Mental Note

Here's the thing about sleep - one in three American adults simply do not get the sleep they require on a regular basis. That's not ok! Sleep deprivation kicks off a cascading series of consequences for our physical health, relationships, sense of self, and emotional stability. But finding our way to a better night's sleep is no easy task - that's why we created this episode. We speak with two peo...

Kim Gould Fry is on a mission to help restore your relationship with your body and introduce you to intuitive movement - no big deal, right? Her approach focuses on both physical and mental health through training and partnering with fat and large-bodied instructors, offering counseling that connects mind and body, and creating resources like the free "Essential Guide to Enjoying Exercise" We sat...

At first, Mimi Cole couldn't understand why she was so terrified of going to hell. She did all the right things, prayed often, and continually confessed sins but her fears only got worse. Pretty soon, she also began obsessing about accidentally running someone over with her car - what was going on?! Just as she started to feel crushed by cascading illogical behaviors, she received a diagnosis - OC...

With infection rates falling and vaccination rates rising in the United States, it seems like the summer has almost returned to normal. But maybe it's easier said than done… What are ways that prolonged loneliness and isolation may affect us? What self-knowledge can we glean from the worst pandemic in 100 years? Dr. Zach Rawlings will guide us in taking a deeper look at the various ways people res...

Have you ever felt the need to hide your true self? Shame, fear, and self-hatred are powerful forces, and breaking free from them is worthy of the grandest party you can imagine. In celebration of pride month and the joy of self-expression, we're sitting down with choreographer and recovery advocate Ryan Walker Page to share his story of coming out, shedding shame, and finding recovery. Along the...

Jen Ponton possesses seemingly boundless energy:  Most known as the fiercely feminist fat activist 'Rubi' on AMC's critical darling Dietland , she is an award-winning actress and body liberation activist. With a television resume that includes 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Orange is the New Black, Law and Order: SVU, The Blacklist , and Blue Bloods , she also starred in the late Ash Christia...

It's no secret that a lot of us are uncomfortable with the shape and size of our bodies -thanks in no small part to the $72 billion dollar a year weight loss industry devoted to the thin ideal. Even most health care providers will ask patients to drop weight if their BMI is above "average." But why? The Health at Every Size movement - HAES for short - invites us to reconsider our obsession with we...

In our last episode, Dr. Charlynn Small and Dr. Mazella Fuller took us through some of the history and impact of the mental health profession's relationship with the black community. While that episode helped set the context for today's conversation, you can also listen to this episode as a stand-alone podcast. Today is all about exploring practical tools for becoming more inclusive and equitable...

How does the history of race impact your mental health? To get a better idea, we're spending the next two episodes with Dr. Mazella Fuller and Dr. Charlynn Small - two leading thinkers on Black mental health. Today's show is all about the history and definitions of Black mental health. Part 2 will focus on how to make change happen - whether you're part of the Black community or not. It will featu...

Rachael Steil formed an early and joyful bond with running - she loved the movement, competition, and exhilaration it gave her. Yet, within a decade, her drive for perfection demolished that love and replaced it with isolation, an eating disorder, anxiety, and health issues.  Now - as a running coach, author, and speaker - Rachael runs towards being an "imperfectionist". This new practice has tran...

Before Colorado Public Radio's Vic Vela launched his own podcast about overcoming adversity, he faced a crippling substance use disorder that threatened to end his career, relationships, and even his own life.   But Vic found a way out and he's here to walk us through the journey. We are also joined by clinician Leah Young to show us how finding recovery is attainable for anyone open to profession...

We've all been there: Adult brings child a meal. Child refuses to eat it. Everyone's anxiety spikes and an epic standoff ensues. Sound familiar? Most of us probably assume that fighting over what kids eat is normal. Not according to Keira Oseroff of The Ellyn Satter Institute. She claims that kids of all ages should be able to feed themselves…and thrive! Doubtful? We were too. So, we sat down with...

Racism. Equity. Diversity. Inclusion. Bias. Bullying. These are all buzz words that we continue to hear and use in everyday life—but what do they mean?  Dr. Seria Chatters has an incredible personal story of resilience. As an African American with albinism and visual impairment, she managed to rise above persistent bullying to earn a Masters and PhD in Counselor Education. She is now a Director of...

