Rough Edges Podcast with Sarah I. Fox

What happens when being the "good daughter" becomes the very thing keeping you from living authentically? In this episode of Rough Edges Podcast, I welcome back returning guest Olivia Alvizo Johnson, a millennial Latina therapist and founder of Liv Curiously Therapy for a heartfelt conversation about healing from people-pleasing, retiring the "good responsible daughter" identit...

This powerful episode sums up our season 6 finale on the Rough Edges Podcast. Today I sit down with youth empowerment speaker and author Lawrence Harris for a deeply honest conversation about youth mental health, self worth, masculinity, healing, and overcoming limiting beliefs. Lawrence opens up about his own mental health journey, growing up feeling different from his peers, experiencing abuse i...

In this new episode, I am joined by trauma specialist Dr. Ken Huey for an honest conversation about men’s mental health, emotional expression, trauma, and healing. Dr. Huey brings over two decades of experience in behavioral and mental health, with a strong focus on trauma and attachment particularly within the adoptee community. Drawing from both his professional work and personal journey as an a...

In this episode of Rough Edges Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Mary Ruth Hackett an Educational Psychologist, author, and speaker to explore the powerful intersection of faith, identity, and psychology. With a background in parenting and identity development, Mary Ruth shares her personal and spiritual journey from her early desire to be a stay-at-home mom to becoming an author, podcaster, and voice...

In this episode of Rough Edges, I am joined by Renee Firth, a mental health advocate and founder of ASD Mum Club, an online community dedicated to supporting mothers raising autistic children. Renee shares her personal mental health journey including experiencing PTSD, anxiety, and depression after a traumatic car accident and how she rebuilt her life by developing practical tools to manage and pr...

Hello everyone! Welcome to another episode of Rough Edges. In this episode, I sit down with stress-management expert and author Lolita Guarin to explore what it truly means to live a life rooted in peace, presence, and self-alignment. Lolita shares how traveling across the world shaped her understanding of happiness, and why so many people who “have everything” still feel overwhelmed and unfulfill...

Welcome back to part 2 of our episode topic. In this episode I continue my conversation with Jesse Mercury, host of the Major Pain Podcast on chronic illness, mental health, and the stigma surrounding men's emotional expression. Jesse shares his experience navigating an undiagnosed chronic illness throughout his thirties, the emotional and physical challenges that came with it, and the eventua...

Hi everyone! In this episode of Rough Edges, I sit down with my uncle, Dr. Stephen Fox, to talk about his journey of faith, military service, education, and mental health. Dr. Fox shares how he first came to faith as a child, how his walk with God shifted during his military service, and how prayer and spiritual community kept him grounded over the years. He also opens up about traumatic experienc...

Today is the fourth anniversary of the podcast, and I'm so excited because this not only marks a very grand milestone of four years of podcasting, but it also shows that Rough Edges is valuable and that my voice does matter in the long run. So for this episode, I'm going to do four different chapters of the podcast. I'm going to talk about how Rough Edges started, and I'm also goin...

Hi everyone! In today’s episode of Rough Edges, I sit down with Jesse Mercury, who is the host of the Major Pain podcast. He shares his personal journey with mental health, self-discovery, and hope. Jesse opens up about his experience living with chronic illness, his path toward healing, and how creativity has been a grounding force through it all. We talk about what it means to embrace your diagn...

Happy Tuesday everyone, it’s Sarah here! In this midseason update of Rough Edges, I wanted to take a moment to open up about where I’ve been, what’s been happening, and what recovery has looked like for me lately. Over the past few months, I experienced another mental health episode after going off my medication, and while it’s been a difficult journey, it’s also reminded me that recovery is not a...

We're back! In this episode of Rough Edges, Sarah continues her conversation with Mzwa in part two of their interview on men finding hope and healing. Mzwa opens up about his personal journey with mental health, faith, and cultural expectations of manhood. He introduces his "Triple M" method -Mind, Money, and Matter as a framework to understand how mental health, finances, and the bo...

