Episodes
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Real Talk: Real Giving with Shercole King
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk with VIA LINK"s own Shercole King! Dive in with the hosts as they discuss VIA LINK's end of year campaign and how giving impacts an organization and how you can best choose how to give to an organization or program you would like to support…
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Real Talk: One Krewe
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk with Diana Esordi, founder and Executive Director of One Krewe! Learn about how One Krewe was founded and continues to grow to create accessible and inclusive spaces for parades and cultural events! You will not want to miss this insightful and...
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Flashback: The Story of 988
In Recognition of September's Suicide Prevention Awareness Month join Jesse and Sherrard in a flashback episode to have some real talk on The Story of 988
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Real Talk: Louisiana Regional Suicide Prevention Coalitions
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk with the leaders of Louisiana's Regional Suicide Prevention Coalitions (including our own Erin Sims, LPC-S and Sherrard Crespo, LCSW doing double duty as panelist and interviewer).Learn more about how Louisiana is strengthening and unifying…
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Real Talk: With Sherrard
Join Sherrard for a solo episode for a quick check in and some real talk on what look forward to this fall!
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Flashback Episode: K.M. Walton
**Content Warning** the podcast and books covered discuss suicide and mental health crisis. If this is not helpful to your mental wellness please feel free to catch us next timeJoin Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk with K.M. Walton, author of Cracked, Empty, and Ultimatum. We cannot...
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Real Talk: Self Care as Celebration
Join our hosts Jesse and Sherrard as they talk about celebration as a form of self care! Listen in to find out how they're celebrating and finding the balance!
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Flashback Episode: Violence in Schools
**Content Warning** This episode openly and frankly discusses instances of mass casualty, specifically school shootings, both from the perspective of a subject matter expert and a survivor. If this discussion is not supportive to your mental health at this time please skip this episode and join…
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Real Talk: Our Pets Our Self Care
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they talk about one of their favorite topics: their pets! Listen in for some real talk on pets as self care as well as emotional and mental health support. Special co-hosts: Mikey and Ruffles!
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Real Talk: It's Getting Hot Out Here
Join hosts Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk about real weather! VIA LINK participated and provided data for a study on extreme weather and the effects on mental health and suicide risk - join our hosts as they review and discuss the findings! Full article linked below as well as...
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Real Talk: 211 at the Capitol
Join Sherrard (we hope you feel better Jesse!) as she has some real talk about 211 and 211 Day at the Capitol! Linked: www.vialink.org
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Real Talk: Mental Health and Media
Join hosts Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk about mental health and media! In this episode the hosts dive in to discussing the positives and negatives to mental health depictions in modern media: the good, the bad, the inclusion, the stereotypes, and everything in between. They also...
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Flashback! How Do You Self Care?
We're all about self care on this show, so real talk: we could not maintain our balance and record an episode for today. Please join our hosts Jesse and Sherrard for a flashback episode for the original topic of self care and the hosts own balance
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Real Talk: Secure Storage and Suicide Prevention
**Content Warning** Today we are going to be talking about secure storage and suicide prevention. Just a quick content warning for our listeners we will be having some real talk about firearms and suicide prevention, which includes data on suicide attempts, so if this information is not helpful…
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Real Talk: Child Abuse Prevention Month
Join hosts Jesse and Sherrard as they flip roles and have some real talk where Jesse interviews Sherrard in her position as Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana to discuss April's Child Abuse Prevention Month and the mission of Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana and America. Also get…
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Real Talk Episode 37: Burn Out
Join hosts Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk about a very real subject - Burn Out!
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Real Talk Episode 37: The Story of 988
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk about 988! VIA LINK is proud to be a 988 contact center in Louisiana and our hosts take a deep dive into the launch and history of 988 and the current story and impact of this lifeline. Links: www.vialink.org www.helpforgambling.org...
