Charting a New Course

Ever wonder if we’re getting anywhere with substance abuse treatment? In this episode, Murray and Brendon talk with David Smith, the Founder of the Haight Ashbury Free Clinics of San Francisco. David provides an empathetic journey through the history of substance abuse treatment, as well as a look at the evolution of medicine to treat mental illness and addiction.

David has a rich and diverse background in Addiction Medicine. He’s served as Fellow and Past President of the American Society of Addiction Medicine; he was the former President of the California Society of Addiction Medicine; as well as the past Medical Director for the California State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs. Additionally, David has served as Medical Director for the California Collaborative Center for Substance Abuse Policy Research, and is a former adviser to the Betty Ford Center.

Would you know if your child was depressed? And if they were, how could you help? In this episode, Dr. Murray Zucker, Chief Medical Officer at Happify Health, sheds light on children’s mental health. Dr. Zucker shows all listeners—not just parents— how to recognize the signs of childhood depression, as well as tips that will teach resilience in children, and ways to start the conversation about a child’s emotional well-being. If you have concerns regarding your child's mental health, contact your child's pediatrician or school guidance counselor for help.

You’re a parent, and you can’t ignore the fact that your kid is struggling with their mental health. What do you do? Well, for starters, please realize that you’re not alone. There’s a burgeoning mental health crisis facing America’s youth today, and in this episode, Murray and Brendon speak to an expert, Dr. Hansa Bhargava, about what parents and educators can do. 

Guest Bio: An expert in parenting, mental health, and pregnancy, Dr. Bhargava is a board-certified pediatrician and the author of Building Happier Kids: Stress-Busting Tools for Parents. She is also the CMO at Medscape Education, where she leads innovation-driven initiatives for physicians and health care professionals. Dr. Bhargava’s focus is on issues of resilience, burnout, and mental health. She’s been a practicing physician for over a decade and was previously Senior Medical Director at WebMD.

Additionally, Dr. Bhargava has been a featured partner in healthcare initiatives with the University of Alabama, the CDC, the White House, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

Learn more about Hansa: https://www.hansabhargavamd.com/

In this episode, Murray answers key questions about bipolar disorder for listeners, like how it is defined and diagnosed. He also discusses the warning signs of bipolar disorder, and what you can do if you suspect someone in your life has bipolar disorder. Finally, Murray will address what the best way is to get help for that person. 

If you or someone you know needs support due to a mood disorder, contact the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: https://www.dbsalliance.org/

What if you were diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder? Natasha Tracy, an award-winning author, blogger, editor, and speaker talks to Dr. Zucker and Brendon about her Bipolar Disorder diagnosis, and how she’s managed it for decades. In this enlightening, eye-opening and ultimately uplifting story, Natasha explains what life is like with bipolar disorder and shares insights that may help others who wrestle with it. 

Guest Bio: In 2016, Natasha released Lost Marbles: Insights into My Life with Depression & Bipolar. Book Authority named it the second-best manic depression book of all time. Natasha was also named one of the Top 10 mental health influencers by Sharecare.com, and is the proud recipient of an Erasing the Stigma Leadership award from Didi Hirsch. 

Additionally, for 15 years, Natasha wrote the award-winning blog "Bipolar Burble," detailing life with bipolar disorder, which has appeared on countless top health blog lists. She also writes "Breaking Bipolar" at HealthyPlace which has earned numerous Web Health Awards.

Natasha has a B.S. in computer science and a background in technology. Her expertise has been sought by academics, businesses and media.

Learn more about Natasha: https://natashatracy.com/

In episode 9, Dr. Murray Zucker, Chief Medical Officer at Happify Health breaks down eating disorders for our listeners. Tune in while Dr. Zucker explains how eating disorders are diagnosed, what the most common warning signs are, and how to find help if you or someone you know may be struggling. 

If you or someone you know needs help, please visit the National Eating Disorders Helpline: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline

In this episode, Murray and Brendon talk to Rebecca Eyre, the CEO of Project Heal, a national nonprofit in the U.S. focused on equitable treatment access for people struggling with eating disorders. Eating disorders are a very personal topic for Rebecca as it’s an illness that has impacted many people in her immediate family, including her mother. 

Not only are eating disorders misunderstood and misdiagnosed, but the vast majority of misdiagnoses happen to people of color. If you don’t have direct experience with eating disorders, buckle up. You’re going to hear some things about this issue that are going to blow your mind.

Guest Bio: Rebecca Eyre is CEO of Project HEAL, a national nonprofit in the U.S. focused on equitable treatment access for people struggling with eating disorders. Rebecca is a licensed therapist specializing in eating disorders and trauma. She’s recognized as an intuitive thought leader and strategist with diverse experience across industries, including mental health, nonprofit, marketing, education, tech, and writing. 

About Project HEAL
Project HEAL is a national nonprofit in the U.S. focused on equitable treatment access for people struggling with eating disorders. Project HEAL is the only nonprofit in the U.S. focused on opening doors to eating disorder treatment for people experiencing systemic, healthcare, and financial barriers to healing. We offer free services to our beneficiaries, including treatment placements, insurance navigation support, case management, cash gifts, travel funds, clinical assessments, and impartial treatment recommendations. We're specifically focused on supporting individuals who have marginalized identities of any kind within the eating disorder space.

Sam Gibbs had forty years of experience in the private sector, building healthcare and technology companies. In 2017, Gibb's love and loyalty to his home state of North Carolina led him to leave silicon valley and head home to drive innovation and care delivery transformation as the deputy secretary of Health and Human Services. Two years later, Covid 19 would shut down the country and North Carolina would call on Gibbs to find new and innovative ways to deliver care to at-risk patient populations.

Tags: #podcast #chartinganewcourse 

What would you do if every man in your family developed heart disease in their forties? When it happened to Jeff Bennett, he decided to start Higi. 

Higi is a medical technology company that creates health station kiosks that anyone can access in supermarkets, pharmacies, and other retail locations. 

Most people thought Jeff was crazy when he said he wanted to bring preventive healthcare services to every grocery store and pharmacy in the United States. Today, Higi has more than 10,000 health stations installed in retail locations throughout the country. 

Let's face it, the holidays are here and life isn’t quite back to normal. For many, the holiday season is a time of joy, but it can also be a time of stress, anxiety and exhaustion. What can you do? A lot actually! In episode 5 of Charting a New Course our hosts, Brendon Kelly and Dr. Murray Zucker share their top 5 tips to surviving the holidays.