AI in behavioral health demands a balanced strategy that protects consumers, enables innovation, and expands access at scale. 

In this episode, Dr. Zach Boyd, Director of Utah’s Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy, shares how his team is creating practical guardrails for responsible AI in healthcare. He traces his path from theoretical math to social science, noting that behavioral health is the front line for AI’s impact. Early milestones include broad stakeholder surveys, privacy and advertising protections, detailed guidance for professionals, and a safe harbor to reduce regulatory uncertainty. Dr. Boyd highlights opportunities in clinical automation and consumer tools, while warning about risks like deepfakes and urging leaders to balance safety, efficacy, and access.

Tune in and learn how thoughtful policy can accelerate safer, more equitable behavioral health innovation!

Resources:

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.
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The future of mental health care lies in integrating self-care, personalization, and technology to meet people where they are.

In this episode, Clayton Nicholas, Chief Commercial Officer at CredibleMind, discusses the urgent need to reimagine the intersection of mental and physical healthcare by focusing on prevention, accessibility, and personalization. He explains that the traditional, reactive, and clinician-limited model has left millions underserved and introduces the stepped care approach, where digital self-care tools form a foundational “step zero.” Clayton describes how digital front doors can simplify access, reduce stigma, and guide people toward the right level of support, helping to shorten waitlists and ease pressure on the system. He concludes by highlighting how data-driven insights and AI can personalize care, strengthen empathy and engagement, and enable earlier, more effective interventions at scale.

Tune in and learn how digital innovation is reshaping behavioral health by bridging access gaps and empowering self-care from the ground up!

Resources:

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.
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Normalizing mental health support is essential to expanding access for veterans and their families.

In this episode sponsored by Luminary Labs, John Boerstler, Head of Public Sector at Ipsos Public Affairs, discusses the unique challenges veterans face in accessing behavioral health support and the critical need to reduce the stigma surrounding care-seeking. Drawing on his own military service and career across government, nonprofit, and private sectors, he emphasizes how cultural competency, community engagement, and innovative program design can strengthen pathways to care. He highlights initiatives such as National Buddy Check Week, proactive crisis-detection systems, and partnerships that connect veterans to vital services, including housing, employment, and legal aid. He also notes survey data showing that many veterans wait until crisis points to seek help. Finally, John reflects on how technology, combined with human-centered strategies and continuous veteran input, can help identify early warning signs, empower providers, and ensure that no veteran is left behind.

Tune in and learn how innovation, empathy, and collaboration can transform veteran behavioral health care!

Resources:

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.
Save $100 on your registration ⁠here ⁠by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

The warm handoff model in behavioral health has proven to dramatically increase patient retention and improve access to care in rural communities.

In this episode, Dr. Zachary McGeorge, Director of Behavioral Health at AdventHealth in Manchester, Kentucky, shares his journey into social work and the unique challenges rural hospitals face. He highlights transportation barriers and innovative strategies such as telehealth outpost clinics, mobile units that deliver care to patients’ homes, and a warm handoff approach that has driven an 88% therapy retention rate. Dr. McGeorge addresses the difficulty of recruiting and retaining providers in rural areas, stressing persistence, authenticity, and a deep emotional connection to the mission. He also talks about the value of integrated care, provider well-being, and balanced living, along with practical advice for emerging leaders on managing change and engaging stakeholders throughout reforms.

Tune in and learn how rural healthcare leaders are innovating to close gaps in behavioral health access and build stronger, more resilient communities!

Resources:

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.
Save $100 on your registration ⁠here ⁠by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

Behavioral health was left out of the digital revolution in healthcare; now a $20 million federal initiative is changing that story.

In this episode, Talisha Searcy, Senior Advisor within the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy, and Kacie Kelly, Chief Innovation Officer at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, discuss the Behavioral Health Information Technology Initiative. Talisha explained that BHIT is a $20 million partnership between ASTP and SAMHSA focused on standardizing behavioral health data, advancing EHR adoption, and improving integration with physical health. Kacie highlighted that behavioral health was left out of the HITECH Act, creating long-standing gaps in infrastructure, funding, and data standards that BHIT now aims to address. Talisha emphasized the importance of interoperability and the USCDI+ for behavioral health, with pilots testing real-world data exchange and toolkits to help providers adopt these standards. Both emphasized the importance of collaboration across federal agencies to ensure alignment, as well as opportunities for innovators and the private sector to engage in shaping policies, particularly in areas such as interoperability and AI. Locally, Talisha noted how technology like telehealth is already improving access and care coordination in communities, despite workforce shortages.

Tune in to hear from national leaders on how BHIT is setting new standards, driving innovation, and opening doors for providers and innovators in the behavioral health field!

Resources:

Connect with and follow Talisha Searcy on LinkedIn.

Follow the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy on LinkedIn and visit their website. 

