

Safe Space Radio
Safe Space Radio
Safe Space Radio is the show about subjects we’d struggle with less if we could talk about them more. We combine storytelling with empathy and expertise to foster courage in navigating challenging conversations and combating shame and stigma. Our new miniseries is Can We Talk?
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 15, 2021 • 53min
From Violence to Voice
“I had known the pain, and survived it. It only remained for me to give it voice, to share it for use, that the pain not be wasted.”
Audre Lorde
The experience of violence is shaped by shame and silence. We’ll hear stories about how silence and shame define the experience of violence for everyone involved: the victim, the perpetrator and the bystander, with a special focus on white bystanders and racist violence. We explore how violence is dehumanizing, and leads survivors to blame themselves. We also hear about the forces that make it difficult for victims and bystanders to speak up.This hour long show is about the power of overcoming shame and silence by telling the truth about violence. Through compelling stories and expert reflection, we explore how finding voice and bearing witness can become part of recovery for both individuals and communities.
Tips & Strategies for Confronting Violence
Listen to Stories From the Episode
Safe Space Radio · From Violence to Voice
Resources
From Our Guests
Carl Russell; No Telling Aloud: Keeping Secrets That Hurt
Susan Brison; Aftermath: Violence and the ReMaking of the Self
Jim Gilligan; Violence: Reflections on a National Epidemic
Jim Gilligan; Preventing Violence: Prospects for Tomorrow
Martha Minow; Between Vengeance and Forgiveness: Facing History After Genocide and Mass Violence
Martha Minow; Breaking the Cycles of Hatred: Memory, Law, and Repair
Daryl Fort, TEDx 2014; “Safe Communities Require Empathetic Courage”
Further Reading & Listening
General Resources:
Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men by Lundy Bancroft
Trauma and Recovery by Judith Herman, MD
Healing the Soul after Religious Abuse: The Dark Heaven of Recovery by Mikele Rauch
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, MD
When Violence Begins at Home: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Ending Domestic Abuse by J. Wilson
The Little Book of Restorative Justice by Howard Zehr
On Racism and Racist Violence:
Chokehold: Policing Black Men by Paul Butler
Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America by Michael Eric Dyson
Tacit Racism by Waverly Duck and Anne Warfield Rawls
How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem, M.S.W.
Healing Racial Trauma: The Road to Resilience by Sheila Wise Rowe
The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health: Navigate an Unequal System, Learn Tools for Emotional Wellness, and Get the Help you Deserve by Rheeda Walker, PhD
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
1619 from the New York Times
On Adult Sexual Violence:
Dear Sister: Letters from Survivors of Sexual Violence edited by Lisa Factora-Borchers
The Sexual Healing Journey: A Guide for Survivors of Sexual Abuse, by Wendy Maltz, CSW
Surviving the Silence — Black Women’s Stories of Rape by Charlotte Piercebaker
Unpinned: Breaking the Hold of Sexual Assault and Abuse Written by a Male Survivor by Grant Watkins
On Childhood Violence:
I Never Told Anyone – Writings by Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse edited by Ellen Bass
Hush: Moving From Silence to Healing After Childhood Sexual Abuse by Nicole Braddock Bromley
Children Who See Too Much: Lessons from the Child Witness to Violence Project by Betsy McAlister
Childhood Disrupted: How Your Biography Becomes Your Biology, and How You Can Heal by Donna Jackson Nakazawa
Helpful Organizations
Battered Women’s Justice Project
Black Lives Matter
Black Mental Wellness
Black Visions Collective
Campaign Zero
Color of Change
Communities United Against Police Brutality
Equality Now
Futures Without Violence
INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence
Me Too Movement
NAACP
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
Reclaim the Block
Safe Horizon
The Anti-Violence Project
The Bail Project
The Breathe Network
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
The Northwest Network
Womankind
Related Safe Space Radio Episodes
Breaking Silence about Violence:
Nubar Alexanian, The Scars of Silence
