The Voice of Hope with Dr. Ken Huey

What happens when success on paper hides a life falling apart?

On this episode of The Voice of Hope Podcast, Dr. Ken Huey sits down with Nick Padlo, TEDx speaker, Army combat veteran, and founder of Sophros Recovery, to talk about the reality of addiction, recovery, and rebuilding a life with purpose.

Nick shares his journey from West Point to the battlefield, to business success - and ultimately to a breaking point that forced him to confront addiction head-on. What followed wasn’t a perfect path, but a powerful one.

This conversation dives into:

•  Why high performers often struggle in silence 
•  How trauma builds over time - and how to manage it 
•  The role of accountability in long-term recovery 
•  Why there is no “one solution” to healing 
•  Practical first steps for anyone struggling 

Nick’s story is raw, honest, and deeply hopeful - a reminder that recovery isn’t about perfection, it’s about progress and having the right tools around you.

If you or someone you know is navigating mental health or addiction, this episode offers real insight and a clear message: healing is possible.

What if happiness isn’t something you find… but something you choose, especially in the hardest moments?

In this episode of The Voice of Hope Podcast, Ken Huey sits down with Dr. Cindy Howard, keynote speaker, wellness expert, and founder of the Positively Altered Project, to unpack what it really means to build resilience.

From her own cancer diagnosis to decades of clinical and leadership experience, Dr. Howard shares how mindset, language, and daily habits shape our ability to heal, grow, and perform under pressure.

This is a practical and powerful conversation on choosing your response, rewiring negative thinking, and building resilience in both life and leadership.

In this episode, we cover:

•  Why the brain is wired for negativity and how to override it 
•  The difference between reacting and responding 
•  How a victim mindset holds people back and how to shift out of it 
•  Signs your nervous system is out of balance 
•  Simple tools like breathing and “I am” statements to reset your mindset 
•  How adversity, including cancer, can become a catalyst for growth 
•  Why connection and vulnerability are essential for healing

What if happiness was a skill you could learn?

In this powerful episode of The Voice of Hope Podcast, Dr. Ken Huey sits down with Beatriz Martinez-Peñalver, licensed psychotherapist, founder of Triumph Steps, and co-founder of Healthy Connections Community Mental Health Center.

With more than 30 years of experience in mental health, Beatriz shares why emotional literacy may be one of the most important missing pieces in today’s mental health conversation. She explains how thoughts shape feelings, feelings drive actions, and actions create the results we experience in life.

They also explore prevention, healing, family support during crisis, and why true triumph includes health, relationships, purpose, and freedom.

If you want practical wisdom on growth, resilience, and creating a better future, this episode is for you.

What does it take to lead one of Georgia’s largest behavioral health organizations while staying deeply connected to the people you serve?

In this episode of The Voice of Hope Podcast, Dr. Ken Huey sits down with Melanie Dallas, CEO of Highland Rivers Behavioral Health, to explore leadership, crisis response, compassion fatigue, trust, and the future of behavioral healthcare.

With more than 37 years of experience, Melanie shares powerful lessons from the front lines of crisis care, what first responders taught her about building trust, why many people in crisis need connection more than hospitalization, and how leaders can create cultures where teams feel safe, empowered, and heard.

She also opens up about navigating mergers during the pandemic, shaping behavioral health policy in Georgia, and the life-changing moments that remind her why this work matters.

This is a conversation about service, resilience, and creating hope where it’s needed most.

Learn more about Highland Rivers Behavioral Health:
https://highlandrivers.org/about-us/executive-leadership/
https://highlandriversfoundation.org/about/

What if some of the biggest problems in behavioral health come from oversimplifying human behavior?

In this episode of The Voice of Hope, Dr. Ken Huey sits down with Dr. Harry Voulgarakis, licensed psychologist, BCBA-D, researcher, and Assistant Professor at St. Joseph’s University New York. Together, they explore the intersection of psychology, behavior analysis, neuropsychology, and ethical practice.

Harry shares why evidence-based care is often misunderstood, how context shapes healing, and why rushed autism evaluations can create real downstream consequences for families. They also discuss Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), the future of behavioral science, and what today’s clinicians may be missing most.

This is a thought-provoking conversation on ethics, leadership, mental health, and how we build systems that truly help people heal. 

What if the behaviors we’re trying to “fix”… are actually protecting us?

In this episode of The Voice of Hope Podcast, Dr. Ken Huey sits down with Tamie Gangloff to unpack the complex intersection of eating disorders, chronic illness, and trauma - and what real recovery actually requires.

