The Just A Mom Podcast

Jason Reid knows the pain of losing a child to suicide. His youngest son, Ryan, died by suicide in 2018. Jason has since dedicated his life to preventing other parents from experiencing the devastating loss of a child to suicide. Jason feels like by not being vulnerable with his kids he didn’t invite them to talk to him. He thinks we need to show kids we are normal and human, that we all have had...

This episode is a continuation of my conversation with Courtney.  Courtney’s daughter’s mental health journey didn’t end in high school. Courtney recounts her daughter’s time at The Renfrew Center ( https://renfrewcenter.com/ ) well as her young, toxic marriage and subsequent inpatient hospitalization and intensive outpatient treatment at Hopeway ( https://hopeway.org/ ) in Charlotte, NC. Courtney...

Courtney’s story of parenting a child who has battled mental illness most of her life starts with the first of a two-part series. Courtney says her daughter has always been “the most”.  Courtney’s daughter started struggling with anxiety around four years of age, survived a brain aneurism, and developed anorexia, all before graduating from high school. Listen as Courtney shares the challenges of t...

Dr. Brian Barash (www.cpa-kc.com) shares a wealth of mental health and substance abuse information on this episode of The Just A Mom podcast. Dr. Barash refers to several mental health facilities in the Kansas City area, including Marillac ( https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/locations/Marillac-Campus-Overland-Park-KS ), Crittenton ( https://www.saintlukeskc.org/locations/crittenton-childrens-cent...

Josh is a husband, father, triathlete, coach, and suicide survivor. As a teenager, he deliberately drove his car into a tree—and walked away.  Josh recounts his long-time battle with depression, trauma, post-traumatic stress syndrome, and his complex relationship with an abusive father. Josh talks about his significant distrust of mental health professionals based on his experience as a teenager a...

In a continued effort to educate and bring resources to the listeners, this episode features Kori Hintz-Bohn, founder of Renew Counseling and the Anxiety Center at Renew ( https://sites.google.com/anxietycenterkc.com/renewcounseling/home?authuser=0 ).  Kori give parents valuable information on how to access help for a child experiencing mental health problem as well as some everyday tips for good...

Tricia and I continue our conversation about her daughter’s lifelong battle with anxiety.  Not only has Tricia’s daughter had serious anxiety related to school, but Tricia also shares a memory about a very scary time when she was afraid for her daughter’s life and called 911. Tricia shares that she has learned, over time, that her job as a parent is not to fix but to support her daughter and her m...

This is the first of a two-part series with Tricia.  Tricia chronicles her daughter’s journey with anxiety, starting as early as preschool when she experienced significant separation anxiety that did not resolve with time. Tricia talks about her strong advocacy for her daughter’s needs at school.  Tricia talks about Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and a 504 plan, which help students with diagn...

My conversation with Rhonda is a no-holds-bared one. Her son battled an eating disorder and undiagnosed depression in high school. He found a bottle of narcotics after a family member’s surgery and took one to numb his pain—and was hooked. Ronda recounts the moment things changed when they realized her son had been hiding a fentanyl addiction for 31/2 years in college, the failed rehab stent, foll...

My son, Will, and his girlfriend, Kayli, are back for another special episode of The Just A Mom podcast. After a very successful debut in December, The Brightest It's Ever Been, a play about living with anxiety, will be back for another limited engagement from May 11-13 at Hillcrest Covenant Church, 8801 Nall Avenue, Prairie Village, Kansas. This show will sell out--get your tickets here . The Bri...

This inspiring episode features Vicki Love, co-vice president, and Jennifer Savner Levinson, treasurer, of The Good Faith Network ( https://www.thegoodfaithnetwork.org/ ). The Good Faith Network is an interfaith justice group of over 20 different congregations in Johnson County, Kansas that has identified three pressing problems in our community: mental health, homelessness and affordable housing....

For Sylvia Harrell and BJ Thomas, convincing young people that waiting just 20 minutes when contemplating suicide is personal. They have both lost children to suicide, and neither of their children gave any indication they were contemplating taking their lives. Sylvia and BJ want to make sure others have the tools to cope when dark moments arise. Listen as they share about  #Giveme20 ( https://giv...