Susan Brison, The Aftermath of Sexual Violence
Nancy Kassam-Adams, Pediatric Medical Trauma
Lawrence Langer, Holocaust Survivor Testimonies
Carl Russell, Breaking the Silence
Jessica Stern, Trauma, Fear and Denial
Child Abuse:
Vincent Felitti, Obesity’s Link to Child Abuse and Child Abuse and Physical Health 25 Years Later
Brie Maselli, Emotional Abuse of Children in Violent Homes
Governor Paul LePage, Childhood Domestic Violence
Vernon Wiehe, Sibling Abuse
Domestic Violence:
Julie Colpitts, Domestic Violence (Part 1, Part 2)
Cathy Plourde, The Role of Health Care Providers in Preventing Domestic Violence
Drew Wing, Reducing Interpersonal Violence/
Male Sexual Violence:
Daryl Fort, Male Sexual Violence and Rape Culture (part 1) and Speaking Up to Sexism and Violence (Part 2)
Military Sexual Trauma:
Cynthia Enloe, The Experience of Women in War
Kathy Russin, Sexual Trauma and the VA
Kate Weber, Reporting and Retaliation
Racism and Violence:
Maria Girouard, Esther Attean, and Stephanie Bailey, Breaking the Silence
Debby Irving, Waking Up White (Part 1, Part 2)
Paul Marcus, The System of Racism (Part 1, Part 2)
Peggy McIntosh, Unpacking White Privilege (Part 1, Part 2)
Sandy White Hawk, Intergenerational Trauma
Special on Talking to White Kids about Race and Racism
Recovery and Healing from Violence:
Dave Emerson, Yoga for Trauma Survivors
Deirdre Fay, Trauma, attachment, and the Body
Janina Fisher, Trauma and Dissociation
Celia Grand, Trauma and EMDR Therapy
Judy Herman, Group Therapy for Trauma Survivors
Wendy Maltz, Sexual Healing
Pat Ogden, Trauma and the Body
Bessel Van Der Kolk, Trauma and the Brain
Torture:
Sheila Cassidy, Torture
Alice, The Challenge of Speaking up for Asylum
Joanna, Escaping From Violence
Working with violent offenders:
Lundy Bancroft, The Psychology of Abusive Men
Deb Dana, Sex Offenders
Mike, Imprisonment and Life Transformation (Part 1, Part 2)
Restorative Justice
The post From Violence to Voice appeared first on Safe Space Radio.

May 13, 2021 • 53min
Climate Courage
“What if global warming isn’t only a crisis. What if it’s our best chance to build a better world?”
Naomi Klein
Reports of wildfires, hurricanes, and extinctions are frightening, yet we rarely hear people talking about the mental health impact of these changes. This hour long show explores how coping with the mental health impacts of climate change can actually make us more effective at combating it. We hear stories about the challenge of facing the facts, and emotions including grief, hopelessness, and fear. Finally, we consider how taking action can actually lead us to greater strength, connection, and impact. Safe Space Radio combines compelling storytelling with practical expert guidance to give you the tools you need to find your own courage.
Tips & Strategies for Coping and Getting Engaged (PDF)
Listen to Stories From the Episode
Safe Space Radio · Climate Courage
Resources
From Our Guests
Healing After Irma
Anne Bequette
Environmental Melancholia
Dr. Renee Lertzman
SustainUS
Aneesa Khan
Why I Disrupted the White House Fossil Fuel Panel at the United Nations Climate Talks
Maia Winkler—Teen Vogue
Climate Anxiety Counseling
Kate Schapira
Climate for Health
Dr. Lise van Susteren
Protect South Portland
Rachel Burger
Further Reading & Listening
Books
An Inconvenient Truth
Al Gore
The Great Derangement
Amitav Gosh
Drawdown: the Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Climate Change
Ed. Paul Hawken
This Changes Everything
Naomi Klein
Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re In Without Going Crazy
Joanna Macy
Don’t Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change
George Marshall
The Madhouse Effect
Michael Mann & Tom Toles
The End of Nature
Bill McKibben
Learning to Die in the Anthropocene
Roy Scranton
Climate Shock: Economic Consequences of a Hotter Planet
Gernot Wagner & Martin L. Weitzman
The Uninhabitable Earth
David Wallace-Wells
General Resources for Learning About Climate Change
Climate Change: How Do We Know?
NASA Earth Science Communications
Global Oneness Project
13 Misconceptions About Global Warming (Video)
Derek Muller
Our Climate, Our Future
One Thing You Can Do—Know Your Climate Facts
Susan Shain & Esther Horvath—New York Time
Climate Change Myths
Skeptical Science
Climate Change & Mental Health
Climate Change’s Toll on Mental Health
American Psychological Association
First Step to Stop Eco-Grieving Over Climate Change? Admit There’s a Problem.
