This episode is for anyone who knows (or WANTS to know!) what it's like when your brain just works differently than everyone else's.
More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/trashladd
Emmett (TrashLadd) is 17 and from Canada. He graduated high school this year and knows what it's like to navigate school with ADHD and Asperger's. He got his ADHD diagnosis in third grade and his Asperger's diagnosis in seventh grade. That second diagnosis helped explain a lot about how he acted at school and at home.
Before his ADHD diagnosis Emmett couldn't focus in class. He was always moving around and couldn't sit still. His parents took him to see a specialist who tested him and started him on a path to getting the accommodations he needed. After being diagnosed he got extra time on tests, access to an iPad for notes and scribes when he needed them. Most importantly he started to understand the real struggles people face when living with mental disabilities.
The ADHD symptoms Emmett deals with daily include major anxiety and constantly jumping between tasks. He describes being very much in the now, losing track of time completely. He'll get home from school, start playing Xbox with friends and suddenly realize hours have passed. To combat this he sets tons of timers on his phone and tries to stick to schedules even though it's hard.
The Asperger's shows up differently. When something goes wrong or doesn't happen the normal way, Emmett starts to panic. If he can't find his book or phone or charger he feels that wrongness immediately. His solution is keeping things visible. As his mom put it, out of sight means out of mind. His room might look messy to others but everything is in places where he knows he can find it.
Emmett originally planned to go into coding after high school but realized he hated it. During a co-op placement at an elementary school he discovered he loved helping kids in the classroom. Now he wants to become a developmental service worker. He knows what it's like to struggle with learning and memory. He wants to use those experiences to advocate for kids going through the same thing and help them get what they need to succeed.
His advice for other young adults struggling with mental health is straightforward. Find something that motivates you. For him it's talking with friends every morning and asking how they slept. Get into a routine and stick with it until something new happens. Join random Discord servers and make new friends. Find people you can count on.
Emmett is big on calling out people who self-diagnose or compare mental illnesses like they're all the same. Just because someone has anxiety once doesn't mean they understand what it's like for someone who has it way worse. He wants people to inform themselves, learn what's actually going on and figure out how they can help. And if someone doesn't want help then leave them alone.
The biggest takeaway from talking with Emmett is that living with ADHD and Asperger's means constantly adapting. It means finding systems that work even if they look weird to other people. It means having friends who have your back. And it means being willing to reach out for help when you need it.
If you've ever found yourself with 82 browser tabs (mental or literal!) open while simultaneously achieving nothing, this conversation is for you.
Ways to connect, more info & resources - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/albert-bramante
Dr. Albert Bramante joined me to talk about why performers and educators are especially vulnerable to self-sabotage and what we can actually do about it. As a performance psychologist and talent agent who's spent over 20 years working with actors and teachers, Albert has seen the patterns that keep talented people stuck.
The conversation got real pretty quickly when Albert pointed out something most of us don't want to admit: that nervous feeling before you perform or teach is physiologically identical to excitement. Your body can't tell the difference between stage fright and anticipation. The only thing that changes is the story you tell yourself about those butterflies.
Albert explained that chronic procrastination and perfectionism are just two sides of the same coin. When you want something to be perfect and you know it never will be, you just never start. Or you start so late that failure becomes inevitable. It's a beautiful self-fulfilling prophecy that keeps you safe from ever really trying.
Teachers and performers face unique pressure because there's rarely immediate feedback. You might impact someone's life and never know it. A student might not realize what you taught them until years later. An audience member might be deeply moved but never say a word. That absence of validation feeds impostor syndrome like nothing else.
We also dug into the myth of multitasking. Spoiler: it doesn't exist. What we call multitasking is actually just rapid task-switching, and it's killing our productivity. Albert recommended the three to five tab rule (yes, I felt personally attacked), and pointed out that when you have too many choices or too many things open, you get paralyzed and accomplish nothing.
One of the most powerful moments came when we talked about trauma and grief. Albert made it clear that if you can't talk about a traumatic event the way you'd describe what you had for breakfast last week, you still have work to do. And that's okay! Healing isn't linear! You can get all the way to acceptance and wake up the next day right back in anger.
His advice for anyone caught in the self-sabotage cycle is to remember that you are enough. Most people walk around thinking they're not worthy of success or happiness, and that belief becomes the script they follow.
The practical takeaway that hit hardest: if opening your email makes you feel like you're drowning, if you're always tired but never resting, if every year feels the same as the last one, you're probably holding yourself back. And the first step to changing it is just noticing that it's happening.
Because self-sabotage isn't usually conscious. Nobody wakes up and decides to ruin their own day. But once you see the pattern, you can start to change it.
This conversation was a reminder that getting in your own way isn't a character flaw. But it IS a protection mechanism that's outlived its usefulness. Your brain thinks it's keeping you safe by convincing you to wait for the perfect moment or do more research or tell yourself you're too tired. Safe and stuck look pretty similar from the outside. If you're a teacher wondering if you're making any difference, or a creative person tired of your own excuses, or just someone who's spent too many years in the same place wondering why nothing ever changes, this episode might be the wake-up call you didn't know you needed.
This episode is for anyone who's ever felt like they're not allowed to grieve because someone else has it worse, or who's struggling to let go of the person they used to be.
More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/victoriawaye
VictoriaWaye started streaming Minecraft on a dare from a friend and built a following around the simple message: it's okay to be a dork. But her journey took her somewhere deeper when she realized she had something more meaningful to share.
Victoria lost both her parents when she was nine years old. The grief hit her immediately and hard. She cried through their funeral and even sang at the service. Her younger sister had a completely different reaction. She sat stone-faced and seemed unaffected. Years later that suppressed grief erupted into self-harm and suicide attempts. The sisters handled the same loss in totally opposite ways and it drove them apart for years.
What made things harder was that Victoria's aunts told her to "close the book" just three months after her parents died. At nine years old she was expected to get over it and move on. She wasn't allowed to grieve so she channeled everything into roller skating nine hours a week. The processing she needed got buried under activity and expectations.
Victoria's sister eventually studied psychology and became a nurse. She apologized for blaming Victoria and transformed her pain into a drive to help others. Now, their relationship is not perfect, but they've rebuilt something real.
Victoria's work now focuses on a truth most people don't talk about: grief comes in many forms. Yes... we grieve death... but we also grieve lost jobs, ended relationships, missed opportunities and versions of ourselves we used to be. She talks openly about mourning the person she was at 19 when everything felt easier and her sense of style was "on fleek." Learning to let go of past versions of yourself is its own kind of loss.
