Real - Best of "OTR - Achieving Mental Health for Real" Part 7

Welcome to Real 7 the best of 2025 part 2. there is much more information and inspiration left in the second part of of the season. From tackling grief to addressing the seriousness of the eating disorder known as binging. Each episode moves you closer to the tools you need to achieve mental health for real. So, Relax and injoy the last best of till next year.Big Boys Don't Cry - Handling GriefA deeply honest exploration of grief, fear, and the universal reality of losing the people we love. This conversation with Becky McCoy doesn’t shy away from the hard edges; instead, it opens space for tenderness, courage, and the slow work of healing. Becky brings her lived experience as a young widow, her training in spiritual formation, and her trauma informed approach to guide listeners through what it means to suffer, to question, and to keep going. …let’s listen in.Producing Dopamine - A Healthy Alternative— a powerful and eye‑opening conversation with Andy Y. West, who takes us inside her journey from the depths of long COVID and cognitive decline to a full, vibrant recovery by learning to work with the brain’s dopamine system instead of against it. Drawing from her books Planet Dopamine, Dopamine Mountain, and Anhedonia Wastelands, Andy breaks down how dopamine shapes our behavior, why harmful coping mechanisms can feel so compelling, and how intentional, science‑backed habits can retrain the brain toward healthier, sustainable sources of motivation and joy. Together, we explore the neurobiology behind drive, the biochemical loop of self‑harm, and practical tools for rewiring mindset, rebuilding momentum, and lifting ourselves out of depression and anxiety. It’s an energizing, hopeful, and surprisingly fun deep dive into reclaiming our mental health in a world overloaded with negativity — and a reminder that unity, love, and intentional change can reshape everything …let’s listen in.Hi, I'm God - Recovery and Thriving with SchizophreniaWe revisit a conversation with Dale Walsh, a man who has not only lived through schizophrenia but transformed that experience into a source of clarity, purpose, and service. Drawing from his rare “inside‑out” perspective, Dale guides families navigating the realities of serious mental illness, helping them bridge emotional distance and rediscover connection. His LIVELOVE method offers caregivers a way to communicate with compassion while reclaiming their own identity in the process. This segment honors the resilience, honesty, and humanity at the heart of mental health stories — and the power of lived experience to illuminate a path forward.Warrior Mom Rising- Story of Recovery from PTSD using EMDR is Next.We revisit a conversation with Jenn Robb—author, coach, and a mother forged in the fire of her daughter’s anxiety, depression, and trauma. With two decades in acute care medicine and training in functional and integrative approaches, Jenn brings both clinical grounding and lived compassion to the families she serves. Her book Warrior Mom Rising chronicles the moments when she felt lost, overwhelmed, and unsure how to help, yet still kept fighting for connection, clarity, and hope.Just a Person - Living Authentically through ADHD, PTSD, using CMIWe revisit a conversation with Estefana Johnson, who surprised me right out of the gate by describing herself simply as “just a person,” despite a career filled with depth, experience, and impact. Our discussion moved from the power of living as your authentic, unmasked self into her leadership role in launching Critical Memory Integration — a therapeutic model that challenges the idea that talk therapy alone can reach the roots of trauma.With more than two decades in mental health, from residential treatment to medical social work to her current role supporting psychedelic‑assisted therapy research, Estefana brings a rare blend of clinical expertise and human honesty. CMI pushes beneath the surface, helping people uncover and rewrite the unconscious survival strategies that linger long after trauma. This segment captures her clarity, her courage, and her commitment to“Allyship in the Workplace - Help for Neurodivergent and other marginalized groups”In this clip we talk to Dr. Victoria Mattingly about Allyship in the workplace, which is the active practice of using one's privilege and influence to support, advocate for, and create a more equitable and inclusive environment for colleagues from marginalized or underrepresented groups. An example in mental health would be a neurotypical assisting a nuerodivergentDr. Victoria Mattingly is CEO and founder of the workplace inclusion consulting firm Mattingly Solutions. She is a keynote speaker, a published author, a mental health warrior, and passionate about improving human experience at workShe also speaks to organizations and professional associations about how to better support mental health in the workplace.“We're All Goin F^^kin Die (Handling Anxiety, Grief, Death, and Cancer)”We revisit a raw and unfiltered conversation with Zulma Williams, host of Keeping It Real with Zulma the Swearing Therapist. This segment dives straight into the hard places — anxiety, grief, personal demons, and the weight of loss — alongside Zulma’s own story of facing a breast cancer diagnosis at 46.Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Zulma survived abusive relationships, depression, and suicidal ideation before immigrating to the U.S. at 31. She rebuilt her life through education and purpose, earning her Bachelor of Social Work at 46, then returning years later to complete her Master’s and become a licensed social worker. Today she leads Dragonfly Therapy Services, specializing in trauma, anxiety, and depression, bringing a lifetime of grit and honesty to her work.This conversation is candid, emotional, and unmistakably real — and yes, Zulma’s trademark colorful language is part of the package. Consider this your heads‑up as you decide how you want to take it in."Transforming Anxiety, Stress, and Trauma through Tapping - Treatment for PTSD and Other Mental Issues”This is a grounded and heartfelt conversation with Amy Vincze, who grew up carrying the impact of childhood trauma after her father left when she was four. That early abandonment shaped years of PTSD, anxiety, and depression, and eventually pushed her to search for tools that could help her understand and calm what was happening inside her. Amy eventually discovered Tapping, a structured technique that helped her manage symptoms and explore the patterns beneath them. In this episode, she walks us through the basics of the practice and how it can support people living with PTSD or other mental health challenges. And as always, exploring painful memories can be intense, so working with a trained counselor can offer safety and support along the way …let’s listen in.“Troubled Teen Programs—for Real: Do they Help or Harm?”A revealing and deeply informed conversation with Dr. Corey Jentry, author of Selling Sanity: The Troubled‑Teen Industry, the Insane Profits, and the Kids Who Pay the Price. A survivor of a troubled‑teen program himself, Corey brings both lived experience and academic rigor, holding a Ph.D. in Political Science from the London School of Economics. He walks us through his own rough upbringing, the program he endured, and the larger system that markets itself as “help” while too often causing lasting harm.Corey makes it clear that not every program is dangerous — but the exceptions are rare, and families deserve to approach these decisions with the same scrutiny they’d use when choosing a college. Today, he works with families, educators, and advocates to identify red flags, protect vulnerable kids, and push for meaningful reform. Beyond his advocacy, Corey is also a strategic leader in healthcare innovation and organizational growth, bringing a wide‑angle view of how systems operate and how they can change.It’s an essential conversation for anyone trying to understand the troubled‑teen industry and the tools we need to keep young people safe …let’s listen in.“Overcoming Binge Eating - Rewiring the Brain”This is a thoughtful and empowering conversation with Amber Abila, who helps women break free from binge eating and overeating by understanding how the brain forms habits around food. After years of struggling with her own relationship with eating — trying therapy, calorie