On September 3, 2024 Rick Thompson suffered a massive stroke while traveling in Costa Rica. At his wife's urging, a 6 hour cab ride to the nearest hospital saved his life.

Following his stroke, Rick woke up the next morning blind and unable to move the left side of his body. The weeks and months ahead began an incredible journey of ongoing rehabilitation, returning to his role as senior Pastor of Council Road Baptist Church in metro Oklahoma City, and writing about this journey through his new book, Count if Joy: Lessons in Suffering.

Stacee and Doug share this conversation with their long-time pastor of how finding joy even through crisis, tremendous life change, and suffering is possible.

You can find Count it Joy and other books and resources from Rick at pastorrickthompson.com. Count it Joy can also be found in kindle format on Amazon at https://a.co/d/3aLIn4o

and also as an audio book on Audible.

The mission of Speak Out Loud is to share hope and encouragement for those struggling with mental health and for those who love and support them.

Learn more about Stacee and Doug and their family's mental illness journey and also access the library of resources offered by Speak Out Loud at www.speakoutloud.me.

We are so pleased to share this episode as Stacee interviews friend of Speak Out Loud, Brittany Tinsley, to talk about her new book coming out this fall - Stories Our Scars Tell: Hope, Healing, and Honesty about the Wounds We Carry.Stacee and Brittany share an honest an vulnerable conversation about their shared experience of struggling with self-harm and how they have found hope and live day to day in recovery. As Brittany shares, "to be healed is simply to live a life fully felt - not perfect and not pain-free, but beautiful anyway." Stacee and Brittany know the pain and struggle of self-harm and their conversation is an honest, transparent and hopeful resource of hope for others who struggle and for those who care for those struggling with self-harm.Brittany is a writer and speaker who shares her story of self-injury to offer hope to others. In addition to her new book, Brittany recently co-authored a chapter in the Oxford Handbook of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury. Her work has also been featured by a variety of non-profits and publications, including Huffpost, To Write Love on Her Arms, and Fathom Magazine. You can pre-order Stories Our Scars Tell on Amazon at https://a.co/d/dzfeuwJLearn more about Brittany and subscribe to her Substack site, Braver on Paper, at https://www.brittanytinsley.com/ You can follow Brittany on Instagram at @brittanytinsleywrites.Learn more about Speak Out Loud and Stacee's mission to share hope for those who struggle with mental health at www.speakoutloud.me.You can follow Stacee and Speak Out Loud on social media @speakoutloud.me

We are so pleased to share this episode with our new friends, Pam Kanaly and Mel Hiett of Arise Single Moms! Born out of her own experience as a single mother, Pam founded Arise Single Moms over 20 years ago in Oklahoma and their influence has spread across the United States. After a career in youth ministry, Mel serves with Pam as the Project Development Director for Arise.

Born out of their personal journeys as single mothers and also out of their years of experience, Pam and Mel in this episode share the 5 things single moms must know.

The stresses of single parenthood can be extreme and can impact mental health for both moms and their kids. Pam and Mel share resources to both support mental health and to also help single moms navigate the unique challenges they face.

Arise Single Moms offers support groups in multiple states, virtual connections and resources, opportunities for connection and community and so much more. Learn more about all the resources Arise Single Moms has to offer at https://www.arisesinglemoms.com/.

You can also check out their library of topics and content available on the Arise Single Momcast via their website or on your favorite podcast platform.

Check out Stacee and Doug's interviews with the Arise Single Momcast - May 9 2025 episode titled "Suffering Well - A True Story of Faith and Mental Illness" and their June 27, 2025 episode titled "When Mental Illness Hits Home."

Learn more about Stacee and Doug and the resources offered by Speak Out Loud at speakoutloud.me.

The mission of Speak Out Loud is to share hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental health and for those who love and support the. Let's experience hope together!