One thing Victoria emphasizes is the danger of comparative suffering. People tell themselves they're not allowed to feel bad because someone else has it worse. But grief doesn't work that way. You can't only be happy when you're the happiest person alive so why would you only allow yourself to grieve when you have the worst loss? Your feelings are valid regardless of what anyone else is experiencing.
She also pushes back hard on the idea that content creators are therapists. Setting boundaries matters whether you're streaming to thousands or just talking to friends. Before dumping your problems on someone ask if they have the capacity to hear it. Real friendship means respecting that sometimes the answer is no.
Victoria's advice for anyone struggling with loss right now is to find people who lift you up. Stop comparing your grief to others. Celebrate small wins even if that win is just getting out of bed. And remember that everything is temporary including pain.
Her story proves that you can stand in the darkness and still find your way to the light. Where you are right now doesn't have to be where you stay.
Listen to this episode if you're feeling stuck, tired of living up to everyone else's expectations, or wondering if there's more to life than just checking boxes and paying bills.
More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/nina-bevar
In this conversation, we dug into what it really means to make decisions from your soul instead of your head with empowerment coach Nina Bevar, who left Switzerland at 34 to chase her dreams in New York City and eventually Hawaii.
Nina's journey wasn't some overnight success story. She spent years visiting New York, falling in love with the city but making excuses about why she couldn't move. It took hitting rock bottom (losing her job and spending two years unemployed and depressed in Geneva) before she finally asked herself the hard question: Why am I staying somewhere I hate?
The shift came at a wedding in Mallorca when a friend simply asked her that same question out loud. Sometimes we need to hear our own truth reflected back to us. Nina saved money for a year at a job she couldn't stand and made the leap. She says she grew more in seven years abroad than in 34 years at home.
So what exactly is a soul-driven decision? Nina explains it as something you feel physically in your heart and body, not just in your head. It's that mix of scared and excited that tells you you're onto something real. It's not about wanting a new car or chasing material stuff. It's deeper than that, often connected to dreams you had as a kid before life got complicated.
The tricky part is when you recognize that modern life is noisy as hell. Between work and bills and kids and everyone else's expectations, it's hard to hear what your soul actually wants. Nina recommends taking even just an hour a week to check in with yourself. Ask the simple questions: Am I happy? Do I love myself? What do I actually need right now?
A huge theme in our conversation was limiting beliefs. Nina works with clients who say things like "I'm not good with money" or "I'm not confident" and helps them trace where those beliefs came from. Usually it's someone else's fear or expectation that got lodged in their brain. One client realized her money anxiety came directly from her dad's scarcity mindset, even though she was actually doing great financially.
We also got real about privilege and practicality. Yes, Nina moved countries twice, but she doesn't have kids. She acknowledges that complicates things. But she also pushes back on the idea that complicated means impossible. Often we create more obstacles in our heads than actually exist. Did you research what it would really take? Did you ask someone who's done it? Or are you just assuming it's too hard?
Her advice for anyone feeling stuck: start small. You don't have to quit your job and move to Hawaii tomorrow. Take one tiny step toward what lights you up. Visit a place you're curious about. Have a conversation about your dreams out loud. Read a book about it. Put some wood on the fire of your soul so it doesn't go out while you're waiting for the "right time."
Because here's the thing Nina wants you to remember: people don't regret the things they did. They regret what they didn't do. Life is short and unpredictable. What are you waiting for?
Oh, and her best life hack is... Naps!! Two-hour naps, specifically. The Italians are onto something.
Whether you're a parent navigating IEPs, a teacher searching for better ways to reach struggling students or anyone who wants to understand what it really takes to support kids with special needs, this conversation will give you practical tools and a hefty dose of reality without the sugar coating.
More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/josh-henry
Josh Henry didn't set out to work with special needs kids. At 14, he was just helping out at a church event when a five-year-old girl with cerebral palsy latched onto him and wouldn't let go. That moment changed everything.
Now Josh coaches adaptive sports through an organization called Magic while working full-time at Amazon. He spent five years in the school system as a special ed aide and he gets it in a way most people don't. He was a special ed kid himself.
Growing up with dyslexia and severe ADHD meant Josh knew what it felt like to watch classmates finish tests while he was still on question three. He knew the panic of thinking he looked dumb. He also knew what it felt like when a teacher finally said "You're not behind them. You just learn differently."
That's the mentality he brings to every kid he works with now whether they're in wheelchairs learning hockey or struggling through reading assignments two grade levels behind.
The challenges haven't changed much since Josh was in school but the resources have gotten better. Weighted lap bands. Yoga balls instead of chairs. Fidget tools. Speech-to-text software that turns a failing writer into an A student. The key is knowing your kids well enough to know what they need and when to push versus when to pull out a board game and just let them breathe.
Remote learning has made everything harder. Josh predicts we're going to see a surge in kids qualifying for IEPs simply because they fell so far behind during the pandemic chaos. When every teacher had a different system and parents were trying to work full-time jobs while monitoring Zoom calls, it was a perfect storm for kids who were already struggling.
His advice for parents is NOT to try to be Superman or Superwoman. Find resources. Ask for help. Google is your friend. Organizations like Educational Parents Unlimited exist in every state to help parents understand IEPs and advocate for their kids.
The best part of working with special needs kids according to Josh is the attitude. A kid with Down syndrome giving you an unexpected hug and saying "I love you Mr. Henry" makes every frustrating tantrum worth it. Hearing a friend's autistic son making happy sounds in the background of a Fortnite session reminds him that life's really not that bad.
The worst part, though... Also the attitude. Some days kids come in ready to work. Other days they're throwing themselves on the ground because their dad didn't come home last night and no amount of patience is going to make them learn their multiplication tables.
What Josh hopes every kid takes away from working with him isn't math or reading skills. It's knowing how to use the tools available to them. Because not everyone's going to college and that's okay. But everyone needs to know how to ask for help and where to find it when they need it.
If you're a parent, teacher, school administrator or anyone who gives a damn about helping young people navigate the chaos of growing up, this episode is for you.
More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/iuri-melo
Licensed clinical social worker Iuri Melo joined me for a Mental Health Monday conversation that challenged a lot of assumptions about student mental health. With 20 years of experience and five kids of his own, Iuri knows what he's talking about when it comes to supporting young people.
When students reach out to School Pulse (the text-based support service Iuri co-founded), two themes dominate the conversation: pressure to perform and relationship struggles. Not vague anxiety or mysterious depression but concrete worries about grades, parents, friends and fitting in.
