Latest Episodes
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28: Regulating The Nervous System During A Trauma Response – Sophie Mallari
Listen nowOur guest today is Sophie Mallari, a Therapist at Citron Hennessey trained to counsel through a multicultural and holistic perspective that encompasses ones biological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual needs.
Her areas of specialization include grief & loss, depression, anxiety, interpersonal relationships, and conflict resolution. Sophie also discusses the nuances of being a 2nd-generation Asian American.
In this episode, Sophie shares her insights and experiences about mental health and the impact of the pandemic, provides tips for selecting a therapist and discusses how employers can support their employees’ mental health.
You will also learn about five coping skills for people who experience loss. And, for people who may be searching for a therapist, Sophie shares the top four things to look for when making a selection.
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27: Navigating Early Intervention For Kids With Special Needs – Kristan Weisdack
Listen nowBrian talks with Kristan Weisdack, the founder and CEO of BehaviorWorx of Southwestern Pa, who has worked for over 17 years in the mental health field, specializing in autism and behavior intervention. Her company focuses on providing a holistic approach to behavior intervention, shifting the practice of mental health professionals, teachers, and parents to address the root cause of a client’s behavior.
We discuss the effects of the pandemic on her practice and the mental health industry, her holistic approach to behavior intervention, and her advice for individuals caring for loved ones with autism or ADHD. Kristan also has a great approach to behavior intervention and the training her team provides to help reduce “meltdowns” in those with autism.
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26: How Grief Appears When Leaving A Job – Dr. Kimani Norrington-Sands
Listen nowToday, Brian interviews Dr. Kimani Norrington-Sands, a licensed clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience providing mental health and consultation services. Dr. Kimani is also the founder of Lifting As We Climb Consulting, where she offers strength-based, culturally grounded, and trauma-informed trainings and consultations focused on emotional wellness.
During the interview, Dr. Kimani shares her personal story of leaving her job during the pandemic and discusses the grief that often accompanies job transitions, as well as toxic work environments. As someone who has worked extensively in the mental health field, she also offers insights into how individuals can prioritize their mental health during times of change and uncertainty.
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25: Building A Network of Addiction Resources – Gillian Tietz
Listen nowIn this episode of Why I Left, Brian Aquart talks with Gillian Tietz, the Founder of Sober Powered Media, about her journey with addiction and how she left her career as a biochemist to start her media company. As Mental Health Awareness Month approaches, Gillian shares her insights on how science, psychology, and compassion can be used to help people understand why they struggle to moderate or quit drinking, and how to develop the coping skills they need to stay sober. She also discusses how the pandemic affected her life and work, including her decision to launch Sober Powered Media, and offers advice for those struggling with alcohol usage.
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24: Getting Real About Solopreneurship – Dennis Geelen
Listen nowIn this episode of Why I Left, we sit down with Dennis Geelen, author of The Accidental Solopreneur. Join us as we dive deep into Dennis’ journey and learn about the challenges he faced and the lessons he learned along the way.
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23: Adapting To The Fear Of Taking Risks – Luke Chirayil
Listen nowWhen the Pandemic struck, Luke Chirayil, a self-taught programmer from Chicago, fearlessly pursued his passion for technology and marketing by pivoting from a corporate job to his own business, battling the fear of failure and the pull of comfort for a chance to follow his dreams.
“When you’re self taught, when you drop out of school, you don’t have a degree, you’re kind of in that impostor syndrome phase where you’re like, am I a real programmer? Am I really cut out for this? So it really helped me, especially going through the boot camp, and just that helped me realize, okay, I am pretty good at this stuff.”
Luke Chirayil is a self-taught programmer and entrepreneur who dropped out of school and launched his own digital marketing company, Ndm Analytics, prior to the pandemic. He has since leveraged the pandemic to help businesses transform digitally and stay afloat.