NOHS Roundtable Discussions

In the debut episode of In Focus, host Alicia Spatafore, a senior at Assumption University majoring in communications and media, unpacks the realities of living with ADHD. Alicia introduces herself and shares her personal experiences with ADHD, shedding light on the chemical differences that lead to heightened distractibility compared to neurotypical brains. Joined by her guest Tyler, Alicia engag...

In In the premiere episode of Beyond the Label, host Molly Tempesta, a senior at Assumption University studying political science and communications, invites listeners to embark on a journey of radical acceptance. Drawing from her own experiences living with Type One Diabetes, Molly delves into the challenges of navigating life with illness and disability. She encourages a deeper look beyond socie...

In this inaugural episode, Rachel, a senior at Assumption University majoring in Organizational Communications with a keen interest in digital marketing, teams up with her friend Kat to dive deep into the world of college expectations and realities. Join Rachel and Kat as they reminisce about their freshman days, filled with excitement and high hopes, only to be hit by the unexpected challenges th...

In the debut episode, Maureen Lynch, a senior at Assumption University majoring in Communications and Media, takes us on a thought-provoking journey into the art of inaction. As the Editor in Chief of the school newspaper, an academic tutor, and a dedicated service provider at a pancreatic cancer charity where she interviews and profiles survivors, Maureen is no stranger to a busy schedule. Yet, s...

In PART TWO of our conversation, Dr. Brenda dives into the potential of AI in establishing a financial foundation and developing a structure for our personal value systems. We explore further what impact AI could have on the ins and outs of human service provision. Dr. Brenda confronts financial stereotypes associated with nonprofits and human service organizations. We also breakdown her process o...

This week we welcome Dr. Brenda Uekert to the Roundtable! In PART ONE of our conversation, Dr. Brenda shares her history with burnout and how it led to her work as a financial coach and a more meaningful lifestyle. We discuss the effects of burnout on human service professionals and the consequences that impact our capacities to serve others and ourselves. Dr. Brenda also unpacks the importance of...

Empowerment & Emotional Intelligence w/ Dawn Gillom-Carter Our conversation continues with Dawn Gillom-Carter, Associate Professor & Academic Coordinator at Prince George’s County Community College. Professor Carter breaks down the meaning of emotional intelligence and how crucial it is on the path to becoming a change agent. Her work with diverse populations and as an educator gives her t...

Empowerment & Emotional Intelligence w/ Dawn Gillom-Carter We return to the Roundtable with Dawn Gillom-Carter, Associate Professor & Academic Coordinator at Prince George’s County Community College. Professor Carter breaks down the meaning of emotional intelligence and how crucial it is on the path to becoming a change agent. Her work with diverse populations and as an educator gives her...

Jade Phillips | Community Organizer | Host of "Dig Deeper: Human Services Field Guide" Podcast History has shown that stories are inextricably linked to what it means to be human. Before there was formal communication, there were stories. Effective stories are powerful because they drive action. Our guest Jade Phillips joins us to explore how building emotional connections, stories bring...

Jade Phillips | Community Organizer | Host of "Dig Deeper: Human Services Field Guide" Podcast History has shown that stories are inextricably linked to what it means to be human. Before there was formal communication, there were stories. Effective stories are powerful because they drive action. Our guest Jade Phillips joins us to explore how building emotional connections, stories bring...

Mary Kingston Roche | TEDx Speaker | Live Curious Foundation When we think about curiosity, we often associate it with a child’s natural inclination to ask endless questions and fearlessly investigate the world around them. So where does our curiosity go as we move into adulthood? Mary Kingston Roche is an expert on the power of our curiosity and how to harness it for joy, stronger relationships,...

Mary Kingston Roche | TEDx Speaker | Live Curious Foundation When we think about curiosity, we often associate it with a child’s natural inclination to ask endless questions and fearlessly investigate the world around them. So where does our curiosity go as we move into adulthood? Mary Kingston Roche is an expert on the power of our curiosity and how to harness it for joy, stronger relationships,...

Dr. Michelle Shuler, LPC, LCDC HS Department Chair | Austin Community College This week we welcome Dr. Michelle Shuler to the podcast. Dr. Shuler is the Department Chair of Human Services at Austin Community College and a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. She is currently working on a certification as a Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Provider (PATP). Dr. Shuler began exploring psychedelic assi...

