HOPEfull Conversations with Kari Eckert

Transitioning from high school to college can be both intimidating and thrilling. The prospect of newfound freedom and new friends is exciting, but the uncertainty of taking college-level classes, navigating an unfamiliar campus, and not having any family members to help you with all the aspects of life outside of the classroom can be overwhelming at times.

My guest today is Maci Jones, a freshman originally enrolled at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts intending to major in Finance. She was on the Women's Soccer team at Bentley.  After her first year, and a lot of self-reflection she decided to transfer to TCU to better manage her mental and physical health.  She has her own podcast titled “Pieces of Passion”. Going to college is a huge milestone, but it comes with unexpected and overwhelming changes. Today, Maci talks about her experience in the transition from high school to college, and her experience as a student athlete.

Maci talks about the struggles and triumphs of making the high school to college transition including tips on time management, finding your new friend group, managing your relationships with your family, and interactions with professors and other academic staff.

“We all struggle with stress, emotion, relationships etc. but we don't have to. As a College Athlete, I have struggled with anxiety and perfectionist tendencies my entire life. Up until this past year, I avoided confronting the issues and accepting they were real. While admitting my faults to myself hasn't been easy, it has allowed me to heal and grow tremendously, and I want the same for you, so listen in today!”  Listen to Maci’s podcast at:  https://rmo.gec.mybluehost.me

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“An “anxious achiever” is an ambitious, career-focused individual who succeeds in life and professionally while also struggling with mental illness on a day-to-day basis. Anxious achievers are all around us, and they rarely take the time to rest their bodies or their minds. You, yourself, might be an anxious achiever if you find that you are goal-oriented, future-oriented, and take your work extremely seriously. An anxious achiever tends to be composed of three shared characteristics: the drive, the voice, and the traps.

An anxious achiever has an ambitious drive for success, a strong work ethic, and always wants to achieve utmost excellence. But the voice inside an anxious achiever’s mind acts as an inner critic, telling them that they are not good enough. Because of this inner critic, anxious achievers often find themselves getting stuck in negative thought traps.

But there are many benefits to being an anxious achiever. We are prized team members because we go the extra mile, and in our minds, nothing less than the best will do. We create extraordinary outcomes because we are driven to always strive for excellence. We can learn to channel our drive and anxiety to help us achieve excellence. We can learn to take back control from the inner voice that acts as our toughest critic. And we can learn to manage through anxiety and ultimately put our anxiety to work.” – Morra Aarons-Mele

My guest today is Morra Aarons-Mele. As an “extremely anxious overachiever,” Morra Aarons-Mele is passionate about helping leaders understand what their anxiety is telling them, and how they can put this knowledge to work. She hosts the podcast The Anxious Achiever, is the author of the books The Anxious Achiever and Hiding in the Bathroom: How to Get Out There When You’d Rather Stay Home, and is the founder of the award-winning social impact agency Women Online, which she sold in 2021. Her work has appeared in media outlets such as The New York Times, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, and Harvard Business Review and she recently won the media award for Mental Health America. 

“Anxiety is normal. The way we hide it is not.  Although so much has been done (rightly) to promote diversity and wellness at work, there’s a giant hole in the understanding of how mental health plays into not just our daily grind, but the very trajectory of success.  We’re all in desperate need for better models of leadership - especially in a society that tell us mental health challenges like anxiety and depression are weaknesses.”  Vist Morra’s website at:  https://morraam.com

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During the most formative years of their lives, Gen Z has been front and center to some of the most unprecedented events in U.S. and global history. One of the biggest being the pandemic, which will have a lasting impact on the future of technology, healthcare, and even mental health.  Almost 3 in 4 Gen Zers say the pandemic has negatively impacted their mental health. On top of day-to-day mental health struggles, many are concerned and unsure about what lies ahead for them.

Nearly a third (31%) of Gen Zers would rate their overall mental health in 2022 as bad. When asked to describe their mental health over the period of one month, one out of four reported having more bad days than good. On average, Gen Z reported about ten tough mental health days in the span of one month.

More than two in five have a diagnosed mental health condition.  Of those, more than one out of four (26%) were diagnosed during the pandemic (from March 2020 or later). The biggest mental health issue Gen Z deals with is anxiety. Nine out of ten Gen Z with diagnosed mental health conditions struggle with anxiety, and nearly eight out of ten (78%) are battling depression.

