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Episode 18: Suhail Rasheed, Managing Editor of the Bangalore Review
Suhail Rasheed is a writer, editor, and curator who lives in Dubai, but is originally from India.
Suhail Rasheed is a writer, editor, and curator. He lives in Dubai, but is originally from India. A longstanding member of the Beautiful Voyager community, Suhail's mental healthy journey has been pretty incredible. This is a very special and personal interview. In it, Suhail shares parts of his past that often aren't discussed where he's from including childhood abuse. He is incredibly courageous to open up about his experiences with his fellow Beautiful Voyagers and said he is doing it, "In order to connect with others who have had similar traumatic experiences in their past." I admire Suhail. He brings voice to things that others have experienced and might feel too ashamed to share. He fights against these stigmas and shares a perspective on mental health in Dubai and India that is rarely heard.
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 17: Anamita Guha of IBM Quantum
Anamita is the Global Lead of Product Management at IBM focused on Quantum computing (yes, we talk about what that means) and she's dedicated to inspiring the next generation of women innovators and pioneers.
It was such a treat to have this conversation with superstar Product Manager Anamita Guha.
Anamita is the Global Lead of Product Management at IBM focused on Quantum computing (yes, we talk about what that means) and she's dedicated to inspiring the next generation of women innovators and pioneers.
As a national ambassador for the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Anamita serves as a role model and advocate for women in STEM. She's been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, Marie Claire, Lifehacker, and was named one of the “Top 25 Software Product Executives Of 2020”, “9 Millennial AI Leaders to follow” in 2019, and “6 Women in STEM to watch out for” in 2018.
In this conversation, we discuss overthinking and how anxiety may be holding women back from studying science and technology while brainstorming what we can do about it.
We can all learn from Anamita, take a listen!
This is the full, unedited version of our conversation. To hear the edited podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 16: Graphic Artist Joshua Kemble
Joshua Kemble is a Xeric Award-Winning Cartoonist who lives in Antelope Valley, California.
Self-portrait by Joshua Kemble
Joshua Kemble lives in Antelope Valley, California, where he is an Art Director and illustrator. A Xeric Award Winning Cartoonist, Josh's newest book is a labor of love: an autobiographical graphic novel about depression and panic attack called Two Stories. In this conversation, Josh and I talk about the comic book artists he admires, why "making" is good for mental health, and how his son helped him take action on his own mental health needs. Learn more about Joshua’s work on his site.
This is the full, unedited version of our conversation. To hear the edited podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 15: Dr. Tameika Lawrence
Dr. Tameika Lawrence holds a doctoral degree in counseling psychology and is a member of the Hudson Valley Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association.
Dr. Tameika Lawrence holds a doctoral degree in counseling psychology and is a member of the Hudson Valley Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association. She's the author of Outgrow Your Comfort, a 6-step self-help model and book. In this conversation, Dr. Lawrence and I talk what she learned about being different than others, and how it helped her grow. We also talked about her dissertation work about African-American fathers, and what being a role model means in single-parent families.
This is the full, unedited version of our conversation. To hear the edited podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 14: Robert James, Mental Health Coach
Robert James is a podcaster and mental health coach originally from the UK who now lives in Barcelona.
Robert James is a podcaster and mental health coach originally from the UK who now lives in Barcelona. Robert developed OCD at the age of 16 and spent his twenties trying everything he could to face it. He read every book out there and made a commitment to personal development. This rough ride taught him some lessons along the way, and now he helps others to do the same while sharing what he learned. In this conversation, we talk about what how he landed where he did, some of his favorite books about anxiety, and how he learned to think differently about his mental health experiences. To get in touch with Robert you can head over to his site.
This is the full, unedited version of our conversation. To hear the edited podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 13: Caitlin Schiller of Blinkist
Caitlin lives in Berlin and works as an Executive Producer of New Content at Blinkist, where she produces and co-hosts the podcast Simplify.
Caitlin Schiller and I first met on the audio platform Anchor many years ago. I liked her immediately: she clearly has a love of language and is sharp as a whip. Caitlin lives in Berlin and works as an Executive Producer of New Content at Blinkist, where she produces and co-hosts the podcast Simplify. A true word person, Caitlin's been writing online for more than a decade and has lived in a handful of countries. I admire the way Caitlin approaches new ideas and engages with the world with thoughtfulness.
Follow Caitlin on Twitter and Instagram. Listen to her podcast here.
This is the full, unedited version of our conversation. To hear the edited podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 12: Comedian Sara Schaefer
Sara Schaefer is an American stand-up comedian and author of the new memoir GRAND.
