Voices for Voices®

Listening is not a soft skill when someone is drowning. We sit down and get honest about how simply being present, staying in the room, and letting someone talk can be real support in a mental health crisis, in grief, or in the slow grind of everyday loneliness. I share why Voices for Voices exists, the big goal of reaching and helping three billion people, and why I see myself as a vessel for stories that matter.

We also talk about what it means to use a platform responsibly. Politics comes up because it is everywhere, but I explain the line we hold: we can host politicians and candidates, we can ask real questions, and we can listen to different positions, but we do not endorse. If someone wants airtime, they have to reach out and show up for a real conversation, not a campaign speech.

The heart of the talk is personal: losing family, sitting through services, spending time with a friend celebrating decades of sobriety, and remembering my dad driving long distances just to sit with me during a rough mental health stretch. We get into anxiety, panic, and how quiet presence can calm the nervous system when words do not work. We also reflect on aging loved ones, dementia, and the kind of listening that stays patient even when the story repeats.

If any of this hits home, subscribe to Voices for Voices, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the conversation.

*Donate Today: LoveVoices.org, CashApp and Venmo

**Find our book here:

Amazon: https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW

Publisher: https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN

***Website: https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb

Instagram: @voicesforvoices

TikTok: @voices_for_voices_22

Facebook: Voices for Voices

*Voices for Voices is a 501c3 nonprofit charity. All donations are 100% tax deductible.

Chapter Markers

• 0:00 Welcome And The Three Billion Goal
• 2:45 Listening As Real Support
• 5:40 From Fear To Public Speaking
• 12:05 Politics Without Endorsements
• 20:15 Grief, Sobriety, And Showing Up
• 24:20 Dad’s Quiet Presence During Crisis
• 33:05 Aging Loved Ones And Patient Listening
• 38:00 Social Media Versus Being Present
• 43:40 500 Shows And Owning Your Voice
• 47:15 Share The Show And Closing Thanks

#IntrovertLeadership #QuietInfluence #LeadershipSkills #IntrovertedLeaders #LeadWithConfidence #PersonalDevelopment #Motivation #SelfImprovement #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #Episode515

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There’s a moment many people hit where they’re not okay, they know they need help, and they still can’t figure out what to say or who to call. I’m Justin Alan Hayes, and I’m talking straight about that moment the one where asking for help feels harder than suffering in silence. Mental health doesn’t come with a handbook, and there isn’t a laminated card with the perfect words that magically fixes a loved one, a family, or your own mind. That uncertainty can be terrifying, especially when you’re the “fixer” who’s used to solving problems fast.

We dig into why support gets complicated when families are scared, kids are involved, and everyone wants behavior to change. One of the toughest truths is also one of the most freeing: no matter how much we love someone, the person has to want the change. I also share what it was like leading up to my hospitalization in November 2017 how isolating it felt, how stigma kept me from calling it mental health, and why swallowing pride was part of getting to real care.

We also talk about the practical barriers people rarely mention out loud: pharmacy delays, prior authorization requirements, and the sheer burnout of fighting a system when you’re already struggling. At the same time, there are more resources than there used to be, including 988 and, in some places, non-emergency teams that can evaluate someone at home. If therapy has ever felt exhausting because you have to repeat your story, you’re not alone and it’s okay to search until you find the right counselor or psychiatrist fit.

If you or someone you love is navigating mental health, crisis support, or the first steps toward therapy and treatment, listen through and then share this with someone who needs it. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell me what made it hardest for you to ask for help.

*Donate Today: LoveVoices.org, CashApp and Venmo

**Find our book here:

Amazon: https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW

Publisher: https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN

***Website: https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb

Instagram: @voicesforvoices

TikTok: @voices_for_voices_22

Facebook: Voices for Voices

*Voices for Voices is a 501c3 nonprofit charity. All donations are 100% tax deductible.

