Guests

Our Guests

On the following episodes are listed the special guests who've enriched and enlightened our listeners through professional expertise, inspirational lived experiences, family issues, books, and their belief in hope for the real possibility of recovery from mental health challenges and of creating a life worth living. 

We invite you to immerse yourself in these priceless discussions with amazing people. 

Episode 4: Relationships Part Two: The Therapeutic Relationship - Valerie's Journey
Dr. Bernard "Trey" Aoueille, III, M.D., Psychiatrist - Retired

Episode 7: Lived Experience with Self Injury
Shayna Barksdale, LCSW

Episode 8: The Hell of Suicidal Thinking and Escaping It
Jenny Whitten, LCSW

Episode 10: Understanding and Overcoming Eating Disorders: Personal and Therapeutic Perspectives
Neathery Falchuk, LCSW
Founder and CEO, Ample + Rooted

Episode 11: The Intersection of Mental Health and Law Enforcement Crisis Intervention 
Senior Patrol Officer Jaimie von Seltmann
Austin Police Department

Episode 14: PTSD and Recovery: I Thought I Was Going Crazy!
Sangye O'Mara, LCSW

Episode 15: PTSD and Recovery: I Can't Believe I Beat It!
Sangye O'Mara, LCSW

Episode 16: Genetics and Mental health: Is It in My Genes?
Illene Gray, Mental Health Advocate, Trainer and Presenter

Episode 17: The Impact of the Pandemic on Mental Health in America
Part One: How is it Affecting our Youth?
Dr. Melissa Eshelman, M.D., Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School
Police Chief Wayne Sneed, Austin Independent School District

Episode 18: The Impact of the Pandemic on Adult Mental Health: What's the Upside?
Heather Newby, LPC
Esteem Austin Counseling

Episode 20: Borderline Personality Disorder: Myths and Facts
Eric Kunish
Family Member; Caregiver; Mental Health Advocate, Trainer and Presenter

Episode 21: Aging and Mental Health, Part Two: An Expert Speaks
Dr. Cherie Simpson, Ph.D, APRN, CNS-BC
Senior Adults Specialty Research 

Episode 22: Sobriety, Mental Health, and Creativity: A Conversation with Anders Osborn and Ben Anderson
Anders Osborne, Singer/Songwriter
Ben Anderson, Founder, Park City Song Summit

Episode 24: Bipolar Disorder: The Highs, The Lows, and the In-Between
Dr. Stephen Strakowski, M.D.
Associate Vice President for Regional Mental Health
Dell Medical School
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Episode 26: Hospitalization: Conversations About the Psychiatric Hospitalization Experience
Ilene Gray, Mental Health Advocate, Trainer and Presenter 
Richard Allen, Mental Health Advocate

Episode 29: A Conversation with Karen Casey, A World Leader in Recovery
Karen Casey, Author, Each Day a New Beginning: Daily Meditations for Women

Episode 33: Powerful Stories of Recovery: The Journeys of Stacy and Kimberly
Kimberly Rogers
Peer Recovery Coach and Mental Health Advocate
Stacy Jones, LMSW, LCD
Program Manager, Foundation for the Homeless

Episode 36: Men and Mental Health: The Facts and a Personal Perspective
Rob Dye, Peer
Retired Financial Professional 
Head of Advisory Services, Pro-bono Organizational Consulting for non-profits

Episode 43: The Healing Power of Animals and Pets
Max Woodfin
Executive Director, Divine Canines
Rebecca Hubbard MS, LMFT
Co-owner, COO, Clinical Director, and Therapist
Pecan Creek Ranch

Episode 45: OCD: The Reality, The Research, The Recovery- Part Two
Ginny Fullerton, PhD, Licensed Psychologist
Founder and Director, Capital OCD and Anxiety Practice

Episode 47: The Family Dynamics of a Psychiatric Crisis, Part One: Personal Perspectives from a Sibling and Spouse
Malcolm Milburn, Valerie's husband
Bernadette Dodd, Valerie's sister 

Episode 48: The Family Dynamics of a Psychiatric Crisis, Part Two: Caregivers Talk Turkey
Malcolm Milburn, Valerie's husband
Bernadette Dodd, Valerie's sister 

Episode 50: The Family Dynamics of a Psychiatric Crisis, Part Three: The Parents Speak
Karen Ranus
Julie McElrath

Episode 51: The Family Dynamics of a Psychiatric Crisis, Part Four: The Peer Perspective 
Rebecca Zapata-Smith

Episode 52: The Family Dynamics of a Psychiatric Crisis, Part Five: The Professional Perspective
Lisa Powell-Watts, MEd, LMFT, LCDC
Psychotherapist

Episode 53: When a Loved One Won't Seek Mental Health Treatment
Gary Mitchell
Senior Staff Clinician, Center for OCD and Anxiety-Related Disorders
St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute
Co-author, When a Loved One Won't Seek Mental Health Treatment

Episode 56: The Rough Road of Bipolar Disorder: One Woman's Journey
Patricia Wentzel, Peer
HelpLine Coordinator and Support Group Facilitator
National Alliance on Mental Illness Sacramento
Author, Disordered Chronicles- Substack

Episode 57: A Therapist Examines Therapy
Samantha Potthoff, M.A., LMFT
Founding Partner, Therapy Collective of California

Guest Spots on Other Podcasts