Judy Fahys—NPR
Climate Change and Mental Health: Risks, Impacts, and Priority Actions
Katie Hayes et al.—International Journal of Mental Health Systems
What Psychotherapy Can Do for the Climate and Biodiversity Crisis
Caroline Hickman—The Conversation
How Hope and Doubt Effect Climate Change Mobilization
Jennifer R. Marlon, et al.—Frontiers in Communication
We Need Courage, Not Hope, to Face Climate Change
Kate Marvel—OnBeing
Scientists Share Their Grief, Anger, and Hope Over Climate Change (Video)
Peter Sinclair—Yale Climate Connections
Climate Lab Playlist (videos)
Vox
Why Climate Change Does Not Scare Us (Yet)
Elke U. Weber—Climatic Change
Climate Change in the American Mind
Yale Center for Climate Change Communications
Coronavirus Doubters Follow Climate Denial Playbook
Yale Climate Connections
Talking About Climate Change
How to Talk Effectively About Climate Change
Max Boykoff—Scientific American
Reassessing Emotion in Climate Change Communication
Daniel Chapman, Brian Lickel, and Ezra Markowitz—Nature Climate Change
The Most Important Thing You Can Do to Fight Climate Change: Talk About It
Katherine Hayhoe—TED Talk
6 Tips for Talking to Kids About Climate Change
Anya Kamenetz—NPR
Is There a Climate ‘Spiral of Silence’ in America?
Edward Maibach et al.—Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
How to Talk About Climate Change so People Will Listen
Charles C. Mann—The Atlantic
The Secret to Talking About Climate Change (Video)
Our Climate, Our Future
The Role of Emotion in Global Warming Policy Support and Opposition
Nicholas Smith and Andy Leiserowitz—Risk Analysis
Children’s Books About Climate Change
Yale Climate Connections
Climate Justice
Lessons from 40 Years of Documenting Environmental Racism
Dr. Robert Bullard—The Revelator
7 Young Indigenous Activists Standing Up for Their Communities
Jackie Menjivar—DoSomething.org
Carbon Majors Cannot Put Their Interests Before Humanity’s Survival
Kumi Naidoo—Amnesty International
Why Climate Change is Anti-Justice (Video)
PBS Digital Studio
The Health Impacts of Climate-Related Migration
P Schwerdtle et al.—BMC Medicine
I Survived Climate Disaster, But I Don’t Want to Be a Climate Statistic
Marinel Ubaldo—Teen Vogue
Helpful Organizations
Climate Action
Climate for Health
Earth Guardians
Energy Justice Network
Fossil Free
Institute for a Sustainable Future
Movement Generation
NAACP Environmental & Climate Justice Program
Our Climate Voices
Project Drawdown
Sunrise Movement
SustainUS
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
Zero Hour
350.org
We’d love to hear from you! If you have a story about climate courage—or a comment for one of our guests—please leave us a voicemail at 617-600-8419.
The post Climate Courage appeared first on Safe Space Radio.

May 12, 2021 • 53min
Saying Goodbye
“Only in the agony of parting do we look into the depths of love.”
George Eliot
This hour-long show is about the mental health benefits and challenges of saying a good goodbye at the end of life. Through stories, we explore different facets of goodbyes, including why so many of us avoid saying goodbye even in the most life-changing moments. We also discuss how initiating a goodbye conversation can make us more emotionally resilient long-term. We combine compelling storytelling with practical expert guidance to give you the tools you need to start your own difficult conversations.
Tips & Strategies for Saying a Good Goodbye (PDF)
Listen to Stories From the Episode
Safe Space Radio · Saying Goodbye
Resources
From Our Guests
Now You See the Sky
Catharine Murray
Parenting at a Challenging Time Program
Paula K. Rauch MD—Massachusetts General Hospital
Further Reading & Listening
Books
Bearing the Unbearable
Joanne Cacciatore
It’s Okay That You’re Not Okay: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn’t Understand
Megan Devine
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End
Atul Gawande
When Breath Becomes Air
Paul Kalanithi
Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief
David Kessler
On Grief and Grieving
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler
Hot Young Widow’s Club
Nora McInerny
Talking to Kids About Saying Goodbye
The Invisible String
Patrice Karst
Ida, Always
Caron Levis
The Goodbye Book
Todd Parr
Helping Kids Grieve
Sesame Street in Communities
Help Me Say Goodbye: Activites for Helping Kids Cope
Janis Silverman
Hospice Care & Palliative Care
End of Life Care and Saying Goodbye
Caring.com
Helping a Friend Who Is Dying
Hospice Foundation of America
What to Say to Someone Who’s Very Sick
Hallie Levine—AARP
End of Life Care Guide
Mayo Clinic
Providing Care & Comfort at the End of Life
National Institute on Aging
20 Stats to Know About Hospice in the U.S.
Wesley Life
When You Can’t Be With a Dying Family Member
WYG
Resources Related to COVID-19
We’re Going to See What Else the Word Funeral Can Mean
Jodi Kantor—New York Times
Coronavirus is Changing How We Say Goodbye
Peter Kramer—USA Today
My Dad Has Coronavirus—I Don’t Know if I Should Say Goodbye
Amelia Nierenberg—New York Times
How to Grieve a Loved One When You Can’t Say Goodbye
Lauren Turner & Alice Evans—BBC
Helpful Organizations
Actively Moving Forward (AMF) for Young Adults (18-24)
Caring Matters
Compassionate Friends
Cope Foundation
David Kessler’s Free Online Grief Group
GriefNet
Hospice Foundation of America
MISS Foundation for Grieving Families
National Alliance for Grieving Children
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)
Our House Grief Support Center
We’d love to hear from you! If you have a story about saying goodbye—or a comment for one of our guests—please leave us a voicemail at 617-600-8419.
