Even Tacos Fall Apart

This episode is for anyone who's ever felt like their body failed them, anyone supporting someone through a tough recovery, or anyone who needs to hear that struggling mentally while healing physically doesn't make you weak.

More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/lazzzybee

LazzzyBee's story starts with a simple pivot during basketball practice his sophomore year of high school. That one movement shredded his meniscus and launched him into a grueling journey through four knee surgeries, a blood clot on his birthday, and months of relearning how to walk. His coach thought he was joking around when he dropped to the ground. He wasn't.

The recovery was brutal. Bee spent months bedridden with a machine moving his leg to prevent blood clots, which he got anyway. His foot swelled up and his mom insisted on getting it checked. Good call because it landed him in an ambulance to the hospital where they handed him an Apple gift card. He had a Samsung phone.

What makes Bee's story compelling isn't just the physical trauma. It's how he handled it mentally with rock solid family support and a perspective shift his mom gave him: some people can handle certain things better than others. That mindset carried him through. But he admits he gave up too soon on building his strength back after he could walk again. Looking back, he wishes he'd pushed through that final phase of physical therapy.

The injury changed his trajectory completely. Bee started college as a computer science major because he's good with computers and the money looked good. Math class scared him off. Then he switched to physical therapy because he wanted to help others the way his therapists helped him. That lasted until he had to pinch people's fat to measure cholesterol. Turns out he doesn't like touching people that much.

Now he's studying social work with a psychology minor and it finally feels right. He's drawn to understanding how the brain works and he genuinely enjoys helping people through tough situations. His diverse friend group taught him the most important lesson: you never know what someone's dealing with behind the scenes. You can't look at a person and diagnose them or dismiss their struggles.

Bee keeps busy with two jobs including one with the Cleveland Cavs, streaming, basketball, beach volleyball and collecting vinyl records. He doesn't do much formal self care because his hobbies are his stress relief. When he needs a break, he'll lay down and just listen to music. Sometimes the best self care is knowing when to step back and do nothing at all.

His biggest frustration with mental health stigma? People who self diagnose others and dismiss real struggles because someone "doesn't look depressed." He's dealt with that himself. Just because someone smiled yesterday doesn't mean they're not fighting depression today. It's a chemical imbalance and most people just lack the knowledge to understand that.

By the end of the episode, you'll see a young man who’s turned pain into perspective. He doesn’t sugarcoat struggle, but he radiates resilience, reminding everyone that healing (mental or physical) takes time, support and a little humor along the way.

If you're questioning whether traditional therapy and religion have all the answers, or you're caught between faith and mental health frameworks that don't quite fit, this episode is for you.

More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/richard-tierney

Richard Tierney works with trauma survivors using a combination of visualization, spiritual practice and a modified 12-step program. He frames his approach around the idea that mental disorders stem from past trauma held by younger versions of ourselves, rather than being inherent mental illnesses requiring lifelong management.

Tierney's core premise involves separating your current self from the person who experienced trauma. He argues that if you're 40 now and experienced abuse at 12, you're not the same person. Therefore, you shouldn't carry that trauma as your own identity. His healing process involves visualizing your younger self, mentally transferring the trauma back to them, and releasing it through ritualistic acts like burning written lists of grievances.

He emphasizes three eight-hour segments daily: eight hours for sleep (given to God/your chosen higher power through prayer), eight hours for work, and eight hours for personal activities, hobbies and relationships. This framework aims to create resilience by diversifying your life rather than depending on one job or one person for identity.

Tierney's spiritual approach doesn't require traditional religion. He encourages people to develop a personal relationship with God/your higher power through practices like writing out worries, burning the list as a burnt offering, and repeating affirmations starting with "I am" to reprogram unconscious thinking. He's explicit that this works regardless of church attendance or denomination.

The conversation touched on how his approach relates to conventional mental health treatment. Tierney distinguishes between mental illness (which requires professional treatment) and mental disorders (which he believes stem from trauma). He's critical of treating symptoms through medication alone, arguing this ignores the root cause. He acknowledges that many clients struggle with letting go of victim identity, especially if their sense of purpose comes from advocacy around their diagnosis.

Tierney shared his own history: childhood trauma at 12, decades spent in victim mentality, struggles with addiction and isolation and eventual recovery through 12-step programs and therapy work in Thailand. He moved from Catholicism to a more individualized spiritual practice after witnessing the church deny funeral rites to suicide victims.

