Mindful Moments by NAMI NextGen Oklahoma

Tell us your story! We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode, Kylie and Sydney begin the episode by discussing how stigma, either societal or personal, can affect someone's mental health journey. They talk about ways to avoid stigma and realize your own strength. Kamryn is then joined by her aunt, April Dowling, to talk about her own experience with her mental health journey and how she overcame stigma, as well as provide advice to those going through their own journey.

To register for the annual NAMI Oklahoma Conference, held virtually on November 7th, please use the following link:
https://whova.com/portal/registration/3YHF55m@nJd@cjygkjon/

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and check out the NAMI Oklahoma website for more information on services and upcoming events.

The experiences and opinions shared on this podcast are those of the individuals and are not meant to directly reflect the beliefs of NAMI or NAMI Oklahoma.

Hosts: Sydney Yaffe, Kylie Kanclerowicz, and Kamryn Mike
Guest: April Dowling
Producer: Halee Harder
Voiceover: Kalyn Delaney
Music: Composed, produced, and performed by Omri Palmer

NAMI Oklahoma Staff Mentors: Jason Musgrove and Lorna Palmer

Tell us your story! We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode, a few community members share their stories of crisis, and Zack speaks with Ethan Schlecht about his professional takes on crisis and the potential effects of often subsequent numbness.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and check out the NAMI Oklahoma website for more information on services and upcoming events.

The experiences and opinions shared on this podcast are those of the individuals and are not meant to directly reflect the beliefs of NAMI or NAMI Oklahoma.

Hosts: Zack Lewis
Guest Host: Ethan Schlecht, LPC
Producer: Halee Harder
Voiceover: Kalyn Delaney
Music: Composed, produced, and performed by Omri Palmer

Recorded at the practice of Ethan Schlecht
NAMI Oklahoma Staff Mentors: Jason Musgrove and Lorna Palmer

Tell us your story! We'd love to hear from you!

Welcome to Season 2 of Mindful Moments!

In our first episode of our second season, Emma and Sydney speak with Dr. Tammy Lambert and Dr. Michael Ihnat from the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy about mental health medications, generic vs. name-brand drugs, how the extreme heat can distort mental faculties, and what we can do to best prepare ourselves to protect our mental health.

If you are or if you know someone between 18 and 25 who would like to be on the NAMI Oklahoma NextGen Advisory Council, please use this link:
https://namioklahoma.org/get-involved/next-gen/

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and check out the NAMI Oklahoma website for more information on services and upcoming events.

Hosts: Emma Valgora and Sydney Yaffe
Producer: Halee Harder
Voiceover: Kalyn Delaney
Research/Editing: Morgan Gowens

Music: Composed, produced, and performed by Omri Palmer

Recorded at the OU College of Pharmacy
NAMI Oklahoma Staff Mentors: Jason Musgrove and Lorna Palmer

Tell us your story! We'd love to hear from you!

In the final episode of Season 1, Emma and Anna discuss the specifics and realities of anxiety and panic attacks, including their own personal experiences and how they have learned to navigate them.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please call or text 988 in the U.S. to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

The Trevor Project is the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQIA+ young people, operating 24/7 all year round - www.thetrevorproject.org

If you are or if you know someone between 18 and 25 who would like to be on the NAMI Oklahoma NextGen Advisory Council, please use this link:
https://namioklahoma.org/get-involved/next-gen/

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and check out the NAMI Oklahoma website for more information on services and upcoming events.

The experiences and opinions shared on this podcast are those of the individuals and are not meant to directly reflect the beliefs of NAMI or NAMI Oklahoma.

Hosts: Emma Valgora and Anna Bennett
Producer: Halee Harder
Questions: Kalyn Delaney
Research/Editing: Sydney Yaffe
Recorded at the Village Library
NAMI Oklahoma Staff Mentors: Jason Musgrove and Lorna Palmer

Tell us your story! We'd love to hear from you!

Emma and Anna discuss the seasons of life through the lens of mental health. Just as nature moves through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, our lives are filled with periods of growth, achievement, transition, lost, rest, and renewal. Some seasons bring excitement and possibility, while others challenge us with uncertainty, grief, or change. Each season serves a purpose and offers opportunities for learning about ourselves and strengthening our emotional well-being.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please call or text 988 in the U.S. to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

If you are or if you know someone between 18 and 25 who would like to be on the NAMI Oklahoma NextGen Advisory Council, please use this link: 
https://namioklahoma.org/get-involved/next-gen/

If you are interested in attending the Echoes in the Mind show on June 6th at Northwest Classen High School, you can find information or donate using this link:
https://secure.givelively.org/event/mysterious-minds-dance-company/echoes-in-the-mind-mysterious-minds-dance-show

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and check out the NAMI Oklahoma website for more information on services and upcoming events.