Chapter Markers

• 0:00 Welcome And Why We Show Up
• 1:22 When There Is No Handbook
• 4:20 The Fixer Instinct And Its Limits
• 6:55 Families Want Change Too
• 7:40 My 2017 Hospital Turning Point
• 9:38 Stigma Makes Help Hard
• 10:28 Medication Barriers And Burnout
• 22:00 Newer Crisis Resources Like 988
• 23:05 Finding The Right Counselor Fit
• 26:52 Closing Thoughts And Share Request

#AskingForHelp #MentalHealthAwareness #SupportSystem #EmotionalSupport #SeekingHelp #OvercomingChallenges #LifeAdvice #HelpAndAdvice #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #Episode514

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A week can turn on one good update. We start with a grateful check-in, from summer heat and World Cup buzz to a personal moment of relief as my friend’s second hospital procedure finally works and his heart rhythm gets back into the expected range. It’s a reminder that progress is not always linear, but good news still shows up, and it matters.

From there, I shift into something I’ve been rebuilding in my own life: movement. After roughly nine to ten years away from the gym and a long stretch of sedentary habits, I just wrapped my first full week back. I’m not chasing a bodybuilding goal or some perfect transformation plan. I’m leaning on light weights, more reps, and a routine that supports self-esteem, stress relief, and the mental reset that can come from simply getting your body in motion, even when depression and anxiety are still along for the ride.

We talk through a practical strategy that makes consistency easier: focusing on one body part per workout so missed days don’t derail the whole week. I also share how proximity matters when you’re trying to build a habit, why I keep my head down and stay efficient at the gym, and how to stop comparing your progress to the person lifting heavier next to you. If the gym isn’t an option, we also get into flexible alternatives like Tai Chi, a jump rope workout at home, and small ways to add cardio and stretching for safer warmups.

If you’re trying to restart a fitness journey, build a beginner workout plan, or just move more this summer, come hang out with us. Subscribe, share the show with a few contacts, and leave a review so more people can find it. What’s one small way you can move today?

*Donate Today: LoveVoices.org, CashApp and Venmo

**Find our book here:

Amazon: https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW

Publisher: https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN

***Website: https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb

Instagram: @voicesforvoices

TikTok: @voices_for_voices_22

Facebook: Voices for Voices

*Voices for Voices is a 501c3 nonprofit charity. All donations are 100% tax deductible.

Chapter Markers

• 0:00 Welcome And How To Support
• 1:16 Summer Week And World Cup Buzz
• 1:56 A Friend’s Hospital Update
• 3:15 Kids Summer Memories And Safety
• 4:23 First Week Back In The Gym
• 10:33 Consistency Over Perfection
• 17:51 Tai Chi And Home Workout Options
• 20:40 Machines Vs Free Weights
• 25:45 Cardio Warmups And Stretching
• 26:55 Closing Thoughts And Big Mission

#BackToTheGym #FitnessJourney #GymMotivation #ReturningToFitness #HealthyLifestyle #WorkoutRoutine #FitnessAfter40 #FitnessVlogs #justiceforjustin #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #Episode513

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A priest shows up to give last rites, takes a call, then refuses because the person did not donate enough money. That story is hard to hear, but it points to a problem that shows up in more places than we want to admit: when care becomes transactional, dignity gets compromised fast.

From there, we talk about patient advocacy in the hospital through a current heart related hospitalization that hits close to home. I share what I saw and heard firsthand: cardiologists coming in without checking the heart, little visible note taking, and a steady push toward procedures like cardioversion or ablation without slowing down to explain the “why.” We get into informed consent, second opinions, and the simple right every patient has to say, “I need time to think, I need to talk to my power of attorney, and I need a clear plan.”

We also connect physical symptoms to mental health and trauma informed care. When someone has lived through abuse and ongoing trauma, the nervous system can stay locked in fight or flight, and the body can carry that stress for decades. If a hospital team treats only the number on a monitor and ignores the full life behind it, they may miss a major driver of what is happening. That is why we highlight hospital advocates and holistic care, getting the right people in the room so the left hand knows what the right hand is doing.

If you have ever felt rushed, dismissed, or pressured in a medical setting, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more real talk, share this with someone who might need it, and leave a review with the one question you wish every doctor would answer before a procedure.

*Donate Today: LoveVoices.org, CashApp and Venmo

**Find our book here:

Amazon: https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW

Publisher: https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN

***Website: https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb

Instagram: @voicesforvoices

TikTok: @voices_for_voices_22

Facebook: Voices for Voices

*Voices for Voices is a 501c3 nonprofit charity. All donations are 100% tax deductible.