Comedian Sara Schaefer is proud of her new book, GRAND: A Memoir, and she should be! It is the kind of delightful and moving tale that makes you feel like you know Sara, even moreso if you listen to her read it, as I did. I loved talking to Sara about what it was like to write this book after years of comedy writing, how her own internal critic (nickname DOOM) tried to sabotage her along the way, and why the Babadook is a perfect metaphor for loss. If there's one thing I love more than funny people, it's funny people who are real, and that is definitely Sara.
This is the full, unedited version of our conversation. To hear the edited podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 11: Johnny of The Anxious Beard
Johnny, aka "The Anxious Beard," is a former nurse who was born and raised in Southern California who describes himself as having "31 flavors of mental health."
Johnny, aka "The Anxious Beard," is a former nurse who was born and raised in Southern California (though he spent time in Las Vegas as well). He describes himself as having "31 flavors of mental health" as he struggles with anxiety, panic, agoraphobia disorder as well as ADHD and a learning disability. Johnny's been married for 12 years to his high school sweetheart, and they have a family, including a son with autism and Down Syndrome. Even though it is a challenge, Johnny is sharing his story because he truly wants to help others.
This is the full, unedited version of our conversation. To hear the edited podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 10: Meredith O'Connor of Teen Nick
Meredith originally came to attention when her music video for the song "Celebrity" went viral on Youtube. Her music was then featured on Teen Nick, and she began to tour and perform around the world.
In honor of World Mental Health Day, today's special guest is singer and activist Meredith O'Connor.
Meredith originally came to attention when her music video for the song "Celebrity" went viral on Youtube. Her music was then featured on Teen Nick, and she began to tour and perform around the world. She then found her voice as an anti-bullying activist.
Meredith is now releasing a new single "You Are Not Alone" to raise money for the National Alliance on Mental Health, along with other celebrities like Mary Wilson (original member of the Supremes!), Rebecca Black, Ar'mon & Trey, Italian star Ruggero Pasquarelli, Mackenzie Sol, Lexi Jayde, K-pop star Minzy, Bollywood singer Asees Kaur, and more!
In this conversation, we talk about Meredith's experiences going viral and her own mental health experiences.
Episode 9: Patrice Massicotte, Certified Peer Specialist
Pat is a writer, blogger and speaker and is building his own platform called Human Experience: A Peer Perspective On Mental Health.
Born and raised in Quebec City (he's French-Canadian), Patrice worked in pharmaceutical marketing in Boston when he experienced the serious mental health challenges that almost took his life. His recovery took him on a new career path and led him to California. He found a government-funded role I didn't even know existed: Certified Peer Specialist in mental health. Just last week, Gov Gavin Newsom passed a bill to bring this program to CA, which Pat and I discuss in this episode. Pat is also a writer, blogger and speaker and is building his own platform called Human Experience: A Peer Perspective On Mental Health. His ultimate goal is to humanize healthcare and break the stigma through voicing the Peer Values and the trauma-informed model. He's also got a great sense of humor and twinkle in his eye...which I greatly appreciate. You will also note that my daughter and dog make an unexpected appearance. The joys of working from home!
This is the full, unedited version of our conversation. To hear the edited podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 8: Amanda Stern of Bookable Podcast
Amanda Stern is the author of Little Panic, a memoir about growing up in 80s New York with undiagnosed panic disorder, as well as The Long Haul and eleven books for children.
Amanda Stern is the author of Little Panic, a memoir about growing up in 80s New York with undiagnosed panic disorder, as well as The Long Haul and eleven books for children. She's also an advisory board member of the non-profit Bring Change 2 Mind. The founder of New York City's iconic Happy Ending Music and Reading Series, widely considered the gold standard for literary events, Amanda currently hosts an outstanding podcast about books and authors called Bookable. Amanda lives in Brooklyn with Busy, the cutest possible sidekick.
Amanda with Busy Stern
This is the full, unedited version of our conversation. To hear the edited podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 7: Rachel Murphy of Pinterest
Writer Rachel Murphy and I work at Pinterest together. Earlier this year we founded Pinside Out, Pinterest's first mental health employee resource group.
Writer Rachel Murphy and I work at Pinterest together. Earlier this year we founded Pinside Out, Pinterest's first mental health employee resource group. Rachel recently launched her own new mental health site, Us & Our Stories, as a place to have real conversations around emotional wellbeing from a Christian-perspective. Rachel lives in San Francisco with her husband, Tom (who also works at Pinterest!). Special background appearance by my husband Michael Skrzypek and dog-in-cone, June bug. Follow Rachel on Instagram and, of course, Pinterest.
