In this episode of Unheard Conversations, Elements House member Khristian Schumpert sits down with staff member Doug Latino to share his remarkable story of resilience and determination.

Khristian talks about growing up in the New York City foster system, being adopted by a supportive and loving mother, and spending 10 years in a residential mental health center. After aging out of the system, he experienced more than two years of being unhoused.

Despite these challenges, Khristian has maintained a positive outlook, including finding ways to give back to his community by volunteering. He is an active member of the Elements House clubhouse, where he devotes his time to both the Administration Unit and the Music & Podcast Units.

Khristian’s story offers a powerful perspective on resilience, recovery, and the importance of maintaining a positive outlook through life’s challenges.

Unheard Conversations is produced in the Music & Podcast Studio at Elements House, a clubhouse community on New York City’s Lower East Side and a program of New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS).

Production assistance came from Marcus Hasson, Khristian Schumbert, Phoenix Coffee, Kadija Still, Ronald Hill, Leroy Wells, and Doug Latino. The Unheard Conversations theme music is by Marcus Hasson. Show art photography is by Larry Griffin, with design by Destiny Figueroa. The open-source transition beats in this episode are from BombinSound on Pixabay.

Find us at NYDIS.org/ElementsHouse and follow us on Instagram at @_elementshouse_les.

Khristian also mentioned fellow NYC clubhouses, @LanternHouseClubhouse and the BCS clubhouse @wearebcs.

In this episode of Unheard Conversations, Elements House member Philip Ogola sits down with staff member Jeff Tineo to talk about Philip’s life as a digital humanitarian and first responder in Kenya, and the extreme conditions of human suffering he witnessed firsthand.

Philip reflects on his own trauma and the trauma experienced by first responders, the lasting impact of witnessing human suffering, and how trauma can be passed from one generation to the next.

He also talks about coming to New York City, his journey toward recovery, and what the Elements House clubhouse community has come to mean to him.

Unheard Conversations is produced by the Music & Podcast Unit at Elements House, a clubhouse community on New York City’s Lower East Side and a program of New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS).

Production assistance came from Marcus Hasson, Khristian Schumbert, Phoenix Coffee, Kadija Still, Ronald Hill, Leroy Wells, and Doug Latino. The Unheard Conversations theme music is by Marcus Hasson. Show art photography is by Larry Griffin, with design by Destiny Figueroa. The open-source transition beats in this episode are from the Afro-beats section of Pixabay.

Find us at NYDIS.org/ElementsHouse and follow us on Instagram at @_elementshouse_les.

In this special episode of Unheard Conversations, Elements House clubhouse member Robert Little shares his harrowing story of surviving a drive-by shooting in a conversation with staff member Jeff Tineo. Robert reflects on survival, recovery, the changes that followed, and the wisdom he gained from his experience.

Following Robert’s conversation, we hear from his mother, Laura Bentley, a staff member at Elements House. Laura speaks as both a mother and a member of the Elements House community about the fear and heartbreak that gun violence can bring to families.

Laura also acknowledges Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s focus on community safety and gun violence prevention and expresses hope that this work continues to receive attention and support in the years ahead.

To learn more about the Mayor’s Office of Community Safety, visit the NYC Mayor’s Office of Community Safety at nyc.gov/summersafety.

Production Support: Marcus Hassan, Khristian Schumbert, Phoenix Coffee, Kadija Still, Ronald Hill, Leroy Wells, and Doug Latino. Show art photography is by Larry Griffin, and design is by Destiny Figaroa. Transition beats are by @Rumblefield (IG) Hayden King is the host.

Unheard Conversations is produced by the Music & Podcast Unit at Elements House, a clubhouse community on New York City’s Lower East Side that is a program of nydis.org.

Instagram:

@_elementshouse_les

@nydisnet

In this episode of Unheard Conversations, artist, musician, writer, and poet Jesse Dark shares original poems and joins Elements House staff member Doug Latino in a conversation about memory, identity, loss, and the creative process.

You'll also hear from members and staff in our "Question of the Day" segment, an Elements House tradition that sparks connection and conversation. This episode's question is: What piece of music takes you back to another time in your life, and what memories does it bring with it? Answers remind us how music can preserve memories, reconnect us with people and places, and transport us across time.

