The Big Silence

Brother and sister duo and Soul co-founders, Mike and Angie Lee, are here to share how they’ve made transitions in their career journeys and found natural solutions to managing ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Angie is a highly sought after marketing mentor, keynote speaker, professional podcaster, and serial entrepreneur. Mike is a world-ranked professional boxer who has fought in some of the world’s most iconic arenas in front of millions of fans. 

In 2014, Mike was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, Ankylosing Spondylitis, which almost ended his career. Mike began searching for natural alternatives which led him to discover CBD and all of its incredible physical and mental benefits. Newly inspired, Angie and Mike founded Soul with the goal to help others with similar struggles, and have grown the business and product line with the ethos of having fun and striving for balance in all areas of life.

In this episode, we talk about all the ways Mike and Angie have learned about and cared for their mental health. They open up about everything from the complexities of your career being tied to your identity, to how mental illnesses can show up on brain scans, to their experiences as “unhealthy” professional athletes/fitness competitors, natural solutions for managing autoimmune diseases and stress, and the many far-reaching benefits of CBD. 

Mike and Angie’s outlook on life is inspiring, positive, and centered in an authentic expression of who they really are. I love Mike and Angie’s perspective on having fun and not taking life too seriously – we all need that reminder from time to time. I’m thrilled to have them on the show and hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Resources:

• Website: AngieLee.com
• Angie’s Instagram: @angieleeshow 
• Mike’s Instagram: @officialmikelee
• Podcast: Angie Lee Show
• Shop: Soul CBD
• Read: The 12 Hour Walk by Colin O-Brady
• Podcast: What if Mental Health Is Really Brain Health? With Dr. Daniel Amen #34
• Podcast: Have More Happy Days With Gabby Bernstein #5
• Podcast: Evolving Out Loud with Kyle Cease #12
• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 
• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

Today's guest needs no introduction. Liz Plosser is the Editor-in-Chief of Women's Health. She's been passionately reporting and editing health, fitness, nutrition, sexual health, and mental health content for her entire career. She has a 360-degree outlook on the wellness world, having worked across platforms at print magazines (Self, Cosmopolitan), with video (CosmoBody), overseeing content and strategy for brands like SoulCycle, and as SVP of Content in the digital space (Well+Good).

Liz is a strong, powerhouse woman I’m lucky to have known for the past 10 years. She’s someone I look up to and a wonderful friend. In this beautiful conversation we talk about Liz’s inspiring career journey, the pressure of being in a leadership role, and how she manages the anxiety that comes with being in a public facing position - especially as an introvert.

Liz opens up about things she hasn’t shared before, like why she doesn’t drink alcohol, her daily wellness routine that helps keep her mental health in check, and how she stays connected to her inner child. She also shares her advice for how to find out who you are. I am grateful to Liz for her vulnerability, and I know you’re going to be able to relate to this conversation. 

• Read: Own Your Morning by Liz Plosser
• Instagram: @lizplosser 
• LinkedIn: Liz Baker Plosser 
• Twitter: @lizplosser 
• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 
• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

Terri Cole is back for her third appearance on the podcast. Terri is a licensed psychotherapist, global empowerment and relationship expert with a gift for making complex psychological concepts accessible and actionable. In this episode, we explore the toxic patterns and cycles women experience that keep us stressed and burned out. Whether it’s in relation to our career, external relationships or the relationship with ourselves, Terri gives us some helpful questions to ask ourselves to identify where we need to make a change. 

Terri shares her definition of high functioning codependency and how it can show up in our lives, how to set healthy boundaries by learning to give up our need for control, how to support others without taking on the burden of their problems. She gives her therapeutic insight on the most productive thing you can ask yourself if you’re going through divorce, and why people cheat on their partners. We also explore the concept of false vs true self, how to connect with your inner child and heal wounds from childhood that could impact us later in life. Plus, Terri Cole has a free gift for listeners of The Big Silence podcast. Access the codependency & boundaries lesson and prompts here: boundaryboss.me/bigsilence.

