Description:

This month, Sara sits down with her friend Cat to talk about her experience with alcohol use disorder. Together, they explore how biology, environment, and lived experiences can shape our relationship with alcohol use, and why navigating or changing that relationship isn’t always as simple as deciding to stop.

Timestamps:

1:09 - Guest Introduction & Where the Story Begins

6:05 - The Progression of Drinking

11:42 - Deciding to Stop

14:24 - Ad Break: Glow Your Mind

17:28 - Starting Again

28:55 - Deciding to Get Help

31:10 - Life After Rehab

35:40 - Life Now

39:35 - Ad Break: How to Get Involved with NAMI Davidson County

43:58 - Speed-Round Questions

In this episode, we sit down with Janai Pledger, who is the founder of an emerging Nashville wellness initiative called Color the Future. Drawing from lived experience, we explore the intersection of traditional mental health care and holistic approaches to wellness. Together, we discuss how these different pathways can work alongside one another to support our unique - and shared - needs as human beings, especially as we navigate mental health challenges.

For more information or to get involved with Color the Future - check out their website at www.colorthefuture.org.

Timestamps:

2:00 Guest introduction & background

7:24 [Ad break] "Glow Your Mind" event promo

11:00 Guest's personal story: counseling, diagnosis, hospitalization

14:40 Turning point - choosing a different path, finding stability

16:40 Yoga, meditation & mindfulness as coping tools

27:00 Family/genetic patterns in mental health

28:37 [Ad break] "Young Minds United" (YMU) program promo

34:00 What support looks like now - self-care & vulnerability

40:00 The role of community in mental wellness

48:00 [Ad break] NAMI Davidson - how to get involved

49:20 The "inner child" & self-compassion

54:00 Advice for listeners wanting to try creative expression

61:00 Upcoming workshops & how to get involved with Color the Future

In this episode, I meet with Don Loiacano - Chief Program Officer of NAMI Davidson County - to talk about their experience living with OCD, depression, suicidal ideations, and social anxiety. From navigating college and the workplace to raising a child, Don shares a wealth of knowledge and insight into what mental health recovery can look like for many.

Through these conversations, we reflect on how the skills we gain along the way can shape our paths toward well-being.

Timestamps:

1:55 Introduction to podcast, trigger warnings, and Don’s introduction

6:12 Don’s coping and journey in illness

25:20 Young Minds United information

26:15 Pivotal moments in recovery

36:57 parenthood and breaking cycles

44:41 experience with OCD

50:09 family support group information

51:27 OCD, rumination, and suicidal ideation

1:00:46-1:03:27 TW: Suicide attempt discussion

1:11:15 trauma and social influences

1:15:00 how to get involved with NAMI Davidson county

1:16:13 career and accommodations

1:23:20 Lived experience and personal needs

1:32:15 “This isn’t a life sentence”

1:36:24 Last thoughts and outro