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Real Talk Episode 35: The Cashleigh Foundation
**Content Warning** This episode contains frank and direct discussion on topics of suicide ideation, suicide loss, grief, and trauma. Please only listen if this is helpful for your own mental wellness. Join Jesse and Sherrard as they have some Real Talk with Lana Gruell of The Cashleigh…
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Real Talk Episode 34: Baby It's Cold Outside!
Join hosts Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk about needing extra support when the weather is rough and balancing stress with self care (including reality TV!). It's true...we may not know what episode of the podcast we're on, but we know we all deserve patience, understanding, a time...
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Real Talk Episode 34: Bright Light Foundation
**Content Warning** This episode contains frank discussions regarding fentanyl, gun violence, and pregnancy loss. Please only listen if this will be helpful for your wellness. Join Jesse and Sherrard as they have some Real Talk with Cheyene Helm, the founder of the Bright Light Foundation. Join...
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Real Talk Episode 32: Shercole King!
Join Jesse and Sherrard and our very own Vice President of Administration and Operations: Shercole King! Join to get some real talk on employee wellness, self-care culture, and a sneak peek at the 2026 Marguerite Redwine Awards!
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Real Talk Episode 31: New Year New Goals!
We apologize for the Holidelay (we're very proud of the pun) in posting! Join hosts Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk and reflect on 2025 and share their wellness goals for the New Year! Manifest 2026!
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Real Talk Episode 30: Let's Talk Holidays!
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk about their holiday plans, coping with stress, and self care. An important reminder for all that 988 will be available 24/7 throughout all of the holidays - please reach out if you need talk! You Matter!
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Real Talk Episode 29: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Meghan Goldbeck
Join our hosts as they have some real talk with Meghan Goldbeck, the Executive Director of Louisiana's chapter of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)! Tune in to learn more about this amazing agency as we dive into services they provide, talk suicide prevention, and of course we dig...
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Real Talk Episode 28: Holiday Self Care Check In
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk about holiday stress, self care, and gratitude!
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Real Talk Episode 27: Our 1 Year Anniversary!
Join hosts Jesse and Sherrard as they celebrate the pod's first birthday! Listen for some real talk as they reflect on what the first year has been like and their goals for the future #nofilters #nofluff
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Real Talk Episode 26: Let's Talk Couples!
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk with Jonah Quin, LMSW - the Clinical Director of the Broadmoor Improvement Association! Join the hosts as they not only learn about this amazing New Orleans based agency but dive into some clinical topics such as Internal Family Systems and...
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Real Talk Episode 26: KM Walton
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk with K.M. Walton, author of Cracked, Empty, and Ultimatum. We cannot express enough (literally) how impactful these books are! Join the hosts as they take a deep dive, explore themes, talk self care, and completely fan over (we can't help but…
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Real Talk Episode 25: Our Self Care Check In
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they put the real in real talk as a self care check in turns into a stress dump (especially for Sherrard). Listen to our hosts check in on each other, support each other, and help manage stress. It gets deep and it gets real!
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Real Talk Episode 23: Suicide Prevention Month
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they have some Real Talk on September's Suicide Prevention Month and dive into the topic of mental wellness and what working in suicide prevention means to them
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Real Talk Episode 22: 988 Day!
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk with the Louisiana 988 Dream Team! Learn more about the 988 system in Louisiana with Erin Sims, LPC-S of VIA LINK and Heather Kleckinger, LPC of LACG, the two 988 contact centers in Louisiana as they discuss our work with 988 and of course, 988...
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Real Talk Episode 21: Our Real Stress
Join Jesse and Sherrard for some Real Talk about real stress. Let's normalize that it is okay to feel stressed and that we can do the people we care about a great service by just listening! Join the hosts as they not only have some real talk but some real listening - and surprise guests at the end!
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Real Talk Episode 20: Bryce River Foundation
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk with Scott Waldrop of the Bryce River Foundation. In this episode we talk about the Bryce River Foundation, their event: Riding Towards Tomorrow, and get real in talking about advocacy and support for mental health, grief, and suicide. Links:...
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Real Talk Episode 19: Councilmember Lesli Harris!
