About Our Podcast

A passionate advocate for the rights of the mentally ill, Helen Sneed has mentored men and women with severe psychiatric illnesses. With Valerie Milburn, she is co-creator and co-host of the podcast, Mental Health: Hope and Recovery. In much demand as a speaker, Helen has addressed the National Institute of Mental Health, the New School of Social Research, and the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder about the ethics and treatment of those who cannot speak for themselves. In 2021, the National Alliance on Mental Illness Central Texas awarded her the Harold Scogin Sunshine Award. 

Helen received a B.A. in Theatre at Tulane University, with additional coursework at Harvard University and the University of London. She founded the Campaign for Oxford in North America, serving as Executive Director NA of the $400 million development campaign, the first in Oxford University's 800-year history. During her career in New York theatre, she served as Senior Vice President of Music Theatre International; Executive Director of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre and producer of its annual international festival of new musicals; and as Director, Special Projects, Walt Disney Theatricals. Her company, Helen Sneed Creative, has consulted Paramount/Viacom, the Musical Theatre Graduate Writing Program, and the Goldberg Dramatic Writing Department at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, the Drama Bookshop and Arthur Seelan Theatre, and the Connections Place.

A member of the Dramatists Guild, the League of Professional Theatre Women, Pen America, ScriptWorks, and Honor Roll, Helen is the author of a musical, Sally Blane, World's Greatest Girl Detective (Dramatists Play Service). Her play, Fix Me, Jesus, premiered Off-Broadway at the Abingdon Theatre Company. Published by Dramatists Play Service, it was nominated for the Susan Smith Blackburn Award. Her new play, Augusta Speaks Volumes, won Best of Week at FronteraFest 2023, Austin. In Theatre magazine named Helen one of the national leaders who "will usher the American theatre into the new century." 

Since retirement from careers in advertising and education, Valerie Milburn has dedicated her time and efforts to breaking down the stigma that surrounds substance use disorder and other mental health conditions. She has gone from being silent about her own journey to being as vocal and transparent as a YouTube video- literally.

Valerie began her career in the non-profit sector, as a communications manager for the Texas Research League, a public policy think tank. In the private sector, she worked in the fields of marketing, advertising and public relations.

While fighting her way back from a crisis with her mental health, Valerie received her teaching certificate in order to begin her second career as an educator. She taught high school English, Journalism and Photojournalism, and co-developed and led a social-emotional learning program. She is involved with a number of non-profits in the recovery and mental health communities. As a NAMI Central Texas volunteer, Valerie is a presenter, teacher and nationally certified state trainer. She a frequent presenter to Crisis Intervention Training for law enforcement officers throughout Central Texas. 

In her work with Communities for Recovery, she served as a member of the Board of Directors and as Board Chair. Her Communities for Recovery volunteer commitments included leading patient groups in Austin psychiatric hospitals, and peer recovery coaching. Her awards include the Harold Scogin Sunshine Award from NAMI Central Texas, the Mark Korenek Consumer Quality of Life Award from NAMI Texas, and she has received the Presidential Service Award four times for her volunteer service.

Valerie graduated with a journalism degree from The University of Texas at Austin, and maintains her connection with UT Austin as a Longhorn sports fan. She and her husband have been married for 39 years, and together they enjoy traveling and spending time at their South Texas ranch. They have two children and four grandchildren. For Valerie, family is everything.

Valerie graduated with a journalism degree from The University of Texas at Austin, and maintains her connection with UT Austin as a Longhorn sports fan. She and her husband have been married for 39 years, and together they enjoy traveling and spending time at their South Texas ranch. They have two children and four grandchildren. For Valerie, family is everything.