Connect with and follow Kacie Kelly on LinkedIn.

Follow the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute on LinkedIn and visit their website.

Learn more about the HeadsUp service here.

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.
Save $100 on your registration ⁠here ⁠by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

The strongest organizations aren’t just scaling services; they’re scaling leadership.

In this episode, Stacy DiStefano, CEO and founder of Consulting For Human Services, discusses the unique challenges and opportunities facing nonprofit behavioral health organizations. She explains how her team supports providers with strategic planning, growth strategies, technology adoption, and mergers & acquisitions (M&A) to ensure sustainability, while highlighting why boutique consultancies often deliver more value than large firms through lived experience and community ties. Stacy also explores the real issues keeping leaders up at night, from immigration policies impacting workforce stability to uncertainty in federal priorities and the accelerating wave of nonprofit consolidations, while outlining common pitfalls in M&A such as ego, resistance, and board misalignment. Looking ahead, she stresses the need for CEOs to educate boards, prepare the next generation of leaders, integrate technology across organizations, and embrace disruption as an opportunity rather than a threat.

Tune in and learn how nonprofit leaders can future-proof their organizations through resilience, growth, and mission-driven strategy!

Resources:

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.
Save $100 on your registration ⁠here ⁠by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

The pain of youth must always be seen alongside its power.

In this episode, Rich Havard, Director of the Decolonizing Wealth Project’s Youth Mental Health Fund, shares his journey from a closeted gay kid in rural Mississippi to leading a $20 million initiative supporting BIPOC and LGBTQ youth. He reflects on formative church experiences, both healing and harmful, that shaped his commitment to creating inclusive spaces, as well as his years as a pastor witnessing the struggles and resilience of young people. Rich underscores the urgent need for philanthropy to fund culturally responsive care and elevate youth voices as true decision-makers shaping solutions. Ultimately, he reframes youth mental health as an issue of both justice and connection.

Tune in and learn how integrating culture, storytelling, and justice can transform youth mental healthcare!

Resources:

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.
Save $100 on your registration ⁠here ⁠by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

Having the right tools in place the first time can make all the difference for patients and families navigating behavioral health.

In this episode, Janelle Bierdeman, a nationally certified school psychologist and the Manager of the Healthcare Solutions Group at MHS (Multi-Health Systems), shares her journey from direct care with children and families to driving systems-level transformation in behavioral health. She reflects on the risks of poor assessments, outdated systems, and the importance of rigorous tools to ensure providers deliver the right care from the start. Drawing on her perspective as both a professional and a parent of neurodivergent children, Janelle emphasizes the need for tailored assessments, clinician involvement in digital tools, and cross-cultural insights from North America and Europe. She also highlights a UK success story scaling patient assessments from 25 to 2,500 per month, and sees AI as a powerful way to reduce administrative burdens and free providers to spend more time with patients.

Tune in and learn how technology, when done right, can truly expand access to quality behavioral health care!

Resources:

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.
Save $100 on your registration ⁠here ⁠by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

Far too many women veterans are overlooked, leading to gaps in care, resources, and recognition.

In this episode brought to you by Luminary Labs, Wanda Wright, Director of the Office for Veteran and Military Academic Engagement at Arizona State University, shares her mission to advocate for women veterans and improve access to resources. She explains that many women do not recognize themselves as veterans, which, combined with cultural bias and lack of awareness, leads to higher rates of suicide and homelessness compared to men. Director Wright highlights the importance of asking “Have you served?” in healthcare settings and stresses that collaboration among the VA, state agencies, nonprofits, and local groups is essential to provide effective support, especially in rural areas. While progress has been made with more women joining the military and rising to leadership, she emphasizes that continued advocacy and community involvement are crucial to breaking down barriers and saving lives.

Tune in as Wanda Wright shares her powerful journey and insights on breaking barriers, advocating for women veterans, and building stronger systems of support!

Resources:

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.
Save $100 on your registration ⁠here ⁠by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

Strong science isn’t just a checkbox; it’s a growth strategy that can set digital health startups apart in crowded markets.

In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Huberty, CEO & founder of Fit Minded, explores how behavioral health companies at any stage can build scientific credibility without depleting their resources. She stresses that many startups fail to recognize the value of the data they already possess: data that can drive business decisions, fuel marketing narratives, and even lead to peer-reviewed publications. Jennifer walks through cost-effective research strategies, such as retrospective analyses and national surveys, while cautioning against fragmented, one-off studies that lack strategic alignment. She also introduces the idea of “traveling science,” a framework for making research actionable across departments, and emphasizes that trust, transparency, and clear alignment with business goals are essential for impactful, lasting research partnerships.

Tune in and learn how to leverage research not just for credibility, but for growth, clarity, and competitive advantage in the behavioral health tech landscape!

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