Iuri's take is that we're focusing too much on teaching people to identify mental health problems and not enough on building protective factors. Schools don't need teachers to become amateur diagnosticians. They need teachers to be friendly, approachable and genuinely connected with their students.
School Pulse takes a proactive approach rather than waiting for crisis. They text students directly with encouragement, growth mindset tools and practical advice. About 75-80% of their interactions with students are positive. When crisis does happen, their goal is simple: connect kids back to their parents and their school community.
The service isn't trying to replace therapy or become the ultimate solution, but it is filling a gap by being accessible (just a text message away), immediate and less intimidating than walking into a counselor's office.
Iuri's advice for educators is to be friends with your students. Not in an inappropriate way but in a genuine, fist-bump-at-the-door kind of way. When teachers invest in relationships, students do better academically and emotionally. When students are friends with their teachers, they're more likely to ask for help when they need it.
He also pushed back against the SEL (social-emotional learning) controversy. School Pulse makes all their content completely transparent to parents and proactively includes them in email campaigns. Their focus isn't on clinical diagnoses but on practical skills that help kids succeed academically and socially.
If Iuri could wave a magic wand, he'd start what he calls a "humility movement." In a world where everyone seems absolutely certain about everything, he wishes people (especially those influencing young minds) would approach conversations with a beginner's mindset. Just because we think or feel something doesn't make it capital-T True.
Throughout our conversation, Iuri kept coming back to simple practices that actually work. His personal life hack is to start the day with movement. His advice for managing emotions is to not overthink your thinking. His favorite way to boost mood is to practice gratitude but add "because" to go one layer deeper.
For parents, his message was clear: don't send your kids into the world with fear. Send them with confidence. Model approachability. Make yourself a safe place to land.
The conversation reminded me that supporting student mental health doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes it's as simple as showing up, being kind and helping kids connect with the people who care about them most.
This episode is for anyone who's ever felt like their brain is working against them, who's tired of pretending everything is fine when it's not, or who needs to hear that surviving the day is enough.
Most people don't understand what it's like when your brain is wired differently. They don't get the exhaustion of fighting yourself every single day just to do basic things. Sebbzzy knows that fight intimately.
Diagnosed with ADHD and Tourette syndrome at six years old, Sebbzzy spent his childhood being medicated and told something was wrong with him. His stepfather constantly corrected his tics, giving him negative attention that destroyed his self-confidence. The result was that he learned to camouflage his tics by mimicking normal behaviors like coughing when others coughed. He described Tourette's as an itch in your whole body that you have to release through movement or sound. The compulsive thinking that came with it meant doing things in specific patterns or numbers.
Then depression hit five years before our interview. Not the kind of sadness people think of when they hear the word depression. The kind that steals your ability to feel anything genuine. Sebbzzy talked about laughing as a reflex rather than a real emotion. About smiling at the "right" times to appear normal. About the complete disconnect from positive emotions while negative thought patterns run on repeat.
The fatigue is what he hates most. Not physical tiredness but the mental wall between him and everything he wants to do. He compared it to having a barrier between himself and his goals even though nothing is physically stopping him. He loves being active, playing guitar, working out and improving himself. But depression doesn't care what you love. Some days you just can't do it.
Add anxiety to that mix and you get physical symptoms that mimic serious illness. Sebbzzy described waking up after barely sleeping, feeling aches all over his body and having trouble breathing. He thought he had COVID. It was anxiety. The conditions feed each other in a brutal cycle. Anxiety triggers his Tourette's tics. Depression makes his ADHD worse. The ADHD makes it harder to maintain routines that help with depression.
He refused professional help for years because he wanted to fix his own problems. He's an overthinker who can usually figure out what he needs to do. The problem was, he couldn't stay consistent. When things crashed again after years of barely functioning, his mother encouraged him to get help. He finally agreed, partly because Norway's healthcare system provides free treatment for serious depression and anxiety. Having a diagnosis on paper also gives you certain rights and protections.
His advice for getting unstuck is brutally practical - take small steps. Get a haircut. Take a shower. Do something that makes you feel like you're taking care of yourself. It won't cure anything but it creates momentum. He uses a rubber band on his wrist to snap himself out of negative thinking. He forces himself to do physical activity even when depression makes everything feel impossible.
The biggest misconception he wants to destroy is that you can just think yourself healthy. ..That depression is a choice or a mindset problem. You can use positive thinking and good habits to manage symptoms but you can't think away chemical changes in your brain. You can't willpower your way out of neurological conditions.
https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/sebbzzy
Sebbzzy was 19 when we talked. He'd been fighting these conditions for most of his life. He wasn't cured. He wasn't "better." He was surviving and that's enough.
This episode is for anyone who has ever put on headphones to escape a bad day, danced alone in their kitchen to shake off stress or wondered why certain songs hit them right in the chest and make them feel something they can't quite explain.
More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/justin-paul
Justin Paul didn't set out to become a college professor. The international DJ and record producer stumbled into teaching almost by accident when a colleague suggested he'd be good at it. Three decades later he's still balancing life in the DJ booth with life in the classroom at UCLA, and he's learned a thing or two about how music shapes our mental and emotional wellbeing.
Paul's relationship with music started early. His grandmother and mother both had killer vinyl collections and his mom sang in a cover band. By 14 he was helping his cousin haul equipment and learning the craft of DJ-ing. Music became his escape during a turbulent childhood. "When there was trauma or weirdness going on I would be able to go into my room and play records and escape through music," he explains.
That escapist power isn't just personal. Paul talks about watching the dance floor from above at packed venues and seeing people literally dance their problems away. Some were dancers from strip clubs coming to cleanse themselves of weird energy. Others were students dealing with stress. The common thread was that music gave them permission to leave their troubles behind, even temporarily.
But here's where it gets really interesting. Paul dove deep into the science of sound frequencies during his graduate studies and discovered that certain frequencies can actually heal. The 40Hz frequency found in house and techno music's bass and kick drums? Research shows it can slow or even reverse dementia and other mental health issues. These lower frequencies hit us in the chest and abdomen almost like a physical cleansing.
Different genres create different emotional states too. Jazz makes people reflective. House and techno bring diverse groups together without the aggression that rock or hip hop can sometimes trigger (especially when alcohol is involved). Paul learned this firsthand by watching which songs sparked fights and which ones created unity on the dance floor.
His advice to young artists struggling with self-doubt and perfectionism is simple: Keep going. Persistence beats talent every time. He's a big believer in Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 hours of deliberate practice and tells his students it's okay to have a day job while pursuing their art. Financial stability actually protects mental health and creative freedom.