On forgiveness, he argues that wishing abusers well and leaving judgment to God removes their power over you, though this doesn't mean condoning their actions. He encourages people to share their stories but distinguish between what happened to their younger self and who they are today.

The interview emphasized personal agency and spiritual reframing over diagnosis and medication. Tierney frames mental health challenges as soul wounds rather than brain disorders, presenting his methodology as an alternative path rather than a complement to conventional treatment.

This episode is for anyone who's ever felt broken by their own brain, anyone supporting someone through the darkness, or anyone who needs to hear that the smallest reasons to stay alive are just as valid as the big ones.

More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/reinna

Reinna came on Mental Health Monday to talk about depression, anxiety, medication abuse and suicidal ideations. At just 17, she's already navigated more medical trauma and mental health struggles than most people face in a lifetime.

Her health issues started young. At 10 years old, severe stomach pain led to countless hospital visits, invasive tests and eventually gallbladder removal at 12. The pain didn't stop. Doctors thought it was Crohn's disease, then IBS, then colitis. Years later, she still doesn't have a definitive diagnosis. The constant hospitalizations meant missing school and struggling to make friends. Teachers gave her a hard time until they understood the severity of her condition. Children's Hospital became her second home.

The medication abuse started in eighth grade. Depression runs in her family and she was already on antidepressants when she fell for a boy who was taking Xanax. She started taking her own pills to feel better. One became two, two became three. Soon she was taking five or six at once just to sleep. "I can't be sad if I'm asleep," she explained. When she realized she was approaching overdose territory, she told her mom. Her mother was initially angry but ultimately supportive. Her father called her a "druggy." She still struggles with relapse.

Self-harm was another coping mechanism. She used to hold ice in her room when she wanted to hurt herself, finding it gave her physical pain without permanent damage. A previous guest had suggested the same technique.

At 11, Reinna was sexually assaulted by one of her father's drunk friends at a party. He told her he did it because he loved her. Those words destroyed her understanding of love. She didn't fully comprehend what happened until she got older. The assault made her afraid of drunk people and left her feeling like she couldn't say no to anyone. She became a people pleaser who struggled to set boundaries. Her mom initially brushed it off until things got serious. They never pursued legal action.

Reinna identifies as bisexual. She came out to her mom young, crying on the steps saying she loved people she shouldn't love. Her mom thought it was a phase. Later, during a fight with her dad about her medication abuse, she blurted out her sexuality expecting rejection. Surprisingly, her dad was more accepting than her mom.

What keeps her going? Her cat July, who once headbutted her at a critical moment. Her best friend Twani, who turns dark moments into jokes. Playing video games. Her mom. Finding humor in the darkness. She's learned that helping others makes her happy, even when she needs to remember to help herself first.

Reinna wants people to know that those with mental illness aren't different or abnormal. They're just people dealing with something that happened to them, no different than someone with a physical disease. She's studying philosophy and anthropology and dreams of becoming a treasure hunter or maybe even a cult leader (the inclusive, science-friendly kind).

She's been clean from self-harm attempts for almost a year as of our interview. She's still here, taking care of her cat and living one day at a time.

If you've ever felt alone in your struggle, if you're carrying shame about needing help, or if you know a veteran who's suffering in silence, this episode is for you.

More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/mark-ross

In this powerful episode, MommaFoxFire sits down with Mark Ross, a veteran and advocate who’s walked through the darkest corners of mental health and lived to tell the story. Mark opens up about his experiences with PTSD, depression & suicidal ideation, giving listeners a raw look at what it’s really like to fight your own mind every day. This conversation is real talk about pain, survival, and what it means to ask for help when everything feels impossible.

Mark talks about how his mental health struggles started after his military service, but he’s quick to point out that trauma isn’t limited to combat. PTSD can come from many places, and everyone’s story looks different. What matters is recognizing the signs and getting support before things spiral. He describes the emotional numbness, the anxiety & the deep depression that followed him long after he came home. For years, he felt stuck, angry, detached & ashamed to admit how bad things really were.

The turning point came when he realized that silence was killing him faster than any diagnosis ever could. He started therapy, reluctantly at first, but found that being honest with a counselor gave him space to start healing. He learned that therapy is less about “fixing” you and more about giving you tools to survive, connect & slowly rebuild your life.

Mark and MommaFoxFire talk about the stigma that keeps so many people, especially men and veterans, from reaching out for help. They unpack how phrases like “man up” or “be strong” can trap people in cycles of shame and isolation. Mark admits that his lowest points included thoughts of suicide & that what ultimately saved him was connection... friends who noticed, a therapist who listened & his own decision to stop hiding behind a mask.

