PiZetta Media: Podcast with a Cause

In this powerful interview, Yolanda Wallace, Executive Director of Mother's War on Violence, shares her journey of transforming personal tragedy into meaningful advocacy. Following the heartbreaking loss of her son to gun violence in 2006, Yolanda founded the organization to address violence prevention and provide critical support for families affected by unsolved murders. She discusses the creati...

Karen Olson, the inspiring founder of Family Promise, shares her remarkable journey from a single act of kindness to leading an organization that has transformed the lives of over a million individuals. In this heartfelt conversation with Michael VanZetta, Karen opens up about the pivotal moments that shaped her mission, including a childhood loss that fueled her empathy for others. From giving a...

Dr. Anna Sitkoff shares her journey into the field of mental health, from her early experiences studying nutrition to navigating personal challenges, such as supporting family members through addiction and grief. Dr. Sitkoff's passion for holistic care runs deep, offering a unique perspective shaped by her experiences as a naturopathic doctor and a new mom. She explores how life transitions like p...

Lauren Anderson, Executive Director of Our Minds Matter, shares her deeply personal journey of founding the organization following the tragic loss of her brother Josh to suicide. Lauren discusses how this pivotal event inspired her mission to empower teens with the knowledge, tools, and skills to advocate for mental health in their communities. From starting small with memorial runs to now leading...

Robyn Mehlenbeck, Director of the George Mason Center for Community Mental Health (CCMH) and clinical psychologist, discusses the incredible progress CCMH has made over the past year. With a dual mission of training the next generation of behavioral health providers and delivering accessible, affordable mental health services, CCMH is making a profound impact. From a 27% increase in their Spanish...

Chinmayi Balusu is the founder of Simply Neuroscience, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making neuroscience accessible and inclusive for young enthusiasts. Her passion for the brain began during high school when she discovered a lack of opportunities for students interested in neuroscience outside of higher education. Motivated to bridge this gap, she started sharing resources online, which r...

Chinmayi Balusu is the founder of Simply Neuroscience, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making neuroscience accessible and inclusive for young enthusiasts. Her passion for the brain began during high school when she discovered a lack of opportunities for students interested in neuroscience outside of higher education. Motivated to bridge this gap, she started sharing resources online, which r...

In this candid conversation with Lauren Morris, host of The Mostly Mental Mom podcast, we dive into her deeply personal journey with bipolar II disorder. Diagnosed in 2014, Lauren shares the challenges and revelations she's faced over the last 10 years as she navigates the complexities of living with a mental illness. From learning to manage day-to-day stressors to overcoming societal expectations...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Isabelle Gullo, Executive Director and Co-Founder of C.A.R.E.4Paws. Isabelle shares the heartfelt journey behind creating this incredible nonprofit, founded in 2009 to strengthen the bond between pets and their families. From her beginnings as a shelter volunteer to spearheading initiatives like mobile clinics and free spay/neuter programs, Isabelle revea...

Grace Quantock is a psychotherapeutic counsellor and author of Live and Well with Chronic Illness. Her journey into the mental health field was catalyzed by a deeply challenging experience with a psychiatrist after being diagnosed with PTSD following a car accident. Living with chronic health conditions and facing insensitive medical treatment, Grace became determined to create a more compassionat...

In this insightful interview, Michael VanZetta sits down with Craig Cecilio, the visionary CEO and founder of DiversyFund. Craig shares how his working-class upbringing inspired him to revolutionize investing, making it accessible to everyone. From his 20+ years in the investment world to creating a platform that democratizes access to private markets, Craig discusses the journey and challenges of...

In this interview, Sabrina Trobak, a registered clinical counselor from British Columbia, Canada, shares her inspiring journey from teaching to counseling, driven by a desire to address the deeper issues surrounding mental health. Her transition was sparked by a powerful workshop on suicide and core beliefs, leading her to adopt a therapeutic model focused on uncovering and reshaping core beliefs...

Jon Nelson is a passionate mental health advocate and lived-experience expert dedicated to eradicating the stigma surrounding mental illness. Having faced the challenges of serious mental illness and depressive disorder for much of his life, Jon’s personal journey fuels his tireless mission to foster open dialogue, understanding, and compassion. After a 20-year career in biopharmaceutical communic...

Dr. Donna Volpitta, co-founder of the Mental Health Literacy Collaborative, shares her inspiring journey to address a crucial gap in education: mental health literacy. From groundbreaking legislation to grassroots implementation, Dr. Volpitta discusses the barriers to mental health education and how her organization empowers communities, educators, and parents to confidently teach essential mental...

In this heartfelt interview, Nicole Angelique Kerr, an eternality advocate, public speaker, and neuroemotional technique practitioner, shares her transformative journey following a near-death experience at age 19. The traumatic car crash at the Air Force Academy led her to reevaluate and deconstruct long-held beliefs, ultimately fostering a lifelong commitment to holistic wellness. Nicole emphasiz...

Alyssa Nash, an artist and mental health advocate, opens up about her lifelong mental health journey marked by anxiety, depression, and complex trauma. Alyssa shares how confronting these challenges and undergoing trauma therapy helped her gain clarity and healing. She describes her mental health journey as a complex but transformative process, particularly given her family's history with a gene l...

In this inspiring interview, Dr. Louise Metcalf, creator and co-founder of Gheorg, shares her mission to revolutionize mental health support for children. With over 30 years of experience as a psychologist, Dr. Metcalf discusses how rising rates of childhood anxiety sparked the creation of Gheorg, a virtual robot designed to help kids aged 7-12 navigate their mental health. Combining science-backe...

Camila Rodriguez, MSW is a Pre-Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Ellie Mental Health of Woodbridge, VA

In this interview, Taylor Jones, Executive Director of Bikes for the World, shares the mission and global impact of this Rockville, Maryland-based nonprofit. Bikes for the World collects donated bikes from the Washington DC area and distributes them to grassroots NGO partner programs in developing countries, positively transforming lives by providing reliable transportation. With over 20 years of...

Kody Green, a mental health advocate known as the "Schizophrenic Hippie," shares his inspiring journey from facing the challenges of schizophrenia, addiction, and incarceration to becoming a full-time advocate for mental health awareness. Growing up as a caregiver for his mother with schizoaffective disorder, Kody witnessed the stigma surrounding mental illness early on. After his own diagnosis, h...

Jonathan Marx is the Host and Founder of GoToHealth Media

Dr. Elizabeth Markle, co-founder and executive director of Open Source Wellness, joins us to share her journey in the mental health field and how it led to the creation of her groundbreaking nonprofit organization. From an early passion for becoming a therapist to working within healthcare systems that often fell short of patients' needs, Dr. Markle recognized the need for something different. Ope...

Adam Nemer, founder of Simple Mental Health, shares his personal journey from a high-pressure career as a senior executive with undiagnosed anxiety and depression to becoming a dedicated mental health advocate. Nemer recounts how a thoughtful conversation initiated by a senior leader who took a mental health first aid course transformed his life, paving the way for his own healing journey and a re...

In this interview, Jeff Johnston, CEO and founder of Brightn, shares his deeply moving and transformative journey that inspired the creation of his mental wellness initiative. Jeff opens up about his life-changing moments, from personal success as an investment firm owner to profound loss when he lost his son, Seth, to fentanyl poisoning, followed by the passing of his wife due to alcoholism. Thes...

Dr. Julie Radlauer, CEO of Collectively, shares her journey and dedication to supporting mental health for children and families. Since founding Collectively in 2020, she has focused on transforming complex research on behavioral health into practical, digestible tools for everyday people. Drawing from her vast experience in public health and work across child welfare, probation, and educational s...