when she was assaulted and robbed. Also with us is rehabilitation and physical...
Aug 31, 2022•59 min•Season 5Ep. 46
Ep. 45: People all over the world are experiencing mental health issues in response to climate change, including trauma, anxiety, and grief. In this episode, we’re joined by Gen Zer Chloe Rosen who talks about growing up with climate change awareness and its impact on their mental health. Also with us is Paula Wild, a Millennial Yoga Therapist and Outdoor Educator who shares some healing practices that can help us individually and in community be better prepared to address the growing global men...
Aug 03, 2022•58 min•Season 5Ep. 45
Episode #44: Psychotherapist Debra Sloss is joined by Judith Ain and Family Medicine Physician Assistant and Integrative Medicine Specialist Dr. Cynthia Quattro to discuss tick-borne Lyme Disease and the mental health effects associated with it. Judith shares her personal story of trying to figure out what was happening as her health deteriorated and how she got diagnosed, sought treatment and learned to live with long-term symptoms. Dr. Quattro offers information about the cause of Lyme Disease...
Jun 29, 2022•58 min•Season 4Ep. 44
Ep. 43: Join us this month as we take a deeper dive into the question “What’s Your Soul Food?“ We continue to explore the many ways our listeners take care of their bodies and minds. We’ll learn more about how these self-care practices help us work through traumas and find resilience when facing life’s many challenges. Joining your host Debra Sloss is psychotherapist and trauma specialist Kara Bowman. Together they discuss how self-care supports mental and physical health. Be sure to check out E...
Jun 01, 2022•57 min•Season 5Ep. 43
Ep. 42: To honor Mental Health Awareness Month, we ask the question, “What’s Your Soul Food?“ We hear from listeners about the many ways they take care of their bodies and minds in order to support their mental health. Joining your host Debra Sloss is psychotherapist and trauma specialist Kara Bowman to discuss how these self-care choices can build resilience and support mental and physical health. Be sure to join us again next month for Part 2 in this series to hear more!
Apr 27, 2022•58 min•Season 5Ep. 42
Episode #41: In this episode we’ll explore the complicated and often misunderstood topic of Codependency vs. Interdependency. In codependent relationships, one person does much of the giving and at the same time tries to get their own needs met by controlling the other person. While some people will recreate these same codependent patterns in many […]
Mar 30, 2022•58 min•Season 5Ep. 41
Episode #40: The vast majority of adults in the U.S., more than 70%, have experienced some type of traumatic event, and research shows that trauma survivors have a high incidence of physical and mental health illnesses. Trauma has such a severe impact on the body because of the way it affects, and ultimately rewires, the […]
Mar 02, 2022•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 40
Episode #39: While the practice of yoga in general aims to cultivate the body and mind and can exert therapeutic effects, Yoga Therapy offers personalized yoga practices to improve mental health and alleviate physical ailments. Yoga Therapy is making inroads into places like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help soldiers recover from physical and […]
Feb 02, 2022•59 min•Season 5Ep. 39
Episode #38: We too often think of forgiveness as an event between two people: Something like, “I forgive you,” or ”please forgive me.” In this show, we hear from our guests about how forgiveness is much more of an internal process, one that often occurs slowly, and frequently centers around forgiving ourselves. And why do […]
Dec 29, 2021•58 min•Season 5Ep. 38
Ep. 37: One in six Americans are currently providing care to someone age 50 or older. The majority of these caregivers are women, and many find it difficult to balance with raising children and meeting work and family commitments. We’re joined by award-winning author, Laura Davis, who has a new memoir about reconciling her strained relationship with her mother as she cares for her through her dementia and death. We’re also joined by Chief Medical Officer at Hospice of Santa Cruz County and palli...
Dec 01, 2021•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 37
Ep. 36: This show is a follow-up to a two–part series produced in 2020 that examined the effects of racism on mental health. Guest host Gail Borkowski welcomes back Black community members–activist Joy Flynn, psychologist Dr. Robert Bartee, and educator/activist Jason Seals–to talk about the detrimental effects of racism on mental health, the impact of the last year’s events, what’s changed, and what still needs to change to achieve greater health equity and well-being for Blacks and people of c...
Nov 03, 2021•58 min•Season 4Ep. 36
Ep. 35: Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States and a preventable public health problem. In this show, we talk with suicide prevention and support professional, Carly Memoli, and with Leslie Nielsen whose adult son Ben died by suicide early this year. We discuss complicated grief and explore how one learns to cope after someone they’ve loved or cared about has died by suicide. This show is part 2 of a two-part series on suicide. We invite you to also check out last month’s show,...
