Richard Sandoval is the Senior Director of Community Programs at Hope Incorporated. That doesn’t even come close to describing who he is and what he’s about. Richard grew up in a large family in Arizona and was subjected to a drug dealing father as a child. Upon graduating high school, he enlisted in the marine core and served to deployments which began shortly after the events of 9/11. When he left the military in 2006, the traumas that he was faced with carried into his personal life went undiagnosed and untreated for several years. Richard fell into substance abuse, felony charges, drug addiction, two failed suicide attempts and prison time. He found Hope Incorporated in 2012 after his fifth time in rehab, which helped him stay clean and get his life on track. Most people hit rock bottom and often aren’t able to get back up. Richard was. Unlike a lot of people, Richard endured a second rock-bottom three years ago and relapsed after nearly 10 years of staying clean and sober. But the folks at Hope Incorporated stayed committed to Richard and were there for him every step of the way through the power of peer support. Richard continues to work on himself, is a father of two, is working towards his MBA and shares his story as much as he can. His passion, empathy, self-awareness and gratitude is impeccable.

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We talk to Saul Malek - Storyteller & promoter of mental health, resilience & hope, sharing lessons from his journey with gambling addiction through public speaking. Saul was, like many, a big sports fan. As a college student, he was on the radio calling games, followed teams, enjoyed watching and rooting for outcomes. However, when he was introduced to daily fantasy sports and gambling websites in 2017, he started looking at sports much differently. His interest slowly turned into a hobby before ultimately turning into an obsession and an addiction. He went through a series of emotions when he wasn’t betting on games, transferred money from different bank accounts, was asking for money and putting his time and funds into gambling. He began to lose a grip of who he was as a person and realized he had lost touch with reality. Weather, politics, the outside world didn’t matter to Saul. He had been using several bookies to place wagers on every sport imaginable. It consumed his mind and was his main priority 24/7. Like drug and alcohol addiction, he needed help and he was able to get that help, but still speaks to a therapist, his sponsor, attends meetings and does what he can to avoid gambling. It’s challenge and a struggle. Like any addiction, gambling addiction can completely change and destroy a life. Saul is still paying off the debts he accrued through various bookies.

(00:02:25-00:29:57) How he got into gambling, his initial introduction, his low points and when he realized he had a problem.

(00:31:22-00:37:47) – When he decided to get help, gamblers anonymous and 1-800 gamblers

(00:37:49-00:44:19) – His relationship with sports today and how he is able to navigate life today.

(00:44:20-00:46:02) – His recent speaking trip to Las Vegas, what that was like for him.

(00:47:59-00:56:14) – How prevalent gambling is today with so much accessibility and so much promotion of online gambling and DFS services. The harm it might be doing to those with a gambling personality.

(00:56:15-01:02:31) – The link between mental health and gambling or addiction of any kind.

(01:02:32) - The stuff that matters.

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VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/@NewHopeTreatmentCenter

WEBSITE: https://www.newhopetreatment.com/

We’re back! We had a nice conversation with Thompson Charles, the Founder & CEO of Envesti Solutions, located in Charlotte. Thompson has worked with kids with the same goal as New Hope, the ensure a better future for our youth. He has held several roles such as Director of Programming with Eckerd Kids, Program Manager and Learning and Development Specialist at Thompson Child & Family Focus. Thompson learned a lot over the years, including what makes a qualified employee able to work in this space. That insight and knowledge allowed him to start Envesti Solution in October of 2019. Envesti Solutions has figured out how to bridge the gap between how employees are trained and how they perform on the job. It trains and mentors the exact staff that New Hope hires, professionals that work in residential services and direct care, offering various services and programs. We talked to Thompson about his background, how he started Envesti, managing a business, managing employees, the orientation and interview process, what to look for in a candidate in today’s landscape, and more. Thompson’s knowledge is apparent, but he’s got a very laid-back approach mixed with a ton of passion for the work that he does.

