Honestly Mental, the podcast

🎧 Episode #15: Balancing Empathy & Leadership: Engaging in Emotional Conversations 🎧 In this episode, host Erika Diaz welcomes back guest Ashley Andersen, who has launched a new company called Ezra Sage Co. Ashley’s business focuses on helping leaders develop skills to foster motivation and retention without compromising well-being. The conversation builds on a previous episode about emotional l...

🎧 Episode #14: NPE: Not Parent Expected - Bio Dad & PHP Updates 🎧 Erika Diaz delves into her experience as an NPE (Not Parent Expected) from a recent direct-to-consumer DNA test. She was initially searching for information on her medical outlook when she discovered the unexpected surprise, turning her world upside-down. Erika shares how she navigated this revelation, which led her to participate...

🎧 Episode #13: Turning Someday into Today - No Burnout Required: Self-Care & Support Systems 🎧 Erika Diaz and Amanda Riffee’s conversation centers around the crucial topics of self-care, burnout identification, and the pivotal role of seeking support. Amanda Riffee shares personal insights into her own experiences with burnout, detailing how she effectively manages it through a network of therap...

🎧 Episode #12: Rage to Relief - Recognizing Atypical Depression in Men 🎧 Erika Diaz and Collin Williams address the critical issue of mental health and suicide prevention. Their conversation underscores the importance of openly discussing mental health to reduce stigma and improve statistics. Erika mentions that suicide is the seventh leading cause of death among men and suggests that this figur...

🎧 Episode #11: Sweat & Self-Esteem - Conquering Self-Doubt 🎧 Erika Diaz and Christie Heintz take a deep dive into their personal journeys with therapy and the profound impact it has had on their lives. Christie shares her experience with marriage counseling during her divorce process some time ago. She reflects on how therapy provided her with invaluable tools to navigate the complexities of end...

🎧 Episode #10: Work Became My Identity - Then It Broke Me 🎧 Erika recently had the esteemed honor of speaking at the American Staffing Association’s THRIVE Virtual event in May. She delivered a compelling speed talk titled “How Work Became My Identity - Then It Broke Me.” This week’s podcast episode features her speech, allowing everyone to hear her cautionary tale. In this episode, Erika shares...

🎧 Episode #9: The Impact of Mental Health on Marriage & Family 🎧 Erika and her husband, Sergio, host this special episode to offer an honest look into their marriage and how mental health has shaped their lives and family. They delve into how Erika’s suicidal thoughts and ideation have affected Sergio as a husband and father to their two boys, Jude, 11, and Oliver, 3. Erika and Sergio emphasize...

🎧 Episode #8: Betting On Yourself? 🎧 Therese Gopaul-Robinson and Erika Diaz engage in a profound exploration of personal and professional growth, touching on various themes such as vulnerability, imposter syndrome, self-belief, resilience, and authenticity. Therese shares her insights and experiences from her entrepreneurial journey, offering valuable lessons learned along the way. They explore...

🎧 Episode# 7: Challenging the Status Quo: Mens Mental Health 🎧 I loved this conversation with Mickey Pelletier! It was rich and diverse, covering various aspects of emotions, resilience, and mental health. We shared personal anecdotes, including experiences of job loss and its emotional impact, highlighting the importance of acknowledging and processing such events. We delved into the complexiti...

🎧 Episode# 6: Mental Wellness & the Importance of Body Movement 🎧   Tuning into internal cues and being present with oneself is crucial, especially in a world bombarded with external stimuli and societal pressures. Movement, whether it’s dance, yoga, or any form of exercise, can provide an opportunity to reconnect with our internal experiences and listen to what our bodies truly need. It’s a...

🎧 Episode# 5: Grief is More Than Loss of Life 🎧 “Grief is like the ocean, it comes in waves ebbing and flowing sometimes the water is calm and sometimes it is overwhelming all we can do is learn to swim.” - Vicki Harrison Erika delves into the theme of navigating grief with her guest, Megan McCann. Megan McCann, a distinguished leader in IT recruitment and technology services, is renowned for he...

🎧 Episode# 4: Workplace Emotion Literacy and Pitfalls of Not Letting in Emotions 🎧 Antonio Damasio hits the nail on the head, “We are not thinking machines that feel, we are feeling machines that think.” We are “feeling machines” not just in our personal lives, but at work as well. We can’t just “turn off” our emotions and feelings because we are at work. So how do we best approach it is the wor...

🎧 Episode# 3: Thriving following diagnoses of PPD & GAD  🎧 Introducing Rocki Howard, a bold, beautiful, badass pioneer! “My husband often says if more women were represented in healthcare, we would get more answers to women specific issues.” She’s a DEIB influencer, on Staffing Industry Analysts - Global Power 150 list, and hosts Grown Woman Wednesday. Rocki also has a wonderful tool kit to...

🎧 Episode# 2: Your Past Does Not Define Who You Are 🎧 Y’all, can we get real?  I’d like to tell you a bit of my story. I’m Erika Diaz, the host of Honestly Mental, the podcast. My goal with this podcast is to have more honest discussions about mental health. Not just mine, but others as well. On the next episode, you’ll hear Rocki Howard’s story. Today, you’ll hear the purpose behind this podcas...

“Whatever your walk of life is, I think you have to be real about it.”  Honestly Mental, the podcast, matches what Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder says there. Hi, I’m Erika Diaz. Like millions of others, my walk of life includes struggles with mental health. On Honestly Mental, my guests and I are real about it.  My mental health struggles include suicidal ideation, postpartum depression, and an Outpatie...