Resources:

• Website: terricole.com
• Instagram: @terricole 
• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 
• Free gift from Terri Cole - Codependency & boundaries lesson and prompts: boundaryboss.me/bigsilence
• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need
• YouTube: The Big Silence 

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

Today’s episode is a panel discussion from a fitness event in Austin at the Kollective social performance club featuring three inspirational trainers; Melissa Alcantara, aka Fit Gurl Mel, Jeremy Hills, founder of Kollective, and my personal trainer, Sandy Brockman. 

We talk about having a goal with your fitness regardless of your age to keep you accountable and engaged, advice for people new to fitness, how your mindset in the gym translates into your mindset in life, chasing the “hard” to be the best version of ourselves, what we’re manifesting, and so much more. 

One thing we all have in common is that we love fitness because of the mental health benefits of exercise and how it makes us feel. I’m excited for you to hear each of these fitness professionals talk about their relationship to exercise and how it impacts the ripple effects it has on their lives and mental health. 

Resources:

• Website: thekollective.com
• Instagram: @kollective.inc 
• Facebook: facebook.com/thekollectiveinc
• YouTube: The Kollective
• Mel’s Instagram: @fitgurlmel
• Sandy’s Instagram: @sandybrockmanfitness 
• Jeremy’s Instagram: @jhills5
• Tone It Up: my.toneitup.com
• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 
• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need
• Slate Theory Winery: slatetheory.com
• Gym Weed: gymweed.com
• APL: athleticpropulsionlabs.com

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

Michael Webb is unlike any magician you’ve seen in person or virtually on zoom. As a full-time magician with 15 years experience, Sydney magician Magic Mike is a fun, easy going and approachable magician who caught my attention after I watched his inspirational mental health message on Australia’s Got Talent in 2022 that brought me to tears.

I loved talking to Mike about his mental health journey; from feeling alone in his struggle with depression to a coworker signing him up to see a doctor to spreading his message of hope and healing to audiences around the world. He shares how he got into magic and got his first job, what Mike loves about the personalized aspect of doing magic, and how his ability to make people smile and laugh helps him heal as well. 

I ask him if anyone can do magic, and get Mike’s advice for anyone struggling with their mental health. Plus, Mike showcases his skills with me virtually over the screen in this interview, and it’s pretty amazing, so if you can, make sure to watch this one on YouTube!

Resources:

• Website: michaelwebbmagic.com.au

• Instagram: @magicmike_notastripper

• YouTube: Magic Mike on Australia’s Got Talent

• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 

• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn

• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence

• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel

• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

Today's guest on The Big Silence is Kati Morton. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a master's degree in psychology from Pepperdine University, as well as a successful author and speaker known for humanizing mental health through her super popular YouTube channel. 

We cover big and little T traumas, the traits of a good and bad therapist, the cost of therapy, what high functioning depression is, how to overcome the nerves around upcoming therapy sessions, how to help a loved one who may be struggling with depression, attachment styles, and a whole bunch of fun girl talk.

I hope you enjoy this episode, and as always, make sure you share it with someone you love who might benefit from it. You can also leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and help us spread the word and break the stigma around mental health.

Resources:

• Kati’s Website & Workshops: katimorton.com

• Podcast: Ask Kati Anything

• Read: Traumatized by Kati Morton, LMFT

• Read: Are You Okay? By Kati Morton, LMFT

• Instagram: @katimorton

• YouTube: Kati Morton 

• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 

• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn

• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence

• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel

• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

• Get a ticket to the SXSW Live event on March 16th: Workout, Social Hour, & Live Podcast With Your Trainers with Jeremy Hills @jhills5 and Melissa @fitgurlmel

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

A first-generation immigrant raised on Long Island, NY, Vasavi Kumar is famous for “Saying It Out Loud.” She’s a former TV host, licensed therapist, and the creator of the Say It Out Loud Safe Haven, an online support community. She holds dual Masters degrees in Special Education from Hofstra University and Social Work from Columbia University.

Vasavi is an open book in this one, getting raw and honest about her lived experience in a way that allows others to take solace, and build hope, with regard to their own challenges. We talk about finding radical self-love, honoring your soul’s truth, and not letting things (money, achievements) define your worth as a person.

Her mission, and tagline, are very much aligned with our  mental health awareness efforts here at The Big Silence Foundation – a path she found herself on after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 19. Her upcoming book, Say It Out Loud will be published in May (Mental Health Awareness Month) of this year, but can be pre-ordered online, today: sayitoutloudbook.com.

