Today on the pod, Kristen and Kelly welcome esteemed colleague and friend from the Philadelphia area, Dr. George James! Dr. George James, LMFT, MBA, and CEO of George Talks, is a renowned counselor and assistant professor at Thomas Jefferson University. He specializes in helping individuals with relationship struggles and personal development, serving a diverse clientele, including professionals, couples, and young adults. Dr. James holds degrees in psychology, family therapy, business administration, and clinical psychology and is recognized for his leadership and community service. In his personal life, he is a dedicated husband and father to two children.

✰ Follow Dr. George - https://linktr.ee/georgetalks ✰

Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/5asfmlQpGoM

Thanks for tuning in! How We Got Here gives individuals with lived experiences with mental illness and addiction a platform to share their journey and expertise. Each episode explores what it is like to live with mental illness, trauma, addiction, recovery, and much more. We feature many individuals and hope to create a space to spotlight these unique experiences. As well as our own. Join us as we figure out How We Got Here. 

✰ New Episodes are dropping in 2024 bi-monthly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google, and wherever you listen to Podcasts.✰

✰ Follow us https://linktr.ee/thehowwegotherepod

988 has been designated as the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 📞 You don't have to be in crisis to reach out; you might just be having a bad day. You can talk to a mental health professional 24/7, 365 days a year. Follow us here for the latest updates and episodes. If you’re interested in being a guest on the show, email us at [email protected]

Episode 11: Joshua's Story

Today on the pod, Kristen and Kelly are joined by a new friend and colleague in the field, Joshua (Josh) Marshall, LMFT! Josh has dedicated the last nine years as a licensed marriage and family therapist to growing a multi-faceted clinical and professional skillset. He has experience opening two psychiatric hospitals and eleven outpatient treatment programs for youth and adults within the Dallas-Fort Worth area market. Josh also brings a wealth of clinical and business knowledge, including clinical training and practice in systems theory, programming curriculum writing, brand equity and reputation, content creation and business marketing, and strategic growth planning. He thrives in building relationships with other professionals and community members alike. He is passionate about helping others learn about and connect with the mental health resources around them.

✰ Follow Josh ✰

linkedin.com/in/joshuaalanmarshall

facebook.com/joshua.marshall.1612 

✰ Follow Mind Body Optimization: ✰

mindbodyo.com

instagram.com/mindbodyop

Thanks for tuning in! How We Got Here gives individuals with lived experiences with mental illness and addiction a platform to share their journey and expertise. Each episode explores what it is like to live with mental illness, trauma, addiction, recovery, and much more. We feature many individuals and hope to create a space to spotlight these unique experiences. As well as our own. Join us as we figure out How We Got Here. 

✰ New Episodes are dropping in 2024 bi-monthly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google, and wherever you listen to Podcasts.✰

✰ Follow us https://linktr.ee/thehowwegotherepod✰

988 has been designated as the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 📞 You don't have to be in crisis to reach out; you might just be having a bad day. You can talk to a mental health professional 24/7, 365 days a year. Follow us here for the latest updates and episodes. If you're interested in being a guest on the show, email us at [email protected]

🌼Happy Spring! 🌼Today on the pod, Kristen and Kelly are catching up with you! They’re sharing what they’ve been up to this Spring professionally and personally and how they’re managing it all. Most importantly, they share the challenges and successes of how they’re showing up to these spaces as young adults in the mental health field. 

Thanks for tuning in! How We Got Here gives individuals with lived experiences with mental illness and addiction a platform to share their journey and expertise. Each episode explores what it is like to live with mental illness, trauma, addiction, recovery, and much more. We feature many individuals and hope to create a space to spotlight these unique experiences. As well as our own. Join us as we figure out How We Got Here. 

You can watch this week's episode here: https://youtu.be/gefMCH8Q1ew?si=S05N0RoLefdLwRFP

✰ New Episodes are dropping in 2024 bi-monthly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google, and wherever you listen to Podcasts.✰

✰ Follow us https://linktr.ee/thehowwegotherepod✰

Kristen @kristen.harootunian 

Kelly @kellybernadetteeee 

988 has been designated as the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 📞 You don't have to be in crisis to reach out; you might just be having a bad day. You can talk to a mental health professional 24/7, 365 days a year. Follow us here for the latest updates and episodes. If you’re interested in being a guest on the show, email us at [email protected]

Episode 09: Jamil's Story

Today on the pod, Kristen and Kelly are joined by friend and colleague Jamil Elisofon. Jamil is in his final semester at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work, pursuing his Master’s in Social Work with Kelly! He is an experienced Case Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the individual and family services industry in Upstate New York. He has a background in social services and received his Bachelor of Science in Sociology from SUNY Oneonta. Jamil has started, supported, and advocated for more spaces for black social workers at the University at Buffalo and beyond in the greater South-Central New York region. He shares his experiences growing up in these rural communities as the only person of color and how he “wanted to be the adult in spaces with youth that I never had or saw growing up." Thank you for joining us today, Jamil!

