Mental Health News Radio

Two-time world champion boxer, Jesse James Leija, joins host Kristin Sunanta Walker on Mental Health News Radio to talk about the mind-body connection. Mental acuity, continued acts of service through advocacy, love of family, humility, and entrepreneurship are all at the heart of Jesse James Leija. He discusses the many phases of his career and how his training as a boxer kept him mentally and physically able to take on world champion competitors and stay in the ring. Please visit his website at www.jessejamesleija.com for more information about his organizations and the charities he not only supports financially but rolls up his sleeves and puts the hard work in day after day. 

Wendy Conquest is a psychotherapist, Director of SACC, a sex and addiction treatment center in Boulder Colorado and author of Letters To A Sex Addict: The Journey Through Grief and Betrayal. Ms. Conquest’s passion is to understand and create paradigms for change. She has developed programs dealing with drug, alcohol, sex addiction, and treating partners of sex addicts with hospitals, agencies and treatment centers over the last 17 years always using cutting edge research.  Wendy has also been successful incorporating Alma, her therapy dog, with clients in individual, couples, and group settings.  Her newest book, Letters From A Sex Addict; Seeing Inside My Mind, written with co-author, Dan Drake, will be available in 2017.www.wendyconquest.comDan Drake is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist Supervisor, and a Certified Clinical Partner Specialist. He specializes in treating sex addicts, their partners and families. He is in p

Two of the founders of ZenCharts.com join host Kristin Walker to discuss why electronic health records are being put to the test in the addiction treatment side of behavioral health. Features like customer relationship management (CRM) have to be incorporated in order to handle the onslaught of patients needing help from substance abuse treatment centers. Find out who is behind where you store something as important as protected health information.Thank you to Rick Glaser and Sean Callahan for joining and being the first sponsor of Mental Health News Radio.www.zencharts.com

Our friend and guest on the show, Shahida Arabi, inspired this podcast. Her articles on Daughters of Narcissistic Fathers can be found here. Definitely a trigger warning for listeners - be prepared prior to listening to this one with counselors Melanie Vann and Melissa Richards joined by host Kristin Sunanta Walker.We highly recommend you visit Shahida's website. 

Mike Rezendes is a member of the Boston Globe Spotlight Team and shared a 2003 Pulitzer Prize for revealing the cover-up of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. In more than two decades with the Globe, he has investigated a wide array of additional subjects, including the September 11 attacks, health care costs, and prison suicides. While working with the Spotlight Team, Mike was also a Pulitzer Prize finalist twice, once in 2007 for an investigation of the debt collection industry, and again in 2017 for an exposé of the mental health care system in Massachusetts. On this show our host, Kristin Sunanta Walker, and Mike discuss the mental health system failure in Massachusetts. Read the full blog articles on both of our Spotlight team interviews!For more information please visit The Boston Globe Spotlight team.

Jodee Prouse is an outspoken advocate to help eliminate the shame and stigma surrounding Addiction and Mental Illness from a family perspective. She is the author of the just released, powerful memoir, The Sun is Gone: A Sister Lost in Secrets, Shame, and Addiction, and How I Broke Free which instantly went to #1 in her 3 categories. (Adult Children of Alcoholics, Dysfunctional Families, and Alcoholism).www.jodeeprouse.comwww.facebook.com/jodee.tisdaleprousewww.instagram.com/jodeeprousewww.linkedin.com/in/jodee-prouse-530a8329/

John Bruna (Jangchub Chophel) is an author, counselor, educator, mindfulness and Dharma teacher. With humble and challenging beginnings, he grew up in a low-income environment, surrounded by drugs, alcohol, and violence. In 1984, at the age of 22, John began a spiritual journey that changed the course of his life. As a result of that journey, John has been able to turn his experiences of being a dishwasher, auto mechanic, corporate manager, graduate student, and spiritual practitioner into insights on how to live productively, creatively, and collaboratively. After living in different cultural and economic environments, along with educational and spiritual training, John has become an accessible, authentic teacher and role model for people who want positive change and progress in their life.John is the director of Way of Compassion Foundation and Co-Founder of the Mindful Life Program. He is also the author of the upcoming book, The Wisdom of a Meaningful Life: The Essence of Mindfulness.John's Tedx Talk Free

