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Thomas shares his journey from a recovering addict to advocating for young people. He discussed his military background, including his service as a Navy SEAL, and his transition to working with adolescents at Daytop Village and Boys & Girls Clubs. Thomas emphasized the importance of consistency and trust in his work, noting the significant challenges youth face today, such as anxiety and suicidal ideation. He highlights his efforts to address these themes, contributing factors, and stresses the need for a national platform to amplify his message and support young people.

In this episode, you will hear:
+ personal journey and early career
+ transition to The Boys & Girls Club and further education
+ challenges and strategies in working with youth
+ impact of societal and economic factors on youth
+ commitment and future goals

Guest Bio

Thomas J. LaGrave Jr. is a bestselling author, licensed clinical social worker, and former Navy SEAL Hospital Corpsman with over 35 years of experience working with more than 3,000 young men. Known for his raw, real approach to adolescent mental health, Tom blends lived experience with clinical expertise to help teens—and the adults who care for them—navigate depression, addiction, masculinity, and emotional intelligence in a tech-saturated world. A sought-after speaker and media guest, Tom is the author of Special Welfare. Social Warfare and a trusted voice on raising emotionally healthy men in today’s complex culture. A media favorite, Tom has been interviewed on Good Day San Antonio, ARC Seattle, KOMO News, and countless podcasts.

Contact

Website: https://www.thomasjlagravejr.com

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Paula's Upcoming Events

Millennial Social Work Conference: March 6th - 7th

Retreat, Remix, Revive: March 27th- 29th

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Paula addresses the concept of moral injury by breaking down its meaning, exploring its history and roots in military psychology, prevalence, and importance of addressing it through ethical support systems.


In this episode, you will hear:
+ defining moral injury
+ examples in various professions
+ impact on mental health and safety
+ strategies for prevention and management
+ resources and support for addressing moral injury

Events:

Millennial Social Work Conference: March 6th - 7th

Retreat, Remix, Revive: March 27th- 29th

Resources:

Start Here

Resource List

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Jennalyn shines a light on her work in trauma-informed puberty education. She highlights the lack of puberty education and emphasizes the importance of beginning early. Jennalyn not only shares her experiences with students who lack this knowledge but also receives feedback from parents and school staff, as well as focuses on professional development and family consultation to improve puberty education.

In this episode, you will hear:
+ challenges and importance of puberty education
+ normalizing and integrating puberty education
+ addressing criticism and building confidence
+ incorporating trauma-informed care in puberty education
+ creating safe spaces and empowering students
+ role of media and pop culture in puberty education

Guest Bio:

Jennalyn Suda, LMSW, is a school social worker in Rochester, NY, and a Doctor of Social Work student at the University at Buffalo. With both her BSW and MSW in social work from SUNY Brockport, her current work centers on trauma-informed, developmentally responsive support for students with complex social-emotional and behavioral needs. Through her consulting practice, Long to Learn LLC, Jennalyn researches and advocates for inclusive and empowering puberty education that helps students understand their changing bodies and emotions within safe, affirming, and healing-centered learning environments.

Contact/Socials:

LinkedIn: Jennalyn Suda, LMSW
Email 1: JSuda@Buffalo.edu
Email 2: info@LongtoLearn.com
Website: www.LongtoLearn.com

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Got a topic you want explored on a future episode? Please email us at whydontwetalkaboutthispod@gmail.com