✰ Follow Jamil: instagram.com/jamarcus_21✰

Thanks for tuning in! How We Got Here gives individuals with lived experiences with mental illness and addiction a platform to share their journey and expertise. Each episode explores what it is like to live with mental illness, trauma, addiction, recovery, and much more. We feature many individuals and hope to create a space to spotlight these unique experiences. As well as our own. Join us as we figure out How We Got Here. 

✰ New Episodes are dropping in 2024 bi-monthly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google, and wherever you listen to Podcasts.✰

✰ Follow us https://linktr.ee/thehowwegotherepod✰

Kristen @kristen.harootunian 

Kelly @kellybernadetteeee 

988 has been designated as the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 📞 You don't have to be in crisis to reach out; you might just be having a bad day. You can talk to a mental health professional 24/7, 365 days a year. Follow us here for the latest updates and episodes. If you are interested in being a guest on the show, email us at [email protected]

Episode 08: Kody’s Story

Today, Kristen and Kelly welcome a new friend, TikTok Star, and Schizophrenia Advocate Kody Green! Kody is 28 years old with a diagnosis of Undifferentiated Schizophrenia. Kody is also the Founder of a non-profit, motivational speaker, and content creator with over 1 million followers across social media platforms. He has struggled in the past with drug addiction, incarceration, and severe mental health issues. Kody has been trained as a peer support specialist, recovery coach, and suicide prevention specialist to improve his advocacy and speaking skills. Now, Kody shares his stories about his struggles and how to navigate through recovery, mental health issues, and life after incarceration. He chooses to pursue motivational speaking and mental health advocacy for schizophrenia awareness, drug recovery, and second-chance opportunities because he has dealt with these struggles in his own life. 

✰ Follow Kody: https://www.kodygreen.com/socials

@schizophrenichippie

You can watch this week's episode here: https://youtu.be/7dLJd45Y_dw

Thanks for tuning in! How We Got Here gives individuals with lived experiences with mental illness and addiction a platform to share their journey and expertise. Each episode explores what it is like to live with mental illness, trauma, addiction, recovery, and much more. We feature many individuals and hope to create a space to spotlight these unique experiences. As well as our own. Join us as we figure out How We Got Here. 

✰ New Episodes are dropping in 2024 bi-monthly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google, and wherever you listen to Podcasts.✰

✰ Follow us https://linktr.ee/thehowwegotherepod✰

Kristen @kristen.harootunian 

Kelly @kellybernadetteeee 

988 has been designated as the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 📞 You don't have to be in crisis to reach out; you might just be having a bad day. You can talk to a mental health professional 24/7, 365 days a year. Follow us here for the latest updates and episodes. If you’re interested in being a guest on the show, email us at [email protected]

Episode 07: Corrine's Story

Today, Kristen and Kelly welcome a new friend, Corrine Kopp. Corrine obtained Bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Spanish with a concentration in Women’s Studies at Albright College. During that time, she also began Western treatment of talk therapy, nutritional counseling, and medication management. Later, with more desire to serve on a larger scale, she earned her Master's Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. Finding only temporary relief with the Western services she utilized and trained to provide, she stumbled upon Eastern healing, including yoga, meditation, and energy work. Connected to her truth and heart, she has experienced “total transformation and healing of previous pain and suffering".” Corrine has worked across all mental health care levels, including her therapy practice, which she closed in 2020. She has specialized in supporting those with eating disorders, depression, and anxiety. Corrine is certified as a Reiki Master and facilitator for Heartfulness Meditation, Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT), and Eat Breathe Thrive groups. Practicing various forms of yoga since 2006, she is trained to teach both Bikram and Yin yoga. Incorporating mindfulness and meditation into her life since 2017, she has completed a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course and a silent retreat at a Theravada Buddhist Monastery. Corrine also has a passion for creativity, color, and mandalas. Usually wearing bright and bold dresses, she enjoys clothing design, coloring, drawing, embroidering, painting, sewing, and writing. Aligned with her work with individuals, she is also passionate about cleaning, organizing, and renovating spaces so they emanate love.

✰ Follow Corrine: https://corrinekopp.com/  ✰

You can watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/dvzaVu5vVjA

Thanks for tuning in! How We Got Here gives individuals with lived experiences with mental illness and addiction a platform to share their journey and expertise. Each episode explores what it is like to live with mental illness, trauma, addiction, recovery, and much more. We feature many individuals and hope to create a space to spotlight these unique experiences. As well as our own. Join us as we figure out How We Got Here. 

