In this episode of Show Me State of Mind, Brent McGinty sits down with longtime friend and nationally recognized substance use treatment leader Percy Menzies for a conversation about a career—and a life—dedicated to changing the way we think about addiction and recovery.

Percy shares the story of leaving a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry to pursue a very different calling, eventually founding Assisted Recovery Centers of America (ARCA) and becoming a leading voice for evidence-based addiction treatment.

Brent and Percy reflect on the relationships and partnerships that helped position Missouri as a national leader in the use of medications to treat substance use disorders, the people who have shaped Percy’s journey, and his latest work with RecoVet.

They also talk about family, leadership, the changing substance use landscape, and what gives Percy hope for the future as Missouri continues to make progress in reducing overdose deaths.

It’s a conversation about taking risks, challenging the status quo, building meaningful partnerships, and spending a career working toward one goal: helping more people find a path to recovery.

Missouri’s two-time Department of Mental Health director, Dr. Keith Schaefer, joins the Show Me State of Mind podcast to reflect on his career, leadership lessons, and the people he mentored.

The episode covers major policy shifts—Medicaid waivers, community-based services, liaison programs, and emergency response in Joplin—along with practical insights on governance, provider partnerships, and improving care for vulnerable Missourians.

Brent McGinty interviews Linda Rosenberg about her journey from direct clinical work to leading the National Council, the creation and growth of CCBHCs, and the national push for integration, Mental Health First Aid, and better treatment parity.

The episode highlights partnerships with Missouri leaders, the role of policy and technology in care delivery, and practical advice for providers navigating funding, Medicaid, and evolving clinical and administrative tools.

In this episode, Matt Chinn shares his candid journey from addiction and a life-changing moment in jail to sobriety, running, and advocacy. He describes the 20-mile-a-day February challenge that raised funds for his friend Jared Palmer’s treatment and how that effort grew into the annual Capital City Race to promote mental health awareness and recovery support.

Matt explains how running helped silence the “noise” of addiction, the importance of community and grace, and how the race supports local treatment courts, Valley Hope, and families affected by substance use and suicide. Learn about the event (5K/10K/half marathon) held at the Missouri Capitol and how listeners can get involved.

Brent McGinty interviews Dr. Joe Parks about his journey from emergency psychiatry and state hospital work to leadership roles at the Missouri Department of Mental Health, Missouri Medicaid, and the National Council for Mental Well-Being.

The episode highlights major reforms, tobacco-free hospitals, integrated care grants, Health Home and CCBHC initiatives, data-driven population health, and the power of cross-sector partnerships and leadership to change systems.

In this episode, Brent sits down with Dorn Shuffman to revisit the people, decisions, and pressures that shaped the last two decades of mental health policy in Missouri. Dorn shares stories from the early days of state government, the importance of the Missouri Mental Health Commission, and the challenges of navigating political and budget headwinds while keeping the focus on Missourians served.

Then Rachelle Glavin joins the conversation to highlight the behind-the-scenes work that built Health Homes: transitioning nurse liaisons, learning hard lessons about workload and data integrity, and evolving from Excel files to integrated reporting. The result is a candid look at how Missouri turned big ideas into real-world systems change.

Host Brent McGinty interviews Reyna Taylor, Vice President of Public Policy & Advocacy for the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, about her Capitol Hill roots and the Council’s national work expanding CCBHCs, responding to the pandemic, and advancing substance use and workforce policy.

The conversation highlights telehealth gains, advocacy wins such as the establishment of 988 and the expansion of CCBHCs, lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the urgent need for continued data-driven, bipartisan advocacy to sustain community behavioral health services.

In this episode of Show Me State of Mind, we sit down with Marty Drewel, longtime Director of the Missouri Senate Appropriations Staff and now Sergeant at Arms for the Missouri Senate. A mentor and leader, Marty, shares stories from his decade of service, from his early days working in the state to navigating tough budget years with legendary senators like John Russell and Wayne Goode.

We reminisce about late-night budget hearings, the grueling but rewarding work of the appropriations process, and the camaraderie that made those long hours worthwhile. Additionally, Marty provides an insider's look at Senate traditions, the role of a doorman, and what it truly takes to become a Sergeant at Arms.

Join us for a conversation filled with history, humor, and heartfelt reflections on public service in the state of Missouri.

Join the Show Me, State of Mind podcast for a conversation with Vicki Schollmeyer, retired Deputy Director of Administration for the Division of Behavioral Health. Vicki reflects on her career in state fiscal work, the challenges of COVID-19, major system changes like CCBHCs and sole-source contracts, and the teamwork behind transforming Missouri’s behavioral health funding and training systems.

Hosts Brent and Chelsea highlight Vicki’s leadership, fiscal innovations, and the vital role finance plays in supporting services across the state as she prepares for retirement

Host Brent McGinty talks with Kyle Kessler, Executive Director of the Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, about his career path, the work of community mental health centers, and how state budgeting and policy shape behavioral health services.

The episode covers key themes, including CCBHC implementation, creative funding solutions, regional collaboration between Kansas and Missouri, pandemic response, conference-driven knowledge sharing, and the ongoing push to expand access to care through Medicaid and other reforms.