What happens when social workers, therapists and caregivers are expected to support everyone else while navigating political instability, financial pressure and burnout themselves?

In this episode of The Social Work Rants Podcast®, host Bas Moreno, LMSW, CFSW, reconnects with licensed clinical social worker, therapist, speaker and nonprofit founder Marvin Toliver, LCSW.

Marvin discusses his private practice, Reimagine Culture LLC, and his nonprofit organization, Dear Black Man, You Good?, which works to improve the mental health and overall wellness of Black men through radical education, community care, healing groups and nontraditional wellness experiences.

The conversation explores Black masculinity, homophobia, HIV stigma, social work entrepreneurship, private practice, clinical supervision, decolonizing therapy and the emotional cost of helping others during difficult political and economic times.

Marvin also reflects on his deeply personal TEDx talk about Black masculinity, sexuality, homophobia and his HIV diagnosis. He explains why vulnerability and storytelling can help others feel less isolated, challenge stigma and create opportunities for collective healing.

Bas and Marvin also discuss the importance of local politics, protecting vulnerable communities, taking PTO, setting boundaries and addressing the systems that contribute to poverty, health disparities, burnout and financial instability.

This episode is an honest conversation about survival, liberation, community care and what it means to remain present when the world feels overwhelming.

The Trump Administration is planning on cutting funding to HIV programs. Prevention and treatrment programs are facing cuts to services and staff throughout the U.S. and the world. The Professional Association of Social Workers in HIV & Aids Inc and reaching out to Congress are a great way to make your voices heard to make sure funding does not get cut.

On Tuesday August 4th, I am co-hosting a Free Financial webinar. If you are interested in learning to save money and would like to know about retirement, use the link to register: https://financialguide.zoom.us/s/93402665666?pwd=xdfx1ZOpos54pQbS9EyTEcg4DLduZ3.1

It's summertime, and that usually means taking PTO from work.

Many social workers face hurdles taking PTO or refuse to take time off.

I offer advice for young social workers regarding PTO.

Upcoming Financial Webinar alert: Join me on Tuesday August 4th 12pm EST New York/Delaware time.

Learn to set savings goals and define an allocation strategy.
Learn to plan for retirement and learn to protect what is important.
Learn how to think about how to best transfer assets after you are gone.

Register here: https://financialguide.zoom.us/s/93402665666?pwd=xdfx1ZOpos54pQbS9EyTEcg4DLduZ3.1

This episode of The Social Work Rants Podcast, marks the season finale of Season 12 focusing entirely on important student loan updates effective July 1st. Nearly 7 million borrowers would receive 90-day notices from their loan servicers requiring them to choose a new repayment plan, with borrowers who fail to select a plan being automatically enrolled in either a standard plan or new tiered standard plan with higher monthly payments.

The episode detailed various repayment options including the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), Income-Based Repayment (IBR), PAYE, ICR, and the new tiered standard plan, emphasizing that each person's financial situation is unique and requiring careful consideration of personal finances. I recommended following experts and past podcast guest Dr. Sonia Lewis (the student loan doctor) and Robert Farrington (the college investor) for updated information, and stressed the importance of understanding Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) status for those close to forgiveness.

#studentloans #studentloanforgiveness

This episode of The Social Work Rans Podcast focused on men's mental health month and highlighted the mental health discussions of New York Knicks players Karl Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. I discussed how Robinson openly addressed his mental health struggles during the playoffs, while Towns shared his ongoing grief over losing multiple family members to COVID and unapologetically talks how faith go him through.

I connected these athletes' experiences to broader mental health awareness, emphasizing the importance of seeking therapy and support, and mentioned upcoming resources and hotlines for those needing help. I compared this to Ron Artest/Metta World Peace's public acknowledgment of his psychiatrist during the 2019 Lakers championship celebration, highlighting how high-profile athletes can help normalize mental health discussions. I expressed support for Robinson's courage in speaking out about mental health issues.#mentalhealth #mensmentalhealth #knicks