It's no secret teenagers today are facing a mental health crisis. Anxiety, depression, self-harming behaviors and other difficult mental health challenges are now part of the minefield tweens and teens and their parents have to navigate almost daily in the teenage experience.We are so grateful for long-time friend Amanda Wright and her daughter, Kinzley, joining us today to talk about these mental health challenges for teen girls often brought on by experiencing adolescence in the world of social media, smart phones and constant connectedness. Amanda shares great insights and encouragement for parents of teens, and Kinzley brings her unique perspective as a middle schooler encountering these challenges. Amanda and Kinzley's depth, wisdom and most of all hope for tweens and teens and their parents will encourage you and your family. This episode is for parents, teens and anyone who cares about teenagers and helping them navigate these years that are filled with epidemic levels of anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges for so many young women. Speak Out Loud is committed to sharing hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental health and for those who love and support them. Through the Speak Out Loud platform, Stacee and her husband, Doug, share out of the middle of Stacee's lengthy mental illness recovery journey through numerous platforms - including our new Youtube platform - subscribe to the Speak Out Loud channel today  @speakoutloudme  .To hear more of Amanda's incredible story shared on the Messy Table podcast, click the link below or search for episode 129 on the Messy Table podcast on your favorite podcast platform.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-129-amanda-wright-unplanned-mercies/id1210604687?i=1000586273400Amanda also shared this beautiful reading of 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 from the Message translation - we hope you are encouraged by this like we were:"So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, MSG)To learn more about the resources offered by Speak Out Loud, please visit speakoutloud.me.You can also follow Speak Out Loud on social media @speakoutloud.me.You can purchase Stacee's books at the following links below:The Boat that Wouldn't Sink: A Memoir https://a.co/d/9eY2WXgYou Are Worth Saving, Letters of Hope from a Desperate Heart https://a.co/d/b7KKNDICheck out Speak Out Loud's free devotional resource on the YouVersion Bible App titled "Hope for those Struggling with Mental Health." We invite you to follow Speak Out Loud - let's experience hope together!

In April of 2025, we launched the Speak Out Loud YouTube Channel, and as part of introducing ourself to a new audience on this platform, we've gone back to share our story and the story of Speak Out Loud.

We are not therapists of doctors, but we do feel like we are experts in authentically sharing our story and the hard-learned lessons of living many years in the ups and downs of our mental illness recovery journey.

This episode is part 2 of our story, picking up with the mental health crisis that changed the trajectory of our lives and has shaped much of our years since then.

In this episode, we share about our first experience with a mental hospital, the early seasons of outpatient treatment and seasons of what felt at best like "treading water." Stacee shares the transformational conversation and story which led to her 4 month inpatient treatment program for anorexia at the Laureate Eating Disorder program. This conversation also became the title of her first book, You Are Worth Saving.

We share lessons learned such as recovery is not linear, denial is the opposite of hope, and resilience is the master skill.

We also share about the founding of Speak Out Loud and how Speak Out Loud has continued to expand its platform to share hope with wider audiences around the world.

As you listen to our story, we think you may find pieces of your own, and our purpose is for you to know you are not alone in your or your loved one's mental illness struggle.

Psalm 118:17 says, "I will not die but live and will proclaim what the Lord has done." This is Stacee's life verse and the heart of Speak Out Loud. Let's experience hope together!

To find out more about Stacee and Doug and Speak Out Loud, please visit www.speakoutloud.me.

We invite you to visit and subscribe to our new YouTube Channel which can be found @speakoutloudme.

Follow Stacee and Speak Out Loud on both Instagram and Facebook @speakoutloud.me

Other resources offered by Speak Out Loud:

Find both of Stacee's books, You Are Worth Saving and The Boat that Wouldn't Sink on Amazon.

You can access our free 5-day devotional series in the YouVersion Bible app by searching in the app for the Bible Plan titled "Hope for those Struggling with Mental Health."

Thanks everyone for listening today!

In April of 2025, we launched the Speak Out Loud YouTube Channel, and as part of introducing ourself to a new audience on this platform, we've gone back to share our story and the story of Speak Out Loud.

We are not therapists of doctors, but we do feel like we are experts in authentically sharing our story and the hard-learned lessons of living many years in the ups and downs of our mental illness recovery journey.

In this episode, we go back and share again about the beginnings of Stacee's mental illness journey, how we came together as a couple in college, the many mistakes we've made along the way, and what led to a mental health crisis through which God thankfully rescued Stacee's life.

As you listen to our story, we think you may find pieces of your own, and our purpose is for you to know you are not alone in your or your loved one's mental illness struggle.

Psalm 118:17 says, "I will not die but live and will proclaim what the Lord has done." This is Stacee's life verse and the heart of Speak Out Loud. Let's experience hope together!