In this heartfelt and vulnerable conversation, I sit down with Mzwa, a teacher, mentor, and mental health advocate from Cape Town to explore his journey navigating life with multiple mental health diagnoses, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, and bipolar type 1. Mzwa opens up about the silent struggle of living undiagnosed for years, the weight of cultural and religious expectations, and how fai...

In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Dr. Martine Laventure, an experienced social worker, mother, and passionate autism advocate to discuss parenting, mental health and the power of community. Dr. Laventure opens up about her personal and professional journey, sharing how raising her autistic son has shaped her advocacy and purpose. Together we unpack what it really means to parent beyond la...

Hello and welcome to today’s episode, join host Sarah as she welcomes Ethan A. Poetic, a motivational speaker and mental health advocate who shares his incredible journey from surviving a near-fatal car accident to becoming a beacon of hope for many. Ethan shared that after his accident he struggled emotionally, especially on anniversaries of the event and only began understanding these feelings a...

Welcome back to the second part of this empowering episode with special guest, Justin Raghoo. In this episode, we dive into a compelling conversation with guest Justin about men's mental health within church environments. We explore societal expectations placed on men in spiritual spaces and discuss how to create more inclusive and supportive communities. Justin offers heartfelt advice encoura...

Happy Tuesday! In this episode of the Rough Edges podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Justin Raghoo a dedicated professional in the sales and finance sector and an active servant in ministry. We went deep into the important topic of men's mental health, exploring the stigma surrounding men expressing their emotions and seeking help. Justin shared his powerful faith journey, highlighti...

Growing up, Brandon Russ often felt emotions deeply yet found himself navigating a world that questioned his vulnerability. His journey took a significant turn after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2017, a revelation that led him to embrace his emotional depth and channel it into advocacy. Through our conversation Brandon shares moments from his life illustrating how faith, creativity, an...

Still growing up in the Black church, Donal faced the formidable challenge of reconciling faith with mental health struggles. This episode of the Rough Edges podcast invites you into his heartfelt journey through the emotional landscapes shaped by post-traumatic slavery syndrome. We find out how historical and cultural factors have influenced the suppression of grief and lament in the Black commun...

"Growing up in a Black church, mental health wasn't always the first topic on the table, but everything changed when I discovered the transformative power of counseling during my master's program." In this episode of Rough Edges, I'm thrilled to welcome Donal Cogdell Jr. also known as Reflect, who shares his journey through faith, justice, and music. Together, we unravel the complexities of men's...

Welcome back to another episode of Rough Edges! In honor of World Bipolar Day, Sarah is joined by special guest Avantika Bharad. Avantika, a dynamic 22-year-old social entrepreneur from India returns to the Rough Edges podcast to share her inspiring journey of mental health advocacy. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder type 2 at just 17, Avantika transformed her personal challenges into a powerful mis...

Happy Tuesday! Today, meet Warrington Chapman better known as Sammy, a dedicated New York City police officer with an inspiring faith journey. In today’s episode Sammy unpacks his experiences with men's mental health challenging the age-old notion that men should just "man up" and hide their emotions. In his reflections Sammy illustrates how vulnerability is actually a source of stre...

After years of wrestling with body image issues and insecurities, Brianna Miller found strength through the power of affirmations and faith. Her transformative journey from self-doubt to self-assurance is a testament to the power of community and belief. In this episode of Rough Edges, Brianna returns to share her inspiring story and the creation of her empowerment brand, I Affirm Me. We explore h...

Welcome back to the Rough Edges Podcast. In this episode Sarah engages with Mikey Kamuda, the host of the Mikey on Mute podcast. Sarah and Mikey explore the stigma surrounding men's mental health, the importance of emotional expression and the journey of seeking support. Mikey shares his personal experiences with mental health, the motivation behind his podcast and the significance of values based...

Happy Tuesday and welcome back to the Rough Edges podcast! In this episode, a certified high school counselor returns to discuss his mental health journey and the challenges men face in seeking support. Andrew Ramirez shares his personal experience with bipolar one disorder, PTSD, OCD, and offers insights into the importance of routine and the barriers men face when addressing mental health issues...