ANNOUNCEMENT: If you're a caregiver based in New York State or still have family in New York, join me on Thursday June 18th for my webinar, Caregiving: A Public Health Issue. 8pm est; $15 per person.Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1991026454723?aff=oddtdtcreatorOn this episode of The Social Work Rants Podcast, I discussed the changes to reimbursement rates for providers using CPT codes 90834 and 90837 on the Alma platform, effective July 15th. The changes involve adjusting the rates for session durations, with code 90837 (53 minutes and up) being reimbursed at the same rate as code 90834 (37-52 minute sessions). Basiliso also mentioned the impact of inflation on these changes, citing a recent 4.2% inflation rate.Inflation and Mental Health ConcernsI discuss the impact of inflation on various aspects of life, including healthcare costs and gas prices, noting that while President Biden reduced the national inflation rate, many expenses continue to rise. I expressed concerns about technology platforms like Headway that visually scan patients during mental health sessions, citing ethical issues around patient privacy and surveillance. I also mentioned challenges with audits and payment reimbursements for agencies.I highlight the work of Justin Gillespie from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, who is working on legislation to address reimbursement rates at both state and national levels.Payer Regulation Impact on NonprofitsI discussed recent payer regulation changes affecting Medicaid and HMO services, including increased denial rates and higher audit frequencies leading to potential nonprofit closures. They highlighted budget issues in New York City affecting nonprofit organizations' ability to pay staff and bills. Basiliso noted that the full impact of the HR1 legislation may not be fully realized until after the November general election.Medicaid Recertification Changes UpdateI also warned about upcoming changes to Medicaid recertifications and a new work requirement effective in July, which will require individuals to show proof of working up to 80 hours to maintain their benefits. These changes will significantly impact vulnerable populations and make social workers' jobs more challenging. The discussion was presented as educational content to help professionals understand the evolving landscape affecting their work.

Episode 266 of The Social Work Rants podcast, focusing on Men's Mental Health Month and addressing the significant mental health challenges facing men. The episode highlighted disturbing statistics showing men are four times more likely to die by suicide than women, with suicide being the second leading cause of death for men under 45. Bas shared personal experiences, including the suicide of a friend named Ernest in 2014 and the recent death of former NHL player Claude Lemieux, emphasizing how suicide often goes undetected. The podcast covered statistics showing only 41.6% of men with mental health illnesses receive treatment compared to 56.9% of women, and noted that men are three times more likely to become dependent on alcohol and substances. Bas also discussed how eating disorders affect an estimated 6.6 million males in the US but are often underdiagnosed and undertreated due to the misconception that they are women's issues. The episode concluded with calls for men to seek professional help, emphasizing that it's okay not to be okay but professional treatment is essential.Follow the podcast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thesocialworkrantspodcast

In honor of #mentalhealthawareness month, this episode of the Social Work Rants podcast focuses on workplace wellness and burnout in the social work field. Basiliso and Kelecia Smith, MSW, LMSW, discuss how current workplace well-being programs often fail to address the actual needs of workers, citing a Harvard Business Review article that noted mental health needs and burnout continue to rise despite corporate spending on wellness programs.

They explored the challenges of balancing caregiving responsibilities with work demands, particularly for the 63 million Americans who are caregivers. The conversation covered how administrative burdens, high client volumes, and inflexible work structures contribute to clinician burnout, with both participants sharing personal experiences of long commutes and unsustainable work schedules. They discussed the importance of organizations meeting workers where they are and involving staff in the development of well-being programs beyond surface-level initiatives like free coffee and happy hours.

Follow the podcast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thesocialworkrantspodcast

This week's episode The Social Work Rants Podcast features Sabella (Bella) Reyes, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in the music industry. Bella explained her role as the self-proclaimed first "music industry social worker," focusing on supporting independent music creators who generate less than 50% of their income from music by providing mental health support, business literacy training, and resource navigation for the independent music community.

We discussed the challenges independent artists face including work-life balance issues, lack of proper artist development, and the impact of AI music on the industry, with Bella sharing her experience transitioning from the US Navy to working with independent artists and her leadership journey in corrections mental health.

The conversation also covered how the music industry has evolved from the label-supported era of the 1980s and 1990s to the current digital age where artists must handle both creative and business aspects of their careers. Bella discussed challenges in the music industry, particularly for independent artists, including issues with AI-generated content and intellectual property rights. They highlighted the financial struggles of independent artists who often fund their own projects and the lack of camaraderie and sportsmanship in the industry, using historical conflicts like those between Tupac and Biggie as examples.

The conversation concluded with a discussion on the importance of sharing information and resources in both the music industry and social work, emphasizing collaboration over competition.

Bella can be found on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bella_beatmessenger

Follow the podcast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thesocialworkrantspodcast

In this episode of the Social Work Rants podcast, Basiliso interviewed Justin Brown Woods, co-host of the Price of Avocado Toast podcast and financial counselor, to discuss the intersection of mental health and finances in 2026. They explored current money struggles facing Americans, including rising gas and grocery prices, student loan debt, and the impact of political instability on personal finances. Justin emphasized the importance of values-based budgeting and curating positive financial content on social media, while Basiliso shared his experiences as a member of the sandwich generation and discussed the challenges of caring for family members while facing financial pressures. They also touched on the potential for Americans to consider relocating due to political or safety concerns, and the need for more open conversations about financial struggles within communities.Justin can be found on Instagram at  https:/ /www.instagram.com/priceofavocadotoast  Follow the podcast on Instagram: https:://www.instagram.com/thesocialworkrantspodcastThe podcast is sponsored by Bas Moreno Consulting, providing financial education for people of color in the sandwich generation who are struggling with their finances while caregiving. Follow ‪@basmorenoconsulting‬