Joining me today is Dr. Lauren Cook, a therapist, consultant, speaker, and author, dedicated to bettering the mental well-being of others through an evidence-based framework from her own empirically supported research. Lauren’s book, Generation Anxiety, to be released in September, includes her own struggles with anxiety and provides easy, actionable steps to help readers ride the waves of anxiety rather than swimming against them. Lauren received a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Communication Studies from UCLA, a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from USC, and completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University. Lauren is committed to working with Gen Z and millennial clients, while working to remove the stigma associated with mental illness. 

Generation Anxiety, a Millennial and Gen Z guide to staying afloat in an uncertain world.  From licensed clinical psychologist and TikTok therapist Dr. Lauren Cook, a practical guide aimed at Millennials and Gen Z for tackling anxiety.  Visit Dr. Cook’s website at:  https://www.drlaurencook.com

For additional resources visit us at:  https://robbies-hope.com

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We all have days when even just getting out of bed seems like it’s too much to handle, much less tackling all the tasks you have to do that day. Microgoals break these overwhelming tasks down into smaller, bite-sized ones. Over time, working with microgoals can rewire your brain and help to give you the energy to keep working on what you want to achieve. You also can’t help but be in the moment, because you are only thinking of the next task you have to accomplish.

Joining me today is Kelsey Alpaio, a journalist and editor with a passion for innovative storytelling. As a senior associate editor at Harvard Business Publishing, Kelsey works to develop new content and audiences for the company. Her work focuses on managing mental health in the workplace and dealing with life's obstacles. 

For additional resources visit us at:  https://robbies-hope.com

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Microjoys are a practice of uncovering joy and finding hope at any moment accessible to everyone, despite all else. When we hone the ability to look for them, they are always available. 

Microjoys are the hidden wisdom, long-ago memories, subtle treasures, and ordinary delights that surround us: A polka-dot glass on a thrift store shelf. A dear friend’s kindness at just the right time. The neighborhood spice shop. A beloved family tradition. The simple quietude of being in love. A cherished chai recipe.

Cyndie Spiegel first began taking note of microjoys during the most difficult year of her life—when she experienced back-to-back unprecedented and devastating losses—and she found that these fleeting moments of hope helped her move through each day with a semblance of comfort and a lot more joy.

Through beautifully written narrative essays and prompts, Cyndie shares the microjoys that have kept her going through tough times and shows us how we can learn to see the microjoys in our own lives. Microjoys don’t change the truth of loss or make grief any more convenient, but they allow us to temporarily touch joy, keeping us buoyed and moving forward, one moment at a time.

My guest today is Cyndie Spiegel, she spent 15 years in the NYC fashion industry, 5 years as an adjunct professor at both Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology, several years as an ISHTA certified yoga & meditation teacher and an entire lifetime seeking understanding in various philosophies before fully transitioning my own career when I was 35. Since then, she has become certified in Applied Positive Psychology, written a best-selling book on the topic that has sold over 150,000 copies, graduated as a scholar in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and in 2023 released he second book, Microjoys: Finding Hope (Especially) When Life Is Not Okay, with Penguin Random House.

Listen on your favorite podcast station or watch on our YouTube channel at:  https://youtu.be/4VdxwxcAkTY

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In 2020–2021, >60% of students met criteria for one or more mental health problems, a nearly 50% increase from 2013. Mental health worsened among all groups over the study period. American Indian/Alaskan Native students experienced the largest increases in depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and meeting criteria for one or more mental health problem. Students of color had the lowest rates of mental health service utilization. The highest annual rate of past-year treatment for Asian, Black, and Latinx students was at or below the lowest rate for White students. Although Arab American students experienced a 22% increase in prevalence, there was an 18% decrease in treatment.

My guest today is is Dr. Sarah Lipson, an assistant professor in the Department of Health Law Policy and Management at the Boston University School of Public Health. Dr. Lipson has been the principal investigator of the Healthy Minds Network for over ten years, one of the nation’s premier research organizations contributing to adolescent and young adult mental health. Her research focuses on addressing mental health inequalities within college universities and improving safety and policing practices at Boston University, specifically. Dr. Lipson received her PhD in public health and education from the University of Michigan in hopes to understand mental health in college populations.

For additional resources visit us at:  https://robbies-hope.com

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dear generation,
in honor of mental health may i feel i should share parts of my story and why advocating is so important. i struggle with anxiety, and depression along with other things. fighting these has been the hardest battle i have ever faced and as i continue this battle i have found my passion and my life calling helping others with their mental health. no one should EVER struggle alone and i firmly believe in reaching out for help even though it is scary it is the bravest thing you can do. so in honor of mental health awareness month, if you are struggling please reach out to a loved one and be honest and get the help you need and deserve. you are beyond loved and i promise it can get better. – C.A.