This is the full, unedited version of our conversation. To hear the edited podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 6: Cassie Clark of Cozy in Carolina
Cassie writes a blog called Cozy in Carolina which she describes as calls "hygge anxiety writing.”
Mental health writer Cassie Clark grew up in Appalachia and moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina when she married to her husband Brandon 17 years ago. Cassie writes a blog called Cozy in Carolina which she describes as calls "hygge anxiety writing," which I love. In this interview we about homeschooling, her diagnoses of PTSD, OCD, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and what it's like to speak out about mental health in the South. Read Cozy in Carolina. Follow Cassie on Instagram.
This is the full, unedited version of our conversation. To hear the edited podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 5: Jordan Brown of The Mental Health Update
Jordan Brown is a mental health advocate, writer, and entrepreneur.
Jordan Brown is a mental health advocate, writer, and entrepreneur. He’s been blogging and tweeting to make mental health more accessible and meaningful since 2016. Formally trained as a social worker, Jordan considers his mental health struggles and open-heart surgery the greatest, most life-affirming lessons of all. He is the author of the book In Search of Happiness: Healing Through Mental Health Poetry. He is tolerated by his lovely wife and cats in Missoula, Montana. Learn more about Jordan's work on Twitter @jpbrown5. Sign up for his weekly mental health email newsletter, The Mental Health Update. And explore his book.
This is the full, unedited version of our conversation. To hear the edited podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 4: Leslie Dotson Van Every of Future Family
Leslie Dotson Van Every has led communications and content for companies like Overstock, Scribd, and Future Family.
I've known Leslie Dotson Van Every for over a decade. We first worked together at CBS, where she rocked her role as Director of PR. Since then, she's led communications and content for companies like Overstock, Scribd, and Future Family. In her spare time (!), she and two partners built a powerful and well-respected community action group called Solidarity Sundays. With over 17K active participants, Solidarity Sundays gathers people together in real life to develop and share current action for political change. Leslie and I discuss mental health, procrastination, crafting, and other good stuff. Leslie digs into her identity as a White-presenting-Black women, and how it has changed in recent time. She shares helpful ideas for how to feel better in challenging times. I am grateful for Leslie for taking the time to share her wisdom.
This is the full, unedited version of our conversation. To hear the edited podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 3: Ryan Fan of Baltimore Public Schools
Ryan Fan is a writer and teacher who lives in Baltimore, Maryland.
Ryan Fan is a writer and teacher who lives in Baltimore, Maryland. A co-editor of the Medium publication Invisible Illness, Ryan is a passionate advocate for new writers in the mental health space. In his free time, Ryan runs marathons. In this episode, Ryan and I talk a lot about mental health writing on the Medium platform. I learn a bit more about what drives him to excellence, as well as his new summer job in an Amazon warehouse. To read some of Ryan's writing on his faith, mental health, and education, follow him on Medium, where he is a star, @ryanfan.
This is the full, unedited version of our conversation. To hear the edited podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 2: Ashwini Dodani of Amazon India
Ashwini Dodani is a poet and writer who lives in Mumbai, India.
Ashwini Dodani is a poet and writer who lives in Mumbai, India. Originally rained as a mechanical engineer, Ashwini switched career paths and now works in the ever-evolving realm of social media, supporting the launch major TV shows from the likes of Amazon India.
As you'll see in this episiode, Ashwini is a true lighthouse. He actually says, "When it comes to being a lighthouse, it is a way of life for me." He digs into why empathy is important to him in such a meaningful way and what real listening is. We talk about his adopted city and I learn how Mumbai is a way of life, but Bombay is a feeling. We also talk about newfound quarantine hairstyles. I got such a positive feeling from this talk and am sure you will too.
This is the full, unedited version of our conversation. To hear the edited podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 1: Logan Johnston of Facebook
Logan Johnston is a community builder extraordinaire. We first met at a startup called Outdoorsy. He now works with community leaders of Facebook Groups.
This first experimental episode of the Beautiful Voyager podcast was an interview with Logan Johnston, community builder extraordinaire. Logan and I first met at the Airbnb of RVs, a startup called Outdoorsy. He now works with community leaders of Facebook Groups. We talk about social media use and community-building in a difficult environment.
We also explored overthinking, habit building, and the feeling of taking on roles in movements and in communities.
This is the full, unedited version of our conversation. To hear the edited podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.