Chapter Markers

• 0:00 Welcome And A Hard Topic
• 0:53 The Call Nobody Wants
• 3:59 Last Rites Denied Over Money
• 5:23 Why Advocacy Still Matters
• 8:28 Heart Doctors Who Do Not Listen
• 11:56 Pushed Toward Procedures
• 13:44 Trauma And Physical Health Collide
• 20:20 Slow Down And Ask For An Advocate
• 27:50 This Is Not A Hotel Comment
• 31:51 Takeaways And How To Support

#PatientAdvocacy #HospitalCare #HealthcareSystem #PatientRights #MedicalAdvocacy #HealthLiteracy #AdvocacyInAction #EmpoweredPatients #justiceforjustin #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #Episode512

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I spent years putting real effort into mental health, recovery, and getting through the hard seasons, but I also had to admit something out loud: I was ignoring my physical health. Not in a dramatic way, just in the slow, everyday way that happens when you sit more than you move, gain weight over time, and keep telling yourself you’ll start “later.” This conversation is my reset, and I’m sharing it in case you’ve been stuck in the same loop.

I talk through why I tried a three-day gym trial, what made this gym feel doable (no sales pressure, no credit card hold, and it’s close enough that I’ll actually go), and why my goal is simple: get toned and feel better. No bodybuilding contests, no maxing out, no chasing my 20s. Just lightweight strength training, higher reps, cardio options, and a plan built around consistency instead of perfection.

We also get into the mindset side of fitness, because comparison can wreck motivation fast. I share how I’m staying focused on my purpose, plus the backup plan that keeps me moving when I travel: Tai Chi for mobility and calm, and a jump rope for quick cardio anywhere. If you want a realistic approach to physical health that supports your mental health, press play and come with me.

If this helps, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find Voices for Voices.

*Donate Today: LoveVoices.org, CashApp and Venmo

**Find our book here:

Amazon: https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW

Publisher: https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN

***Website: https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb

Instagram: @voicesforvoices

TikTok: @voices_for_voices_22

Facebook: Voices for Voices

*Voices for Voices is a 501c3 nonprofit charity. All donations are 100% tax deductible.

Chapter Markers

• 0:01 Welcome And Why Health Matters
• 2:14 The Three-Day Gym Trial Decision
• 8:10 How Work Stress Broke The Habit
• 14:25 Toning Goals And Training Light
• 21:55 Travel Backups With Tai Chi
• 26:05 Focus Mindset And Closing Ask

#healthylifestyle #selfcare #wellnessjourney #physicalhealth #mentalwellbeing #smallsteps #fitnessmotivation #healthtips #justiceforjustin #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #Episode511

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A friend goes from celebrating 40 years of sobriety to landing in the hospital with a heart number that shocks everyone. That whiplash is where we start, because it’s the moment a lot of us recognize: life can feel stable, and then a call comes that changes your whole week, your whole mindset, sometimes your whole faith.

We talk through what we understand as non-medical people, including the basic idea of ejection fraction and why “within range” matters when doctors are watching your heart work overtime. But this is not a medical deep dive. It’s a human story about fear of hospitals, the memories that come back when you’ve lost someone before, and the surprising peace that can show up when you choose to sit with a friend for two or three hours and just be there.

We also reflect on recovery and resilience, because Don’s journey of living drug-free is a reminder that transformation is real and hard-won. Then we move into what compassion looks like in practice: keeping someone company, refusing to let them be alone, and showing support without needing the perfect words. A small moment of generosity, including a gift of blessed holy water from Venezuela, becomes a symbol of how people can keep giving even while carrying their own burden.

If this conversation hits you, share it with someone who needs encouragement, subscribe for more stories that center empathy and service, and leave a review so more people can find Voices for Voices. Who can you check on today?

*Donate Today: LoveVoices.org, CashApp and Venmo

**Find our book here:

Amazon: https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW

Publisher: https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN

***Website: https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb

Instagram: @voicesforvoices

TikTok: @voices_for_voices_22

Facebook: Voices for Voices

*Voices for Voices is a 501c3 nonprofit charity. All donations are 100% tax deductible.