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VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/@NewHopeTreatmentCenter

WEBSITE: https://www.newhopetreatment.com/

We talked with Brandon Guffey, who is on the South Carolina House of Representatives. In his few short years as an elected official, Brandon has made significant changes to the state and his impact has been felt like few that have come before him, passing transformative bills at a rapid pace and putting into effect new policies and laws to combat some of the most delicate issues in this country such as the mental health crisis, digital safety and suicide prevention. Brandon wasn’t always into politics, however. Up until a few years ago, he was enjoying a career full of extensive sales and business experience, when tragedy struck his family, as his son, Gavin, took his own life as a teen. It was a complex situation, which Brandon outlines some of early on in this episode, but it sparked something within Brandon. With the help and motivation of his wife, he set out to make changes with the goal of preventing the same thing that happened to his son from happening to more youth. He finally decided to run for the city council in 2020 during the pandemic, and once he was elected, Brandon has been leading with his passion and, as Matt so eloquently put it, his Get Stuff Done attitude. He passed Gavin’s Law early on in his freshman year on the House of Representatives, which he explains to us. He also started a non-profit in his sons honor called Less Than Three. As a husband, father, elected official, suicide prevention, mental health and digital safety advocate, Brandon’s mentality and approach to how he lives his life and leads the state of South Carolina is truly inspiring.

00:02:08-00:12:01 - His story and background, Rock Hill native, his son’s suicide as a teenager.

00:12:03-00:33:27 - Protecting today’s youth, the power of big tech, his approach and mindset as a politician and how he started Gavin’s Law in South Carolina.

00:35:24-00:40:52 - Where the mental health epidemic in America stands as it relates to politics and policy makers. Why and how it sometimes falls to the waist side and how Brandon is making sure that doesn’t happen.

00:40:53-00:52:04 – His non-profit, Less Than Three <3.

00:53:28-1:00:28 - Where he sees mental health awareness, suicide prevention and digital safety in the next 5-10 years; how South Carolina is leading the charge to combat the issues.

1:00:29 - The stuff that matters.

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VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/@NewHopeTreatmentCenter

WEBSITE: https://www.newhopetreatment.com/

We were graced by the presence of a friend of New Hope, and now friend of the podcast, Kevin Hines. Kevin’s story is one that is well-documented. If you’re just hearing his name for the first time, Kevin was born to two biological parents who suffered from depression, alcoholism and drug addiction. He entered into the foster care system as a child and later became diagnosed with bipolar disorder and depression as a teen. His mental health struggles were so severe that he attempted to take his own life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, where only 1% of attempts survive. Although his injuries were substantial, he lived to tell his story and turn his life around by inspiring others. Kevin is now a motivational speaker, podcast host, author, director, husband, father and suicide prevention advocate. He spoke at our facility in Rock Hill two years ago and made a lasting impression on staff and the youth that we serve. Kevin recently relaunched his podcast, appropriately titled HINESIGHTS, which can be heard wherever you get your podcasts, and on his YouTube channel, Kevin Hines Story. Kevin also shares more information on an upcoming film called “The Net” which is based on the creation and completion of the physical net that has been installed at the Golden Gate Bridge to further aid in suicide prevention.

(00:01:47-00:11:11) We catch up with Kevin about what he has going on currently, his podcast which has just relaunched, his YouTube channel, the upcoming film, the Net, mental health impacting youth as a whole and if he ever saw himself being in the position he is in today as a an advocate for suicide prevention.

(00:11:13-00:19:00) How social media and society as it currently stands is impacting mental health amongst our youth.

(00:20:56-00:32:36) We talk more specifically about the Net, both the film and the physical structure, the background on the construction and the long, contentious process that went into getting it approved.

(00:35:51-00:43:58) How he got into speaking in public and when it occurred to him that he needed to share his story, his message and what resources he still uses to this day to help with his mental health, his stresses, balancing everything he has going on in his life.

(00:45:23) His biggest inspiration and who he looks at for motivation.

(00:46:47) The stuff that matters.

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VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/@NewHopeTreatmentCenter

WEBSITE: https://www.newhopetreatment.com/

We're joined by Shameka Smith, the Program Coordinator for Second Round Boxing, which is part of Haven House Services in Raleigh. Second Round is one of 10 unique services that is offered to more than 1,200 youth, boys and girls, each year.

(00:01:58-00:14:06) – What Second Round Boxing is.

(00:14:07-00:18:57) – When she started to notice just how impactful second round boxing was for the youth, how confidence and communication is a point of emphasis while in the program.

(00:20:53-00:20:40) – How the kids engage with one another, coming from different backgrounds and schools, but sympathizing with one another over shared experiences and traumas.

(00:20:41-00:44:50) – Transitioning into her role with second round boxing and some of the specific success stories, where the kids have gone on and what they have accomplished.

(00:46:15-00:53:44) – The methods and techniques they use to care for the youth when they aren’t having the best days.

