The Catalyst Podcast

Dr. Mark Godley was there at the creation, 40 years ago, when he was the first director of Chestnut Health Systems’ Lighthouse Institute for Research and Training. Dr. Godley pulls back the curtain on a remarkable four-decade journey,  from the Lighthouse Institute’s early struggles to keep the lights on to its emergence as the world-class research powerhouse it is today.    He shares behind-the-s...

In a recent article on our Catalyst Substack, titled. “ A Growing Trend in Modern Policing: First-Responders in Mental Health Emergencies , ” we examined how police officers have increasingly become the default first responders to behavioral health crises, and how law enforcement is partnering with mental health providers to more effectively respond. That article focused primarily on the law enfor...

The extraordinary Dr. Leslie Korn is a pioneering integrative medicine expert with over 40 years of experience living among and studying indigenous cultures. She joins us to discuss how targeted, culturally-informed dietary strategies can heal the brain, reduce chronic stress, and restore well-being.    We discuss the importance of bioindividuality and personalized dietary strategies over one-size...

Alex Dopp is an implementation scientist and child clinical psychologist who studies the use of research evidence and related policy implications for improving youth mental health services. Alex shares how his unique dual expertise in mental health and economic evaluation helps unlock the real-world value of evidence-based interventions for adolescents. We break down: The often-overlooked role of...

With respect to the great Sly Stone, this episode of the Catalyst is a family affair. We spoke with three members of the Koehne family, all practicing dentists: Dr. Annie Koehne, who has been practicing at Chestnut Health Systems for just under three years, her mom, Dr. Diane Metrick, who has over 30 years of experience in general dentistry and public health, and the family patriarch, Dr. Michael...

Edwardsville Police Chief Mike Fillback reveals how his department is transforming responses to behavioral health emergencies, emphasizing the power of specialized training and community partnerships. Discover why even small towns are leading the way in compassionate, effective policing that prioritizes safety, dignity, and long-term support over quick fixes.

Value-based care is about connection, community, and innovation – the true metrics of success, as evidenced by the lives this approach is transforming across Illinois. Joining us to discuss this important topic is:  Gilbert Lichstein is the CEO of the Illinois Health Practice Alliance, a behavioral-health-based Independent Practice Association operating throughout the state of Illinois Molly McVey...

Jamelia Hand, CEO of Vantage Clinical Consulting, advises healthcare systems, corporate organizations, and advocacy groups in their efforts to reduce the national emergencies of opioid addiction and drug overdose via strategy consulting, training, technical assistance, and Program Development. Her areas of expertise encompass behavioral Health, digital health and AI integration, compliance, and he...

Karen Sours and Angela Marinas-Mackenzie are Community Health Navigators with Chestnut Health Systems, whose persistent community outreach bridges gaps in housing, healthcare, and social support.  In this episode, they discuss how they help individuals navigate complex systems for disability and housing, tackling issues like food insecurity and transportation that prevent access to care, and they...

Most healthcare leaders overlook one of the most critical factors threatening their workforce’s sustainability: burnout is escalating, and traditional solutions aren’t enough.  We’re joined by two industry veterans who have dedicated their careers to transforming healthcare work culture: Mitchell Best, CEO of Vital Work Life, and Derek Bell, Vice President of Solutions. Mitch and Derek reveal how...

Most states are overwhelmed by the rising tide of homelessness and grappling with its various downstream effects.  Max Seely, Director of Government Affairs at the Supportive Housing Providers Association (SHPA), joins us to discuss the complex root causes of homelessness and what SHPA is doing to turn the tide. Max reveals how flexible, individualized supportive services—like addiction treatment,...

Most people underestimate the rapid rise of sports gambling addiction—until it hits close to home. Amanda Arrowsmith, Associate Director of Residential Programs with Chestnut Health Systems,  exposes the “hidden epidemic,” fueled by mobile betting apps, aggressive marketing, and the normalization of in-game wagers. This is a particularly timely topic as sports gambling is very much in the news, as...

