Stay MENtally Strong

A lot of times, our identity as a provider is tied to how much money we make. Separating those allows men to realize their worth isn't attached to their paycheck."

Why are so many men silently struggling under the weight of expectations, burnout, and loneliness? In this conversation, Drew Norton explains how high achievement can mask deep emotional emptiness and why intentional community is critical for mental wellness. Host Gina Oliverson connects Drew's journey to her own experience with her late husband, offering guidance for men who feel stuck and the loved ones seeking to support them.

Episode Breakdown:

0:00 - Introduction to Drew Norton and the Abundant Man Project

2:34 - The chase for success and early career milestones

5:00 - A family crisis: Resuscitating his infant son and confronting trauma

8:15 - Peak financial earnings vs. deep personal unhappiness

10:44 - The calendar test: Aligning daily actions with core priorities

13:00 - The Four Pillars: Faith, Family, Fitness, and Finances

14:18 - Structure of the Abundant Man community, calls, and retreats

20:07 - Why men are experiencing unprecedented levels of isolation

21:24 - Rewiring limiting beliefs through intentional declarations

25:34 - Physical fitness as a catalyst for mental clarity and energy

28:14 - Detaching personal identity from financial productivity

33:35 - The path to abundance: Belong, Believe, and Become

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Crisis Support Notice: If you are experiencing a mental health emergency or crisis, please contact emergency personnel immediately or call/text 988 to speak with a counselor.

Psychiatric medication is not intended to make you feel numb or change who you are. It acts as a dimmer switch on severe stress so you can engage in deeper healing."

What steps should you take when standard medical tests reveal no physical issues, yet you or a loved one continue to struggle deeply? In this episode, psychiatric nurse practitioner Andrea Backstrom explains Levō Mind Care's patient-centered, root-cause approach to mental health.

Host Gina Oliverson and Andrea discuss how addressing nutrient deficiencies, hormone levels, sleep schedules, and structured safety plans can offer a clear path forward.

Episode Breakdown:

0:00 - Introduction to Levō Mind Care and psychiatric nurse practice

1:35 - What takes place during a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation

5:10 - Investigating root causes: The impact of Vitamin D, iron, and hormones

8:40 - Addressing symptoms when standard laboratory tests return "normal"

12:40 - Finding the right therapist and medical provider for your needs

14:20 - Addressing concerns regarding medication side effects and genetic testing

16:40 - Assessing suicide risk and creating an actionable safety plan

21:40 - Utilizing medication as a temporary tool during severe crisis

24:00 - The connection between restorative sleep and mental health resilience

33:30 - Immediate steps to take when a loved one is in crisis

Please consider subscribing to the channel to support our mission of mental health education and suicide prevention.

Crisis Support Notice: If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please reach out to local crisis services or dial 988 to connect with a crisis counselor immediately.

How do you move forward when the happiest, most charismatic person in your family silently battles the darkest thoughts?

In this emotional episode of Stay Mentally Strong, host Gina Oliverson welcomes fitness trainers and content creators Jake and Joe Sharp (known as the Sharp Twins from @jduofit). Six years ago, while both brothers were serving LDS missions, their 16-year-old brother Sam died by suicide.

Jake and Joe share the raw reality of receiving that devastating call, returning home to a grieving family, and navigating the years of anger, confusion, and weight fluctuations that followed.

Together, Gina, Jake, and Joe discuss:

The "Class Clown" Paradox: Why the people who make everyone else laugh often hide deep pain and shame.

Receiving the News on a Mission: Processing sudden, unfixable grief from miles away.

The Connection Between Mental & Physical Health: How grief led to emotional overeating, and how finding the gym helped rebuild their confidence.

Unpacking Sam's Final Notes: The heartbreaking lies suicide tells—that someone is a "burden" or needs to be a different version of themselves.

Sitting in the Darkness: What they wish they could go back and tell Sam, and how to validate a loved one who is struggling.

Connect & Resources: Instagram / TikTok: @Jduofit (Jake & Joe Sharp) 🤝 Stay Mentally Strong Foundation: https://www.staymentallystrong.com/

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. You are not a burden, and you do not have to carry this alone.

When someone is struggling deeply with mental health, traditional medical tests like blood work or MRIs often come back completely normal. But as cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Trish Leigh explains, what we experience as "mental health" is actually neurological health.

In this illuminating episode of Stay Mentally Strong, host Gina Oliverson connects with Dr. Trish Leigh to unpack the brain science behind high anxiety, rumination, screen compulsions, and perfectionism. Drawing from her work in electroencephalogram (EEG) brain mapping and neuromodulation, Dr. Leigh explains how brains become "miswired"—and why there is always pragmatic hope for rewiring them.