Unheard Conversations is produced by the Music & Podcast Unit at Elements House, a Clubhouse International-accredited non profit program on New York City's Lower East Side supporting people living with mental illness through community, meaningful work, and creative expression.

Hosted by Hayden King. Show theme music by Marcus Hasson. Segment transition beats by @Rumblefield (IG). Show art photograph by Larry Griffin. Graphic design by Destiny Figueroa. Production assistance by Marcus Hasson, Leroy Wells, Khristian Schumbert, Phoenix Coffee, Kadija Still, Ronald Hill, and Doug Latino. Sounds of the City, at the beginning of the episode was recorded on the block near the LES clubhouse.

Follow Elements House on Instagram:

@_elementshouse_les

@nydisnet

In this episode of Unheard Conversations, writer, artist, activist and Elements House member Je'jae Mizrahi joins Doug Latino for a conversation about identity, creativity, and self-expression. Je'jae also reads two original poems that explore memory and belonging with remarkable honesty and insight. Later, members and staff share their responses to our"Question of the Day": What is a memory you didn't realize was important until years later? Their reflections offer another window into the stories, connections, and community that make Elements House unique.

Hosted by Hayden King. Produced by the Music and Podcast Unit at Elements House. Production assistance by Marcus Hasson, Khristian Schumbert, Phoenix Coffee, Kadija Still, Ronald Hill, and Doug Latino. Theme music by Marcus Hasson. Segment transition beats by @Rumblefield on Instagram. Show art photography by Larry Griffin and design by Destiny Figueroa. Sounds of the City at the start of the episode is a Mockingbird and emergency vehicle sirens recorded in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn.

Special Thanks: Our deepest thanks to Robin Lai for his invaluable guidance and support that helped us get our podcast studio up and running. We also extend our gratitude to Jack McDonald, whose audio expertise, insight, and encouragement were instrumental in recording our first three episodes. We couldn't have done it without their generosity, talent, and belief in what we're building.

In this episode of Unheard Conversations, Elements House member Valerie Jackson reads her original short story, Ellen's Escape. Set before the Civil War, this fictional, multi-generational tale explores courage, survival, and the pursuit of freedom through Valerie's distinctive storytelling voice. Later, members and staff reflect on our "Question of the Day": What part of your life is quietly asking for more attention? Their thoughtful responses offer another glimpse into the conversations and connections that define the Elements House community.

Hosted by Hayden King. Produced by the Music and Podcast Unit at Elements House. Production assistance by Marcus Hasson, Khristian Schumbert, Phoenix Coffee, Kadija Still, Ronald Hill, and Doug Latino. Theme music by Marcus Hasson. Segment transition beats by @Rumblefield on Instagram. Show art photography by Larry Griffin and design by Destiny Figueroa. Sounds of the City at the start of the episode are the bells of the Delecorte Clock in Central Park.

Special Thanks: Our deepest thanks to Robin Lai for his invaluable guidance and support that helped us get our podcast studio up and running. We also extend our gratitude to Jack McDonald, whose audio expertise, insight, and encouragement were instrumental in recording our first three episodes. We couldn't have done it without their generosity, talent, and belief in what we're building.

In this inaugural episode of Unheard Conversations, Marcus Hasson shares his story of resilience, recovery, and creative expression in a conversation with Elements House staff member Jeff Tineo. Marcus reflects on the role music, DJing, and the clubhouse community have played in his journey. We also hear from members and staff in our "Question of the Day" segment, a clubhouse tradition that sparks connection and conversation.

Hosted by Hayden King. Produced by the Music and Podcast Unit at Elements House. Production assistance by Marcus Hasson, Khristian Schumbert, Phoenix Coffee, Kadija Still, Ronald Hill, and Doug Latino. Theme music by Marcus Hasson. Segment transition beats by @Rumblefield on Instagram. Show art photography by Larry Griffin and design by Destiny Figueroa. Sounds of the City at the start of the episode were recorded on the Manhattan-bound F train in Brooklyn. East Broadway is the F train stop near Elements House.

Special Thanks: Our deepest thanks to Robin Lai for his invaluable guidance and support that helped us get our podcast studio up and running. We also extend our gratitude to Jack McDonald, whose audio expertise, insight, and encouragement were instrumental in recording our first three episodes. We couldn't have done it without their generosity, talent, and belief in what we're building.