During the pandemic Paul created "Tropical Stardust Meditations," an ambient soundscape project designed for meditation. He made the first track intentionally short because busy people don't always have 30 minutes to meditate. Even three minutes of intentional sound can help reset your nervous system.
Paul protects his own mental health through exercise, meditation, naps and a solid eight hours of sleep. He tries to meditate before every performance to clear his mind. And he's learned to create an imaginary force field around himself when he steps into events because hundreds or thousands of people are beaming their energy at him.
His final wisdom is that you can't just "get over" mental health struggles. Healing is a lifelong process and anyone who tells you to rub some dirt on it and get back in the game doesn't understand how trauma actually works.
Music isn't just entertainment. It's medicine, community and sometimes the best therapist money can't buy.
This episode is essential listening for anyone who's ever struggled with their mental health, loved someone who has, or wants to understand what depression and self-harm actually look like beyond the sanitized awareness campaigns.
More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/ian-mcguckin
Sometimes the most powerful voices come from unexpected places. When Ian McGuckin reached out on Reddit willing to share his story, I knew we had something special. This high school senior from Michigan isn't your typical guest, but his insights into mental health run deeper than many people twice his age.
Ian was diagnosed with depression and anxiety during his freshman year of high school. What followed was a difficult journey through self-harm that lasted until October of last year. But this story goes beyond the struggle. He talks about finding what actually works when the standard answers fall short.
Ian describes his depression as pervasive loneliness and disconnection. "I felt like I was in my own world and I was very alone," he explains. "Like I was just an avatar walking through all the stuff and the real world was in my mind." Moving frequently as a kid left him feeling like a perpetual outsider, always one step removed from the deep connections his peers shared.
His anxiety manifested mostly as social anxiety. Simple things like throwing away trash in class became overwhelming. The weight of worrying about how others perceived him was constant and exhausting.
When Ian talks about overcoming self-harm, he's refreshingly honest about what worked and what didn't. Ice in his hands, rubber bands on his wrists, running until the urge passed. He emphasizes that no single tactic solved everything. It was the combination of many strategies that finally broke through.
Exercise became particularly important, offering a triple benefit: distraction, physical sensation and that crucial endorphin rush. Running gave him the added advantage of getting away from whatever he might use to harm himself.
Now Ian volunteers with Teens Thriving Together, a nonprofit run entirely by teenagers focused on mental health support and education. They're building a website to serve as a hub for struggling teens and working to incorporate mental health education into school curriculums nationwide.
His motivation is clear: he wants to break down the stigma that kept him isolated for so long. "It happens to everybody," he says about mental health struggles. "Everybody has those times when their emotions and their brain takes hold of them."
Perhaps the most important thing Ian shares is about support systems. He had caring family and friends, but often didn't reach out when he needed them most. When he finally did open up, the reactions were overwhelmingly positive. The stigma he feared existed more in his head than in reality.
For anyone struggling now, Ian's advice is practical: find your community, even if it's online. Keep your hands and mind busy. Don't underestimate how many people actually care about you, even when your brain insists otherwise.
Ian McGuckin is proof that teenagers aren't just the future. They're changing things right now. And we should all be paying attention.
This episode is for anyone who's ever stood awkwardly at a funeral wondering what to say, anyone supporting a grieving friend, or anyone who wants to show up better for the people they care about when life gets hard.
More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/barbara-bowman
Barbara Bowman has lived through more loss than most people can imagine. Through those experiences she's witnessed both the beautiful and the cringe-worthy ways people respond to death and grief. Her book "What Not To Do At Funerals: A Newbie's Guide To Death" tackles the awkwardness head-on with humor and practical advice.
Working in a med spa gave Barbara a front-row seat to grief complaints. After hearing countless stories about funeral mishaps and people not knowing what to do, she realized there was a gap. Nothing out there offered quick, punchy guidance for navigating these situations. So she wrote a 60-page guide you could literally download on your way to a funeral.
The biggest takeaway? Grief is unique to each person and each relationship. Losing a grandparent as a kid is vastly different from losing a spouse or child as an adult. The depth of grief correlates with the hopes and dreams wrapped up in that relationship. When someone tells you they understand your pain because their grandmother died, they might not realize they're minimizing something much heavier.
Barbara emphasizes that funerals aren't about you. They're about honoring the deceased and supporting the grievers. Show up. Don't be late. Dress like you're going to a job interview. No selfies. No asking how they died. And for the love of everything, don't compare your grief to theirs or tell them they should have gone to your doctor.
The conversation highlighted how COVID changed everything. For several years people couldn't gather for funerals and that created a new normal where not showing up became acceptable. But people remember who shows up and they definitely remember who doesn't.
One of the most powerful points: never be afraid to say the name of someone who died. Grieving people want to talk about their loved ones. If mentioning someone's name makes them cry it's because they loved that person and they'll appreciate those tears.
Barbara stresses that showing up is just the beginning. The real impact happens after the funeral when everyone else has moved on. Offer to drive someone to the airport at 3am. Bring food. Check in weeks later when the shock has worn off and the emotional tidal wave hits. Small gestures create lasting bonds.
As for what to say? Keep it simple. Share a memory. Tell them you're thinking of them. Admit you don't know what to do but you want to help. That honesty beats awkward silence every time.
The discussion also touched on balance and self-care. Barbara celebrates small progress instead of waiting for big milestones. Wrote one page instead of three? Celebrate it. Set everything up to write but didn't actually write? That's still progress.
Her teaching background shines through in her approach. She wants to give people tools and confidence to handle these situations without the sweaty palms and stress. Death is universal. We're all going to experience it. Having a quick reference guide removes the guesswork and helps people show up as their best selves when life hands us one of its hardest goodbyes.
Because at the end of the day grief is about connection and so is supporting someone through it.
This episode is for anyone who's ever felt like their body failed them, anyone supporting someone through a tough recovery, or anyone who needs to hear that struggling mentally while healing physically doesn't make you weak.
More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/lazzzybee
LazzzyBee's story starts with a simple pivot during basketball practice his sophomore year of high school. That one movement shredded his meniscus and launched him into a grueling journey through four knee surgeries, a blood clot on his birthday, and months of relearning how to walk. His coach thought he was joking around when he dropped to the ground. He wasn't.
The recovery was brutal. Bee spent months bedridden with a machine moving his leg to prevent blood clots, which he got anyway. His foot swelled up and his mom insisted on getting it checked. Good call because it landed him in an ambulance to the hospital where they handed him an Apple gift card. He had a Samsung phone.
