The Community Couch

Going back to school as an adult is a new beginning filled with new goals, new pressure, and the hope of a new future! The Community Couch 🛋️ brings Ray Castillo and Shacoya Graham together for the final episode of our 3-part podcast series, “Back to School!” 📚 Episode 3: Adult Learning — New Goals, New Pressure & A New Future! They talk about balancing education with work, family, friends, b...

College is a new beginning filled with excitement, uncertainty, and big changes! The Community Couch 🛋️ brings Ray Castillo, Shacoya Graham, and Anna Folkens together for our second episode of a 3-part podcast series, “Back to School!” 📚 Episode 2: College — New Beginnings & Mental Health. They talk about the transition to college: New routines, independence, friendships, environments, and th...

A new school year can bring excitement, new routines, and plenty of big emotions! The Community Couch 🛋️  brings Ray Castillo and Shacoya Graham together for our first episode of a 3-part podcast series,  “Back to School!”  📚 Episode 1: K–12 Students — Back to Routine & Connections Together, they talk about helping kids navigate back-to-school worries, new schedules, and the challenges of adj...

Welcome back to  The Community Couch, where real life meets real conversations!  This week, Ray Castillo and Shacoya Graham look back on the first half of 2026, exploring how current events and the growing role of AI are shaping conversations around mental health. They also discuss the importance of unplugging to recharge, navigating summer anxiety and body image pressures, and building a communit...

Welcome back to  The Community Couch, where real life meets real conversations ! This week, Ray Castillo and Shacoya Graham welcome Holly Savoy for an honest conversation about what it means to live authentically in a time of heightened political and social debate. Together, they explore the power of visibility, the importance of affirming spaces, and the resilience that emerges when individuals a...

Welcome back to The Community Couch, where real life meets real conversations ! In recognition of National Men’s Health Month and PRIDE Month, Ray Castillo and Shacoya Graham explore loneliness, mental health, and the importance of connection. They discuss the pressure many men face to stay strong, the value of friendship and community, and the unique challenges older gay men can experience when s...

Welcome to this episode of  The Community Couch, where real life meets real conversations ! Ray Castillo and Shacoya Graham are joined by  Verónica Santiesteban, for a conversation on child abuse awareness in recognition of April as Child Abuse Awareness Month. They discuss what child abuse is, its impact on mental health and families, and how communities can better recognize, prevent, and respond...

In this special episode of  The Community Couch, where real life meets real conversations , Ray Castillo and Shacoya Graham sit down with their guest, Councilman Juan Diego “JD” Mazuera Arias, Charlotte City Council representative for District 5 and a proud son of East Charlotte. They talk about JD’s journey into public service and the work he is doing to bring East Charlotte’s voice to City Hall...

Welcome back to  The Community Couch , where real life meets real conversations! In this episode, Ray Castillo and Shacoya Graham continue the dialogue on how political tension, financial stress, and social division impact our mental health. Through a therapy-informed lens, they explore survival mode, emotional burnout, and the toll of living in constant uncertainty, while offering reflection and...

Welcome back to The Community Couch , where real life meets real conversations! In this episode, Ray Castillo and Shacoya Graham dive into how today’s political climate, financial pressure, and community division are affecting our mental health. Through a systemic lens, they unpack chronic stress, survival mode, emotional numbness, and the toll of living in a constant state of crisis on our bodies...

Join Ray Castillo and Shacoya Graham, two systemic therapists, as they introduce The Community Couch ! A warm, honest, and culturally aware space for real conversations about family, love, identity, and healing. In this first episode, they share their personal stories, why they started this podcast together, and what listeners can expect each week: therapy-informed, not a therapy session, with hum...