The Just A Mom Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 32: Kori Hintz-Bohn, The Anxiety Center at Renew Jun 06, 2023

Show notes

In a continued effort to educate and bring resources to the listeners, this episode features Kori Hintz-Bohn, founder of Renew Counseling and the Anxiety Center at Renew (https://sites.google.com/anxietycenterkc.com/renewcounseling/home?authuser=0). Kori give parents valuable information on how to access help for a child experiencing mental health problem as well as some everyday tips for good mental health, including mindfulness apps like Calm (https://www.calm.com/app/meditate), Headspace (https://www.headspace.com/) and Balance (https://balanceapp.com/) Kori and I also discuss what goes into the clinical diagnosis of a mental illness. Kori references the DSM 5, which is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm).

Episode 31: Tricia Part 2 May 30, 2023

Show notes

Tricia and I continue our conversation about her daughter’s lifelong battle with anxiety. Not only has Tricia’s daughter had serious anxiety related to school, but Tricia also shares a memory about a very scary time when she was afraid for her daughter’s life and called 911. Tricia shares that she has learned, over time, that her job as a parent is not to fix but to support her daughter and her mental illness.

Episode 30: Tricia May 23, 2023

Show notes

This is the first of a two-part series with Tricia. Tricia chronicles her daughter’s journey with anxiety, starting as early as preschool when she experienced significant separation anxiety that did not resolve with time. Tricia talks about her strong advocacy for her daughter’s needs at school. Tricia talks about Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and a 504 plan, which help students with diagnosed disabilities access certain supports and accommodations. To learn more about what an IEP and 504 plan do, click on this link: (https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/articles/504-plan-versus-iep-a-guide-for-parents). Things were going pretty well for Tricia’s daughter, and then Covid hit. Make sure and listen to Episode 3 for the conclusion of Tricia’s story.

Episode 29: Ronda May 16, 2023

Show notes

My conversation with Rhonda is a no-holds-bared one. Her son battled an eating disorder and undiagnosed depression in high school. He found a bottle of narcotics after a family member’s surgery and took one to numb his pain—and was hooked.

Ronda recounts the moment things changed when they realized her son had been hiding a fentanyl addiction for 31/2 years in college, the failed rehab stent, followed by a 2.5-year successful recovery journey. Ronda’s message to parents is this: addiction can happen to anyone.

Ronda’s son celebrates six years of recovery on May 21, five days after the release of this episode. Sam has turned to extreme sports in his recovery, is partnering with SAFE (Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic), and is competing in an Ironman race in Tulsa, OK, too. If you are so inclined, you can donate by clicking this link to support Sam’s efforts for SAFE ( https://www.safeproject.us/race/?fbclid=IwAR04Jh9XJWGFHVeL3ftt9HdObWb-i7-LF1uNr_VwcnCXKtgR7m7zY0AnXzg).

Ronda recently shared her story at a recovery group. You can watch that here: https://online.brushfire.com/cor/recovery/wb8xm9yc5r

Episode 28: The Brightest It's Ever Been- Will and Kayli Apr 25, 2023

Show notes

My son, Will, and his girlfriend, Kayli, are back for another special episode of The Just A Mom podcast. After a very successful debut in December, The Brightest It's Ever Been, a play about living with anxiety, will be back for another limited engagement from May 11-13 at Hillcrest Covenant Church, 8801 Nall Avenue, Prairie Village, Kansas. This show will sell out--get your tickets here.

The Brightest It's Ever Been is an incredible portrayal of dealing with a mental illness. Anxiety is an actual character in the play. Unique and creative, The Brightest It's Ever Been helps audience members who have not personally struggled with mental illness truly understand what it must be like to do so. In this episode, Will and Kayli talk about the challenge and rewards of writing, performing, directing, and producing a show like this. For more information about the show, see Brightest's Instagram or Facebook or The Father's Club's Instagram and Facebook.

Episode 27: Good Faith Network Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

This inspiring episode features Vicki Love, co-vice president, and Jennifer Savner Levinson, treasurer, of The Good Faith Network (https://www.thegoodfaithnetwork.org/). The Good Faith Network is an interfaith justice group of over 20 different congregations in Johnson County, Kansas that has identified three pressing problems in our community: mental health, homelessness and affordable housing. They conduct research to discover solutions to those problems and speak with one voice to local leaders to press for the adoption of those solutions.

Listen as these remarkable leaders talk about the work they are doing to make systematic changes in regards to mental health in our local community. For those who live outside of Johnson County, Kansas, you will want to listen as well—you may be inspired to start something similar in your community.

For those in Johnson County, all are invited to the Good Faith Network’s Nehemiah Assembly on May 2, 2023 at 6 pm at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.

Episode 26: Sylvia Harrell and BJ Thomas, #GiveMe20 Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

For Sylvia Harrell and BJ Thomas, convincing young people that waiting just 20 minutes when contemplating suicide is personal. They have both lost children to suicide, and neither of their children gave any indication they were contemplating taking their lives. Sylvia and BJ want to make sure others have the tools to cope when dark moments arise. Listen as they share about #Giveme20 (https://giveme20.net/) and the positive impact it is having on the mental health of our community. While this is a local program, plans are in the works to expand.

Sylvia and BJ also talk about their family foundations, Keep the Spark Alive (https://ktsa.org) and Shifting Gears for Reagan (https://shiftinggearsforregan.com/). These women and their families work tirelessly to end teen suicide in our community.

Episode 25: Erin Part 2 Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of the Just A Mom Podcast, Erin talks about the challenges of parenting a son with bi-polar disorder. She shares about his in-patient hospitalization, and how those were some of the most challenging days of her life. Erin also talks about her son’s transition to college during COVID, and how having an emotional support animal (ESA) has been an incredible support to her son.

Episode 24: Erin Part 1 Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

Episode 23: Dr. Matthew Quick, Dean of Students, Rockhurst University Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

Sending a child to college is always challenging, but handing over one who struggles with mental health problems can be even more difficult. On this episode of the just a mom podcast, Rockhurst University Dean of Students Dr. Matthew Quick gives parents some strategies and tips on what to look for in a college or university and how to work will college officials to make a young adult’s transition to an institute of higher learning as smooth as possible.

Dr. Quick refers to FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), which parents and students should become familiar with before sending a student to college. He also suggests some resources like the Sanvello app (www.sanvello.com).

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