No Shame On U

Join us for No Shame On U’s 34th podcast! We are honored today to interview the founder of a Chicagoland nonprofit called The Balance Project, Agi Semrad, and two middle school students who created a short mental health documentary called The Stigma, made possible through the support of the balance project.   Ari Braun and Eden Gunsberg …… are here with us today.  8th graders at Edgewood Middle School in Highland Park.  

The Balance Project is a local non-profit organization helping families and individuals access emotional wellness support. We build mental health awareness through education and community programming. We connect you to resources and treatment. We work with you to try and eliminate financial barriers to access so you can find better balance.  For more information about The Balance Project, go to: https://thebalance-project.org/

Join us for our 33rd episode of the No Shame on U PodCast with No Shame On U's head blogger and mental health advocate Michelle Cohen! Michelle has been NSOU's head blogger for the last 3.5 years under the alias Ellie. Today, Michelle shares her mental health journey, advice and strategies for those who struggle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and her latest epic book project!

For our 31st Podcast, we met with Heather Bodie. Heather is the Executive Artistic Director of Erasing the Distance. Erasing the Distance is a non-profit arts organization based in Chicago that uses the power of performance to disarm stigma, educate, spark dialogue, and promote healing surrounding mental health. Since 2005 the organization has been dedicated to creating a space for real people to share stories about their experiences navigating mental health. Heather discusses her personal mental health journey and the inspiring work of Erasing the Distance.

To learn more about Erasing the Distance go to:

www.erasingthedistance.org

For our 29th podcast No Shame on U is thrilled to speak with 22-year-old college student and mental health advocate, Haley Epstein. Haley has been speaking for the past 3 years sharing her journey with mental health. As founder of the "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" Movement, Haley has spoken to thousands of teens, parents, educators, and communities about the stigma so many of us feel alongside our mental health, in hopes of normalizing a conversation that we so often shy away from. Through open and authentic story-telling, discussion, and conversation, Haley not only talks about how to support yourself and those you love while going through a difficult time, but creates a space in which you are reminded that you are not alone, that asking for help is the bravest thing you can do, & that most importantly, it is okay to not be okay. Here is a link to Haley's Instagram and Facebook accounts to learn more!

For our 28th podcast, we had the privilege of talking with Anouschka Bechtolsheim and Bela Duffy. Anouschka and Bela are the creators and hosts of a teen podcast called Safespace Stories. Their podcast features mental health stories about teens, by teens, and for teens. Learn about their podcast and their organization Safespace. Safespace is a youth-led, mental health-focused organization that empowers young people to engage openly with their local schools and communities.

For our 27th podcast, we are honored to have a conversation with Rabbi Avram Mlotek.  Avram is a rabbi, cantor, actor, writer, and a current graduate student in social work.  In 2015, he co-founded Base, a new model for Jewish practice that reaches out to unaffiliated young adults, now operating in nine cities. He worked as the Manhattan rabbi for Base for six years and currently serves as spiritual director (Mashgiach Ruchani) for the international Base program.  In July of 2021, he wrote the article, "I'm a Rabbi With Mental Illness and I'm Done Trying to Hide My Pain:  There are so many others out there who, like me, are suffering in silence.  You are never alone."  Listen as Avram describes his mental health journey and the role of religion and spirituality in mental health.    

For our 26th podcast, we were thrilled to go international with guests Sophie Traube and Max Hobhouse, both originally from England. We discuss their summer of biking to raise mental health awareness across the U.S. from Portland, Oregon to New York City. They share why they are so passionate about mental health, some great stories and reactions from their summer and how they got some of their biggest fans. Special thanks to No Shame On U’s Lewis Summer Intern Ellory Shutan who connected us to Sophie and Max.