The more voices we can add to the conversation, the better. So please feel free to share this episode with friends, family, even colleagues that you think might be interested in exploring new ways of thinking.

Resources:

• Pre-Order: vasavikumar.com/orderthebook
• Website: vasavikumar.com
• ATX Woman: Vasavi Kumar: Who Am I?
• International Bipolar Foundation: ibpf.org
• Podcast: Say It Out Loud with Vasavi Kumar
• Instagram: @mynameisvasavi
• Linkedin: Vasavi Kumar
• YouTube: Vasavi Kumar
• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 
• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!



“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

Today, we have a special mixed-AMA episode with a dear, dear friend of mine, Miya. Miya and I met at the gym and have been close friends for over twenty years – witnessing and supporting one another through the many seasons of our lives – the good, the painful, and everything in between.

We begin the episode with Miya’s learned experience with love and parenting, how she’s grown to place the utmost importance on her own personal self-worth before seeking it from anyone else. We then dig into a few listener-submitted questions from my Instagram:

• What is your quick fix when your day is off?
• Is lifting the quickest way to build muscle?
• What skincare products do you use?
• What’s your favorite thing about working out with a trainer?
• How did you become a meditation teacher? 

I hope you enjoy this conversation between long friends, as we delve into some serious girl talk, get honest about gaining (and losing) weight, and unpack the complexities of dating and divorce.

Resources:

• Karena Dawn for Tone It Up: Guided meditations 
• Matthew McConaughey for Calm: Guided meditations 
• NuFace: mynuface.com
• Skin Medica: skinmedica.com
• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 
• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

Today on The Big Silence, we’re joined by Debbie Whitehead, a licensed therapist with thirty years of experience in mental health and family and marriage counseling. She shares her deep trauma experience as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse which led to her becoming a thriver and sharing her story with the world.

[Content Warning: This episode deals with overcoming difficult traumas, including child sexual abuse and incest. Please listen with care and compassion.]

Practicing out of Plano, Texas, Debbie has a holistic approach when it comes to mental health and counseling, leveraging her training in cognitive-behavioral therapy, family dynamics, and marriage and family therapy, as well as her knowledge as a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach to help people find balance throughout their lived experiences.

She details the breathwork session that changed her life, empowering her to raise voice enough to share her traumas, taking us back to one painful memory and releasing a tsunami of emotions that she had repressed since childhood. 

We also dig deep on how to stop the cycle of generational trauma, highlight the power of forgiveness as a release of self-hatred, navigate our way through grief, and take responsibility for our own healing – not the traumas which preceded it.

Debbie teaches us that repression is our brain’s way of protecting us, explaining the critical differences between repression and suppression. Her openness and willingness to learn from the past, no matter how visceral, is living proof that we can work through anything to live our most beautiful life.

• Website: debbiewhitehead.com
• Instagram: @debbiekwhitehead
• RAINN: National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-HOPE)Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 
• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.

Diagnosed with depression at the young age of thirteen, Joey Thurman’s journey as a young person was more challenging than he made it appear to the outside world as a multi-sport athlete. At home though, his truth was laid bare as he threatened to commit suicide on many occasions.

We talk about his journey into the professional fitness space, a success story that sounds similar, and happened around the same time, as the launch of Tone It Up. Joey touches on lessons his childhood has presented for his own son’s life, and what signs other parents might look for in their children to know that they’re struggling. 

Of course, we also go deep on Joey’s new book, Minimum Method, and the custom-built heath modalities that serve as the outline for it. Commenting on cardio, weightlifting, macronutrients vs. micronutrients, sleep, and so much more – if you’ve been waiting for a fitness-focused pod to land in this feed, today is your lucky day.

Joey reminds us that, by accepting our feelings as they come in, we make sure to take a moment and appreciate what is, be thankful for what was, and put a positive lens on our outlook for the future.

• Website: JoeyThurman.com
• Website: Open Fit
• @JoeyThurmanFit on Instagram
• Watch: Joey Thurman on YouTube
• Read: The Minimum Method by Joey Thurman
• Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing 
• Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn
• Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence
• Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel
• Therapy For All: Resources for those in need

Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with us!

“The Big Silence” theme song written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney.

Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.

The Big Silence is produced by Crate Media.