The experiences and opinions shared on this podcast are those of the individuals and are not meant to directly reflect the beliefs of NAMI or NAMI Oklahoma.

Hosts: Emma Valgora and Anna Bennett
Producer: Halee Harder
Questions: Kalyn Delaney
Research: Sydney Yaffe
Editor: Zack Lewis
Recorded at the Village Library
NAMI Oklahoma Staff Mentors: Jason Musgrove and Lorna Palmer

Tell us your story! We'd love to hear from you!

Oklahoma is part of what is known as "Tornado Alley." Prior to the release of this episode, an outbreak of tornadoes hit communities in Kay and Garfield Counties. In this episode, Sydney talks to meteorologist Jack Gerfen about weather anxiety, how best to keep ourselves safe and informed during a severe weather event. Zack and Anna discuss the realities of living through a major weather event, and how they have used their experience to guide their ability to respond to one.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please call or text 988 in the U.S. to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

If you are or if you know someone between 18 and 25 who would like to be on the NAMI Oklahoma NextGen Advisory Council, please use this link:
https://namioklahoma.org/get-involved/next-gen/

If you are interested in registering for NAMIWalks Oklahoma on May 16, 2026, in Lower Scissortail Park, please use the following link:
https://www.namiwalks.org/oklahoma

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and check out the NAMI Oklahoma website for more information on services and upcoming events.

The experiences and opinions shared on this podcast are those of the individuals and are not meant to directly reflect the beliefs of NAMI or NAMI Oklahoma.

Hosts: Zack Lewis and Anna Bennett, special interview by Sydney Yaffe
Guest: Jack Gerfen, Meteoroglogist
Research/Producer: Sydney Yaffe
Editor: Halee Harder
Recorded at the Village Library
NAMI Oklahoma Staff Mentors: Jason Musgrove and Lorna Palmer

Tell us your story! We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of Mindful Moments with the NAMI Oklahoma NextGen Council, we sit down with Daniel Pae to explore what mental health policy really looks like from inside the Oklahoma State Capitol and what it could become. From his early entry into public service to his leadership on the legislative mental health caucus, Rep. Pae shares the personal experiences and policy priorities that have shaped his commitment to mental health advocacy.

Together, we dig into the realities of Oklahoma’s behavioral health system, what stability actually means for providers and patients, and how lawmakers can balance accountability with consistency in a system that people’s lives depend on. We also take a closer look at the shift away from criminalizing mental illness, including the growing role of 988 and mobile crisis response. What would it take to build a true continuum of care in Oklahoma, and where do we want to go next?

Finally, Rep. Pae offers insight into the realities of bipartisan work at the Capitol and speaks directly to young adults who feel disconnected from the political process, sharing why their voices still matter, even in a system that can feel out of reach.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please call or text 988 in the U.S. to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

If you are or if you know someone between 18 and 25 who would like to be on the NAMI Oklahoma NextGen Advisory Council, please use this link: 
https://namioklahoma.org/get-involved/next-gen/

If you are interested in registering for NAMIWalks Oklahoma on May 16, 2026, in Lower Scissortail Park, please use the following link:
https://www.namiwalks.org/oklahoma

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and check out the NAMI Oklahoma website for more information on services and upcoming events.

The experiences and opinions shared on this podcast are those of the individuals and are not meant to directly reflect the beliefs of NAMI or NAMI Oklahoma.

Hosts: Emma Valgora and Anna Bennett
Research/Producer: Sydney Yaffe
Editor: Halee Harder
Recorded at the Oklahoma State Capitol
NAMI Oklahoma Staff Mentors: Jason Musgrove and Lorna Palmer

Tell us your story! We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of Mindful Moments, Emma Valgora hosts Jason Musgrove, Public Policy Coordinator for NAMI Oklahoma and Staff Advisor to the NextGen Council, for an open conversation about the differences between loneliness and being alone. They discuss the benefits of alone time, types of loneliness, how to recognize loneliness in others, and how to find relationships, both romantic and platonic, that don't erode our sense of self.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please call or text 988 in the U.S. to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

If you are or if you know someone between 18 and 25 who would like to be on the NAMI Oklahoma NextGen Advisory Council, please use this link:
https://namioklahoma.org/get-involved/next-gen/

If you are interested in registering for NAMIWalks Oklahoma on May 16, 2026, in Lower Scissortail Park, please use the following link:
https://www.namiwalks.org/oklahoma

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and check out the NAMI Oklahoma website for more information on services and upcoming events.

