PiZetta Media: Podcast with a Cause

In this episode, Jovette Simmons Abass shares her powerful journey living with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a painful and often misunderstood chronic skin condition. She talks with Michael VanZetta about the physical and emotional challenges of HS, how treatment and telehealth support helped her regain confidence, and the importance of prioritizing mental health. Jovette also discusses the role...

Licensed marriage and family therapist Ibinye Osibodu-Onyali shares how her own experience with postpartum depression led her into the mental health field and shaped her mission to help others heal. In this conversation, she discusses supporting women facing burnout, guiding couples back to connection, and using innovative approaches like brainspotting to help people process trauma. Osibodu-Onyali...

Professional astrologer Rachel Ruth Tate joins Michael VanZetta to discuss how astrology can be used as a tool for self-reflection, personal growth, and understanding life’s timing. Drawing from her background in ancient philosophy and celestial systems, Tate explains how astrology can help people process lived experiences, navigate relationships, and make sense of difficult moments. She also shar...

Corinne Goble, CEO of the Association of Women’s Business Centers, shares how growing up in her family’s trucking company shaped her no-nonsense approach to leadership and impact. In this episode, she explains why nonprofits should be run with a for-profit mindset, how her organization helps women and veteran entrepreneurs access capital and scale, and why platforms like TikTok Shop are opening un...

Mahima Razdan, a rapid transformational therapist and hypnotherapist, shares how a painful breakup led her to uncover a childhood fear of abandonment that was silently shaping her relationships and choices. After traditional therapy provided insight but not relief, hypnotherapy helped her access the subconscious memory driving her emotional patterns—and everything changed. In this episode, she exp...

Erik Larson, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and Army veteran, shares his journey from hospital nursing and military service to building a thriving private practice in Colorado. In this episode, he discusses blending medication management with therapy techniques like cognitive behavioral strategies and motivational interviewing, helping patients regain confidence and control over de...

At nine years old, Sanya Bari made a promise that would shape her life: she would figure out how to love without getting hurt. After a painful childhood rejection, she began reshaping herself to meet everyone else’s needs, becoming what she calls a “chameleon” while losing connection with her own identity. Though she later built a life that looked successful on the outside, unresolved trauma left...

Licensed psychologist and PeakMind co-founder Dr. Ashley Smith shares how her personal experience with vision loss and social anxiety shaped a career dedicated to helping others overcome fear and self-doubt. In this conversation, she explains how the mind often creates misleading narratives that hold people back, why confidence grows through discomfort, and how mindfulness, self-compassion, and re...

In this episode, Acto co-founder and CEO Parth Khanna joins Michael VanZetta to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming the life sciences industry and reshaping the future of work. From accelerating drug discovery to supporting pharmaceutical professionals in bringing therapies to patients faster, Khanna explains why the real opportunity isn’t replacing people with AI — but empowering...

Jason A. Jones shares how growing up with three fingers on his right hand shaped a lifelong mindset of resilience, long before career setbacks and a serious car accident tested him even further. From relearning everyday skills and rebuilding professional confidence to confronting vulnerability through writing his book Three the Hard Way: Overcoming Obstacles and Making It Happen , Jones reflects o...

School and clinical psychologist Christal Castagnozzi shares her deeply personal journey from high-achieving, anxious teen to receiving ADHD and autism diagnoses in adulthood — and how those discoveries transformed both her life and her clinical work. As a first-generation Canadian raised in a culture where mental health wasn’t openly discussed, Christal explains the impact of masking, burnout, pe...

Sam Blumberg’s journey into mental health started with his own search for identity as a teenager, when therapy helped him discover music and photography as powerful tools for healing. Though he began college studying engineering, his fascination with how people think led him to psychology — what he calls “engineering of the brain” — and ultimately to becoming a licensed marriage and family therapi...