We wrap up today's episode by sharing the crisis events which we look back and realize were the beginning of our recovery journey. Next week's episode will share part 2 of our story and how that recovery journey has played out and led to the creation of Speak Out Loud.

To find out more about Stacee and Doug and Speak Out Loud, please visit www.speakoutloud.me.

We invite you to visit and subscribe to our new YouTube Channel which can be found @speakoutloudme.

Follow Stacee and Speak Out Loud on both Instagram and Facebook @speakoutloud.me

Other resources offered by Speak Out Loud:

Find both of Stacee's books, You Are Worth Saving and The Boat that Wouldn't Sink on Amazon.

You can access our free 5-day devotional series in the YouVersion Bible app by searching in the app for the Bible Plan titled "Hope for those Struggling with Mental Health."

Thanks everyone for listening today!

As part of the National Eating Disorders Awareness week (February 24-March 2), Stacee and Doug interview Rebel Buersmeyer, LMFT, therapist and current President of the Oklahoma Eating Disorders Association.

Eating Disorders are complex illnesses impacting over 28 million Americans and their families during the course of their lifetime. Eating disorders have the 2nd highest mortality rate of mental health conditions and affect people regardless of gender, race, body-style, age, or socio-economic background.

In this personal and vulnerable conversation, Rebel shares information, insights and guidance for those struggling or wondering if they are struggling with an eating disorder. For those battling eating disorders and/or disordered eating, Rebel's knowledge and insights provide both help and hope that recovery is possible!

Stacee transparently shares from her personal and ongoing anorexia recovery journey, connecting with listeners in the struggle and sharing about the hard and authentic work that can strengthen recovery.

Doug is also able to share some hard-learned lessons as the spouse of someone diagnosed with an eating disorder - if you love someone struggling with an eating disorder, this episode is an opportunity to grow your understanding, empathy and support for your loved one's battle.

Speak Out Loud exists to share hope and encouragement for those struggling with mental illness and for those who love and support them. There is hope for the eating disorder journey - we invite you to listen and join us in experiencing hope together!

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

• To access the Eating Disorder screening tool which Rebel mentions in this episode, please visit: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/screening-tool/

• To learn more about Eating Disorders and resources for finding help in Oklahoma, please visit the Oklahoma Eating Disorders Association website at https://www.okeatingdisorders.org/

• To learn more about or to contact Rebel and her practice, Family Solutions Counseling, located in Central Oklahoma please visit https://familysolutionsok.com/about/rebel-buersmeyer/

Resources from Speak Out Loud:

• You can learn more about Stacee and Doug and Speak Out Loud at www.speakoutloud.me

• Follow Stacee and Speak Out Loud on Instagram and Facebook @speakoutloud.me

• Order Stacee's latest book, The Boat That Wouldn't Sink on Amazon: https://a.co/d/cdhvMb6

• You can access Stacee and Doug's free 5-day devotional resource, "Hope for those Struggling with Mental Health," on the YouVersion Bible App at http://bible.com/r/AC8

Borderline Personality Disorder  - a painful and often misunderstood diagnosis.  Often born out of intense and/or lengthy experiences of trauma and lack of secure attachment, for those who suffer, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) can be a source of great pain, fear, and mental and emotional instability.

 For those who love someone struggling with BPD, it can feel like there's a "hole in the bucket," draining away the energy, trust and love they've poured into their relationship with the one they love.

In this encore presentation of one of Speak Out Loud's most powerful episodes, frequent guest and friend, Phoebe Barron (LPC) interviews Stacee about her diagnosis and struggle with Borderline Personality Disorder and the daily mental and emotional turmoil, exhaustion, and loneliness it creates.  Doug provides some lessons learned through the years of Stacee and their family living with this diagnosis along with professional information and insights from Phoebe's perspective as a LPC.  

There's no one we'd trust to help guide this deeply vulnerable conversation than Phoebe.  For those walking a journey with BPD and for those who love them, you will connect with this conversation and Stacee's experience, you will grow in empathy and compassion for those who suffer, and you'll hear from Stacee and Phoebe how there is hope, hope even in spite of the pain and struggle Borderline Personality Disorder creates.  

Phoebe Barron is a LPC and a practicing therapist in greater Oklahoma City - you can find her online at phoebebarron.com and on Instagram @phoebekate.

