In this inspiring episode, Jamie Yang, a graduate student and mental health advocate, shares her journey of resilience and growth in navigating recovery from an eating disorder. She highlights the powerful role of community in fostering healing through friendships and hobbies. Through her journey, Jamie explores how recovery involves unlearning toxic messages about food and bodies, setting boundaries, and intentionally choosing communities that nourish rather than deplete. With honesty and insight, Jamie shows how surrounding yourself with supportive, values-aligned people can build strength, shift focus toward wellness, and create space for lasting recovery.

In this episode of STAY Tuned, Micah Webster shares his journey of living with anxiety, supporting a sibling with serious mental health conditions, and finding healing through both therapy and his faith. As a behavioral health researcher and person with lived experience, Micah offers a unique perspective on the intersection of mental health, spirituality, and community.

Micah discusses how supportive, inclusive faith communities can offer a space of grace, flexibility, and belonging; especially for those navigating mental health challenges or feeling socially disconnected. He explores how spirituality is not just a personal journey but can be a communal experience rooted in shared growth.

We also talk about how faith can support emotional resilience, the importance of universal design in religious spaces, and how newcomers to spirituality can begin exploring questions of meaning and purpose, especially when they don’t know where to start.

Whether you're connected to a spiritual tradition or seeking new ways to engage with community and inner healing, this episode offers insight, encouragement, and practical wisdom.

In this episode, we sit down with Wyatt Wagner - a dynamic 21-year-old youth peer advocate, nonprofit founder, and newly announced candidate for his district's board of legislators. Wyatt shares the powerful story behind Youth of Lewis County, the nonprofit he started to create safe spaces and supports for young people in his rural community. We dive into the challenges and triumphs of building youth-led programming in areas with limited infrastructure, strong religious influences, and limited funds. From organizing the county's first youth-run Renaissance Fair to advocating for safe and inclusive spaces, Wyatt speaks candidly about why youth voice is critical to community development and what he is doing to encourage youth and young adults to participate in their communities.

In this episode, we dive into the impactful work of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (now known as MassAbility) and how it empowers young adults with disabilities to build fulfilling careers and independent lives. Our guest, Amanda Baczko from MassAbility, shares personal insights from her journey with her mental health and professional exploration, offering a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of navigating career and personal exploration with a disability.

We discuss MassAbility’s unique programs—ranging from Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to peer and family supports. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about fostering meaningful inclusion and support for those navigating mental health challenges and disabilities.

Join us for an inspiring, honest, and hopeful conversation on finding purpose, facing detours, and thriving through community support.

In this episode, we chat with Destiny Maxam. Destiny is a therapist who shares her story about self-advocacy and navigating life with chronic illness and a spinal cord injury while building a career in the mental health field. She opens up about going back to school while living in a nursing home, her passion for psychology, and what drives her to help others living with chronic illness, disabilities, and mental health conditions. She also speaks on how the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (now known as MassAbility) was able to provide life changing resources, and how people can find similar services in their states. We dive into the challenges of balancing work and life in a mental health career and how she’s learned to set boundaries to avoid burnout. Plus, she shares some great tips on self-care, managing mental health, and how professionals can better support their clients. It's a conversation full of wisdom and practical advice!

In this episode, we sit down with Davy, a musician and member of our young adult advisory board who shares his experience of using creativity and music to support his mental health. We discuss the transformative power of creative communities and their impact on mental health. Davy talks about discovering creative writing groups, musician groups in both virtual and hybrid communities. He shares how structured environments, like virtual writing sessions and local art events, fostered accountability, inspired creativity, and provided a sense of belonging. Ready to get more creative? This episode offers practical tips on finding local resources, connecting with like-minded individuals, and enhancing your well-being through creativity.

Part 2 of our conversation with Scott Bryant-Comstock covers the intention of, and evolution of, the Children’s Mental Health Network (CMHN), an organization he founded to act as an independent voice supporting improvements in mental health practices for children and young adults. The CMHN managed to bring together people from diverse backgrounds for dialog around interventions, policy change and current systems of care. This “old geezer” (his words) shares experiences and wisdom, but reminds us that as an “elder” he can give us his wisdom, but that the engine that’s going to drive mental health improvements forward in in the hands of the young adults with lived experience, and he urges us to “get busy”. Scott’s storytelling abilities and his journey is not to be missed!

Do you procrastinate until the last minute for assignments and then feel frustrated at yourself for not starting sooner? You’re not alone. In this episode of STAY Tuned, Emily and Mei (our podcast hosts) get real about their personal ADHD journeys, exploring what it’s like to be diagnosed later in life. From struggles throughout school and work in young adulthood, they share their highs, lows, and everything in between.

Join us for a relatable conversation about the challenges faced by women who are diagnosed with ADHD as adults, including issues with self-esteem, procrastination, and managing day-to-day responsibilities.

This episode is perfect for anyone interested in learning more about ADHD or seeking a deeper understanding of late diagnoses.