The latest installment of our “Tea with Ms. G” Livestream Series is now available here on the Freedom Writers Podcast. Listen to a vulnerable and powerful conversation about mental health featuring Professor and sociologist Dr. Tom Reifer, Freedom Writer Teacher Meghan Abruzzo, and original Freedom Writer Mauricio “Tony” Becerra. Hosted by Erin Gruwell, also known as Ms. G, this thoughtful roundtable explores topics like depression, grief, trauma, healing, mentorship, and the importance of showing up for young people who are struggling. This episode is a must-listen for educators and mentors interested in supporting others and themselves in fostering positive mental health outcomes, and it also has great value as a teaching tool for validating students in being open about their mental health and seeking help when needed.

Listen all the way to the end for a moving excerpt from our archive featuring former Congressman Patrick Kennedy. In his full Freedom Writers Podcast interview, which you can find in Episode 2, Patrick reflects on the deeply personal experiences that shaped his advocacy for mental health and addiction recovery, including his work on the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.