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk with Councilmember Lesli Harris of New Orleans City Council District B. They dive into important initiatives on homelessness, community growth and collaboration, and of course some real talk on self care and balancing passion with personal...
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Real Talk Episode 18: Our Wellness Snacks
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they discuss (and in Sherrard's case snack on) their go-to wellness snacks and have some real talk about nutrition's link to our mental health.
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Real Talk Episode 17: Virtual Reality Training
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk about a virtual reality training VIA LINK participated in and dive into a discussion about safe storage, self surrender, safety planning, and 988!Contacts for Resources Discussed: www.armoryproject.org www.vialink.org Ronell Day -...
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Real Talk Episode 16: Shercole King!
In this episode Jesse and Sherrard are joined by VIA LINK's own Vice President of Administration & Operations, Shercole King! Tune in to learn more about the Marguerite Redwine Awards and for some real talk about self care and office wellness
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Real Talk Episode 15: Mrs. Louisiana!
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk with Mrs. Louisiana - Courtney Vicari, who keeps it real as our reigning queen with a platform of advocacy for mental health and suicide prevention!
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Real Talk Episode 14: Alfred Banks
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they have some Real Talk with Alfred Banks; a multi-award winning, Grammy-nominated rapper and singer from New Orleans, who has used his art to spread awareness for mental health and suicide Follow our guest at: www.UnderdogCentral.com and @UnderDogCentral
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Real Talk Episode 13: Finding the Balance - Keeping informed while keeping up self care
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they have some real talk with VIA LINK Director of Outreach and Advocacy, Erin Sims, LPC-S. In today's episode we talk about ways to keep informed with policy and legislation and how to find the balance in maintaining your self-maintenance while keeping yourself informed.
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Real Talk Episode 12: How Do You Self Care?
Join Jesse and Sherrard as they continue the conversation from Episode 11 and have some real talk about their own self care. There are no barriers in this episode of self disclosure as Jesse and Sherrard discuss their own journeys with self care and mental wellness.
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Real Talk Episode 11: Let's Talk Self Care
Join Sherrard for a solo episode as we have some real talk with the audience about self care and maintaining our brain!
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Real Talk Episode 10: Our Wellness Video Picks
Join Jesse and Sherrard for some real talk as they play and discuss their favorite wellness videos! Linked videos: https://youtu.be/1Evwgu369Jw?si=X65N-0vGCO4BULmb https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4ju2G3KtKNA
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Real Talk Episode 9: Mass Casualty
**Content Warning** This episode openly and frankly discusses instances of mass casualty, specifically school shootings, both from the perspective of a subject matter expert and a survivor. If this discussion is not supportive to your mental health at this time please skip this episode and join…
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Real Talk Episode 8: Mental Health When You Work in Mental Health
Join Jesse and Sherrard for some Real Talk with special guest Greg Dicharry as they discuss managing and supporting your own mental health when you work in the mental health field.
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Real Talk Episode 7: Janet Hays and AOT
Join Jesse for a solo episode as she has some real talk with Janet Hays on the topic of mental health and AOT (Assisted Outpatient Treatment)
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Real Talk Episode 6: Grief
Jesse and Sherrard are joined by colleague Georgmarie to have some real talk on grief. Together they share their own experiences, discuss stages of grief, and supports that have helped them on their grief journeys.
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Real Talk Episode 5: Our New Year Wellness Goals
Join Jesse and Sherrard as we chat about our wellness goals for the new year! Reach out to us at [email protected]
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Real Talk Episode 4: Mental Health and the Holidays
Join Jesse and Sherrard as we have some Real Talk about common myths surrounding mental health and the holidays. Hear our unfiltered talk on holiday stress, mental health, and wellness Reach out and email us at [email protected] and follow us on facebook at vialink211
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Real Talk Episode 3: Jesse Interviews author Ellen Hopkins
Join Jesse on a solo episode as she interviews author and mental health advocate Ellen Hopkins!