Pennsylvania Peer Support Coalition Podcast

In this episode of the PaPSC Podcast, hosts David Measel and Abigail Boccardi sit down with Katrina Pratt Roebuck—Senior Director of Systems Integration at the City of Philadelphia's Department of Behavioral Health, CEO and founder of the national resource hub Uplift Me, and a self-proclaimed "resource nerd" with 28 years in the social services trenches.

Together, we dig into what it really takes to connect people to the resources they need; and why that's harder than it should be. Katrina shares her journey from mental health case manager to systems-level leader, the story behind building Uplift Me from a local idea into a nationwide platform, and why she believes technology may be the most important social determinant of health. We talk about navigating bureaucracy without burning out, the massive resource gap in rural communities, what other countries can teach us about safety nets, and why simplifying access to help isn't just efficient—it's compassionate.

Plus, Katrina breaks down her formula for building psychologically safe teams and why frontline workers deserve more than just a thank you.

Learn more about Uplift Me and explore free resource events across the country at https://uplifme.com.

Its been another year, and the team at PaPSC sit down to discuss not only what's been going on with the coalition for the past year, but what to look forward to in the future. We also discuss coping with what can be a stressful time for many, and how we address those difficulties in our own lives. Join us as we wrap up 2025 and look to the future!

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In this relaxed episode Lizzie Karns-Waters and Abigail Boccardi sit down to introduce themselves as the coalition's newest members as well as discuss their history and how they got into peer support. Also a small tease for what's to come from PaPSC.

In this episode Abigail and Beck sit down with Nze Okoronta and discuss the future of peer support, how that could look, and where we might start now.

In this powerful episode of the PaPSC Podcast, hosts Beck Schultz and Abigail Boccardi sit down with Claire Twomey—professional ADHD coach, peer supporter, and passionate advocate for neurodivergent folks. What started as one conversation turned into two, thanks to some technical hiccups. But the result is a rich, unfiltered blend of both sessions that we couldn’t bear to separate.

Together, we explore what it means to live, work, and thrive as a neurodivergent person in systems not built for us. Claire shares her insights on self-diagnosis, the limitations of the medical model, coaching as an empowering alternative, and why “pills don’t teach the skills.” We talk about identity, burnout, accommodations (and why that word needs a rethink), and the deep need for compassion in education, employment, and support services.

It’s longer than usual—but trust us, it’s worth it.

Note: This episode contains light editing to preserve the authenticity of both recording sessions. Thanks for listening and being part of the conversation.

Welcome to the PaPSC podcast relaunch! In our first shorter form episode we tackle the art of speaking (on and off the mic), the struggles of facilitation, and why co-facilitation can be a life saver. Plus, Odin, the French Bulldog, makes his podcast debut as our unofficial mascot and designated chew toy tester!

Richard Blews from the Grapevine Center drops by our podcast to discuss all of the great work they are doing in Butler County and to share some of his insights from his journey of recovery.

This month we welcome Kathy Quick, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers' Association, as our guest. We have a very candid conversation about PMHCA and the state of Pennsylvania's recovery services.

In this month's episode our guests talk about the unique challenges facing youth and young adults and how they are working to improve behavioral health services for this group.

In this episode, Drew Neal, a Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) drops in to discuss recovery services, the differences and similarities between a CRS and a Certified Peer Specialist, as well as some of the challenges facing the CRS world currently.