My guest today is Hailey Kreuling, the founder of ‘Letters to My Generation’, a movement for teens with a goal to end the stigma around mental health and continue the important conversation with ourselves and others. ‘Letters to My Generation’ uses Instagram as a form of communication to share the stories of individuals who have struggled with mental health to create a space in which people can empathize with each other and build a supportive community welcoming of mental health discussion. Hailey is currently a student at Regis University studying Peace and Justice, and Politics. She works as the Regis Office Administrative Assistant and is passionate about history, politics and literature. 

For additional resources visit us at:  https://robbies-hope.com

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Joy. Sorrow. Anxiety. Elation. Depression.  Robbie’s Hope gives teens both venue and voice for their artistic self-expression around the many emotions our youth face today. Music and film, poetry and dance, painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media and more.  Our online gallery and traveling exhibits impact people in surprising and powerful ways, bringing an evocative voice to the emotional wellbeing of our youth today. 

Our film production company and associated record label, Robbie’s Hope Records, are both committed to empowering teen artists—filmmakers, musicians and vocalists by providing access to studios and producers to help them publish, distribute and promote their art via on-line download and streaming services like iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and beyond.

My guest today is Sloane Simon, a senior in high school, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the 2022 winner of the Hall of Personal Expression. Sloane is part of her high school’s jazz band as the vocalist and lead guitarist and performs on weekends at venues around Pittsburgh. She will be attending NYU Clive Davis next fall as a freshman.

Listen on your favorite podcast station or watch on our YouTube channel at:  https://youtu.be/nLvd_wIB2TQ

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Sadire's mission is to make the world a better place.... to be sad in. Sadness is an integral part of being human. We want to remove the stigma that sadness is an emotion that should be looked down upon, and we hope to give it a sense of normality ironically hoping that it may lead people to being happier.

Each piece of clothing has its own story. Sadire products are all born from a feeling, a thought, an emotion. Sadire was born from caring too much about things, and that is instilled in the philosophy of everything Sadire makes and does. In a world that doesn't care about anything Sadire cares.

Joining me today is Dan Hoban, the founder of Sadire–Sad Attire–a brand whose goal is centered around destigmatizing sadness to create a world in which sadness is a normal part of human feeling. Sadire is working to influence people to find humor and honesty in sadness to ultimately lead them to happiness.

My guest today is Dan Hoban who created Sadire during a period of his life where he was struggling heavily with depression. Sadire was a way for him to deal with some of those negative thoughts, and It started quite literally as "a sad kid going to his local t-shirt shop and putting his emotional poems on a shirt" and then quickly evolved into something much more. Sadire stands for Sad Attire and Satire and is a way of using humor and honesty to talk about sadness.  https://sadire.com

Listen on your favorite podcast station or watch on our YouTube channel at:  https://youtu.be/cPetJNCt4WM 

For additional resources visit us at:  https://robbies-hope.com

Facing the uncertainty of college decisions can feel agonizing, and students should not do it alone. Getting together with friends, mentors, and close family members can help keep students’ spirits up and also provide a safe space to share their feelings and discuss things that may be triggering their anxiety. In particular, an older sibling, friend, or someone who is a near-peer source of support can be an ideal figure to help students navigate this season, as they have likely experienced the same mix of emotions in the not-too-distant past. Whomever they choose to seek support from, students should practice getting comfortable discussing their worries and concerns, triggers that cause anxious responses, and what they need from others in order to thrive during decision season.

Joining me today is Sonia Arora, the director of college counseling and Director of Upper School Strategic Initiatives at high school Colorado Academy. Sonia received her Bachelor of Arts in American History from Sarah Lawrence University and her Master of Arts in Literature from Northwestern University. For three years, Sonia was the Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Chicago, and after, worked at summer college counseling for both UC Berkeley and Tufts University for one year. Before coming to Colorado Academy, Sonia worked at The Archer School for Girls as the Co-Director of College Guidance for two years. Today, we will be discussing the stress of college applications for teens and how to persevere through these challenging times. 

Listen on your favorite podcast station or watch on our YouTube channel at:  https://youtu.be/qaRNB4nua5A  

For additional resources visit us at:  https://robbies-hope.com

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