Employment law expert Jon Hyman joins us to unpack the groundbreaking $6 million judgment that held social media giants Meta and YouTube liable for addictive design, which caused the plaintiff to develop severe mental health issues, including anxiety, body dysmorphia, and suicidal ideation, starting from age six. Could this case reshape the future of mental health, workplace liability, and digital...

"Meeting our current challenges requires that we reform and strengthen criminal justice systems, following where the evidence leads to promote public safety, and to integrate such measures within the broader portfolio of economic development, health, and social services to address the causes and consequences of crime.  Meeting these challenges also requires active collaboration among the public he...

The pace and scope of change buffeting behavioral health organizations – large and small – is unprecedented, yet some organizations are thriving while others struggle to keep the lights on. Michael Allen is Executive VP with Open Minds, where he provides executive oversight and leadership for provider and payer client engagements. Michael lays out the most pressing short-term and systemic changes...

We’re joined by Dr. Christopher R. Larrison,  Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Larrison’s research includes studying the use of technology to improve mental health services and social interventions. We discussed the study he co-authored, titled “From Reddit to Generative AI: Evaluating Large Language Models for Anxiety Support Fine-tuned on Social Media Da...

Dr. Joel Bennett is President, Organizational Wellness & Learning Systems (OWLS), a consulting firm specializing in evidence-based wellness and e-learning technologies that promote organizational health and employee well-being. Joel joins us to discuss “The Ripple Effect,” an evidence-based approach for social capital in workplaces and communities.  Joel unpacks what the training consists of,...

Dr. Casey Sarapas, a research scientist at Chestnut Health Systems’ Lighthouse Institute, unpacks a study he led, titled Predictive Validity of the e-Connect Suicide Risk Classification Algorithm in Youth on Probation (selected as among 2025’s best studies by the senior editors at JAACAP Open).  In this episode, Casey discusses the science behind eConnect’s risk classifier, which combines youth se...

Dr. Jennifer Smith Ramey is the Director of Grants and Programs with Horizon Behavioral Health. She has worked with a variety of populations, including adults with severe and persistent mental illness and adolescents with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. Jennifer is also a consultant/trainer for Chestnut Health Systems, serving as a lead trainer and coach for Chestnut’s Ev...

This podcast does the impossible: it gives lobbying a good name. Political lobbying invariably evokes images of bespoke suits, steakhouses, expensive cigars, and backroom deals. Chris Lowery, of Lowery Consulting, is a refreshing exception to the well-earned stereotype.     Chris Lowery Consulting is a political consulting and lobbying firm based in Springfield, Illinois. Prior to lobbying, Chris...

Alternative title: Everything you wanted to know about healthcare - from the ACA to Medicaid - but were afraid to ask. Healthcare economics is a notoriously complex subject, but if you need to check out one podcast to make sense of it, this is that podcast!     Dr. Timothy McBride, Bernard Becker Professor of Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis and a leading health economist, joins...

We're joined by Kiara Kuenzler, the newly appointed president and CEO of MHCA, Mental Health Corporations of America. MHCA was created to support CEOs and C-suite executives of behavioral healthcare organizations, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship.  We discuss their mission and how they keep leaders of these organizations on their game and on top of constant change to maximize the impact o...

Several months ago, we were joined by Chuck Ingoglia, the CEO and President of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, for an excellent and informative conversation on the organization’s advocacy work. On this episode, we’re joined by Peter Delia, the Council’s Federal Policy and Advocacy Strategist. Peter was previously Senior Attorney for the FL Senate, and the Assistant Attorney General Flor...

Lou Servizio is the founder/CEO of Wellcast ROI, the leading international provider of analytical tools that calculate the ROI of wellness, behavioral, pharmaceutical, and occupational health programs. One of the more fascinating people we’ve visited with - Lou is also an accomplished scuba diver and marathoner - we discuss his journey from international banking to healthcare informatics and how i...

Katherine (Kate) Elkington, PhD, is a Professor of Medical Psychology (in Psychiatry) at Columbia University and a Research Scientist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Dr. Elkington also serves as the Director of the Center for Behavioral Health and Youth Justice, within the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She has over 15 years of research experience in criminal and juvenil...