What on earth can we write about James Lott, Jr.? Witty, charming, warm, funny, charismatic - but the man knows. He knows what's up. Probably one of our most enjoyable podcasts with a fellow podcaster! Who introduced him to us? The great connector, Dr. Cali Estes. James is an artist, a writer, a television host, a podcast host, a professional organizationer, coach and so much more. He knows the ins and outs of the entertainment world and STILL laughs from his belly. This was a fun show where we stole his line, "You just can't fake the funk!"For more about James visit any of the amazing places below:James Lott, Jr. AFIS CNA CTACC The Super Organizer LLC 213.309.3685 thesuperorganizer.com thesuperorganizeruniverse.comthesuperorganieruniversetips.blogspot.com blakhopeproductions.com @blakhopela @thesupero @alottinla

A bio from Ryan Orrock is never going to be a traditional bio. So let's play but please read his bio here. Best to listen to the show to hear what he does, why he does it, and how he can help you.  Student. Writer. Facilitator. Communicator. Coach. Mindworker. Bodyworker. Counselor. Healer. Trainer and even Dom.Most of all, Energy Worker.www.ryanorrock.comwww.patreon.com/ryanorrockwww.facebook.com/ryan.orrock

Thanks to Bree Bonchay, LCSW for calling June 1st the date of World Narcissistic Abuse Awareness Day. It was important for our host, Kristin Walker, to interview the friends that brought this awareness to Mental Health News Radio: Andrea Schneider and Christine Louis de Canonville. We've shared this walk for many years before we knew each other and then together the past 3 years. A whole lot of healing has gone on for each of us and for listeners of our shows. Please visit Christine's website here for more information about her and her work.Please visit Andrea's website here for more information about her and her work. Join us as we talk about what this day means for us, our friendship, and the thousands of people that have reached out for help upon finding our writing, hearing a podcast, being a part of a training session, or bumping into us on the street!  www.mhnrnetwork.comwww.mentalhealthnewsradio.com  

Anna M. Jones, coauthor of What We're Afraid to Ask, received her M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Vanguard University of Southern California. Jones’ training includes integrative approaches built upon her belief in Christianity around areas such as trauma, abuse, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, substance related and addictive disorders, adoption, identity, and spiritual issues. Jones believes that everyone has value, was created with purpose, and her belief that Jesus is the answer.whatwereafraidtoask.comfacebook.com/whatwereafraidtoask 

One of our best interviews to date is with Dr. Adi Jaffe of www.igntd.me. His talks all over the globe are always a surprise for the audience. You'll find out why on this show. Great back and forth discussions about how the industry behind behavioral health has got to change in order to truly be effective. He's a disrupter - expect the unexpected and enjoy the show!Dr. Jaffe received his Ph.D., in Psychology, from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and his TEDx talk has been watched, and lauded, throughout the world for its authenticity and insight. Check out his visit with Dr. Oz here. Using tools as varied as cognitive behavioral education, mindfulness techniques and the latest in biofeedback and neurofeedback, Dr. Jaffe has been known to change lives.www.nationalcouncil.orgwww.igntd.me

Eating disorders are widely misunderstood and yet they effect all races and all genders.This is a global epidemic that has been ravaging people for centuries.Two counselors, Shari Botwin and Melanie Vann, join host Kristin Walker for a very intimate conversation about treatment, our personal histories, and how misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and mistreated people are that suffer from this lifelong problem. Recovery takes on many forms over the course of someone's life. Certainly Western culture plays its negative role but this a problem all over the world.Melanie Vann is the Program Director for Mental Health News Radio. For more information about Melanie click here.Kristin Walker is the host of Mental Health News Radio and Founder of MHNRNetwork.com.Shari Botwin, LCSW has been counseling survivors of trauma and abuse for over 20 years. She has given expert testimony on most major news outlets and will be featured in a documentary later this year on healing from sexual trauma. She is working on her second book,

Dave Vigerust, Ph.D. is the Chief Science Officer of MyGenetx. Dr. Vigerust is a strategic scientist, consultant, teacher, and inventor, particularly in the areas of infectious disease, oncology, genetics, pharmacogenetics (PGx) and immunology. Dr. Vigerust earned his BS degree from the University of Texas at El Paso in Biology and Chemistry, a MS degree in Immunology and Microbiology from Texas Tech University and his Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Pathology from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He completed postdoctoral fellowships in infectious disease first at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and second at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the Department of Pediatrics. After completing his fellowships in 2009, he joined the faculty of Vanderbilt School of Medicine in the Department of Pathology, Immunology and Microbiology and was concurrently a Health Research Scientist for the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Vigerust currently maintains an Adjunct Assistant Professor positio