Tamie brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to the conversation, sharing how her own recovery journey shaped the way she approaches healing today. Together, they explore why treatment must go beyond symptoms, how trauma often hides in plain sight, and why storytelling can be one of the most powerful tools for connection and recovery.

This conversation is especially powerful for families, clinicians, and anyone navigating long-term healing - offering practical insights on how to support loved ones, rebuild trust in care systems, and stay connected to hope even when progress feels slow.

You’ll learn:

•  Why chronic illness must be integrated into eating disorder treatment - not treated separately 
•  How trauma shows up in subtle ways during recovery 
•  What supportive language actually sounds like for families 
•  The role of storytelling in reducing shame and isolation 
•  How to rebuild trust after medical trauma 
•  Simple mindset shifts that lead to better outcomes in care 

If you or someone you love is struggling, this episode is a reminder: healing is possible - and you don’t have to do it alone.

What does it really take to move from surviving to thriving?

In this episode of The Voice of Hope, Dr. Ken Huey sits down with Phyllis Leverett, Behavioral Health Program Manager and Licensed Professional Counselor, to unpack what’s happening beneath the surface in mental health today.

From navigating broken systems and access challenges to redefining self-worth and emotional resilience, Phyllis shares powerful insights drawn from both leadership and clinical experience. She breaks down why compliance and compassion must work together, how clinicians can better support outcomes, and why so many people struggle to truly heal.

They also explore identity loss, especially among women, the importance of boundaries, and what it actually looks like to take accountability in your healing journey.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start, this conversation is a reminder that healing is possible and hope is closer than you think.

In this episode of The Voice of Hope, Dr. Ken Huey sits down with Mark Alford, Chief Executive Officer at Discovery Mood & Anxiety Program, for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, mental health, and what it really takes to build care systems that serve people well.

Drawing from 25 years in healthcare leadership and a personal family connection to addiction and depression, Mark shares what led him into behavioral health and why helping children and families remains so important to him. He talks about the tension between urgent patient needs and the regulatory red tape that can slow access to care, especially in states with complex licensing processes.

Mark also explains how his clinical psychology background shapes the way he leads teams, builds programs, and creates psychological safety for both staff and patients. Along the way, he offers practical insight on modeling health, protecting quality and safety, and using technology like telehealth and AI in ways that actually support better care.

This episode is a wide-ranging and honest look at the personal experiences, operational challenges, and hopeful vision behind strong behavioral healthcare leadership.

What happens when the helpers start running on empty?

In this episode of The Voice of Hope, Dr. Ken Huey sits down with Dr. Jennifer Blanchette, licensed psychologist, consultant, and Contracted School Psychologist at Falmouth Public Schools, for an honest conversation about burnout, trauma, neurodiversity, and the real cost of caring for others.

Jennifer shares how her own journey through burnout reshaped her career, why private practice is often more complicated than therapists expect, and what helping professionals need to understand about emotional capacity, work-life integration, and sustainable work.

They also explore how modern life, digital overload, and constant sensory input are pushing many professionals to the edge of burnout - and what can actually help.

This episode is especially meaningful for therapists, caregivers, educators, and leaders who want to continue serving others without losing themselves in the process.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why burnout is more than just exhaustion
• The hidden business realities of private practice
• How trauma, neurodiversity, and burnout intersect
• Why work-life balance may be the wrong goal
• How emotional capacity impacts parenting, leadership, and relationships
• Why it is okay to pivot, change direction, and listen to your body

A thoughtful and honest conversation about sustainable work, personal limits, and building a life that allows helpers to keep helping.

What does it take to move from feeling stuck to living a life of purpose and fulfillment?

In this episode of The Voice of Hope Podcast, Dr. Ken Huey sits down with Bryan L. Humphrey, a TEDx speaker, two-time author, mental health professional, and leadership consultant who helps individuals overcome obstacles and build meaningful lives.

Bryan shares his powerful personal journey - from struggling with alcohol and failing his professional licensing exam multiple times to discovering purpose through faith, discipline, and personal responsibility. He opens up about the lessons that shaped his mission to help others achieve self-actualization and reduce stress.

Together, they explore the traits that drive fulfillment, the leadership mistakes that damage trust, and how shame can hold people back from healing. Bryan also explains why hope isn’t just something you feel - it’s something you build through action.

If you’ve ever struggled with failure, questioned your purpose, or wanted to lead others with more compassion and clarity, this conversation will challenge and inspire you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why failure can become the catalyst for purpose
• The leadership blind spot that destroys trust
• How shame forms - and how to release it
• Why patience and faith are misunderstood traits of success
• How responsibility creates real hope