What makes Bee's story compelling isn't just the physical trauma. It's how he handled it mentally with rock solid family support and a perspective shift his mom gave him: some people can handle certain things better than others. That mindset carried him through. But he admits he gave up too soon on building his strength back after he could walk again. Looking back, he wishes he'd pushed through that final phase of physical therapy.
The injury changed his trajectory completely. Bee started college as a computer science major because he's good with computers and the money looked good. Math class scared him off. Then he switched to physical therapy because he wanted to help others the way his therapists helped him. That lasted until he had to pinch people's fat to measure cholesterol. Turns out he doesn't like touching people that much.
Now he's studying social work with a psychology minor and it finally feels right. He's drawn to understanding how the brain works and he genuinely enjoys helping people through tough situations. His diverse friend group taught him the most important lesson: you never know what someone's dealing with behind the scenes. You can't look at a person and diagnose them or dismiss their struggles.
Bee keeps busy with two jobs including one with the Cleveland Cavs, streaming, basketball, beach volleyball and collecting vinyl records. He doesn't do much formal self care because his hobbies are his stress relief. When he needs a break, he'll lay down and just listen to music. Sometimes the best self care is knowing when to step back and do nothing at all.
His biggest frustration with mental health stigma? People who self diagnose others and dismiss real struggles because someone "doesn't look depressed." He's dealt with that himself. Just because someone smiled yesterday doesn't mean they're not fighting depression today. It's a chemical imbalance and most people just lack the knowledge to understand that.
By the end of the episode, you'll see a young man who’s turned pain into perspective. He doesn’t sugarcoat struggle, but he radiates resilience, reminding everyone that healing (mental or physical) takes time, support and a little humor along the way.
If you're questioning whether traditional therapy and religion have all the answers, or you're caught between faith and mental health frameworks that don't quite fit, this episode is for you.
More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/richard-tierney
Richard Tierney works with trauma survivors using a combination of visualization, spiritual practice and a modified 12-step program. He frames his approach around the idea that mental disorders stem from past trauma held by younger versions of ourselves, rather than being inherent mental illnesses requiring lifelong management.
Tierney's core premise involves separating your current self from the person who experienced trauma. He argues that if you're 40 now and experienced abuse at 12, you're not the same person. Therefore, you shouldn't carry that trauma as your own identity. His healing process involves visualizing your younger self, mentally transferring the trauma back to them, and releasing it through ritualistic acts like burning written lists of grievances.
He emphasizes three eight-hour segments daily: eight hours for sleep (given to God/your chosen higher power through prayer), eight hours for work, and eight hours for personal activities, hobbies and relationships. This framework aims to create resilience by diversifying your life rather than depending on one job or one person for identity.
Tierney's spiritual approach doesn't require traditional religion. He encourages people to develop a personal relationship with God/your higher power through practices like writing out worries, burning the list as a burnt offering, and repeating affirmations starting with "I am" to reprogram unconscious thinking. He's explicit that this works regardless of church attendance or denomination.
The conversation touched on how his approach relates to conventional mental health treatment. Tierney distinguishes between mental illness (which requires professional treatment) and mental disorders (which he believes stem from trauma). He's critical of treating symptoms through medication alone, arguing this ignores the root cause. He acknowledges that many clients struggle with letting go of victim identity, especially if their sense of purpose comes from advocacy around their diagnosis.
Tierney shared his own history: childhood trauma at 12, decades spent in victim mentality, struggles with addiction and isolation and eventual recovery through 12-step programs and therapy work in Thailand. He moved from Catholicism to a more individualized spiritual practice after witnessing the church deny funeral rites to suicide victims.
On forgiveness, he argues that wishing abusers well and leaving judgment to God removes their power over you, though this doesn't mean condoning their actions. He encourages people to share their stories but distinguish between what happened to their younger self and who they are today.
The interview emphasized personal agency and spiritual reframing over diagnosis and medication. Tierney frames mental health challenges as soul wounds rather than brain disorders, presenting his methodology as an alternative path rather than a complement to conventional treatment.
This episode is for anyone who's ever felt broken by their own brain, anyone supporting someone through the darkness, or anyone who needs to hear that the smallest reasons to stay alive are just as valid as the big ones.
More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/reinna
Reinna came on Mental Health Monday to talk about depression, anxiety, medication abuse and suicidal ideations. At just 17, she's already navigated more medical trauma and mental health struggles than most people face in a lifetime.
Her health issues started young. At 10 years old, severe stomach pain led to countless hospital visits, invasive tests and eventually gallbladder removal at 12. The pain didn't stop. Doctors thought it was Crohn's disease, then IBS, then colitis. Years later, she still doesn't have a definitive diagnosis. The constant hospitalizations meant missing school and struggling to make friends. Teachers gave her a hard time until they understood the severity of her condition. Children's Hospital became her second home.
The medication abuse started in eighth grade. Depression runs in her family and she was already on antidepressants when she fell for a boy who was taking Xanax. She started taking her own pills to feel better. One became two, two became three. Soon she was taking five or six at once just to sleep. "I can't be sad if I'm asleep," she explained. When she realized she was approaching overdose territory, she told her mom. Her mother was initially angry but ultimately supportive. Her father called her a "druggy." She still struggles with relapse.
Self-harm was another coping mechanism. She used to hold ice in her room when she wanted to hurt herself, finding it gave her physical pain without permanent damage. A previous guest had suggested the same technique.
At 11, Reinna was sexually assaulted by one of her father's drunk friends at a party. He told her he did it because he loved her. Those words destroyed her understanding of love. She didn't fully comprehend what happened until she got older. The assault made her afraid of drunk people and left her feeling like she couldn't say no to anyone. She became a people pleaser who struggled to set boundaries. Her mom initially brushed it off until things got serious. They never pursued legal action.
Reinna identifies as bisexual. She came out to her mom young, crying on the steps saying she loved people she shouldn't love. Her mom thought it was a phase. Later, during a fight with her dad about her medication abuse, she blurted out her sexuality expecting rejection. Surprisingly, her dad was more accepting than her mom.
What keeps her going? Her cat July, who once headbutted her at a critical moment. Her best friend Twani, who turns dark moments into jokes. Playing video games. Her mom. Finding humor in the darkness. She's learned that helping others makes her happy, even when she needs to remember to help herself first.