Dr. Michelle Shuler, LPC, LCDC HS Department Chair | Austin Community College This week we welcome Dr. Michelle Shuler to the podcast. Dr. Shuler is the Department Chair of Human Services at Austin Community College and a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. She is currently working on a certification as a Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Provider (PATP). Dr. Shuler began exploring psychedelic assi...

Valerie Cartonio | Podcast Host & Inmate Advocate Fellow podcast host and inmate advocate Valerie Cartonio channels her expertise in sociology and peace studies into her work advocating for incarcerated individuals in the state of Maine. At our next roundtable, Valerie joins us to share her experiences as an advocate breaking barriers and reaching those she serves through her podcast “The Pris...

Valerie Cartonio | Podcast Host & Inmate Advocate Fellow podcast host and inmate advocate Valerie Cartonio channels her expertise in sociology and peace studies into her work advocating for incarcerated individuals in the state of Maine. At our next roundtable, Valerie joins us to share her experiences as an advocate breaking barriers and reaching those she serves through her podcast “The Pris...

Robin Shear | Certified Joy Coach & Keynote Speaker Certified Joy Coach & Keynote Speaker Robin Shear joins us at the roundtable to discuss the topic of Joy and why it is crucial to our experiences (and longevity) as human service professionals. In PART 2 , we unpack the philosophy of joy and how our attention drives our understanding of what joy means to us as a society. Robin provides us...

Robin Shear | Certified Joy Coach & Keynote Speaker Certified Joy Coach & Keynote Speaker Robin Shear joins us at the roundtable to discuss the topic of Joy and why it is crucial to our experiences (and longevity) as human service professionals. In PART 1 , Robin answers the question, ‘why joy?’, sharing her experiences witnessing the impact joy has on our work serving others and our relat...

Carol Tatom | Community Health Worker & Operations Director | Life Skills Autism Academy As a parent of a child with autism, our guest Carol Tatom was motivated to become a human services professional and advocate for other families sharing the same experiences and challenges as her family. In Part 2 , we continue expanding our understanding of how autism impacts families, how the diagnosis pr...

Carol Tatom | Community Health Worker & Operations Director | Life Skills Autism Academy As a parent of a child with autism, our guest Carol Tatom was motivated to become a human services professional and advocate for other families sharing the same experiences and challenges as her family. In Part 1 , Carol unpacks what she has learned about herself, her daughter, and the wisdom she has gaine...

Dr. Tim S. Braimah | Human Services Professional Consultant Welcome to the roundtable, Host Home Provider & Human Services Professional Dr. Tim Braimah. Dr. Braimah’s areas of expertise include working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, youths in foster care, and refugees. His more than 10 years of expertise has made him an advocate, speaker, author, and human s...

Dr. Tim S. Braimah | Human Services Professional Consultant Welcome to the roundtable, Host Home Provider & Human Services Professional Dr. Tim Braimah. Dr. Braimah’s areas of expertise include working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, youths in foster care, and refugees. His more than 10 years of expertise has made him an advocate, speaker, author, and human s...

Dr. Nicki Nance | Associate Professor | Beacon College Dr. Andrea J. Marsden  | Associate Professor | Beacon College What can we learn from neurodivergent students about adaptation, motivation, and serving others? Dr. Nicki Nance and Dr. AJ Marsden guide us through the experiences of students at Beacon College, the only school of its kind in the country designed with curriculum and support se...

Dr. Nicki Nance | Associate Professor | Beacon College Dr. Andrea J. Marsden  | Associate Professor | Beacon College What can we learn from neurodivergent students about adaptation, motivation, and serving others? Dr. Nicki Nance and Dr. AJ Marsden guide us through the experiences of students at Beacon College, the only school of its kind in the country designed with curriculum and support se...

Lonnie Duncan | Leadership Development Specialist PART 2 with our guest Lonnie Duncan is here! Lonnie shares more of his history with trauma and unpacks his experiences with Internal Family Systems. We also dive into the inhumanities of the American prison complex system and Lonnie’s new book, The Sun Will Always Rise. Let’s talk about it. IFS Institute ____ visit our website: www.nationalhumanser...