In this episode of The Socially Engaged Podcast, we sit down with Kaela O’Donnell, MSW, LCSW, Executive Director and grief group facilitator at Kindermourn, and Eric Buther, grieving father and co‑founder of the Santiago Strong Foundation. Together, they share their experiences from two deeply interconnected perspectives: the professional supporting grieving families, and the parent who has walked through unimaginable loss.

Kaela discusses the role of social workers in grief work, the importance of community based support, and common misconceptions about child loss. Eric shares his family’s story, his experience in Kindermourn’s Grieving Parents group, and how his son Santiago’s legacy fuels advocacy and healing. This episode offers powerful insight, honesty, and hope for social workers, helpers, and anyone supporting communities in grief.

You can find information about Kindermourn here: https://www.kindermourn.org/ and Santiago Strong Foundation here: https://www.santiagostrong.org/

In this episode of The Socially Engaged Podcast, we sit down with Lisa Gunter, MSW, LCSW, to explore her journey as a licensed clinical social worker providing individual and family therapy. Lisa reflects on her early experiences as a new LCSW, her current work, and how her social work education continues to shape her clinical practice and community engagement. She shares real world stories, highlights and challenges from the field, and offers words of wisdom for social workers and students practicing at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

In this episode of The Socially Engaged Podcast, we sit down with Traci Withrow, MSW, LCSW, a bilingual clinician, owner of Mandala Counseling Services, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) trained therapist. Traci shares her journey into social work, the experiences that shaped her clinical approach, and how bilingualism allows her to build deeper, culturally grounded connections with the Latino community. She also discusses the realities of running a private practice, the power of IFS in individual and family healing, and the lessons she’s learned throughout her career. Whether you’re a student, clinician, or someone passionate about mental health, Traci offers meaningful insights into compassion driven practice and the importance of culturally responsive care.

In this episode of The Socially Engaged Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Drew Reynolds, MSW, PhD, Principal Consultant at Common Good Data, to explore the intersection of social work and data-driven impact. Drew shares his journey from social work education to becoming a leader in helping nonprofits and public sector organizations evaluate programs and measure outcomes.

Part 2 of our interview with Stacey Anderson, MSW, LCSW. Find out how I handled a possible ethical dilemma and learn more about Stacey's passion for social work, ethics, and her favorite five things!

Our very first guest ever is Stacey Anderson, MSW, LCSW, a passionate social worker who shares what she does as a social workers, why she chose social work as a career, and how her social work education continues to shape her practice. We will hear real life stories, lessons learned, and reflections on ethical dilemmas that challenged her values and strengthened her resolve.