Gloria Lucas decided to name her mental health awareness and body positivity organization after the Spanish slang term for a big booty - nalgona. She began Nalgona Positivity Pride after her own eating disorder struggles left her feeling like professional resources ignored her experience as a Xicana with indigenous heritage. Rather, it all felt geared towards white Americans. What about people of...

Kim Offner grew up with a best friend under the same roof — her sister Kristy. The two remained close all the way up into early adulthood when their dynamic took a tragic and confusing shift. Kristy fell into a losing battle with opioid addiction. Her family had no idea where to find the right help.  In today's episode, we hear the often forgotten story of family members loving someone with substa...

Overactive thoughts, cabin fever, and anxiety - oh my! What's a brain to do when staying at home leaves it frazzled and freaked out? We speak with Ed Kizer - therapist, outdoors enthusiast, yogi, and expert napper - about taking the plunge and beginning a home meditation practice. Spoiler - no need to be a spiritual rockstar to begin. Mindfulness is for everyone! We'll cover what meditation is, ho...

Suicide is something most folks just don't bring up... Yet, the problem is palpable. Statistically, someone completes an attempt every 40 seconds. The good news is that suicide is 100% preventable and that you don't need to be a professional to help. You just need resources. And that brings us to the story of Jonny & Carl - two friends who joined forces to do everything in their power to combat su...

Welcome to QuaranTimes - a special series by Mental Note Podcast about the big worlds we inhabit in our suddenly smaller daily lives. Each episode will give a new perspective on mental health, social distancing, and coping with isolation. Our first episode brings us to the digital stage of our favorite drag queen, Eric Dorsa aka Fonda Koxx. We discover the importance of expression even when the au...

Secrets are one of the heaviest burdens we will ever carry. And while their release can feel euphoric, it's hard not to worry about the fallout from sharing what's inside. Along our mental health journeys, secrets often play a sinister role in keeping us locked into shame. That's why today's storyteller, Frank Warren, launched the global sensation PostSecret. PostSecret offers an anonymous and art...

Growing up gay, Christian, and the son of a church pastor in The South, author and podcast creator BT Harman knew how to suppress his own voice in order to fit in. Yet, at what costs? Anxiety, depression, and deep loneliness seemed to follow him at every turn.  We travel with BT as he mines the secret journals of his early life in order to share with the world the liberty of authenticity. His stor...

*Please note: When this podcast was recorded, Shay was referenced as a straight male. Since this recording, Shay courageously came out as a transwoman and uses she/her pronouns.* Treatment for mental health issues rarely receives the same level of community support that a more visible struggle, like major surgery, does. But our friend, Shay, is out to change that. A straight male who received trea...

Today's episode features the trailblazing expert on difficult to treat cases of eating and mood disorders, Dr. Delia Aldridge. We'll discuss your questions for her about why diets don't work, how self-harm and eating disorders are connected, what treatment looks like, and the long term complications of restrictive eating - so please pass this along to anyone you know who will benefit from her know...

Nicole had big plans from an early age – excel at school, take the Ivy League world by storm, and never stop exploring. But when an eating disorder prompted her to drop out of high school, she was left wondering if she'd ever dream again. Join Mental Note for our inaugural episode as we follow Nicole on a 10 year journey discovering recovery, entrepreneurship, travel, and healed relationships.  Ho...

Lindsey Hall feels like a giant, eight-year-long black hole devoured her late teens and 20's. Years that should have been spent figuring out who she was and what she cared about were erased by something called "Drunkorexia" - a nonmedical term for the fusion of alcoholism and anorexia. An accomplished writer and authentic voice for recovery, Lindsey brings us along on her journey of discovering ho...

Back in 2011, Jennifer Pharr Davis set the record for fastest thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail for both men and women. Afterward, she backpacked over 14,000 miles on 6 different continents, wrote 8 books, and started Blue Ridge Hiking Company in Asheville, NC. Needless to say, she knows the trail well and is a leader in the outdoor industry. After all this hiking, she's come to know herself in a...