#hospitalvisit #mentalhealthawareness #compassionatecare #showingup #supportingothers #unexpectedconnections #humanexperience #healingjourney #justiceforjustin #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #Episode510

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Life doesn’t usually tell you right away whether you’re making the “right” choice and that silence can mess with your head. I talk about what it feels like to chase validation, second-guess everything, and carry a storm of thoughts you can’t quite shut off, even when you look fine on the outside.

From there, I get real about mental health support: why I resisted therapy for years, what finally pushed me to take counseling seriously, and why having one person who won’t judge you can be a turning point. We also dig into the fear that stops so many people from reaching out, like worrying about what others will think, feeling embarrassed about seeing a psychiatrist, or assuming you “shouldn’t” need help.

We go straight at the stigma around mental illness, diagnoses, and medication. Labels can feel heavy, but they can also help your care team support you in specific ways. And while I don’t enjoy taking medication, I’d rather do what helps me function than slide back into the worst version of my thoughts. If you’ve been putting it off, my ask is simple: just have a conversation.

Subscribe for more honest talks, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find Voices for Voices.

*Donate Today: LoveVoices.org, CashApp and Venmo

**Find our book here:

Amazon: https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW

Publisher: https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN

***Website: https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb

Instagram: @voicesforvoices

TikTok: @voices_for_voices_22

Facebook: Voices for Voices

*Voices for Voices is a 501c3 nonprofit charity. All donations are 100% tax deductible.

Chapter Markers

• 0:00 Welcome And Quick Support Request
• 0:52 Tour Rehearsals And Time Away
• 2:15 Life Feels Hard Without Feedback
• 4:35 Why Talking To Someone Helps
• 6:59 Faith Identity And Fear Of Judgment
• 9:49 Diagnoses Labels And Mental Health Stigma
• 14:10 Medication Care And Taking The Next Step
• 19:01 Closing Thanks And Share The Show

#Support #MentalHealth #SelfCare #EmotionalSupport #Resilience #LifeChallenges #YouAreNotAlone #WellnessJourney #justiceforjustin #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #Episode509

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Who’s holding the pen to your story and how much of it is really yours to control? We sit with that question and follow it where it leads: childhood memories of learning to write, the messy first drafts we all live through, and the uncomfortable reality that the biggest outcomes in life aren’t fully in our hands.

From my perspective as a believer, I share why I see Jesus as the author of my life, and how that belief changes the way I think about control, fear, and the clock that keeps moving whether we’re ready or not. We talk about life’s clear arc birth, living, and death and why reflecting on mortality can be healthy when it pushes us toward meaning instead of rumination. If you’ve ever felt stuck between your plans and what life hands you, this conversation gives language to that tension.

Then we get practical: procrastination is a habit that steals possibility, and urgency is a gift when you use it well. I connect that urgency to our work at Voices for Voices, built on my mental health, mental illnesses, trauma, and recovery, and I share what it means to cross 500 episodes without a big corporation behind us. What keeps it going is belief, mission, and people like you.

If this resonates, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. What’s one thing you’re ready to start today?

*Donate Today: LoveVoices.org, CashApp and Venmo

**Find our book here:

Amazon: https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW

Publisher: https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN

***Website: https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb

Instagram: @voicesforvoices

TikTok: @voices_for_voices_22

Facebook: Voices for Voices

*Voices for Voices is a 501c3 nonprofit charity. All donations are 100% tax deductible.

Chapter Markers

• 0:00 Welcome And Quick Ways To Help
• 0:59 The Author Of Your Life
• 3:29 What Kids Teach Us About Stories
• 5:25 Faith Control And The End Of Life
• 15:37 Urgency Beats Procrastination
• 18:28 500 Episodes Built On Belief
• 23:01 Gratitude And Share The Show

#WhoWritesYourLife #LifeChoices #PersonalDevelopment #SelfDiscovery #MindsetShift #PhilosophyOfLife #LifeJourney #InspirationJourney #justiceforjustin #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #Episode508

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Watching your child scroll YouTube on a school-issued laptop can feel normal right up until the moment you see something that makes your stomach drop. We’re Justin Alan Hayes and Voices for Voices, and we’re putting out a blunt public service announcement about a viral-style airport “challenge” video where an adult uses prosthetics to disguise his identity inside a place that is supposed to run on verification, caution, and security.