Reinna wants people to know that those with mental illness aren't different or abnormal. They're just people dealing with something that happened to them, no different than someone with a physical disease. She's studying philosophy and anthropology and dreams of becoming a treasure hunter or maybe even a cult leader (the inclusive, science-friendly kind).
She's been clean from self-harm attempts for almost a year as of our interview. She's still here, taking care of her cat and living one day at a time.
If you've ever felt alone in your struggle, if you're carrying shame about needing help, or if you know a veteran who's suffering in silence, this episode is for you.
More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/mark-ross
In this powerful episode, MommaFoxFire sits down with Mark Ross, a veteran and advocate who’s walked through the darkest corners of mental health and lived to tell the story. Mark opens up about his experiences with PTSD, depression & suicidal ideation, giving listeners a raw look at what it’s really like to fight your own mind every day. This conversation is real talk about pain, survival, and what it means to ask for help when everything feels impossible.
Mark talks about how his mental health struggles started after his military service, but he’s quick to point out that trauma isn’t limited to combat. PTSD can come from many places, and everyone’s story looks different. What matters is recognizing the signs and getting support before things spiral. He describes the emotional numbness, the anxiety & the deep depression that followed him long after he came home. For years, he felt stuck, angry, detached & ashamed to admit how bad things really were.
The turning point came when he realized that silence was killing him faster than any diagnosis ever could. He started therapy, reluctantly at first, but found that being honest with a counselor gave him space to start healing. He learned that therapy is less about “fixing” you and more about giving you tools to survive, connect & slowly rebuild your life.
Mark and MommaFoxFire talk about the stigma that keeps so many people, especially men and veterans, from reaching out for help. They unpack how phrases like “man up” or “be strong” can trap people in cycles of shame and isolation. Mark admits that his lowest points included thoughts of suicide & that what ultimately saved him was connection... friends who noticed, a therapist who listened & his own decision to stop hiding behind a mask.
He now uses his story to help others see that recovery isn’t linear, and it doesn’t require perfection. There are good days and bad ones, but progress counts in small moments... like getting out of bed, making a call or letting someone in on what you’re feeling.
Throughout the conversation, Mark’s honesty hits hard but also offers hope. He reminds listeners that you don’t have to wait until you’re at rock bottom to reach out. Whether it’s therapy, medication, support groups or just talking with someone you trust, there are ways forward.
The episode closes with both Mark and MommaFoxFire encouraging anyone struggling to take that first step toward help. It might be scary, but it’s worth it. Mark says it best: “You can’t heal what you keep hiding. Talking about it doesn’t make you weak, it keeps you alive.”
This episode is a gut check and a lifeline all at once. If you’ve ever felt like you’re falling apart, you’re not alone, and this conversation proves that healing starts with speaking up.
This conversation is perfect for anyone who's been told to 'just pray harder' about their depression, pastors burning out in silence, or people wondering if faith and therapy can actually coexist.
More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/reverend-nick-scutari
Reverend Nick didn't set out to become the poster child for pastors who pop antidepressants, but life had other plans. This United Methodist pastor from Minnesota joined MommaFoxFire for a raw conversation about what happens when faith meets mental health reality.
Nick's journey into ministry started unconventionally. A summer camp kid who discovered God through games and guitar lessons, he initially studied music before his wife helped him recognize his calling. Now 34 and ordained for over a decade, he's learned that pastoral work can "consume your soul if you let it."
The conversation took a heavy turn when Nick shared about losing his best friend Clint to cancer at just 38 years old. They'd met in seminary, bonded over shared hotel rooms and missed flights, and Clint had become one of Nick's biggest supporters. His death last July sent Nick spiraling into grief that he knew he couldn't navigate alone.
"I knew enough to know I needed therapy," Nick said matter-of-factly. He found comfort in Dana Trent's book "Dessert First" and Nora McInerny's TED talk about how you don't move on from grief, you move forward with it. His wife gave him space to "wallow" while still offering support.
Then 2020 hit. As the world shut down and Nick was transitioning to a new church, depression crashed over him like a wave. His body felt heavy, his brain fogged, and getting out of bed became a monumental task. His wife, who lives with bipolar disorder, recognized the signs immediately. Nick's doctor diagnosed situational depression and prescribed medication.
"It's not a happy pill," Nick clarified. "It's a get out of bed and function pill."
This brings us to the heart of Nick's mission: dismantling the church's tendency to treat mental illness as a spiritual failing. He's tired of the "just pray harder" mentality that dismisses real medical needs. When someone tweeted that brain chemicals not working properly means "store bought is fine," Nick felt seen.
Nick takes a both-and approach rather than either-or. You can have Jesus and a therapist and medication. Science and Christianity are teammates rather than enemies. He's witnessed too much harm from churches that overspiritualze mental health struggles or sweep them under the rug entirely.
His advice for supporting someone through mental health struggles? "Be gentle with yourself, trust the process, find your people." Don't try to carry someone else's burden for them, walk alongside them instead.
As an Enneagram One (the perfectionist), Nick struggles with his inner critic. Self-care looks like using his CPAP machine, taking his medication, and accepting unproductive days without shame. His productivity doesn't define his worth - a lesson he's still learning.
The pandemic has made everything harder. Nick started his new pastorship virtually, getting to know parishioners through masks and Vulcan salutes instead of handshakes. But he's committed to being authentic about his struggles, even mentioning his depression from the pulpit.
When asked what misconception about mental illness he'd eliminate with a magic wand, Nick didn't hesitate: the idea that people with mental health conditions are somehow "less than" or fractional people.
Nick's story is all about showing up authentically in the middle of struggles. He's proof that you can be broken and holy at the same time, that faith and therapy make good companions, and that sometimes the most pastoral thing you can do is admit you need help too.
In a year when everyone's hitting rock bottom, Nick offers this: we can help each other back up. No magic required, just presence, honesty, and the courage to keep showing up.
Essential listening for anyone loving someone with PTSD, parents wondering how trauma is affecting their kids, and family members who feel like they're walking on eggshells but don't know how to help.
More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/dr-michelle-sherman
Dr. Michelle Sherman spent 17 years in the VA system watching families sit in waiting rooms while their loved ones received treatment. Those families looked lost, confused and isolated. That observation launched her career specializing in how trauma and PTSD impact entire family systems, not just the person with the diagnosis.
The biggest misconception? That trauma automatically equals PTSD. Most people experience some form of trauma in their lives, but most don't develop PTSD. Sherman survived a serious car accident at 70 mph that easily could have killed her. That was trauma. But like most people, she processed it naturally without developing PTSD. The distinction matters because it removes the automatic assumption that experiencing something terrible means you're broken.
