Can empathy still thrive in politics today? What happens when mental health advocacy meets the halls of power? How do we keep believing in change when cynicism feels easier?
In this podcast episode, Joe Sanok addresses the mental health crisis with retired US Senator Debbie Stabenow. 
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Meet Senator Debbie Stabenow (Ret.)




Debbie Stabenow served over five decades in public office, including as Michigan’s first female U.S. Senator. A lifelong advocate for Michigan’s people and environment, she championed initiatives to protect the Great Lakes, strengthen agriculture, and expand access to mental health care. As chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, she helped craft bipartisan legislation supporting farmers and clean energy.
Today, she continues her work advancing community well-being and sustainable growth beyond elected office.
Visit Debbie’s website and connect on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
In This Podcast

* Getting into political science and Public Office 
* Mental health progress today
* What it takes to connect with people with differing opinions 
* How to continue inspiring hope 
* Debbie’s advice to private practitioners 

Getting into political science and Public Office 
Debbie Stabenow explains that the world wherein she became famous, working as a Senator and in Public Office, found her more than she pursued it. 
She grew up in a small town where her mother was a nurse, so she was aware of the essentiality of mental health and public health services from a young age. 
Her father was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which sparked her interest in the connction between government funding and the necessity of having public healthcare available to the general public – particularly when one funded service was due to close. 

I knew nothing about politics, but I got involved. I went to the county board meetings, I ended up leading the effort. We saved the nursing home! And it turned out I lived in the district of the commission who was trying to close it. Everybody said to me, “You should run against him!” I knew nothing about politics, but I was pretty mad, and so after a while I finally said “Yes”, and I ran – I was 24!