Our Stigma

In this episode of Our Stigma, Pastor Seth Perry and Nicole Thacker explore the difficult question of whether people should openly share their mental health experiences within their churches.  They are joined by Pastor David Bjorklund, who speaks openly about mental health and shares how vulnerability has shaped his ministry and relationships with others. The conversation examines the risks o...

Joined by Pastor Ed Treat, Executive Director and Founder of the Center of Addiction & Faith, they explore why clergy substance use can remain hidden and how church systems can sometimes enable the problem. The conversation examines the unique pressures clergy face and the need for faith communities to have clear resources and support systems in place when substance use becomes a concern. Together...

In this episode of Our Stigma, Pastor Seth Perry and Nicole Thacker explore the anxiety many people experience while feeling pressure to appear fine within their faith communities.  They are joined by Khou Vang, a peer recovery leader who works to reduce stigma around substance use and build culturally responsive pathways to healing in Southeast Asian and Hmong communities in the Twin Cities....

In this episode of Our Stigma, Pastor Seth Perry and Nicole Thacker explore generational trauma and the ways stigma, culture, family, and community can shape how trauma is understood across generations.  Joined by poet, author, storyteller, and activist Rosetta “Rosie” Peters, they discuss Indigenous culture, resilience, sobriety, and the importance of preserving cultural traditions. Rosie sh...

In this episode of Our Stigma, Pastor Seth Perry and Nicole Thacker explore how churches are responding to the opioid crisis and the growing role of naloxone in faith communities.  They are joined by Dr. Francisco Herrera, a theologian and advocate who works to expand naloxone training, harm reduction, and opioid crisis education throughout Illinois. The conversation examines how churches can...

In this episode of “Our Stigma,” Pastor Seth Perry and Nicole Thacker explore how isolation can fuel stigma, loneliness, substance use, and other mental health struggles.  They are joined by Aneri Pattani of KFF Health News to examine how modern life, technology, convenience, and social division can leave people feeling disconnected and unseen. The conversation explores the importance of rebu...

In this episode of “Our Stigma,” Pastor Seth Perry and Nicole Thacker challenge the harmful idea that mental health diagnoses are a moral failure or something a person should simply “fix.”  Joined by mental health advocate, author, and motivational speaker Kody Green, they explore the stigma surrounding schizophrenia, mental illness, and even accusations of demonic possession within faith com...

In this episode of “Our Stigma,” Pastor Seth Perry and Nicole Thacker explore the growing loneliness epidemic and why simply telling people to be more independent does not solve the problem.  They are joined by Pastor Paul Drees, a digital creator who shares a message of community, vulnerability, and liberation with hundreds of thousands of people online. The conversation examines how social...

In Episode 6, Seth Perry, Farhia Budul, and Yeng Moua engage in dialogue about how they envision fighting mental health and addiction stigma in their communities moving forward. They reflect on the challenges posed by current funding cuts and freezes, share their hopes and strategies for leading meaningful change, and discuss what they see as the biggest threat to vulnerable and marginalized commu...

In Episode 5, podcast host Seth Perry explores addiction and recovery in the Hmong population, including its unique culture and the role of encampments. This episode mentions overdose death and violence. If you are in crisis, call or text 988. More resources are below in the show notes. Here are the questions to ponder throughout the episode: Have you ever stopped to consider what drives people to...

In Episode 4, podcast host Seth Perry explores culturally specific treatment in recovery. This episode mentions overdose death. If you are in crisis, call or text 988. More resources are below in the show notes. Here are the questions to ponder throughout the episode: How welcoming is your community? What faiths and ethnic identities would feel unwelcome in your community? How uncomfortable does t...

In Episode 3, podcast host Seth Perry explores the countless public health barriers faced by Indigenous peoples. This episode mentions overdose death, violence, trauma and sexual assault. If you are in crisis, call or text 988. More resources are below in the show notes. Here's the question to ponder throughout the episode: What would it be like if your community came together to explore the deepe...

In Episode 2, podcast host Seth Perry takes a closer look at the troubling rise in overdose deaths among Black Minnesotans. This episode mentions overdose death, sexual assault and descriptions of violence. If you are in crisis, call or text 988. More resources are below in the show notes. Here's the question to ponder throughout the episode: Opioid overdoses happen in rural, urban and suburban se...

In Episode 1, "Recovery in Rural America," podcast host Seth Perry explores the challenges to accessing mental health and addiction services in rural communities. This episode mentions overdose death and suicide. If you are in crisis, call or text 988. More resources are below in the show notes. Here's the question to ponder throughout the episode: How easy is it to access mental health and addict...

We're finally talking about mental health and addiction in faith communities. But have we really listened? For the past year, podcast host Seth Perry has looked beyond the statistics to the real stories: rural towns with no treatment options, African American communities facing rising opioid overdoses, Indigenous populations with a 10-fold disparity in statistics, and third-generation immigrant fa...