We walk through why disguises in an airport are not just a goofy prop choice, but a behavior that can normalize deception in a high-security environment. Even if the creator’s intent is entertainment, the message that lands for viewers, especially kids, can be “this is fine if it gets views.” We also talk about consistency: regular travelers deal with ID checks, screening, and security fees, so it’s fair to ask why filmed stunts get treated differently.

From there, we connect the dots to child development and digital safety. Kids are still building the reasoning systems that help them judge risk, and platforms plus school devices can make edgy content look approved simply because it’s accessible. We call on YouTube content moderation, school administrators, and parents to take age-appropriate filtering and online behavior modeling seriously.

If you care about safer media for kids and clearer boundaries for public spaces, listen, share this with another parent or guardian, and subscribe so you don’t miss what we tackle next. After you listen, what should platforms and schools do differently?

*Donate Today: LoveVoices.org, CashApp and Venmo

**Find our book here:

Amazon: https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW

Publisher: https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN

***Website: https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb

Instagram: @voicesforvoices

TikTok: @voices_for_voices_22

Facebook: Voices for Voices

*Voices for Voices is a 501c3 nonprofit charity. All donations are 100% tax deductible.

Chapter Markers

• 0:00 Welcome And Quick Ways To Help
• 1:14 Why This Is A Public Warning
• 2:08 The YouTube Airport Disguise Scenario
• 4:38 Security Risks And Identity Fraud Concerns
• 12:10 Kids Watching And Brain Development
• 20:30 School Laptops And Content Oversight
• 29:52 Precedent Fairness And Closing Appeal

#YouTubeChallenges #AirportSafety #ViralVideos #Salish #JordanMatter #YouTubeTrends #SafetyConcerns #tsa #transportationsecurityagency #dhs #departmentofhomelandsecurity #airportsecurity #ViralChallenge #justiceforjustin #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #Episode507

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A prescription can be sitting at the pharmacy, but still be out of reach. I’m Justin Alan Hayes, and I’m putting a spotlight on what happens when prior authorization, insurance approval, and pharmacy systems collide and the patient pays the price, sometimes with their mental health.

I walk you through a real timeline: the missing prior authorization notice that should have hit my prescriber immediately, the multi day delay that follows, and the moment CVS tells me my medication is “ready” for $372. After the form is finally approved, the price changes to $90, but the process somehow gets slower, not faster. Then comes the part that makes no sense: the system acts like the medication needs to be reordered even though it was already there when the cash price applied. That’s not just frustrating, it’s dangerous when the medication is meant to be taken daily and anxiety is already high.

We also dig into the practical issues people run into every day: generic vs name brand choices, confusing automated phone updates, inventory and billing mismatches, and the way patients are forced to be the middleman between insurance companies and pharmacies. I share why this kind of administrative red tape can push people who are already struggling to a breaking point, and why healthcare accountability has to include the systems and policies that create these delays.

If you’ve ever battled prescription coverage, prior authorization, or pharmacy delays, you’re not alone. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find Voices for Voices and feel supported.

*Donate Today: LoveVoices.org, CashApp and Venmo

**Find our book here:

Amazon: https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW

Publisher: https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN

***Website: https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb

Instagram: @voicesforvoices

TikTok: @voices_for_voices

Facebook: Voices for Voices

*Voices for Voices is a 501c3 nonprofit charity. All donations are 100% tax deductible.

Chapter Markers

• 0:00 Welcome And The Mission
• 1:49 The Prior Authorization Breakdown
• 8:20 CVS Pricing Shock And Confusion
• 14:40 Out Of Stock Vs Reality
• 20:14 When Delays Put Lives At Risk
• 26:00 Accountability And A Better System
• 29:23 Final Thoughts And How To Help

#PharmacyIssues #MedicalEthics #HealthcareAccess #PrescriptionRefusal #PatientRights #PharmacyStories #HealthcareChallenges #PatientAdvocacy #cvspharmacy #justiceforjustin #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #Episode506

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