Voices of Hope NRV

Ross Wilsie is Behavioral Wellness Media Specialist at New River Valley Community Services and one of the co-hosts of this very podcast!  Ross’s lifelong passion for using audio and video to capture and preserve stories led him to join the Community Wellness and Outreach team at NRVCS in 2022, and he often comments that he has finally figured out what he wants to be when he grows up. Ross, his wif...

Danette Gibbs is Executive Director of the Campus Suicide Prevention Center of Virginia. With a PhD in Clinical Psychology and a background in higher education and community coalition development, Danette has spent much of her career helping people navigate challenges, build resilience, and find the support they need to thrive. Her work has brought together individuals, schools, and communities ac...

Our guest today is Pasha Palanker, a retired U.S. Army Special Operations Master Sergeant whose experiences have taken him from some of the most intense moments imaginable to a deeply personal journey of healing and growth. Pasha recently gained some unexpected attention when a crosswind gust slammed him into the jumbotron at Virginia Tech’s 2026 Spring Game during a planned parachute drop. After...

Dr. Jim Harris is the Director of the Interdisciplinary Behavioral Health Center at Marshall University, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work, and founder of Opportunities Consulting Services. With a background that spans behavioral health, education, and early intervention, Dr. Harris has spent his career helping organizations and individuals better understand human behavior an...

Travis Fellows serves as the Coordinator for Community Coalitions of Virginia, or CCoVA, where his work centers on supporting and strengthening prevention coalitions across the state.  In his role, Travis often works behind the scenes – connecting partners, supporting initiatives, and making sure communities have the foundation they need to be effective over the long term.  At the core of his work...

Angela Gargano is a keynote speaker, six-time American Ninja Warrior, Miss Fitness America, three-time Covergirl, and biochemist-turned-coach.  She’s also the founder of a global movement that’s helped thousands of women accomplish what once felt impossible – starting with their first pull-up.  After a major life setback, Angela didn’t just recover, she redefined herself and now encourages others...

Joe Klein is a licensed professional counselor and lead clinician at Be Well Now, where he works with adults using various approaches including mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. With more than 15 years of experience teaching meditation and relational mindfulness, Joe also developed the Recovery Dojo program for addiction treatment here at NRVCS and co-founded Inward Bound Mindfulness Education,...

Natalie Faunce is an anchor and producer at WDBJ7, the affiliate station for CBS in Roanoke, Virginia. With a career that’s had her working in markets across the country, Natalie has covered major national events while also earning regional Emmy awards for her travel reporting across Virginia. She now anchors the 5pm newscast and hosts “Here @ Home,” a lifestyle show focused on stories that matter...

Jennifer Smith is the CEO of New River Community Action, a nonprofit serving the New River Valley through programs like Head Start, housing assistance, and food pantries. A Navy veteran and attorney who has worked with international nonprofits focused on breaking the cycle of poverty, Jennifer was named a 2025 Person of Distinction by the United Way of Southwest Virginia for her leadership and com...

Keith Whyte is President of Safer Gambling Strategies LLC and a national leader in responsible gambling and gambling addiction prevention.  Keith has spent the past 30 years shaping policy, advising organizations, and helping design programs aimed at reducing gambling-related harm.  He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling and is currently pursuing a Ph...

Chris Brown is President of the National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI). Chris leads the organization’s work to help communities and human service organizations become more father-inclusive, strengthening families and supporting better outcomes for kids. His passion for this work is deeply personal, shaped by his own experience growing up without an involved father, and his belief that every child de...

Brianna Bonat serves as the Director of Public Health and Engagement at the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA). Brianna’s work focuses on making sure public health stays at the center of how cannabis policy and education show up in Virginia. She’s spent her career working in substance misuse prevention, and when she’s not working, she’s spoiling her dog Daisy or planning her next trip.

Keith Cartwright is the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. He leads a statewide effort to raise awareness of how early childhood experiences shape lifelong health and wellness, helping train over 600 presenters across Virginia. Keith is passionate about the healing power of human connection, and he enjoys ex...

Dr. Sophie Wenzel is associate professor of practice and the associate director for the Center for Public Health Practice and Research at Virginia Tech. She’s spent more than two decades working in public health, from serving in the Peace Corps and working with the CDC to leading community-focused public health efforts here in Southwest Virginia. Outside of her professional work, Sophie values tim...

Let’s take a quick trip back in time. Our destination? Monday, December 15, 1975. Gerald Ford is President of the United States. The #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart is "That's the Way (I Like It)" by KC and the Sunshine Band and the CBS evening lineup that night will feature “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” followed by Perry Como’s “Christmas in Mexico” special. It also happens t...

Chris McKlarney is the epitome of what a public servant should be. As the long-time administrator for Giles County - a small rural community in southwest Virginia - Chris has proven time and time again that he is more than willing to roll up his sleeves and lead by example. Whether he’s coordinating response to historic natural disasters, or lending a compassionate ear to persons in recovery, McKl...

Meredith Lane is a student at Virginia Tech, an intern with the NRV Regional Commission, and a person in recovery. Meredith shares about her many endeavors as an advocate and champion for both restorative justice, as well as harm reduction, and she gives her views on the challenges many young people are facing today.  And don't miss the advice Meredith's one-hundred-year-old grandmother...

Chris Taylor is the Executive Director of New River Valley Community Services (NRVCS). Chris sits down to chat with Mike and Ross about his background and current role as ED, the field of behavioral healthcare and some of its biggest challenges today, and what he does to maintain his own wellness.

In the inaugural  Voices of Hope  episode, Mike and Ross provide an overview of the podcast - who they are, why they're starting a podcast, and the types of topics they'll explore with guests.