The experiences and opinions shared on this podcast are those of the individuals and are not meant to directly reflect the beliefs of NAMI or NAMI Oklahoma.

Hosts: Emma Valgora and Jason Musgrove
Questions: Kalyn Delaney
Editor: Halee Harder
Recorded at the The Village Library
NAMI Oklahoma Staff Mentors: Jason Musgrove and Lorna Palmer

Tell us your story! We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of Mindful Moments, Emma sits down with Stephanie Wangler, LPC, for an honest and timely conversation about productivity culture and its impact on young people’s mental health. From hustle culture and academic pressure to the constant expectation to “optimize” every part of our lives, Emma and Stephanie unpack how productivity has quietly become a measure of self-worth, and why that mindset is harming an entire generation.

Together, they explore how burnout, anxiety, and chronic stress are often normalized in school, early careers, and even advocacy spaces. Stephanie shares clinical insight into how productivity-driven thinking can reinforce perfectionism, people-pleasing, and shame cycles, while Emma reflects on what it means to build a life that prioritizes well-being over constant output. The conversation challenges listeners to redefine success, set boundaries, and recognize that rest is not laziness.

The episode also offers practical guidance on finding the right therapist. Stephanie walks through what to look for in a provider, how to know if a therapist is a good fit, what questions to ask in a first session, and how to navigate the sometimes overwhelming process of starting therapy. Whether you’re brand new to counseling or considering a switch, this conversation emphasizes that you deserve care that affirms your identity, your goals, and your lived experience.

At NAMI Oklahoma, we believe mental health advocacy includes dismantling systems and expectations that push young people to exhaustion. You are more than your GPA, your productivity, your job title, or your inbox.

To watch the video of this episode:

https://youtu.be/LVEOY8GcbrA

For information on and to register for our Change Maker event, use this link!
https://namioklahoma.org/event/mind-your-heart-evolve-your-mind/

For those in Oklahoma looking for support:

Mental health resources available in every county -
https://namioklahoma.org/resources/oklahoma-resources/

Free & Low-Cost mental health services in OKC area -

Collaborative Counseling and Training (NW OKC)
https://collaborative-ct.com/
405-659-0917

Congruence Counseling (Midtown OKC)
[email protected]
405-548-5781

Integrated Therapy Solutions of Oklahoma (Moore)
https://itsofok.com/
405-208-4469

Thousand Branches Wellness (OKC) https://thousandbrancheswellness.com/locations/oklahoma-city/
405-442-4498

Healing Place “Alikchi” (OKC) https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/healing-place-alikchi-oklahoma-city-ok/31867

Hosts: Emma Valgora
Guest: Stephanie Wangler, LPC
Editor: Halee Harder
Recorded at The Village Library
NAMI Oklahoma Staff Mentors: Jason Musgrove and Lorna Palmer

Tell us your story! We'd love to hear from you!

Anna and Maya discuss the impacts of the holiday season and seasonal depression, how to protect your mental health during the holidays, and why it is important to share the holidays with someone, even if they aren't family. Other members of the Council and NAMI Oklahoma staff also share their favorite holiday traditions. Share yours with us!

Watch the video of this episode here: https://youtu.be/gr12nFaQOnE

If you or someone you know is struggling, please call or text 988 in the U.S. to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

If you are or if you know someone between 18 and 25 who would like to be on the NAMI Oklahoma NextGen Advisory Council in 2026, please click or share this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/17T-K7ptvJGfVMKKV7i1gdecxC9hljyQBV0Fll8yWApg/edit?usp=drivesdk

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and check out the NAMI Oklahoma website for more information on services and upcoming events.

The experiences and opinions shared on this podcast are those of the individuals and are not meant to directly reflect the beliefs of NAMI or NAMI Oklahoma.

Hosts: Maya Williams-Furaha & Anna Bennett
Questions: Kalyn Delaney
Editor: Halee Harder
Recorded at the offices of NAMI Oklahoma
NAMI Oklahoma Staff Mentors: Jason Musgrove and Lorna Palmer