Learn more about Stacee and Doug and all things Speak Out Loud at www.speakoutloud.me.  You can follow Stacee on Instagram and Facebook @speakoutloud.me. Stacee's latest book, The Boat That Wouldn't Sink: A Memoir, is now available on Amazon.

What do you do when you come to the end of your rope - when you come to end of your own capacity to make life work apart from God?

In this encore presentation, a shared experience and connection bring Doug and special guest, Morgan Snyder of Become Good Soil and author of Becoming a King, together for a conversation about carrying hope for a spouse in a mental health crisis.

Doug and Morgan's conversation focuses on how the most difficult experiences can reveal our broken places and open a doorway for God to begin to heal and grow us into men better equipped to love and strive for those God has entrusted to our care.

For those who struggle with mental health and for those who love and support them, there's something for everyone in this episode. Special thanks to Morgan for so freely giving of his time, experience, wisdom and love for God and others in this episode!

In 2010, he established ⁠BecomeGoodSoil⁠, a fellowship of leaders whose global reach offers guidance for the narrow road of becoming the kind of person to whom God can confidently entrust the care of his kingdom. Morgan formerly served on the executive leadership team at Wild at Heart and has contended for the wholeheartedness of men and women alongside John and Stasi Eldredge for more than two decades.

He has led over a decade of Become Good Soil Intensives and sold out Wild at Heart men’s events across the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia. Morgan goes off the grid every chance he gets, whether bowhunting in the Colorado wilderness or choosing the adventurous life with his greatest treasures: his wife, Cherie; his son, Joshua; and his daughter, Abigail.

You can learn more about Morgan, the Become Good Soil podcast, and the resources he offers at becomegoodsoil.com. His book, Becoming a King: The Path to Restoring the Heart of a Man, was published in 2020 and can be found most places books are sold. As Morgan mentions in this episode, you can access resources for the Becoming a King retreat at becomingakingretreat.com.

You can learn more about Doug and Stacee Goetzinger and their mental illness recovery journey at their website, speakoutloud.me, including information on Stacee's two books The Boat that Wouldn't Sink & You Are Worth Saving, speaking resources, and access to all episodes of The Speak Out Loud podcast. The Speak Out Loud podcast is sharing hope and encouragement for those who struggle with mental illness and for those who love and support them.

Let's experience hope together!

Today's release is an encore presentation of one the most difficult episodes and topics to record for Stacee and Doug.  For Stacee, this topic and story is deeply vulnerable, personal, painful and still tough to talk about.

The topic of self-harm continues to be a struggle for many, and the content is this episode is relevant for those who may struggle and for those who love and support them.

In this episode Doug interviews both Stacee and friend and LPC Deanna James on the topic of cutting and self-harm.  Stacee has written a chapter in her book, You Are Worth Saving, on cutting, but this hour+ episode is the most in depth she has publicly spoken about her personal struggle with cutting and self-harm.  

Along with Stacee's personal experience and insight, LPC Deanna James brings professional knowledge, insight and guidance for those who may struggle with self-harm and for parents, loved ones and friends of someone who struggles.  

In this episode, Stacee and Deanna help to bring light to the following topics and questions:

*Is there a connection between self-harm and suicide?

*Signs to look for that may indicate a loved one or friend is struggling with cutting or other forms of self-harm

*How to start a conversation with someone you care about who may be struggling with self-harm

*Why some turn to self-harm as part of their mental illness journey

*Creating boundaries and safe-guards for a child or loved-one who struggles with cutting or other forms of self-harm

*How someone struggling with hurting themselves can begin to find help and some steps they can begin to take even before meeting with a therapist

*Hope and encouragement for those facing this battle and for those who love them

We recognize this conversation and topic can be triggering for individuals struggling with self-harm,  Stacee and Deanna navigate their personal and professional experience with this struggle with honest and vulnerable conversation without providing graphic descriptions of self-harm behaviors.  

Self-harm thrives in secrecy and shame, and its power is greatly weakened once it's brought into the light.  Hope and help are available and possible for those struggling with self-harm.

**For anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts or experiencing a mental health crisis, call 988 for immediate help.

To learn more about Deanna and her practice, visit DeannaJamescounseling.com.

You can connect with Stacee and Doug and learn more their mental illness and recovery journey and their mission to bring hope to those struggling with mental health and to those who love and support them by following on social media channels @speakoutloud.me and at their websited www.speakoutloud.me.