In this video, you will learn:

What "High Beta" brain waves are and why they trap you in non-stop problem-seeking mode.

How screen compulsions and algorithm amping drain dopamine in real life.

How neuromodulation (brain training) can help downshift a locked-up, rigid brain.

Simple "instant rewires" to push yourself into real-life joy instead of digital escape.

Why boundaries and reaching out for support are essential to breaking isolation.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction & Dr. Trish Leigh's Background

2:10 - Why Normal Doctor Visits Miss Neurological Dysregulation 4:20 - Nature, Nurture, Navigation: How Brains Become Miswired 6:50 - High Beta Brain Waves: Perfectionism, Rumination & Stress Response

9:50 - What is EEG Brain Mapping & How Does App-Based Training Work?

17:40 - How Screen Time & Algorithms Create Dopamine Deficits

24:30 - Pragmatic Hope: Rewiring the Brain & Restoring Neuroplasticity

34:00 - Emotional Intelligence & Disproving Worst-Case Scenarios

43:00 - How Spouses Can Show Love While Holding Strong Boundaries

53:00 - How Light Dispels Darkness: Breaking the Cycle of Isolation

Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE this video with someone who needs this science-backed hope today!

"At the peak of my financial success was when I was struggling the most with severe anxiety and depression."

In this episode, former practice owner and coach Dr. Eric Chapman opens up about the hidden mental battles of high-stress professions, perfectionism, and business ownership. Host Gina Oliverson and Eric explore why high achievers default to isolation, how it damages marriages, and the crucial mindset shift that saved Eric's life and relationship.

In this video, we cover:

The unique pressure of dentists, doctors, and business owners.

The introverted high-achiever: Why you feel completely drained when you get home.

Why perfectionism leads to burnout and how to delegate tasks effectively.

How pulling away from your spouse creates isolation (and what to do instead).

How shifting focus outward to help others can naturally relieve severe anxiety.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction & Eric Chatterley's Background

1:15 - The Isolation of Practice Ownership & High-Stress Careers

2:40 - Introverts in Extroverted Jobs & Decompressing After Work

5:00 - Perfectionism, Delegating, and "Who Not How"

8:30 - Success on the Outside, Depression on the Inside

11:00 - Reaching a Breaking Point & Marriage Struggles

14:30 - How Spouses Can Show Support (And Why Withdrawing Hurts)

17:20 - Connecting with Peers vs. Competition Mindset

21:00 - The Tools for Healing: Faith, Service, and Changing Your Focus

26:00 - Shifting from Achieving Goals to "Becoming"

Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE this video to help spread mental health awareness!

Why is it so hard for men to open up when they're struggling mentally or emotionally? And as a spouse or partner, how do you support someone in a dark place without falling into the trap of trying to "fix" them?

In this enlightening episode of Stay Mentally Strong, host Gina Oliverson welcomes Marriage and Family Therapist (and host of the Hungry for Healing podcast) Becky Weingreen. After navigating her own personal struggles—including three divorces and rebuilding her life from scratch—Becky shares the raw lessons she learned in the trenches and how they shaped her work counseling men and couples today.

Together, Gina and Becky explore:

Why Men Struggle with Vulnerability: How societal expectations train men to suppress emotions, turn to frustration or isolation, and carry deep layers of shame.

Creating True Emotional Safety: Why connection requires vulnerability, and how to build a safe space for your partner to express themselves.

"Fixing" vs. Validating: How skipping the validation stage can make a struggling spouse feel unsafe or misunderstood.

Setting Boundaries Without Control: How to take care of your own mental health and communicate needs without issuing ultimatums.

The Danger of Contempt: The #1 warning sign that a relationship is in trouble, plus the art of true repair and accountability.

A Message to the Hopeless: Becky's powerful words for anyone feeling like their current pain will last forever.

Don't forget to SHARE this video with someone who might need these tools!

Resources & Support:

🌐 Stay Mentally Strong: https://staymentallystrong.com

Check out our Instagram: @staymentallystrong

On this episode of Stay Mentally Strong, Gina Oliverson is joined by bestselling author and global speaker Chad Hymas. While many know Chad for his inspiring story of living with quadriplegia, this conversation steps behind the motivational stage to unpack the real mental grind. Chad shares how he navigates loneliness, the lie that comparison tells us, and the daily mental tools he relies on to step out of dark spaces and recognize his value.

Together, Gina and Chad discuss:

The "Behind the Curtain" Reality: Navigating dark moments, mental exhaustion, and the pressure of showing up for others while struggling internally.