He now uses his story to help others see that recovery isn’t linear, and it doesn’t require perfection. There are good days and bad ones, but progress counts in small moments... like getting out of bed, making a call or letting someone in on what you’re feeling.

Throughout the conversation, Mark’s honesty hits hard but also offers hope. He reminds listeners that you don’t have to wait until you’re at rock bottom to reach out. Whether it’s therapy, medication, support groups or just talking with someone you trust, there are ways forward.

The episode closes with both Mark and MommaFoxFire encouraging anyone struggling to take that first step toward help. It might be scary, but it’s worth it. Mark says it best: “You can’t heal what you keep hiding. Talking about it doesn’t make you weak, it keeps you alive.”

This episode is a gut check and a lifeline all at once. If you’ve ever felt like you’re falling apart, you’re not alone, and this conversation proves that healing starts with speaking up.

This conversation is perfect for anyone who's been told to 'just pray harder' about their depression, pastors burning out in silence, or people wondering if faith and therapy can actually coexist.

More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/reverend-nick-scutari

Reverend Nick didn't set out to become the poster child for pastors who pop antidepressants, but life had other plans. This United Methodist pastor from Minnesota joined MommaFoxFire for a raw conversation about what happens when faith meets mental health reality.

Nick's journey into ministry started unconventionally. A summer camp kid who discovered God through games and guitar lessons, he initially studied music before his wife helped him recognize his calling. Now 34 and ordained for over a decade, he's learned that pastoral work can "consume your soul if you let it."

The conversation took a heavy turn when Nick shared about losing his best friend Clint to cancer at just 38 years old. They'd met in seminary, bonded over shared hotel rooms and missed flights, and Clint had become one of Nick's biggest supporters. His death last July sent Nick spiraling into grief that he knew he couldn't navigate alone.

"I knew enough to know I needed therapy," Nick said matter-of-factly. He found comfort in Dana Trent's book "Dessert First" and Nora McInerny's TED talk about how you don't move on from grief, you move forward with it. His wife gave him space to "wallow" while still offering support.

Then 2020 hit. As the world shut down and Nick was transitioning to a new church, depression crashed over him like a wave. His body felt heavy, his brain fogged, and getting out of bed became a monumental task. His wife, who lives with bipolar disorder, recognized the signs immediately. Nick's doctor diagnosed situational depression and prescribed medication.

"It's not a happy pill," Nick clarified. "It's a get out of bed and function pill."

This brings us to the heart of Nick's mission: dismantling the church's tendency to treat mental illness as a spiritual failing. He's tired of the "just pray harder" mentality that dismisses real medical needs. When someone tweeted that brain chemicals not working properly means "store bought is fine," Nick felt seen.

Nick takes a both-and approach rather than either-or. You can have Jesus and a therapist and medication. Science and Christianity are teammates rather than enemies. He's witnessed too much harm from churches that overspiritualze mental health struggles or sweep them under the rug entirely.

His advice for supporting someone through mental health struggles? "Be gentle with yourself, trust the process, find your people." Don't try to carry someone else's burden for them, walk alongside them instead.

As an Enneagram One (the perfectionist), Nick struggles with his inner critic. Self-care looks like using his CPAP machine, taking his medication, and accepting unproductive days without shame. His productivity doesn't define his worth - a lesson he's still learning.

The pandemic has made everything harder. Nick started his new pastorship virtually, getting to know parishioners through masks and Vulcan salutes instead of handshakes. But he's committed to being authentic about his struggles, even mentioning his depression from the pulpit.

When asked what misconception about mental illness he'd eliminate with a magic wand, Nick didn't hesitate: the idea that people with mental health conditions are somehow "less than" or fractional people.

Nick's story is all about showing up authentically in the middle of struggles. He's proof that you can be broken and holy at the same time, that faith and therapy make good companions, and that sometimes the most pastoral thing you can do is admit you need help too.

In a year when everyone's hitting rock bottom, Nick offers this: we can help each other back up. No magic required, just presence, honesty, and the courage to keep showing up.

Essential listening for anyone loving someone with PTSD, parents wondering how trauma is affecting their kids, and family members who feel like they're walking on eggshells but don't know how to help.

More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/dr-michelle-sherman

Dr. Michelle Sherman spent 17 years in the VA system watching families sit in waiting rooms while their loved ones received treatment. Those families looked lost, confused and isolated. That observation launched her career specializing in how trauma and PTSD impact entire family systems, not just the person with the diagnosis.