For those who do develop PTSD, there's reason for hope. Sherman emphasizes that PTSD can actually be cured, not just managed. Evidence-based treatments exist that can eliminate symptoms entirely. The challenge is getting people to stick with treatment since avoidance is a core symptom of the condition.
Families often don't realize they're dealing with trauma's ripple effects. They might feel like they're walking on eggshells around someone who's become irritable and quick to anger. Or they experience what researchers call "ambiguous loss" when their loved one is physically present but emotionally unavailable. Kids especially struggle with this, often blaming themselves for the changes in their parent's behavior.
Sherman's advice for families is straightforward but powerful: keep asking. If someone with PTSD declines social invitations or family activities, don't stop inviting them. Unless they explicitly tell you to stop, keep reaching out. They may say yes on the 50th invitation, but knowing you're still there matters enormously.
Equally important is what not to do. Don't pry for details about the trauma. Don't take their emotional distance personally. And critically, don't make your entire life about being their caregiver. You need your own hobbies, friends and support system to avoid burnout.
The family impact extends beyond spouses and partners. Sherman's passionate about children living with parents who have mental illness or PTSD. About 20% of kids live in these situations, yet they remain largely invisible to healthcare systems. Other countries provide legal rights and supports for these children, but the US lags behind significantly.
Sherman co-authors books with her mother specifically addressing this gap. Their latest releases include resources for both teens and adults navigating these family dynamics. The books are interactive, community-reviewed efforts designed to feel like "a support group in a book" for people who might never seek traditional therapy.
Her message throughout is hopeful. Trauma can be life-impacting but doesn't have to be life-defining. Recovery is possible. Families can heal together. The key is understanding that healing often happens in relationship with others, whether through therapy, support groups or simply having people who keep showing up even when you push them away.
The stigma around PTSD is decreasing, treatments are improving and awareness is growing. Sherman's magic wand wish would be comprehensive recognition of how mental health issues affect children in these families, but her realistic advice is simpler: stay curious, keep caring and remember that showing up consistently matters more than saying the perfect thing.
If you've ever felt trapped by anxiety and depression, frustrated with the medical system, or wondered if there's hope beyond traditional treatment, this raw conversation with Rev Sven offers hard-won insights from someone who's navigated childhood trauma, medication dependency, and found his own path to healing.
More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/rev-sven
Rev Sven's mental health journey began with childhood trauma that would shape decades of his life. Raised by his grandparents after his parents separated, he struggled with abandonment issues when his mother chose drugs over caring for him. The anger and pain manifested early, and by fifth grade, he was throwing desks into walls.
Instead of therapy, his grandmother took him straight to a doctor who prescribed medication. This began a pharmaceutical carousel that lasted into his twenties. Depression became bipolar disorder, then anxiety, then intermittent explosive disorder. Sven cycled through over a dozen medications, often feeling like a zombie rather than himself.
The wake-up call came while working as a delivery driver. Despite taking Seroquel the previous evening, he fell asleep at the wheel the next morning, only waking when he hit the rumble strips. That terrifying moment forced a decision: something had to change.
Four years ago, Sven made the risky choice to wean himself off medication without medical supervision, something he explicitly doesn't recommend to others. He replaced pharmaceuticals with therapy, alternative approaches including medicinal marijuana and DMT, and most importantly, a supportive community.
Streaming became his lifeline. What started as an accidental hobby with a friend evolved into a platform for mental health advocacy. Through his Twitch channel and work with the nonprofit Anime for Humanity, Sven found his tribe... people who understood that gamers, anime fans and other "niche" communities needed mental health resources too.
His current coping toolkit is surprisingly simple but effective. When depressive episodes hit, he relies on his wife who lets him cry on her shoulder, friends in the streaming community who provide reality checks and encouragement, and the knowledge that he'll emerge from the darkness. A schnauzer mix puppy has become an unexpected emotional support companion.
Sven still battles the same demons. He describes episodes where he feels worthless, convinced everything he does is meaningless and that people won't miss him when he's gone. During these periods, he sleeps excessively and isolates himself. But now he has tools and people to pull him back.
His story highlights several critical issues: the overprescription of psychiatric medications to children, the importance of therapy alongside or instead of medication, and the power of community support. Living in rural Oklahoma (a region not known for progressive mental health attitudes) Sven works to break stigma one conversation at a time.
The streaming community surprised him with its openness about mental health struggles. Unlike his closed-minded hometown where men aren't supposed to show emotion, online spaces offered acceptance and mutual support. Even his brother, struggling with addiction, now reaches out for help after seeing Sven's transformation.
Sven's message is clear: mental illness doesn't make you broken or crazy, you're just wired differently. His journey proves that with the right support system, alternative approaches can work, though he emphasizes working with medical professionals rather than going it alone like he did.
From throwing desks to building community, Rev Sven turned his pain into purpose.
If you're a parent losing sleep over your teenager's mood swings, wondering when normal adolescent drama crosses into mental health territory, or feeling completely outmatched by a generation that creates group chats in Google Docs, this episode is your reality check and roadmap.
More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/mendi-baron
Licensed clinical social worker Mendi Baron brings a unique perspective to teen mental health, shaped by his own teenage rebellion and his current role running multiple behavioral health treatment centers. His journey from "pain in the ass teen" to mental health professional began at 17 when a stranger told him that struggling peers credited him with keeping them alive.
Baron destroys three major parental misconceptions head-on. First, parents drastically underestimate teen tech savvy. While adults fumble with firewalls, kids create Google Doc group chats on school Chromebooks. Second, the "best years of your life" narrative is garbage. Teens juggle brain development, body changes, social pressures, school stress and social media while their brains are still under construction. Third, the "handle it ourselves" mentality fails because parents lack the proper context and information to navigate modern teen challenges alone.
The secret sauce isn't complicated but requires intentional work. Parents must recognize that relationships need complete overhauls at each developmental stage. The way you relate to a 10-year-old won't work with a teenager, and that won't work with an 18-year-old. Baron advocates for "setting the stage" through consistent, phone-free connection time before problems arise. Create safe spaces for conversation, not crisis intervention sessions.
Teens crave predictability despite what they tell you. Baron recommends written "home contracts" covering expectations, consequences and support systems. This isn't about being controlling but creating clear rules of engagement. When teens know exactly what happens if they miss curfew, they can make informed choices about whether they're willing to face those consequences.
