Thoughtful Human

It's hard for many of us to wrap our heads around how we could be so different from our neighbors and so much of our country. Many are asking where the humanity is, but we're challenging ourselves and you to ask whether we're really looking for it and offering it right now. If you need somewhere to start, we're re-releasing a podcast episode today from 2021 with a man named Graham...

Today’s conversation is all about body image and eating disorders. This episode touches on both the everyday challenges related to body image, as well as a deeper discussion about clinical eating disorders and how we can create honest, safe spaces to talk about them with our loved ones. To help us do this, I am joined by Dr. Margo Maine. Dr. Maine is a clinical psychologist who has specialized in...

It's National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and today's episide offers an exploration of suicide and the many ways we can support those who are struggling today. To help educate us on this subject are two guests, Meredith Sears, Ph. D — a clinical psychologist who specializes in suicide prevention and serves as the President of the Board of the American Foundation for Suicide Preventi...

In today’s episode we round out our series with the Success Stories Program team, with a conversation with their Co-Executive Director, Mannie Thomas III. Mannie shares his personal story and how violence became his primary response to conflict and complex emotions. He describes his feelings in the face of a life sentence, and the ways in which this conflicted with his sense of self and role in hi...

In today's episode, we continue our series with the men of Success Stories Program and one of their Transformational Coaches, Graham Finochio. Throughout this conversation, we discuss some of his early trauma, how he came to identify as a skinhead, how prison reinforced his beliefs around toxic masculinity and white supremacy, and the moment things started to change for him. He walks us throug...

In today's episode, we'll be kicking off a series of conversations with the men of Success Stories Program , a nonprofit organization led by formerly incarcerated men who lead transformational feminist programs for people who have caused harm. Chris Johnson is a Transformational Coach and Growth Coordinator on the Success Stories team. In this conversation, we discuss his pursuit of manhoo...

Janine Kwoh is the owner, author, illustrator of stationery company Kwohtations and the forthcoming book Welcome to the Grief Club , which addresses many of the surprising, confusing, brutal, funny, and downright bizarre parts of grief. Throughout this conversation, we discuss the unexpected loss of Janine’s partner, the distinct challenges of navigating grief in your 20s, the evolution of grief f...

Ali talks with Jenelle, the founder and Executive Director of the STI Project. Jenelle is a fierce advocate fighting to dismantle the stigma surrounding STIs through awareness and education. In their conversation, they discuss Jenelle's personal journey with herpes, how to check in with those in your life with an STI diagnosis, trust and disclosure in friendships and romantic relationships, th...

Ali talks with Elizabeth Franklin, Ph. D, President of the Cancer Support Community (CSC). CSC is the largest provider of social and emotional support services for cancer patients offering over $50 million in free cancer support services each year across 175 locations worldwide. In their conversation Ali and Elizabeth discuss the current cancer landscape, innovations in the colorectal cancer space...

Ali talks with Ben, a former naval aviator whose life took an abrupt turn when he was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 26. In their conversation, they discuss Ben's unexpected diagnosis, overcoming shame and navigating life with a colostomy bag, how he approached the statistics and faced his mortality, the long-term impacts of treatment, the importance of caregivers, how having a life-threat...

Ali talks with Angelica Catalano, the Director of Social Impact at The Mighty, the world's largest digital health community. Angelica has lived with ulcerative colitis over 25 years. According to the CDC, in 2015 around 3 million U.S. adults reported being diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. In their conversation, they discuss Ange...

Hi friends! My name is Ali O’Grady and I’m so excited to introduce you to Thoughtful Human, the podcast. I lost my favorite human to colorectal cancer in 2011 and have been on a complex journey with grief ever since. I have watched many family members and friends struggle with addiction and other mental health issues, and seen firsthand the devastating effects for everyone involved. I began to not...

Hey friends – welcome to Thoughtful Human, the podcast. We’ll be talking with individuals and experts about everything from cancer, addiction, grief, and mental health, to some highly stigmatized, often taboo subjects like herpes, domestic violence, suicide, and more. If the mention of any of these subjects makes you feel a little uneasy, well, that's exactly the point. We’ll use this space to...