The biggest misconception? That trauma automatically equals PTSD. Most people experience some form of trauma in their lives, but most don't develop PTSD. Sherman survived a serious car accident at 70 mph that easily could have killed her. That was trauma. But like most people, she processed it naturally without developing PTSD. The distinction matters because it removes the automatic assumption that experiencing something terrible means you're broken.

For those who do develop PTSD, there's reason for hope. Sherman emphasizes that PTSD can actually be cured, not just managed. Evidence-based treatments exist that can eliminate symptoms entirely. The challenge is getting people to stick with treatment since avoidance is a core symptom of the condition.

Families often don't realize they're dealing with trauma's ripple effects. They might feel like they're walking on eggshells around someone who's become irritable and quick to anger. Or they experience what researchers call "ambiguous loss" when their loved one is physically present but emotionally unavailable. Kids especially struggle with this, often blaming themselves for the changes in their parent's behavior.

Sherman's advice for families is straightforward but powerful: keep asking. If someone with PTSD declines social invitations or family activities, don't stop inviting them. Unless they explicitly tell you to stop, keep reaching out. They may say yes on the 50th invitation, but knowing you're still there matters enormously.

Equally important is what not to do. Don't pry for details about the trauma. Don't take their emotional distance personally. And critically, don't make your entire life about being their caregiver. You need your own hobbies, friends and support system to avoid burnout.

The family impact extends beyond spouses and partners. Sherman's passionate about children living with parents who have mental illness or PTSD. About 20% of kids live in these situations, yet they remain largely invisible to healthcare systems. Other countries provide legal rights and supports for these children, but the US lags behind significantly.

Sherman co-authors books with her mother specifically addressing this gap. Their latest releases include resources for both teens and adults navigating these family dynamics. The books are interactive, community-reviewed efforts designed to feel like "a support group in a book" for people who might never seek traditional therapy.

Her message throughout is hopeful. Trauma can be life-impacting but doesn't have to be life-defining. Recovery is possible. Families can heal together. The key is understanding that healing often happens in relationship with others, whether through therapy, support groups or simply having people who keep showing up even when you push them away.

The stigma around PTSD is decreasing, treatments are improving and awareness is growing. Sherman's magic wand wish would be comprehensive recognition of how mental health issues affect children in these families, but her realistic advice is simpler: stay curious, keep caring and remember that showing up consistently matters more than saying the perfect thing.

If you've ever felt trapped by anxiety and depression, frustrated with the medical system, or wondered if there's hope beyond traditional treatment, this raw conversation with Rev Sven offers hard-won insights from someone who's navigated childhood trauma, medication dependency, and found his own path to healing.

More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/rev-sven

Rev Sven's mental health journey began with childhood trauma that would shape decades of his life. Raised by his grandparents after his parents separated, he struggled with abandonment issues when his mother chose drugs over caring for him. The anger and pain manifested early, and by fifth grade, he was throwing desks into walls.

Instead of therapy, his grandmother took him straight to a doctor who prescribed medication. This began a pharmaceutical carousel that lasted into his twenties. Depression became bipolar disorder, then anxiety, then intermittent explosive disorder. Sven cycled through over a dozen medications, often feeling like a zombie rather than himself.

The wake-up call came while working as a delivery driver. Despite taking Seroquel the previous evening, he fell asleep at the wheel the next morning, only waking when he hit the rumble strips. That terrifying moment forced a decision: something had to change.

Four years ago, Sven made the risky choice to wean himself off medication without medical supervision, something he explicitly doesn't recommend to others. He replaced pharmaceuticals with therapy, alternative approaches including medicinal marijuana and DMT, and most importantly, a supportive community.

Streaming became his lifeline. What started as an accidental hobby with a friend evolved into a platform for mental health advocacy. Through his Twitch channel and work with the nonprofit Anime for Humanity, Sven found his tribe... people who understood that gamers, anime fans and other "niche" communities needed mental health resources too.

His current coping toolkit is surprisingly simple but effective. When depressive episodes hit, he relies on his wife who lets him cry on her shoulder, friends in the streaming community who provide reality checks and encouragement, and the knowledge that he'll emerge from the darkness. A schnauzer mix puppy has become an unexpected emotional support companion.

Sven still battles the same demons. He describes episodes where he feels worthless, convinced everything he does is meaningless and that people won't miss him when he's gone. During these periods, he sleeps excessively and isolates himself. But now he has tools and people to pull him back.