Baron uses a multi-area approach to spot trouble. Look for changes in social connections, emotional regulation, school performance and basic functions like eating and sleep. Individual flags mean little, but patterns across multiple areas signal real problems. Sleep disruption particularly impacts everything from anxiety levels to academic performance.
When professional help becomes necessary, involve teens in therapist selection to ensure buy-in. School counselors and Psychology Today provide solid starting points for finding local resources. The biggest mistake parents make is assuming they can handle complex mental health issues with the same confidence they bring to other life challenges.
Baron challenges the common therapeutic approach of finding personal connections with teen clients. Instead, he maintains clear boundaries while supporting teens in reaching their own goals. Trust develops not through shared experiences but through consistent, non-judgmental support and absolute confidentiality except in safety situations.
Mental health conditions aren't just deficits to manage. ADHD provides incredible multitasking abilities once properly channeled. Anxiety and depression can be harnessed as strengths when understood correctly. Baron's favorite life hack involves making decisions within 20 seconds to avoid overthinking paralysis.
For parents feeling lost in the modern landscape of teen mental health, Baron's message is clear: educate yourself, create structure, maintain boundaries and don't hesitate to bring in professional support when needed.
If you’re neurosparkly yourself, love gaming or have ever wondered how online friendships can be just as real as in-person ones, this episode is for you.
More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/lise-goblin-keeney
In this episode, MommaFoxFire sat down with Lise Keeney, also known as Goblin, to talk about neurodivergence, gaming and how online spaces can create genuine friendships. Lise is a brand strategist and PR professional turned founder of Goblins, a voice-based platform that helps people connect through gaming. Her journey into building Goblins grew out of both personal loss and the desire to create spaces where neurodivergent people could feel comfortable being themselves.
Lise shared her path from working with startups like Hinge to launching her own project. She joked that she has always had a “goblin answer” to career questions, but what has carried her through is creativity, curiosity, and the drive to help people connect in authentic ways. After her father passed away in 2022, she found herself craving community but not the energy it takes to go out and meet new people in person. That gap inspired the idea behind Goblins: a way to find real connection without leaving your home.
A big part of the conversation centered on what it means to be “neurospicy,” Lise’s preferred term for her own mix of ADHD and autism traits. She described how those traits show up as both strengths and struggles. On one hand, being neurodivergent often means heightened creativity and out-of-the-box problem solving. On the other hand, it can come with challenges like focus issues, people-pleasing tendencies or sensory overload. By embracing the label of neurospicy, she found both humor and empowerment.
The two also talked about how video games serve as more than entertainment. For many neurodivergent folks, games offer structure, space to hyperfocus, and a low-stakes way to socialize. Lise pointed out that some of her gaming friends know her better than people she’s known in real life for years. There is something disarming about playing in a shared digital space that makes opening up easier than sitting across a brunch table. MommaFoxFire agreed, sharing her own experiences with friendships formed through gaming and how those bonds can feel just as real and even more consistent than offline relationships.
They also explored the kinds of games that foster connection. Competitive or high-intensity games like Call of Duty can make conversation harder, while cozy worlds like Palia or Minecraft let people talk while exploring together. These lighter games allow for parallel play, where people can hang out in voice chat while chopping trees, crafting, or just existing in the same virtual world. The result is an environment where conversation flows naturally.
Another theme was safety and community care. Lise explained that Goblins uses voice-first interaction and strong moderation to cut down on harmful behavior. The community of about 2,500 goblins on Discord is quick to welcome newcomers, celebrate glow-ups, and even nudge each other with friendly accountability. From D&D groups to Monster Hunter squads, the connections have already led to lasting friendships, relationships and even in-person meetups.
Throughout the episode, both MommaFoxFire and Lise underscored that video games are not a distraction from “real life” but a powerful tool for mental health and connection. Goblins is proving that you can meet friends, find belonging, and even fall in love without forcing yourself into traditional social spaces. Lise’s story shows how being unapologetically neurospicy, leaning into gaming, and building inclusive platforms can create kinder, more meaningful communities online.
If you live with depression, anxiety, or chronic illness, or if you want to understand how peer support can make a real difference, this episode with Rob Walker is for you.
More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/rob-walker-2
In this episode of Even Tacos Fall Apart, I sat down with Rob Walker, a peer support leader who brings decades of lived experience with depression, anxiety, and type 1 diabetes to his work. Rob lives outside Boston, works with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, and has been helping shape the peer support workforce both in his state and around the world. He’s also a father of three and a dog dad to Hank, his rescue beagle.
Rob shared how his career has grown out of turning hard personal experiences into meaningful advocacy. He helps oversee the Certified Peer Specialist training program in Massachusetts, where people with lived experience learn how to share their own stories in ways that support others. Beyond that, he and a team from Dartmouth College created a training during COVID that taught peer specialists how to provide support remotely using tools like Zoom, Discord and Teams. What started as a small project has now trained more than 3,000 people across the U.S. and internationally.
When asked what being a peer support specialist means to him, Rob said it gives purpose to years of difficult times. Instead of seeing his diagnoses as only negative, he has found a way to use those experiences to connect with others and remind them they are not alone. He also stressed that the heart of peer support is the relationship, not the method of delivery. Whether it’s a Zoom call, text or even playing a video game online, what matters is the connection.
Rob was candid about challenges too. One ongoing frustration is the way clinical language can reduce people to their diagnoses. He explained how often professionals see him or others as 99 percent “the illness” and only one percent “everything else.” In reality, his diagnosis is just a small slice of his identity, alongside being a father, friend, husband and colleague. He wants more professionals to see people for their whole selves, not just a label.
We talked about how important advocacy is, both at the legislative level and in everyday life. Rob encouraged listeners to follow bills in their state, join advocacy organizations, and speak up when policies affect people with mental health challenges. On a personal level, he suggested simple acts like checking in with friends, sending a quick text or offering to listen. Often those small efforts make the biggest difference.
Self-care was another key theme. Rob admitted he doesn’t always follow his own advice, but he tries to schedule downtime and recognize the signs when he’s slipping. He emphasized that people working from home during the pandemic shouldn’t expect perfection. His reminder: give yourself a break, seventy percent is good enough and don’t feel guilty about it.
Rob also opened up about living with type 1 diabetes since age 15 and how managing both physical and mental health requires attention to sleep, nutrition, and knowing his warning signs. His honesty about symptoms like fatigue, irritability, and hearing voices during severe depression gave listeners a real picture of what those struggles can look like.
He closed with a powerful wish: to erase the misconception that people with mental illness are violent. In fact, they are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. His final advice was simple but important: be kind to others and to yourself.