✰ New Episodes are dropping in 2024 bi-monthly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google, and wherever you listen to Podcasts.✰

✰ Follow us https://linktr.ee/thehowwegotherepod✰

Kristen @kristen.harootunian 

Kelly @kellybernadetteeee 

988 has been designated as the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 📞 You don't have to be in crisis to reach out; you might just be having a bad day. You can talk to a mental health professional 24/7, 365 days a year. Follow us here for the latest updates and episodes. If you are interested in being a guest on the show, email us at [email protected]

Episode 06: Randy’s Story

Today, Kristen and Kelly welcome colleague and friend Randy Bryan Moore. Randy Bryan Moore’s story is a compelling narrative of resilience, self-discovery, and profound transformation. From the culturally rich cotton fields of South Carolina’s Pee Dee Region to the rolling Cumberland Mountains of Southwest Virginia, Randy’s roots are deeply ingrained in the Scots-Irish tradition of music and storytelling. Despite facing significant hurdles, including a struggle with severe mental illness and dropping out of high school with a 9th-grade education, Randy’s journey is one of remarkable perseverance.  Randy’s musical voyage commenced at the age of 7 under the guidance of his musically inclined grandmother. By his early teens, he was proficient in various instruments, including piano and guitar, despite not formally reading music. Parallel to his musical pursuits, Randy’s professional career has been equally impressive. As a Social Worker, he has served as a housing policy director, a community organizer, a research assistant, and, notably, as an outreach representative for a senior United States Senator. His work in these roles reflects a deep commitment to social justice and community empowerment, shaped by his experiences with adversity. Randy also hosts “The Degrees of Freedom: A Mental Health Journey” podcast, where he explores mental health through a blend of self-reflection, interviews, and musical exploration. Describing himself as an autodidact, Randy embodies the spirit of continuous learning and creativity. His life story, marked by overcoming obstacles and embracing a wide range of skills, is a testament to his determination and versatility as an artist and advocate. Randy Bryan Moore’s narrative is not just a tale of music and advocacy but a journey of overcoming, learning, and inspiring.

✰ Follow Randy ✰

Thanks for tuning in! How We Got Here gives individuals with lived experiences with mental illness and addiction a platform to share their journey and expertise. Each episode explores what it is like to live with mental illness, trauma, addiction, recovery, and much more. We feature a wide range of individuals and hope to create a space to spotlight these unique experiences. As well as our own. Join us as we figure out How We Got Here. 

✰ New Episodes are dropping in 2024 bi-monthly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google, and wherever you listen to Podcasts.✰

You can watch this week’s episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2QZg_Au9MQ

✰ Follow us https://linktr.ee/thehowwegotherepod✰

Kristen @kristen.harootunian 

Kelly @kellybernadetteeee 

988 has been designated as the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 📞 You don't have to be in crisis to reach out; you might just be having a bad day. You can talk to a mental health professional 24/7, 365 days a year. And follow us here for the latest updates and episodes. If you’re interested in being a guest on the show, email us at [email protected]

✨ Happy 2024! ✨

*Minisode* Episode 05: AmandaGrace’s Story

On Today's New Year's Minisode, Kristen and Kelly welcome colleague and friend AmandaGrace Krier, or “AG” as she is known to close family and friends. AmandaGrace is a dog mom, retired Irish dancer, and self-described fried pickle enthusiast. She is also a youth mental health professional, suicide loss survivor, and person in active recovery. After losing her cousin to suicide in 2017, she found a passion for youth and young adult mental health. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Behavioral Health from the Community College of Philadelphia and a peer support certification. AG has over five years of experience in both direct support and peer support with transition-aged youth. In her free time, she likes to volunteer with her local National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) chapters and engage with legislators on state and federal policy in her home state of Pennsylvania. AmandaGrace is a fierce advocate of “Nothing about us without us” and hopes to continue to empower the next generation of youth to advocate for themselves anywhere from the doctor’s office to the Oval Office.

✰ Follow AmandaGrace ✰

https://linktr.ee/amandagracekrier

The Sean Flynn Foundation - https://www.facebook.com/SeanFlynnFoundation

The third annual Sean Flynn Memorial Scholarship is now accepting applications on @bolddotorg through April 2nd! Apply Here: https://bold.org/scholarships/sean-flynn-memorial-scholarship/

--

Thanks for tuning in!

How We Got Here gives individuals with lived experiences with mental illness and addiction a platform to share their journey and expertise. Each episode explores what it is like to live with mental illness, trauma, addiction, recovery, and much more. We feature a wide range of individuals and hope to create a space to spotlight these unique experiences. As well as our own. Join us as we figure out How We Got Here. 

