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Welcome to No Shame On U’s 37th Podcast with Mental Health Advocate Marc Fein! Marc Fein is a facilitator, educator, and mentor. Marc has spent the past ten years creating experiences, workshops, and events that helped thousands of people across North America develop the skills and confidence to reach their true potential. Workshops are grounded in human centered design, reflective, and directed by the learner to fit their individual goals. As a Mental Health Advocate with lived experience Marc shares his story in an effort to raise awareness of Mental Health issues in our communities and destigmatize conversations surrounding mental health.

Join us for No Shame On U’s 34th podcast! We are honored today to interview the founder of a Chicagoland nonprofit called The Balance Project, Agi Semrad, and two middle school students who created a short mental health documentary called The Stigma, made possible through the support of the balance project.   Ari Braun and Eden Gunsberg …… are here with us today.  8th graders at Edgewood Middle School in Highland Park.   The Balance Project is a local non-profit organization helping families and individuals access emotional wellness support. We build mental health awareness through education and community programming. We connect you to resources and treatment. We work with you to try and eliminate financial barriers to access so you can find better balance.  For more information about The Balance Project, go to: https://thebalance-project.org/

Join us for our 33rd episode of the No Shame on U PodCast with No Shame On U's head blogger and mental health advocate Michelle Cohen! Michelle has been NSOU's head blogger for the last 3.5 years under the alias Ellie. Today, Michelle shares her mental health journey, advice and strategies for those who struggle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and her latest epic book project!

For our 31st Podcast, we met with Heather Bodie. Heather is the Executive Artistic Director of Erasing the Distance. Erasing the Distance is a non-profit arts organization based in Chicago that uses the power of performance to disarm stigma, educate, spark dialogue, and promote healing surrounding mental health. Since 2005 the organization has been dedicated to creating a space for real people to share stories about their experiences navigating mental health. Heather discusses her personal mental health journey and the inspiring work of Erasing the Distance. To learn more about Erasing the Distance go to: www.erasingthedistance.org

For our 29th podcast NSOU is thrilled to speak with 22 year old college student and mental health advocate, Haley Epstein. Haley has been speaking for the past 3 years sharing her journey with mental health. As founder of the "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" Movement, Haley has spoken to thousands of teens, parents, educators, and communities about the stigma so many of us feel alongside our mental health, in hopes of normalizing a conversation that we so often shy away from. Through open and authentic story-telling, discussion, and conversation, Haley not only talks about how to support yourself and those you love while going through a difficult time, but creates a space in which you are reminded that you are not alone, that asking for help is the bravest thing you can do, & that most importantly, it is okay to not be okay. Haley's Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/hay_itsoktonotbeok/ Haley's Facebook Account: https://www.facebook.com/itsokaytonotbeokaymovement

For our 28th Podcast, we had the privilege of talking with Anouschka Bechtolsheim and Bela Duffy. Anoushka and Bela are creators and hosts of a teen podcast called SafeSpace Stories. Their podcast features mental health stories about teens, by teens, and for teens. Learn about their podcast and their organization SafeSpace. SafeSpace is a youth-led, mental health-focused organization that empowers young people to engage openly with their local schools and communities.

For our 27th podcast, we are honored to have a conversation with Rabbi Avram Mlotek.  Avram is a rabbi, cantor, actor, writer, and a current graduate student in social work.  In 2015, he co-founded Base, a new model for Jewish practice that reaches out to unaffiliated young adults, now operating in nine cities. He worked as the Manhattan rabbi for Base for six years and currently serves as spiritual director (Mashgiach Ruchani) for the international Base program.  In July of 2021, he wrote the article, "I'm a Rabbi With Mental Illness and I'm Done Trying to Hide My Pain:  There are so many others out there who, like me, are suffering in silence.  You are never alone."  Listen as Avram describes his mental health journey and the role of religion and spirituality in mental health.

For our 26th podcast, we were thrilled to go international with guests Sophie Traube and Max Hobhouse, both originally from England. We discuss their summer of biking to raise mental health awareness across the U.S. from Portland, Oregon to New York City. They share why they are so passionate about mental health, some great stories and reactions from their summer and how they got some of their biggest fans. Special thanks to NSOU’s Lewis Summer Intern Ellory Shutan who connected us to Sophie and Max.

