The Just A Mom Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 22: Suzanne Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

This may be the most difficult episode of The Just A Mom podcast to date. My incredibly brave and strong friend Suzanne talks about losing her son, Nic, to suicide in 2017. She started noticing signs of anxiety and depression before people were really talking openly about mental health. Suzanne shares deeply intimate details about losing her son and her grieving process, and how losing a child to suicide can happen to anyone. Suzanne encourages parents and says there is hope even when you lose a child.

Episode 21: The Fathers Club- Brad Holdhusen and Tom Herzog Feb 21, 2023

Show notes

What started in 2018 as a couple of dads with the vision of being intentional as dads is now in over 25 schools and counting. Brad and Tom share how they started the Father’s Club ( https://fathersclub.org) in their children’s high school to let kids know that you matter, right here, right now, and linking arms as dads to make a difference in their corner of the world. Brad and Tom share how over 100 dads became certified in mental health first aid, and how the Father’s Club works to utilize many resources in the community to help parents.

If you are interested in starting a Father’s Club in your area/school, please go to

https://fathersclub.org.

Episode 20: Mandy Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

Mandy’s son deals with depression and anxiety. Mandy shares some deeply personal parts of their story, including her son’s marijuana addiction, his time at an in-patient psychiatric hospital, wilderness therapy (https://trailscarolina.com/) and ultimately his journey to sobriety through Full Circle (https://fullcircleprogram.com/), all before the age of 15. Mandy also talks about how sometimes conventional parenting wisdom had to take a backseat to what was best for her child on his road to healing, and how she learned not to always try to “fix” her son. Mandy discusses how her journey as a parent led to her founding BVWell (https://fundbv.org/bv-well), which helps parents and families navigate mental health and wellness with their children.

Episode 19: Screen Sanity- Tracy Foster Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

This is a do not miss episode for any parent! A myriad of studies link heavy social media use to mental health problems like anxiety and depression, and about 10 percent of teens have reported being victims of cyberbullying (https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm). Tracy Foster, co-founder and Executive Director of Screen Sanity ( https://screensanity.org), joins me on this episode of The Just A Mom podcast to talk about digital health and the way Screen Sanity can help parents navigate this tricky digital world.

Episode 18: Sherri Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

In this episode of the Just A Mom podcast, Sherri shares her story of parenting a child with sometimes crippling anxiety. Depending on what you read somewhere between 50-60% of teens and twenty-somethings are dealing anxiety, so I know you will find Sherri’s experience helpful. She talks about the difficulties in convincing her daughter to go to therapy as well as how hard it was to find a good fit once she agreed to go. Sherri also discusses the genetic testing that her daughter did to help figure out medications.

Episode 17: Danna Dahl, Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

I learned so many things during the interviews for season one. Almost every parent to date that I’ve interviewed has told me they didn’t know what to do and they didn’t know who to call when their child needed mental health treatment. I’m excited to bring more resources to parents in season two.

In this episode, Danna Dahl, Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, shares invaluable information about how to find help, what kind of help your child might need and how to know you’re getting qualified help. Here are some helpful websites if you need to find a qualified therapist/counselor:

Psychology Today (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists)-- the Therapist Locator through the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (https://www.therapistlocator.net//), or through the American Association for Christian Counselors (https://connect.aacc.net/?search_type=distance).

Danna also references Apria Healthcare but then realized later she said the wrong organization—it’s actually Acadia Healthcare (https://www.acadiahealthcare.com/programming-treatment/behavioral-health/).

Episode 16: Trevor Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

This is a different episode and one that is a must-listen. Trevor is an adult who suffers from depression and suicidal ideation. Trevor was a middle school teacher and coach for my two oldest kids and went on to be a middle school principal. I can tell you from personal experience that Trevor was the teacher all the kids wanted for social studies—he was young, fun, cool, and energetic. But over the years the darkness started creeping in. Trevor helps us understand that even though a person can appear to have it all together, there is often a very different scenario going on inside.

Trevor was at the top of his profession, being named National Digital Principal of the Year in 2021, when, for the sake of his mental health, he made a significant career move to the world of E-Sports. His passion for teaching and reaching kids through e-sports is inspiring, and he even gives us a glimpse into how e-sports can be a great activity for many kids.

Episode 15: Kristen Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

I’m not sure how I hadn’t met Kristen before starting the podcast. My oldest two kids went to the same high school, and we have many mutual friends and acquaintances. My husband, Dan, is the one who introduced us. He knew Kristen would be willing to share their family’s story and that it would have a tremendous impact on those who hear it.

Kristen’s story is one of fear, patience, endurance, love, and hope. It’s also another example of how the mental health battle is a journey—more of a marathon than a sprint. Kristin and her husband have gone to great lengths to help their son with his mental illness. You will no doubt be both impacted and encouraged by their journey.

Episode 14: Will and Kayli Dec 26, 2022

Show notes

I am so excited to bring you this special edition of the Just A Mom podcast. “The Brightest It’s Ever Been” is a play written by Kayli Slayden about living with anxiety. It is based on Kayli’s personal experience with anxiety and is being directed and produced by my son, Will. Like the Just A Mom podcast, Kayli hopes that by sharing her story through the medium of a play people will know that they are not alone and there is hope. The play is also a great way for those who have not struggled with anxiety to perhaps gain a new understanding of what it’s like to live with anxiety or other mental illnesses.
If you are in the Kansas City area, I highly encourage you to come see The Brightest It’s Ever Been on December 28, 29, or 30 at Hillcrest Covenant Church, 8801 Nall Ave., Prairie Village, KS. 66207. You can reserve seats here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-brightest-its-ever-been-tickets-482084095507. You can also follow the play on Facebook or Instagram at the Brightest Play.

Episode 13: Shana Part 2 Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

This is the second time I’ve interviewed Shana. Yes, this is the same Shana from episode 12, but in this episode, she shares from a personal perspective as the mom of a child with Tourette Syndrome.

Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder (https://tourette.org/), but often those with Tourette also battle mental illness. Shana talks about the challenges of raising her son with Tourette syndrome and his accompanying mental health struggles.

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