Rachelle Coe launched “Wild Haven” specifically to reach women in rural areas. She says the farm and ranch life can be uniquely demanding for women, and she wants to help them foster connections, rather than feel isolated.

Rachelle shares what led her to this mission on the Hear me. See me. podcast.

Words have power to make you think and help you heal.

Poet and spoken word artist Matt Spezia shares how he uses words to help himself and others in this Hear me. See me. episode.

Matt is a multi-national award winning artist, who often visits mental health-related themes in his work. In March, he'll present for a second time at Mental Health Advocacy Day at the Kansas Statehouse.

In this conversation, Matt reveals what first motivated him to advocate for mental health awareness, and what he hopes people take away from his poems.

Many factors can make someone vulnerable to human trafficking.

Mental health and well-being are a big part of it. Patti Mellard, who started the Rotary Club of Community Action against Human Trafficking, and Jennifer Montgomery, who received a Rotary Fellowship to address the issue globally, dive into the connections in the latest Hear me. See me. podcast.

Hear how past trauma and other factors put people at risk, and the signs we all can watch for.

Madison Schmitt started struggling as a teenager. It lead to a diagnosis with forms of severe, persistent mental illness.

She said she was fortunate to have the support of her parents. Her father David said they learned many lessons watching Madison navigate highs and lows, in part with the help of NAMI Kansas.

Their conversation shares the realities of how mental illness does not come with a quick, permanent fix. They also reflect on the best ways to support someone who’s struggling.

Shawnee Co., Kan. Corrections Director Brian Cole says jails and prisons have become our society’s de facto mental health treatment facilities. It led to the county breaking ground in August 2024 on a dedicated behavioral unit at the jail.

In this conversation, Cole shares how the increased need for mental health care impacts inmates who need help, staff who care for them, and victims waiting for justice.

The most wonderful time of the year can be the toughest for many of us.

We dive into the emotions of the season on our latest Hear me. See me. podcast. Ariel Ludwig with Valeo Behavioral Health in Topeka says expectations can add to stress and anxiety, and also grief and depression.

Hear his strategies to understand why we’re feeling all the feelings, and how to cope with them.

Our men and women who serve in the military have many experiences that can put a strain on mental health.

In this in-depth conversation, Dr. Christina Menager, who leads the VA Eastern Kansas Health System Suicide Prevention Program, shares how veteran’s experiences - both inside and outside deployment - can impact them throughout their lives and put them at risk for mental health struggles.

Dr. Menager dives into the emotions veterans may experience because of their experience, signs a veteran or loved one may need to seek help, what the VA is doing to reduce stigma, and how they continue working to ensure those who served can get help.

Many people know Dave Lewis from his time on Manhattan radio and as an announcer for Kansas State University.

In this conversation, Dave opens up about the loss of his first wife to breast cancer, and his struggles coping with both the loss and incidents from his youth. He also shares how his profession in the public eye added to the struggles.

Mental illness doesn't only affect the person living with it. It impacts everyone around them.

Susan Reynolds learned that when her daughter suffered a psychotic break and was diagnosed with severe bipolar disorder. 

Susan and her family didn't know what to do, and didn't know where to turn for information. She shares their journey in this emotional conversation, including how she now pays forward to provide other families what she was missing.

Suicide is a unique concern in our rural communities. The National Rural Health Association reported in 2024 that farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population.

Nick Hasenkamp knows that firsthand. He lost his father to suicide in 2010. Nick witnessed the struggles his father experienced as he farmed near Corning, Kan.

Now, Nick talks about his family's experience in hopes of convincing others to speak up, and to present a whole picture of who his father was.