For our special 25th podcast, we were thrilled to be joined by Rebecca Minkus-Lieberman, Co-Founder, Orot: Center for New Jewish Learning. We talked about Rebecca’s education background, the many wonderful offerings of Orot including mindfulness and meditation, and the upcoming high holliday series No Shame On U is honored to be collaborating on with Orot.

For our 24th podcast, we were delighted to speak with Aitan Maeir, a Chicago area teen currently in his sophomore year at University of Wisconsin- Madison. It is our second in a series with Aitan - this time talking about his experiences with DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) — what it is and how it has helped him.

Mimi Aron is a Mom, Grandma, and survivor of suicide. She lives in Madison, WI after relocating from the Cleveland, OH area with her mini poodle puppy, Gracie Joy. She is currently working part time as a physical therapist, rewriting her bucket list, and learning what it means to live her authentic self.

For our 22nd podcast, we were delighted to speak with Aitan Maeir, a Chicago area teen currently in his sophomore year at University of Wisconsin-Madison. It is our first in a series with Aitan — this time talking about social media and mental health — its impact and unintended consequences.

For our 21st podcast, No Shame On U was delighted to talk with Paige GoldMarche, the Chicago and Midwest Director of Moving Traditions, an organization that helps teens navigate the world. With the high rates of teen depression and anxiety, we discussed the importance for teens to feel a sense of connectedness and belonging, especially in this pandemic world, and the wonderful work Moving Traditions does to foster those connections.

For our 20th podcast, we were delighted to speak with Jodie Segal, MSW, Director of Education at Chicago-area based Elyssa’s Mission. We talked about the history of Elyssa’s Mission and the life-saving teen suicide prevention work they do impacting thousands of students, staff and parents. Jodie also shared the signs and symptoms of suicidal thoughts to look for and what to do.

For our 19th podcast, we were delighted to speak with Bonnie Lane, M.S., of Family Support Services. We discuss the vast range of mental health services she provides for families from finding a residential setting for a loved one, helping with accommodations for college students and so much more. Bonnie really truly just wants to help.

For No Shame On U’s 18th podcast, we were delighted to speak with Jessica Leving, Author of “Billy’s Sister: Life When Your Sibling Has a Disability” and the Executive Director of the Center for Siblings of People with Disabilities. We talked about the high rates of anxiety and depression that siblings experience, strategies for parents to deal with jealousy and anger a sibling might feel, and a lot more.

For our 17th podcast, we were delighted to talk with Steven Parker, Chief Growth Officer for the Chill Anywhere App. We discussed different strategies for navigating through these challenging times, his 9 year old daughter’s approach, how the high rates of loneliness pre-Covid have gotten even higher, and how the Chill Anywhere App can help. We are excited to announce that Chill Anywhere is providing a special opportunity for the No Shame On U community.

For our 16th podcast, we were so excited to talk with our inspirational friend. Joel Dworkin, who just celebrated his twelve year sober anniversary. Joel shares his journey with addiction, advice for loved ones of individuals living with addiction, tips on managing recovery during these shelter in place times, and much more.

For our 15th podcast, we were delighted to talk with Sophie Riegel, author of “Don’t Tell Me to Relax!: One Teen’s Journey to Survive Anxiety (and How You Can Too)”. We discuss what it was like realizing she lived with anxiety, the bullying she faced and how she got it to stop, trying different treatments, overcoming panic attacks at inopportune moments, advice for teens and parents, and much more. Sophie is currently in her first year at Duke University, Editor’s Note: Miriam had Sophie’s incredible book on her mind when talking to her, so she inadvertently said “our readers” instead of “our listeners” a few times.

In our 14th podcast, we had the honor of speaking with Liron David, Director of International Relations and Development at Enosh. We discussed the great work done by Enosh - the Israeli Mental Health Association. We touched on the stigma and shame surrounding mental health Liron sees both in Israel and America and in her international work for Enosh. And, Liron talks about the help Enosh provides for people living in Israel and/or people from America and around the world that may be spending several months to a year or more in Israel.