Sep 29, 2021•58 min•Season 4Ep. 35
Ep. 34: For National Suicide Prevention Month, we focus on suicide prevention for teens and young adults. Being informed about suicide can help prevent many of these tragic deaths. In this show we talk about feeling suicidal, where to find help and support, and how to recognize warning signs. We also learn about how to help others who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts or feelings. This is part 1 of a 2-part series. Next month’s show focuses on complicated grief and recovering from losing ...
Sep 01, 2021•59 min•Season 4Ep. 34
Episode 33: Gender-based violence is an umbrella term that includes the more familiar descriptors of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence and dating violence. It’s an extensive problem across our country and around the world, impacting one in every three girls. Teens and college students are particularly vulnerable. The coronavirus pandemic has amplified the problem and led to a rising number of crisis line calls and requests for services. For survivors, the mental healt...
Jul 28, 2021•59 min•Season 4Ep. 33
Ep. 32: The effects of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) go way beyond making someone a neat freak. This anxiety disorder is characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors that consume hours of people’s days, restrict their lives, and increase isolation and suffering. Join us as one woman shares her experience of having OCD since childhood and describes how she’s living a productive and fulfilling life. We’ll also learn from an anxiety specialist about OCD symptoms and evidence-b...
Jun 30, 2021•57 min•Season 4Ep. 32
Ep. 31: After more than a year of online schooling, we look at the impact the pandemic is having on LGBTQ+ Teens and how schools and communities are responding. Teen guests courageously share the struggles they’ve faced and how they've persevered to find their voices as leaders and advocates. Joining us as guest host for this conversation is queer community member, recent college graduate, and former State of Mind guest, Adam Lanfear. In honor of Pride Month, come along with us to learn how gest...
Jun 02, 2021•59 min•Season 4Ep. 31
Ep. 30: First Responders arrive at the scene of some of the most dangerous and demanding situations, providing immediate care, support, and medical assistance to survivors in the aftermath of a crime or disaster. This kind of work can take a toll on mental health. You’ll hear directly from police officers about their mental health challenges and learn from a critical incident specialist about the mental health needs of first responders and what support workplaces are providing.
Apr 28, 2021•59 min•Season 4Ep. 30
Ep. 29: Continuing our series on intimacy in the pandemic, we hear from young adults about how their relationships are being shaped and changed by these unprecedented times. Guests speak about the ways social distancing and the pandemic have made forming new relationships hard and pushed people together in new ways.
Mar 31, 2021•55 min•Season 4Ep. 29
Ep. 28: How is the pandemic shaping intimate relationships? Learn more about how mid-life and older adults are navigating intimate relationships, combating loneliness, and finding new ways to connect in person and through technology during the pandemic.
Mar 03, 2021•58 min•Season 4Ep. 28
Ep. 27: Learn how to become more skillful at navigating mental health crisis services from those who have been there…many times! Mental health recovery is possible and our guests give specific suggestions to help others get started in that direction!
Feb 03, 2021•59 min•Season 4Ep. 27
Ep. 26: Dealing with the pandemic while trying to support your own mental health is no easy task. This show is full of practical examples and suggestions you can adopt right away and includes an extensive list of mental health oriented and mostly free resources.
Dec 30, 2020•57 min•Season 4Ep. 26
Ep. 25: Continuing our series on racism and mental health, we’re again hearing directly from Black community members as they discuss how access to physical and mental health support could be improved for Blacks and people of color. Check out the extensive resource list posted with this show.
Dec 02, 2020•59 min•Season 3Ep. 25
Ep. 24: Hear directly from Black community members about the difficult realities of racism and the detrimental effects it has on mental health. Guests describe how it is a daily stressor in their lives and explore the complex and subtle forms racism takes. This is the first of a two-show series on racism and mental health. Included is an extensive resource list.
Oct 28, 2020•59 min•Season 3Ep. 24
Ep. 23: Disaster response expert and fire survivors join us to discuss the mental health impacts of a disaster and to explore how we recover and build resilience. Guests share their experiences with emergency evacuation, losing their home, and finding a road forward. Additional first-person accounts and useful disaster resources can be found on the post.
Oct 02, 2020•58 min•Season 3Ep. 23
Ep. 22: In honor of World Alzheimer's Awareness Month, we hear about the many challenges facing dementia patients and their care-partners who can also be at particular risk for developing mental health problems. Learn more about important preparations, finding support and local resources.
Sep 03, 2020•57 min•Season 3Ep. 22
Ep. 21: Holocaust survivor Gitta Ryle speaks about her long road of self-discovery and healing with forgiveness playing a central role. And researcher, author, and forgiveness expert Frederic Luskin PhD, explains what forgiveness is and isn’t, ways to access it and the profound power of forgiveness in mental health.
Jul 30, 2020•58 min•Season 3Ep. 21