Barbra Russell joins us LIVE from Navigating the World of Addiction in Littleton Colorado. She became a Licensed Professional Counselor as a “second career” and has spent many hours working with individuals, couples and families in her private practice. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s in Counseling and that “second career” prompted a move from Pueblo to Denver, Colorado where she works as the Director of the Counseling Department at the Potter’s House Church.Joins us as we discuss her new book, "Yes! I Said No!" which is now available through Amazon.com.www.barbrarussell.com

Author and businessman Kevin Cullis joins us LIVE from Navigating the World of Addiction in Littleton Colorado. We discuss his theory on having a poverty mindset and how to change your thinking about prosperity. His books can be found on Amazon here.Kevin Cullis is a former USAF officer, currently a business geek and an entrepreneur. He has his Masters Degree in Administration as well as 12 years of face-to-face experience selling both Macs and PCs to businesses. He loves helping entrepreneurs, startups, and small business owners integrate, utilize, and optimize their marketing, sales, and business management processes to be profitable. The combination of both a business and a computer process perspectives makes him unique in saving and making money, especially when using a Mac. "How to Start a Business: Mac Version" is his first book.His second book, "HWJDB How Would Jesus Do Business?: Bible Secrets for Startups and Entrepreneurs" came about while discussing business with former Navy SEAL SOC Jimmy Graham.

Broadcasting LIVE from the Navigating the World of Addiction conference in Littleton, Colorado, Dr. Dawn Obrecht shares her passion for the field of addiction treatment. She has traveled the globe and is the author of three books. Visit her Amazon author page here.Dawn V. Obrecht, M.D., was graduated from the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine and did an internship in general surgery and residency in emergency medicine. She has been the medical director of a chemical dependency unit and is a professor at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. For many years she had a busy family medicine practice. Licensed in several states, she now travels to small, rural communities, filling in for physicians who need time off.Having been in recovery from drug addiction for over a quarter century, Dr. Obrecht uses her experience with life-threatening illness to identify with and help others to heal and to hear God. DocDawn lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, with her husband, Erik Landvik, where she wri

We had the pleasure of meeting Randy and Lydia Grimes at the Navigating the World of Addiction conference in Littleton Colorado. Randy and Lydia were there with the treatment center they passionately serve Behavorial Health of the Palm Beaches. Sharing the stage to discuss their story as a family was inspiring for all of us.  Randy made sure to invite Lydia to join him to share her part of the journey as well.  Addiction is a family disease and hearing from both husband and wife was powerful. Randy was an American football player who played center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1983 to 1992. He also played for Baylor University during the early 1980's and was part of the 1980 Southwest Conference Champion Bears. He is now an interventionist, speaker, and part of the team at Behavioral Health of the Palm Beaches. Our podcast is known for Keeping it Real and that is exactly what you get with Randy. This was very personal for the entire team at Mental Health News Radio and many of our listeners. A healing too

We met Kevin Petersen, LMFT at the Navigating the World of Addiction conference put on by Rob Lohman. He came in at the last minute to take over as one of the keynote speakers. Kevin Petersen, LMFT is a dedicated, caring, and understanding professional who works with families in crisis. Kevin was born and raised in Palo Alto, CA and earned a bachelors from USC in 1994, and enjoyed a prosperous career in Sales and Marketing before he decided to return to school in 2008. Kevin has earned a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and has a Certificate in Child and Adolescent Counseling both from Regis University. He started his career working as a therapist for Arapahoe Douglas Mental Health Network in Child and Family Services in 2011. Kevin opened his private practice, Petersen Family Counseling, in 2014 and specializes in working with families and individuals struggling with addictions, codependency, and parenting.www.petersenfamilycounseling.com

Our guest is John Trautwein. His book My Living Will: A Father’s Story of Loss & Hope details the October 2010 tragic loss of his oldest child, 15-year-old Will. A strong, popular and successful young man, Will was a freshman at Northview High School, and his death devastated not only the Trautwein’s but the entire community.As a result, John and his wife Susie started a nonprofit called “The Will To Live Foundation” to work closely kids to not only help spread the message of teen suicide awareness in our community but also help these teens recognize the wonderful bonds of friendship we call “life teammate bonds” that help each other find the good in life!John is a Graduate of Northwestern University and former baseball player, playing 7 years in the Expos and Red Sox organizations.  Since the foundation started, John has been making well over 100 speeches and presentations annually to high school students, college students, teams of all kinds, parents, coaches, teachers across America. John has turned th