His story highlights several critical issues: the overprescription of psychiatric medications to children, the importance of therapy alongside or instead of medication, and the power of community support. Living in rural Oklahoma (a region not known for progressive mental health attitudes) Sven works to break stigma one conversation at a time.

The streaming community surprised him with its openness about mental health struggles. Unlike his closed-minded hometown where men aren't supposed to show emotion, online spaces offered acceptance and mutual support. Even his brother, struggling with addiction, now reaches out for help after seeing Sven's transformation.

Sven's message is clear: mental illness doesn't make you broken or crazy, you're just wired differently. His journey proves that with the right support system, alternative approaches can work, though he emphasizes working with medical professionals rather than going it alone like he did.

From throwing desks to building community, Rev Sven turned his pain into purpose.

If you're a parent losing sleep over your teenager's mood swings, wondering when normal adolescent drama crosses into mental health territory, or feeling completely outmatched by a generation that creates group chats in Google Docs, this episode is your reality check and roadmap.

More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/mendi-baron

Licensed clinical social worker Mendi Baron brings a unique perspective to teen mental health, shaped by his own teenage rebellion and his current role running multiple behavioral health treatment centers. His journey from "pain in the ass teen" to mental health professional began at 17 when a stranger told him that struggling peers credited him with keeping them alive.

Baron destroys three major parental misconceptions head-on. First, parents drastically underestimate teen tech savvy. While adults fumble with firewalls, kids create Google Doc group chats on school Chromebooks. Second, the "best years of your life" narrative is garbage. Teens juggle brain development, body changes, social pressures, school stress and social media while their brains are still under construction. Third, the "handle it ourselves" mentality fails because parents lack the proper context and information to navigate modern teen challenges alone.

The secret sauce isn't complicated but requires intentional work. Parents must recognize that relationships need complete overhauls at each developmental stage. The way you relate to a 10-year-old won't work with a teenager, and that won't work with an 18-year-old. Baron advocates for "setting the stage" through consistent, phone-free connection time before problems arise. Create safe spaces for conversation, not crisis intervention sessions.

Teens crave predictability despite what they tell you. Baron recommends written "home contracts" covering expectations, consequences and support systems. This isn't about being controlling but creating clear rules of engagement. When teens know exactly what happens if they miss curfew, they can make informed choices about whether they're willing to face those consequences.

Baron uses a multi-area approach to spot trouble. Look for changes in social connections, emotional regulation, school performance and basic functions like eating and sleep. Individual flags mean little, but patterns across multiple areas signal real problems. Sleep disruption particularly impacts everything from anxiety levels to academic performance.

When professional help becomes necessary, involve teens in therapist selection to ensure buy-in. School counselors and Psychology Today provide solid starting points for finding local resources. The biggest mistake parents make is assuming they can handle complex mental health issues with the same confidence they bring to other life challenges.

Baron challenges the common therapeutic approach of finding personal connections with teen clients. Instead, he maintains clear boundaries while supporting teens in reaching their own goals. Trust develops not through shared experiences but through consistent, non-judgmental support and absolute confidentiality except in safety situations.

Mental health conditions aren't just deficits to manage. ADHD provides incredible multitasking abilities once properly channeled. Anxiety and depression can be harnessed as strengths when understood correctly. Baron's favorite life hack involves making decisions within 20 seconds to avoid overthinking paralysis.

For parents feeling lost in the modern landscape of teen mental health, Baron's message is clear: educate yourself, create structure, maintain boundaries and don't hesitate to bring in professional support when needed.

If you’re neurosparkly yourself, love gaming or have ever wondered how online friendships can be just as real as in-person ones, this episode is for you.

More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/lise-goblin-keeney

In this episode, MommaFoxFire sat down with Lise Keeney, also known as Goblin, to talk about neurodivergence, gaming and how online spaces can create genuine friendships. Lise is a brand strategist and PR professional turned founder of Goblins, a voice-based platform that helps people connect through gaming. Her journey into building Goblins grew out of both personal loss and the desire to create spaces where neurodivergent people could feel comfortable being themselves.

Lise shared her path from working with startups like Hinge to launching her own project. She joked that she has always had a “goblin answer” to career questions, but what has carried her through is creativity, curiosity, and the drive to help people connect in authentic ways. After her father passed away in 2022, she found herself craving community but not the energy it takes to go out and meet new people in person. That gap inspired the idea behind Goblins: a way to find real connection without leaving your home.