(00:53:47) – The relationships that are built and youth that keep in touch with the program and come back.

(00:58:29) – The stuff that matters.

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VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/@NewHopeTreatmentCenter

WEBSITE: https://www.newhopetreatment.com/

On today’s episode we’re joined by Fonda Bryant – Motivational Speaker, Mental Health Advocate, and suicide survivor. Having overcome a long past filled with depression, she turned around her life completely almost 10 years ago to the day. She’s now a QPR Suicide Prevention Instructor, Mental Health First Aid Instructor for Youth, and a NC Certified Peer Support, training thousands of people globally on how to become certified Gatekeepers.

She’ll be celebrating her 29th year of surviving that attempt on her life on Valentine’s day of this year, Feb. 14.

(00:01:44-00:18:57) We talk about her background and past, dealing with depression, mental health, having her son at a young age, how things were more difficult to seek help and admit she had a problem living in the black community.

(00:18:58-00:36:05) Different resources, EAP, the 988-hotline, the relationship with her aunt and the impact she had on her journey and recovery, very well saving her.

(00:38:01-00:50:12) How society is responding to those dealing with mental health issues.

(00:50:15-00:56:05) Speaking to her own community.

(00:57:29-1:03:02) Her speaking engagements as a whole, when they started, the reception she has received and impact it has had on her.

(1:03:03) The stuff that matters.

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VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/@NewHopeTreatmentCenter

WEBSITE: https://www.newhopetreatment.com/

WE'RE BACK! We begin 2024 with Erica Reid, the Senior Director of Program Implementation at Friends of the Children.

(00:01:41-00:36:59) Friends of the Children, her background, collaborating with the families, how families receive the service that is offered. The interview process, finding the mentors or actual "friends of the children" and what qualities are identified when looking for the ideal candidate.

(00:40:47-00:46:59) Partnership with Simone Biles and other famous ambassadors that do work with the organization, as well as success stories that came from Friends of the Children.

(00:47:00-00:50:32) Erica’s excitement on the current state of things as she travels the country to different Friends of the Children hubs, finding Friends of the Children and getting involved.

(00:50:34) The stuff that matters.

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VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/@NewHopeTreatmentCenter

WEBSITE: https://www.newhopetreatment.com/

Jenn Drummond was living a rather successful and normal life as a business owner and mom. Until a horrific car accident in 2018 changed everything. It should have ended her life, but it instead gave her a new perspective and new ambition on life, as she turned that near fatal experience into perhaps the biggest turning point. She set out to change who she was and how she lived her life. With the help and motivation of her kids, she set several goals for herself living a new and improved life, one of which was to start climbing mountains. Not the mountains you might see in western North Carolina or even Utah where Jenn resides, but some of the most infamous, mentally, and physically demanding mountains in the world like Mount Everest and K2. Jenn became the first woman to climb the Seven Second Summits. The pursuit matched her desire to live a life of significance, not just success. You can listen to her on the Seek Your Next Summit podcast and read about her stories in her new book Break Proof, which will be released on Jan. 9 of 2024.

00:02:00–00:19:33 – Life before her accident in 2018, how the accident changed her perspective on life, when she started climbing mountains and training.

00:19:34-00:23:59 – The dynamic between the family and the impact her children had on her after her accident and motivating her to climb Everest.

00:25:55-00:37:37 – We dive more into the transition from her life pre 2018 to post 2018 and going from a business owner of a financial firm to mountaineering.

00:37:39-00:51:10 – Her vision board and what’s next on her bucket list.

00:52:36 – Her book.

00:55:48 – The stuff that matters.

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VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/@NewHopeTreatmentCenter

WEBSITE: https://www.newhopetreatment.com/

Niki Miller is the Assistant Director for Shield. She’s an advocate for the vulnerable in the fight against human trafficking. Niki was a little nervous at first making her podcast debut, but she was highly insightful and passionate about the work she does.

00:01:36-00:13:22 What Shield is, how she got started working in this space. Design For Joy, an organization employing women that were once victims of trafficking.

00:13:23-00:23:43 – She dispels some myths associated with human trafficking and presents some of the facts and data.

00:25:08-00:42:36 – We pick her brain regarding some outside observations and what can be done to aid in the fight against human trafficking.

00:42:38-00:53:53 – Exploring services available for the victims.

00:57:25-00:59:45 – Minimizing the supply of trafficking and trying to prevent the amount of victims, reducing vulnerabilities.

00:59:47 – The Stuff that Matters