Stephanie Russell & Jillian Kay

Send us Fan MailWhat does it look like to offer sturdiness to someone navigating one of life's most complex systems? That's the question at the heart of Episode 2 of The Anna Jinja Show's Athens County Children Services Season — and Stephanie Russell answers it beautifully.Stephanie is an independently licensed clinical mental health counselor (LPCC) and Treatment Foster Care Coordinator with the Southeastern Treatment Foster Care Network. A lifelong Athens County resident, she has built her career championing individuals and families in rural Appalachia through the intersecting challenges of mental health, child welfare, and substance dependence. What sets Stephanie apart is her philosophy: that to serve others well, you must first fuel yourself — through solitude, self-reflection, and yes, occasionally running to the hills of Appalachia to recharge. Alongside Stephanie, we hear from Jillian Kay, an Ohio University music production student and Athens singer-songwriter whose original song "Sometimes Blues" speaks directly to the courage it takes to face difficult emotions with honesty and grace. This conversation is for anyone who works in service of others — and who sometimes wonders how to keep going. Stephanie and Jillian show us the way.Support the show