On this episode of the Just A Mom Podcast, Erin talks about the challenges of parenting a son with bi-polar disorder. She shares about his in-patient hospitalization, and how those were some of the most challenging days of her life. Erin also talks about her son’s transition to college during COVID, and how having an emotional support animal (ESA) has been an incredible support to her son.

On this episode of the Just A Mom Podcast, Erin talks about the challenges of parenting a son with bi-polar disorder. She shares about his in-patient hospitalization, and how those were some of the most challenging days of her life. Erin also talks about her son’s transition to college during COVID, and how having an emotional support animal (ESA) has been an incredible support to her son.

Sending a child to college is always challenging, but handing over one who struggles with mental health problems can be even more difficult. On this episode of the just a mom podcast, Rockhurst University Dean of Students Dr. Matthew Quick gives parents some strategies and tips on what to look for in a college or university and how to work will college officials to make a young adult’s transition...

This may be the most difficult episode of The Just A Mom podcast to date. My incredibly brave and strong friend Suzanne talks about losing her son, Nic, to suicide in 2017.  She started noticing signs of anxiety and depression before people were really talking openly about mental health. Suzanne shares deeply intimate details about losing her son and her grieving process, and how losing a child to...

What started in 2018 as a couple of dads with the vision of being intentional as dads is now in over 25 schools and counting. Brad and Tom share how they started the Father’s Club ( https://fathersclub.org ) in their children’s high school to let kids know that you matter, right here, right now, and linking arms as dads to make a difference in their corner of the world.  Brad and Tom share how ove...

Mandy’s son deals with depression and anxiety. Mandy shares some deeply personal parts of their story, including her son’s marijuana addiction, his time at an in-patient psychiatric hospital, wilderness therapy ( https://trailscarolina.com/ ) and ultimately his journey to sobriety through Full Circle ( https://fullcircleprogram.com/ ), all before the age of 15. Mandy also talks about how sometimes...

This is a do not miss episode for any parent! A myriad of studies link heavy social media use to mental health problems like anxiety and depression, and about 10 percent of teens have reported being victims of cyberbullying ( https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm ).  Tracy Foster, co-founder and Executive Director of Screen Sanity ( https://screensanit...

In this episode of the Just A Mom podcast, Sherri shares her story of parenting a child with sometimes crippling anxiety. Depending on what you read somewhere between 50-60% of teens and twenty-somethings are dealing anxiety, so I know you will find Sherri’s experience helpful. She talks about the difficulties in convincing her daughter to go to therapy as well as how hard it was to find a good fi...

I learned so many things during the interviews for season one. Almost every parent to date that I’ve interviewed has told me they didn’t know what to do and they didn’t know who to call when their child needed mental health treatment. I’m excited to bring more resources to parents in season two. In this episode, Danna Dahl, Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Clinical Prof...

This is a different episode and one that is a must-listen.  Trevor is an adult who suffers from depression and suicidal ideation.  Trevor was a middle school teacher and coach for my two oldest kids and went on to be a middle school principal.  I can tell you from personal experience that Trevor was the teacher all the kids wanted for social studies—he was young, fun, cool, and energetic.  But ove...

I’m not sure how I hadn’t met Kristen before starting the podcast. My oldest two kids went to the same high school, and we have many mutual friends and acquaintances.  My husband, Dan, is the one who introduced us.  He knew Kristen would be willing to share their family’s story and that it would have a tremendous impact on those who hear it.  Kristen’s story is one of fear, patience, endurance, lo...

I am so excited to bring you this special edition of the Just A Mom podcast.  “The Brightest It’s Ever Been” is a play written by Kayli Slayden about living with anxiety.  It is based on Kayli’s personal experience with anxiety and is being directed and produced by my son, Will. Like the Just A Mom podcast, Kayli hopes that by sharing her story through the medium of a play people will know that th...

This is the second time I’ve interviewed Shana.  Yes, this is the same Shana from episode 12, but in this episode, she shares from a personal perspective as the mom of a child with Tourette Syndrome. Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder ( https://tourette.org/ ), but often those with Tourette also battle mental illness.  Shana talks about the challenges of raising her son with Tourette syn...