Episodios

  • What Data Shows About Building Supportive Workplace Cultures Featuring Brit Wanstrath
    Mar 18 2026

    NAMI released its third annual workplace mental health poll yesterday. In this episode, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. is joined by Brit Wanstrath, manager of workplace mental health for NAMI. As they explore the key findings from the poll release, listeners will find out what makes employees feel comfortable talking about mental health at work, the scale of burnout impacting American workers, the importance of mental health workplace trainings, and more. With the information from this year’s NAMI-Ipsos Workplace Mental Health poll, companies can begin making plans for increased support for their employees.

    Learn more at nami.org/MentalHealthAtWork2026

    Find the new NAMI StigmaFree workplace training, You Can Ask by NAMI, online now.

    NAMI’s new workplace training, You Can Ask by NAMI, helps teams learn how to:

    • Prepare for a conversation about mental health
    • Empathize with your colleagues
    • Sustain supportive conversations
    • Find their workplace’s mental health benefits

    When your teams finish You Can Ask by NAMI, they’ll confidently be able to support their coworkers – and your company will be one step closer to becoming free from stigma.


    You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast.

    "Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr.

    Co-executive produced by Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.

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    29 m
  • Advocating for Help, Not Handcuffs Featuring Shannon Scully and Hannah Wesolowski
    Mar 11 2026

    In honor of National Criminal Justice Month, “Hope Starts With Us” is guest hosted by NAMI’s Chief Advocacy Officer Hannah Wesolowski in conversation with NAMI’s Director of Criminal Justice Policy and Initiatives Shannon Scully. The two explore NAMI’s advocacy to end the criminalization of mental illness and creating avenues for help, not handcuffs. Through this episode, listeners will learn about our criminal justice policy priorities, the need for more support and resources, how to get involved in NAMI’s National Criminal Justice Month and Overlooked campaigns, plus the brand-new resource “Navigating the Crimnial Justice System.” Listen now and learn how you can get involved today.

    Episode links:

    • National Criminal Justice Month
    • NAMI's Overlooked campaign
    • NAMI's new resource: "Navigating the Criminal Justice System"

    You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast.

    "Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr.

    Co-executive produced by Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.

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    36 m
  • Self-Acceptance, Shedding Shame, and Recovery Featuring McCall Dempsey and Alexandra Miles
    Feb 25 2026

    From February 23 through March 1, 2026, NAMI joins the National Alliance for Eating Disorders in challenging stigma about eating disorders and supporting recovery. In this episode, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. is joined by McCall Dempsey, founder of Southern Smash, and Alexandra Miles, Founder and CEO of Project Blackbird. They will explore the connections between their work engaging young people, embracing self-acceptance as part of recovery, and what it means to shed shame about mental health and eating disorders. This episode highlights lived experiences with eating disorders and stigma reduction efforts.

    You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast.

    "Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr.

    Co-executive produced by Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.

    Más Menos
    47 m
  • Mental Health On and Off the Field Featuring Tenisha Patterson Brown
    Feb 11 2026

    At this year’s Big Game, NAMI extended our partnership with Dan Marino’s Stay Healthy Zone and announced a new yearlong partnership with Off The Field NFL Wives Association. In this episode, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. talks with President of Off The Field NFL Wives Association, Tenisha Patterson Brown. They discuss what led her to mental health advocacy, the unique experiences of NFL players and their spouses, caregiving for a loved one with mental health conditions, and more.

    You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast.

    "Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr.

    Co-executive produced by Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.

    Más Menos
    35 m
  • How Storytelling Can Create Cultural Changes Featuring Frank Kosa
    Jan 28 2026

    At NAMI, we know that sharing stories about mental health conditions helps reduce stigma still held by far too many. In this episode, NAMI CEO Dan Gillison is joined by award-winning documentary producer-writer-director Frank Kosa. Frank is also an executive producer of the podcast “Brain Stories,” which demonstrates commitment to changing mainstream culture by creating awareness and caring for people living with mental health conditions. During Dan and Frank’s conversation, listeners will hear about NAMI family education courses, the impact of sharing stories, and how storytelling can change minds and culture.

    You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast.

    "Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr.

    Co-executive produced by Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.

    Más Menos
    38 m
  • Your Story Has Power Featuring Samantha Vittengl
    Jan 14 2026

    Sharing your mental health story takes strength, resilience, and courage – and it is so worth it. Every person’s mental health story has power: Power to create change, reduce stigma and discrimination, and build community. In this episode, NAMI CEO Dan Gillison joins Maybelline New York’s Samantha Vittengl as she shares how mental health has touched her life, how her family navigated the process of finding help, and how they learned they are not alone.

    You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast.

    "Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr.

    Co-executive produced by Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.

    Más Menos
    32 m
  • Driving Mental Health Innovation Through Advocacy and Community Support Featuring Darcy Gruttadaro and Hannah Wesolowski
    Dec 30 2025

    In this episode, NAMI CEO Dan Gillison explores NAMI's accomplishments throughout 2025 in conversation with retiring Chief Innovation Officer Darcy Gruttadaro and Chief Advocacy Officer Hannah Wesolowski. Together, they discuss growth in NAMI's initiatives focused on youth mental health, success in our advocacy efforts, and the importance of our grassroots community. Listeners will also hear about the significant amount of bipartisan support for mental health policies, as well as the ongoing challenges that remain in the mental health landscape. Finally, Dan, Darcy, and Hannah reflect on what gives them hope and helps them continue working toward mental health equity and increased access to mental health care.

    You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast.

    "Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr.

    Co-executive produced by Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.

    Más Menos
    43 m
  • How Family Support Can Help Mental Health Recovery Featuring Major General Gregg F. Martin, Retired, and Maggie Ryan
    Nov 26 2025

    When navigating a new mental health diagnosis, there are a lot of ways someone’s life can change. If family support is available, the journey to recovery and stabilization can feel at least a little less challenging. In this episode, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. is joined by Major General Gregg F. Martin, retired, and his wife Maggie Ryan to explore the connections between family support, caregiving, and recovery from mental illness. During this conversation, listeners will hear about what types of support caregivers want, how families can address mental health stigma, and advice about navigating a mental health diagnosis on the journey to recovery and stabilization.

    Hear more about Gregg F. Martin's story in episode 57, Leading and Living With Bipolar Disorder.

    You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast.

    "Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr.

    Co-executive produced by Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.

    Más Menos
    45 m