After losing his father to suicide following a late-life bipolar disorder diagnosis, Jono Wilde, Executive Director of the Good Life Movement, turned unimaginable grief into action. In this powerful conversation, he shares how watching his father struggle to access affordable care, navigate stigma, and face systemic barriers inspired a bold vision: a Mental Health Civil Rights Bill that treats men...

As a teenager, Kiki Jacobson silently battled depression, confused by deep hopelessness despite a loving childhood and no clear reason for her pain. Medication didn’t help, and without open conversations around mental health, she carried the weight alone—until years later, when discovering she had premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) gave her clarity, language, and self-compassion. That understa...

Jeff Fladen’s life in mental health advocacy began at home, growing up with a father living with bipolar disorder and a mother who experienced depression—both of whom required hospitalization at different times. What started as a plan to become an electrical engineer shifted after discovering psychology, ultimately leading him into counseling, nonprofit leadership, and national advocacy. From serv...

Laura Price spent 15 years in public relations before COVID sparked what she calls a spiritual awakening that changed everything. After being laid off, quitting drinking, and walking away from alcohol marketing, she followed what she describes as divine guidance into a soul-searching journey that included nearly a year living off-grid without a phone or internet. But the path took a traumatic turn...

Kiki Fehling has always felt emotions deeply — a strength that shaped both her struggles and her calling as a licensed psychologist. Living with depression and anxiety, her life took a dramatic turn when she suffered a heart attack at just 29 years old, forcing her to confront not only physical recovery but intense waves of grief, fear, shame, and anger. In this powerful conversation, Fehling shar...

Entrepreneur and coach Paul Simard shares a powerful conversation about a mental health journey shaped not by dramatic breaking points, but by a slow realization that something felt missing beneath professional success and outward stability. From navigating long-term depression masked by high energy and self-criticism to confronting shame after job loss and family tension, Paul explains how therap...

In this powerful interview, Dr. Shairi Turner, Chief Health Officer at Crisis Text Line, shares her incredible journey from pediatric medicine to leading one of the most vital mental health support platforms in the world. She opens up about how personal loss, her passion for trauma-informed care, and her dedication to underserved communities led her to crisis intervention at scale. Crisis Text Lin...

Psychotherapist and performance coach Lauren Farina-Prieto, founder of Invited Psychotherapy and Coaching, shares her integrative approach to mental health and the power of values alignment in creating lasting change. She explains how mental health and physical health are deeply connected, and how metabolic health plays a critical role in brain function and emotional well-being. Lauren also dives...

After selling his first software company and moving to Tahoe, Mark Gogolewski found himself struggling with mental health, alcohol, and personal challenges. His journey of self-discovery led him to write How to Be Okay When You're Supposed to Be Okay, But You're Not, a book that explores resilience, self-forgiveness, and healing. In this conversation, Mark shares how writing his book and producing...

Tracy Klein’s journey to becoming an executive wellness and life coach was shaped by her family’s history of survival. As a third-generation Holocaust survivor, she grew up with the mindset of endurance and resilience. But as she stepped into adulthood, she realized she wanted more than just survival—she wanted to thrive. Through personal exploration, a career shift, and a deep dive into wellness,...

Dan Maigler, a social worker and mental health advisor for Paws for Patrick, shares his personal journey with mental health and his passion for helping others. Having faced depression, health anxiety, and significant losses, Dan understands the complexities of mental health struggles firsthand. His work with Paws for Patrick, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting young people with emotional support...

Dr. Craig Beach, psychiatrist and CEO of Open Mind Health, shares his journey into the mental health field and his passion for culturally affirming, integrative mental health care. His experience in diverse settings-from private practice to corrections-shaped his vision for a holistic, virtual mental health platform. Open Mind Health goes beyond traditional therapy and medication, incorporating al...

Nancy Treaster and Sue Ryan, co-founders of The Caregiver's Journey https://thecaregiversjourney.com/, share their deeply personal experiences as longtime dementia family caregivers and their mission to provide practical support to others navigating similar challenges. With over 25 years of caregiving experience each, they both struggled to find the guidance they needed and decided to create a pla...