✰ New Episodes are dropping in 2024 bi-monthly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google, and wherever you listen to Podcasts.✰

You can watch this week’s episode here: https://youtu.be/ARpBQXkDo8g

✰ Follow us https://linktr.ee/thehowwegotherepod✰

Podcast IG @howwegothere_official

Kristen @kristen.harootunian 

Kelly @kellybernadetteeee 

988 has been designated as the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 📞 You don't have to be in crisis to reach out; you might just be having a bad day. You can talk to a mental health professional 24/7, 365 days a year. And follow us here for the latest updates and episodes. If you’re interested in being a guest on the show, email us at [email protected]

Episode 04: Mark's Story

Today, Kristen and Kelly welcome colleague and friend Mark Travis Rivera. Telling stories is at the core of Mark’s purpose in life. He is an award-winning creative entrepreneur and the Chief Executive Officer and founder of The Professional Storyteller. As a writer, Rivera’s bylines include The Bergen Record, Herald News, The Star-Ledger, Fox News Latino, and The Huffington Post. He was also a contributing author in the anthology, Crisis, and Care: Queer Activist Responses to a Global Pandemic (PM Press, 2022), edited by Adrian Shanker. His debut collection, Drafts: An Imperfect Collection of Writing, was published in August 2017. He was also a contributing writer for Imagining: A Gibney Journal, where he shared his experience as a disabled choreographer and dancer. As a stubborn and determined 17-year-old, Rivera founded marked dance project (2009-2019), becoming the youngest person in the United States to create and lead an integrated dance company for disabled and non-disabled dancers. Inspired by his desire to dance as a person with cerebral palsy, he would go on to help disabled and non-disabled dancers alike find their voice as artists. As a Puerto Rican queer man, he was also one of just a handful of artistic directors of color in the disability dance field in the United States. As an independent disabled choreographer, Mark is determined to build a bridge between the main dance field and disability dance. As a speaker, he has addressed audiences at various institutions of higher learning, including Harvard, MIT, Rutgers, and NYU. As a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant and facilitator, he has spoken to corporate audiences virtually in the UK, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Israel, China, and India, to name a few. His TEDx Talk, “Embracing Yourself, Embracing Your Potential," was a smash in 2014 at Bergen Community College. 

✰ Follow Mark - https://linktr.ee/marktravrivera ✰

Thanks for tuning in! How We Got Here gives individuals with lived experiences with mental illness and addiction a platform to share their journey and expertise. Each episode explores what it is like to live with mental illness, trauma, addiction, recovery, and much more. We feature a wide range of individuals and hope to create a space to spotlight these unique experiences. As well as our own. Join us as we figure out How We Got Here. 

✰ New Episodes are dropping in 2024 bi-monthly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google, and wherever you listen to Podcasts.✰

You can watch this week’s episode here: https://youtu.be/bIKqsLCo_Ns

✰ Follow us https://linktr.ee/thehowwegotherepod✰

Podcast IG @howwegothere_official

Kristen @kristen.harootunian 

Kelly @kellybernadetteeee 

988 has been designated as the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 📞 You don'tweek's have to be in crisis to reach out; you might just be having a bad day. You can talk to a mental health professional 24/7, 365 days a year. And follow us here for the latest updates and episodes. If you’re interested in being a guest on the show, email us at [email protected]

Episode 03: Taylor’s Story

Today, Kristen and Kelly welcome colleague and friend Taylor Moran. Taylor is a person in long-term recovery after struggling with active addiction for over ten years. She runs the Collegiate Recovery Program & Recovery Residence at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, PA. In 2019, she moved to the Philidelphia area to get clean. Since then, she has lived and managed recovery houses. She also works part-time at an inpatient treatment center and is in her second year of her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, focusing on substance use. Taylor shares, “I got here by doing a lot of work and self-reflection, battling all the limiting beliefs about the body, self-worth, and acceptance that have been ingrained in her since I was young. I still have to reflect on these things deeply to this day, as nothing is ever perfect, and I am forever growing and learning through life. "

✰Follow Taylor✰

Taylor’s Instagram: @teetaytayla 

St. Joseph’s University Recovery Program on Instagram: @sju_recovery 

Taylor’s IBX Video: https://app.frame.io/presentations/72806cbc-c678-4471-abfc-3a488232d416

How We Got Here gives individuals with lived experiences with mental illness and addiction a platform to share their journey and expertise. Each episode explores what it is like to live with mental illness, trauma, addiction, recovery, and much more. We feature a wide range of individuals and hope to create a space to spotlight these unique experiences. As well as our own. Join us as we figure out How We Got Here. 

✰ New Episodes are dropping this October on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google, and wherever you listen to Podcasts.

➡️ You can watch this week’s episode. here: https://youtu.be/MQSGopr62uI

✰ Follow us on IG @howwegothere_official

Kristen @kristen.harootunian 

Kelly @kellybernadetteeee 

988 has been designated as the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 📞 You don't have to be in crisis to reach out; you might just be having a bad day. You can talk to a mental health professional 24/7, 365 days a year. And follow us here for the latest updates and episodes. If you’re interested in being a guest on the show, email us at [email protected]