A big part of the conversation centered on what it means to be “neurospicy,” Lise’s preferred term for her own mix of ADHD and autism traits. She described how those traits show up as both strengths and struggles. On one hand, being neurodivergent often means heightened creativity and out-of-the-box problem solving. On the other hand, it can come with challenges like focus issues, people-pleasing tendencies or sensory overload. By embracing the label of neurospicy, she found both humor and empowerment.

The two also talked about how video games serve as more than entertainment. For many neurodivergent folks, games offer structure, space to hyperfocus, and a low-stakes way to socialize. Lise pointed out that some of her gaming friends know her better than people she’s known in real life for years. There is something disarming about playing in a shared digital space that makes opening up easier than sitting across a brunch table. MommaFoxFire agreed, sharing her own experiences with friendships formed through gaming and how those bonds can feel just as real and even more consistent than offline relationships.

They also explored the kinds of games that foster connection. Competitive or high-intensity games like Call of Duty can make conversation harder, while cozy worlds like Palia or Minecraft let people talk while exploring together. These lighter games allow for parallel play, where people can hang out in voice chat while chopping trees, crafting, or just existing in the same virtual world. The result is an environment where conversation flows naturally.

Another theme was safety and community care. Lise explained that Goblins uses voice-first interaction and strong moderation to cut down on harmful behavior. The community of about 2,500 goblins on Discord is quick to welcome newcomers, celebrate glow-ups, and even nudge each other with friendly accountability. From D&D groups to Monster Hunter squads, the connections have already led to lasting friendships, relationships and even in-person meetups.

Throughout the episode, both MommaFoxFire and Lise underscored that video games are not a distraction from “real life” but a powerful tool for mental health and connection. Goblins is proving that you can meet friends, find belonging, and even fall in love without forcing yourself into traditional social spaces. Lise’s story shows how being unapologetically neurospicy, leaning into gaming, and building inclusive platforms can create kinder, more meaningful communities online.

If you live with depression, anxiety, or chronic illness, or if you want to understand how peer support can make a real difference, this episode with Rob Walker is for you.

More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/rob-walker-2

In this episode of Even Tacos Fall Apart, I sat down with Rob Walker, a peer support leader who brings decades of lived experience with depression, anxiety, and type 1 diabetes to his work. Rob lives outside Boston, works with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, and has been helping shape the peer support workforce both in his state and around the world. He’s also a father of three and a dog dad to Hank, his rescue beagle.

Rob shared how his career has grown out of turning hard personal experiences into meaningful advocacy. He helps oversee the Certified Peer Specialist training program in Massachusetts, where people with lived experience learn how to share their own stories in ways that support others. Beyond that, he and a team from Dartmouth College created a training during COVID that taught peer specialists how to provide support remotely using tools like Zoom, Discord and Teams. What started as a small project has now trained more than 3,000 people across the U.S. and internationally.

When asked what being a peer support specialist means to him, Rob said it gives purpose to years of difficult times. Instead of seeing his diagnoses as only negative, he has found a way to use those experiences to connect with others and remind them they are not alone. He also stressed that the heart of peer support is the relationship, not the method of delivery. Whether it’s a Zoom call, text or even playing a video game online, what matters is the connection.

Rob was candid about challenges too. One ongoing frustration is the way clinical language can reduce people to their diagnoses. He explained how often professionals see him or others as 99 percent “the illness” and only one percent “everything else.” In reality, his diagnosis is just a small slice of his identity, alongside being a father, friend, husband and colleague. He wants more professionals to see people for their whole selves, not just a label.

We talked about how important advocacy is, both at the legislative level and in everyday life. Rob encouraged listeners to follow bills in their state, join advocacy organizations, and speak up when policies affect people with mental health challenges. On a personal level, he suggested simple acts like checking in with friends, sending a quick text or offering to listen. Often those small efforts make the biggest difference.

Self-care was another key theme. Rob admitted he doesn’t always follow his own advice, but he tries to schedule downtime and recognize the signs when he’s slipping. He emphasized that people working from home during the pandemic shouldn’t expect perfection. His reminder: give yourself a break, seventy percent is good enough and don’t feel guilty about it.

Rob also opened up about living with type 1 diabetes since age 15 and how managing both physical and mental health requires attention to sleep, nutrition, and knowing his warning signs. His honesty about symptoms like fatigue, irritability, and hearing voices during severe depression gave listeners a real picture of what those struggles can look like.

He closed with a powerful wish: to erase the misconception that people with mental illness are violent. In fact, they are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. His final advice was simple but important: be kind to others and to yourself.