Meghan's Place: Conversations on Healing

In this powerful episode of Meghan’s Place: Conversations on Healing, we explore the deep and often overlooked connection between mental health and housing insecurity.Meghan is joined by Kylie, Policy Director at the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits, whose work spans frontline outreach, program development, and policy advocacy. From her early days supporting individuals experiencing homelessness in Marin County to her recent research on young adult homelessness in San José, Kylie brings both heart and expertise to this important conversation.Together, they discuss how housing instability impacts emotional and mental well-being, the gap between systems and real human needs, and what it truly means to support individuals navigating homelessness. Kylie also shares practical ways listeners can get involved in their own communities and offers a hopeful perspective on the future of this work.This conversation is a reminder that healing does not happen in isolation. It is deeply connected to the environments we live in, the systems we navigate, and the support we have access to.Whether you are looking to learn, reflect, or take action, this episode invites you to lead with compassion and stay engaged in the work of collective healing.

In this episode of Meghan’s Place: Conversations on Healing, host Meghan Fouad welcomes a special guest, Brandon, for an honest and encouraging conversation about growth, resilience, and the journey toward emotional and mental wellness.Together, they explore Brandon’s personal story—reflecting on the challenges he faced in earlier seasons of life and the pivotal moments that helped shift his path toward healing and transformation. Brandon shares meaningful insight into what it looks like to move through discouragement, break unhealthy cycles, and pursue lasting change.This conversation offers hope for anyone feeling stuck, along with practical takeaways on the habits, mindsets, and support systems that can help sustain growth over time. Whether you’re navigating your own healing journey or looking for encouragement, this episode is a reminder that change is possible—and you don’t have to walk it alone.New episodes of Meghan’s Place are released every Monday at 10 AM.

In this episode of Meghan’s Place: Conversations on Healing, host Meghan Fouad welcomes special guest Tiffany Smith for an honest and compassionate conversation about mental health, addiction, and the journey toward healing. Tiffany, a Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee and Mental Health and Addiction Support Specialist, shares her passion for breaking stigma and creating safe spaces where individuals can experience hope and restoration.Together, Meghan and Tiffany explore what fuels Tiffany’s commitment to this work, the powerful connection between mental health and addiction, and why addressing both is essential for lasting change. Tiffany also offers practical, accessible steps for those who may be struggling personally or supporting a loved one, reminding listeners that healing is possible and support is within reach.This episode is a heartfelt and encouraging conversation designed to inspire, educate, and remind listeners that they are never alone on their path toward healing.Music Credit: Fresh Lift © 2016 by Shane Ivers

In this episode, Meghan Fouad, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, is joined by writer, speaker, and diversity advocate LeRon L. Barton for a powerful and deeply human conversation about identity, belonging, and the emotional realities of navigating spaces where you feel unseen.Drawing from more than two decades in the tech industry, LeRon shares his lived experience as a Black man often finding himself the only one in the room — and the weight that comes with that. Together, Meghan and LeRon explore the emotional toll of invisibility, the complexities of imposter syndrome when shaped by systemic bias, and the importance of storytelling as a tool for connection and healing.LeRon reflects on the transformative power of sharing our stories — not only as a way to be heard, but as a way to help others feel less alone. This conversation is rooted in compassion, honesty, and the belief that our voices matter.If you’ve ever felt like an outsider in your workplace or community, this episode offers validation, insight, and a reminder that you are not alone.

In this episode of Meghan’s Place: Conversations on Healing, Meghan sits down with Kim Salas, a pastor, therapist-in-training, and advocate with over 25 years of experience serving diverse communities. Kim blends her theological and psychological expertise to support people in meaningful and practical ways.She has ministered at Girlfriends Conferences, served as Assistant Pastor for CHAM Advocacy Ministry, and spent more than a decade working directly with homeless populations. She is also the CEO and founder of Solutions CIU Global, leading initiatives that provide both spiritual guidance and psychological support to families in Pakistan.In this conversation, Meghan and Kim explore how faith, therapy, and advocacy can work together to destigmatize mental health. They discuss her experiences supporting vulnerable communities, the lessons she’s learned through outreach, and how cultural and spiritual understanding can shape how we talk about mental health.This episode is a thoughtful look at the ways compassion and professional care intersect to create real change and connection.

In this episode of Meghan’s Place: Conversations on Healing, Meghan sits down with Daniel, an MFT Trainee whose journey into the mental health field has been shaped by meaningful clinical and spiritual care experiences.Daniel is EFT-informed and interested in family dynamics, addiction recovery, and men’s mental health. As a Korean-speaking clinician, he is also passionate about building bridges across cultures and supporting diverse communities.In this conversation, Meghan and Daniel explore an unexpected topic in the mental health space: video games. They talk about how gaming can shape the way people think about connection, teamwork, and problem solving, and how it can open the door to conversations about mental health in ways that feel more natural and less intimidating.Together, they reflect on how gaming communities can foster belonging, create connection across cultures, and provide meaningful spaces for people to share their experiences.Whether you are a gamer or simply curious about new ways people connect and communicate, this episode offers a thoughtful look at how play, culture, and empathy can intersect in powerful ways. 

In this second episode of Meghan’s Place: Conversations on Healing, host Meghan Fouad, Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, sits down with Joanne to share a story rooted in resilience, identity, and transformation.Born in 1959 in San Jose, California, Joanne was raised by a determined Mexican American mother who worked tirelessly to provide for her family despite limited education and financial hardship. Growing up during a time of political upheaval and civil rights movements, Joanne witnessed both powerful activism and painful discrimination. She carried the weight of racism and self-doubt while watching her family serve a country that did not always honor them in return.In this heartfelt conversation, Joanne reflects on the turning points in her mental health journey, the beliefs that changed through lived experience, and the people and practices that helped her through her hardest seasons.This episode is a moving reminder that pain can be transformed into strength, and that healing can ripple across generations.

In this episode of Meghan’s Place: Conversations on Healing, brought to you by Advent Group Ministries, I had the privilege of sitting down with therapist Brianna Mauntz for a meaningful and down to earth conversation about mental health and what it really looks like to heal.Brianna’s path into counseling was shaped by her own experiences with anxiety and grief counseling. Those seasons not only deepened her empathy, but also inspired her to become the kind of support she once needed. Before becoming a therapist, she worked as a preschool teacher, and that background continues to shape the way she connects with children, teens, and young adults. She brings a steady, thoughtful presence to the therapy space and has a heart for walking with people through life transitions, anxiety, grief, and the everyday challenges that come with being human.In our conversation, we talk about what first drew her to this work and what helps her stay grounded and care for her own mental health. Brianna shares what she wishes more people understood about therapy, especially the misconceptions that can keep someone from reaching out. We also explore the idea that you do not have to be in crisis to benefit from counseling. She offers insight into some of the quieter signs that extra support could be helpful, even when life does not look overwhelming from the outside.This episode is honest, compassionate, and full of practical encouragement. If you have ever wondered whether therapy is “for you,” or if you simply want to better understand your own mental and emotional health, I hope this conversation meets you right where you are.Music Credit: Fresh Lift © 2016 by Shane Ivers