Relying on Family & Overcoming Shame: The emotional challenge men face when shifting from the independent "provider" to needing daily physical care.

The Power of "Rise & Reflect": Practical tools Chad uses to escape dark mindsets, practice gratitude, and recognize his worth.

How We Honor Loss: Why Chad and Gina both choose to honor their life-altering losses through purpose, service, and vulnerability.

A Lesson at the Gas Station: A touching, spontaneous moment with a stranger that proved asking for help can actually bless someone else's life.

Whether you're struggling with physical limitations, mental health battles, or feeling stuck in a dark place, Chad's honest message will remind you that your life still holds incredible purpose.

Resources & Support:

🌐 Stay Mentally Strong: https://staymentallystrong.com

Check out our Instagram: @staymentallystrong

What happens when talk therapy isn't enough to heal deep, life-altering trauma?

In this deeply personal episode of the Stay Mentally Strong podcast, host Gina Oliverson sits down with psychic medium and channel Samantha McCoy. Both women share a profound, heartbreaking bond: they are both widows who lost their husbands suddenly—Gina to suicide and Samantha to an unexpected loss.

Samantha shares how her own grief thinned the veil to the other side, leading her to bypass the traditional "storytelling" of therapy and connect directly with universal energy, guides, and souls. Together, Gina and Samantha discuss:

Breaking through the skepticism surrounding mediumship (especially for men).

How Samantha's reading for Gina and her daughter Ellie brought immediate closure, unexpected signs (like a movie about a sheep!), and the strength to stay in their home.

Understanding suicide from an energetic feedback perspective.

Why true strength lies in vulnerability and how to find neutrality and peace in the present moment.

If you are struggling with a profound loss, feeling isolated, or looking for your purpose after trauma, this episode offers a beautifully raw perspective on eternity, love, and healing.

Connect with Samantha: SamanthaMcCoyMedium.com

Crisis Support: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. You are not alone. https://staymentallystrong.com

Check out our Instagram: @staymentallystrong

In this episode, Brad Bonner shares his lived experience with depression and the long road to realizing that suffering in silence isn't the only option.

From the outside, his life as a comedian and magician was filled with laughter and applause. But internally, he was battling a decades-long darkness that eventually led to a critical turning point and a 72-hour mental health hold.

Brad and his wife, Victoria, talk about what led to that low point and the moment that shifted everything. This conversation highlights a reality that many face but rarely talk about—the pressure to mask our pain behind a happy face and keep moving forward no matter what.

Together, they explain what began to change, how they learned to communicate using a simple "1 to 10" scale, and why having an actionable tool to start talking about depression matters more than most realize.

What you'll hear:

How unaddressed trauma and pain build up over time

Breaking down the stigma of psychiatric holds (5150 vs 5250)

Why trying to fix someone's depression often makes it worse

How laughter and comedy can actively change brain chemistry

How the 1 Degree of Separation show is providing suicide prevention training for the military

The 5 simple questions you can use right now to help a loved one feel seen and heard

If anything in this episode resonates with you, Stay Mentally Strong is a place to find support, tools, and guidance.

https://staymentallystrong.com

Check out our Instagram: @staymentallystrong

Welcome to the Stay Mentally Strong podcast. June is Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, and in this episode, we are diving deep into an incredible resource and a powerful personal story with Justin Weeks, Managing Partner at Ampelis.

From the outside, Justin's life looked like the absolute picture of success. He was thriving in business and providing an exciting lifestyle for his family. But internally, he and his wife realized they needed to slow down and pivot toward a life built on deeper values rather than valuable things.

Justin shares the pivotal moment that shifted everything for him, leading to a massive lifestyle downsize and a brand-new mission to fix a broken mental healthcare system. He introduces the research-backed "three buckets" of meaning—self-development, connection with others, and spirituality—and how balancing them can radically transform your mental wellness.

If you or a man in your life has been struggling in silence, dealing with chronic stress, or wondering why "having it all" still feels empty, this conversation provides the exact tools and perspectives needed to start working through it.

What you'll hear:

The transition from a lifestyle of luxury to a life of deep value

Understanding the "three buckets" of meaning

Why modern society is facing a loneliness epidemic despite being so connected

The flaws of standard 10-minute "medication management" appointments

How Ampelis uses collaborative care (nutrition, exercise, and therapy) to heal the brain

Inspiring real-life success stories of recovery and renewed hope

If anything in this episode resonates with you, Stay Mentally Strong is a place to find support, tools, and guidance.

https://staymentallystrong.com

Check out our Instagram: @staymentallystrong