The post Saying Goodbye appeared first on Safe Space Radio.

May 8, 2021 • 53min
Profiles in Mental Health and Courage
Courage is the choice to act even when we feel afraid. It forces us to confront fear, shame, and stigma—and to feel our own strength. This hour-long show is about how accessing our own courage also supports our mental health and well-being, exploring the experience of living with mental illness—such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder—as a kind of “courage boot camp.” We also discuss how culturally-imposed silence can enforce shame and make accessing our courage much more difficult. Safe Space Radio combines compelling storytelling with practical expert guidance to give you the tools you need to start finding your own courage.
Tips & Strategies for Accessing Your Courage (PDF)
Listen to Stories From the Episode
Safe Space Radio · Profiles in Mental Health and Courage
Resources
From Our Guests
The Inside Story
Neil Mckenty
Thinking in Pictures: My life with Autism
Temple Grandin
Black Bear Support Services
Laura Catevenis
A Tale of Mental Illness—From the Inside
Elyn Saks—TED Talk
The Center Cannot Hold
Elyn Saks
The Power of Vulnerability
Brene Brown—TED Talk
Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance
Jeff Dill
Black Mental Health Advocacy & Research Lab at The University of Massachusetts
Dr. Tahirah Abdullah
The Color of My Mind
Dior Vargas
Further Reading & Listening
Books
Trauma and Recovery
Judith Herman
The Unspeakable Mind: Stories of Trauma and Healing from the Frontlines of PTSD Science
Shaili Jain
An Unquiet Mind
Kay Redfield Jamison
Outside the Wire: 10 Lessons I’ve Learned in Everyday Courage
Jason Kander
Building a Life Worth Living: a Memoir
Marsha Linehan
A Shining Affliction
Annie G. Rogers
The Unsayable: the Hidden Language of Trauma
Annie G. Rogers
Darkness Visible: a Memoir of Madness
William Styron
Stigma Reduction
Addressing Stigma
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Canada (CAMH)
Attitudes Toward Mental Illness
2012 Report from Centers for Disease Control
Suicide and Stigma
Centre for Suicide Prevention
The Impact of Mental Health Stigma on on Seeking and Participating in Mental Health Care
Patrick Corrigan—Psychological Science in the Public Interest
Understanding Stigma as a Mental Healthcare Barrier
Sarah Heath—xTelligent Healthcare Media
9 Ways to Fight Mental Health Stigma
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Healing the Nation: Where to Begin?
Well Being Trust
Racism in Psychiatry and the impact on Stigma in the black community NAMI newsletter
Helpful Organizations
Active Minds
Bring Change 2 Mind
Carter Center Mental Health Program
NAMI
Time to Change (UK)
We’d love to hear from you! If you have a story about mental health or mental illness—or a comment for one of our guests—please leave us a voicemail at 617-600-8419.
The post Profiles in Mental Health and Courage appeared first on Safe Space Radio.

May 20, 2019 • 53min
Talking to White Kids About Race & Racism
Many white parents have never learned how to talk about race and racism with their kids. Silence perpetuates racism—but it can be hard to know how to start. This hour-long program is about talking to white kids about race and racism: how white parents, families, and teachers can learn to show up for racial justice in a way that will make a difference for generations to come. The show explores a wide variety of approaches with kids of all ages.
Parents, racial justice experts, and teens all provide perspectives on these necessary and challenging conversations, with a focus on how white parents can actively interrupt the racist messages and stereotypes that children as young as three years old are already starting to pick up. We combine compelling storytelling with practical expert guidance to give you tools to start your own courageous conversations.
Tips & Strategies for Talking to White Kids About Race & Racism (PDF)
Listen to Stories From the Episode
Resources
From Our Guests
Jennifer Harvey Full Interview Transcript (PDF)
White Ally Toolkit
David Campt
Black Girl in Maine
Shay Stewart-Bouley
Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race
Debbie Irving
Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America
Jennifer Harvey
Seeing White—Scene on Radio
Produced and Hosted by John Biewen, with Chenjerai Kumanyika
White Like Me: Reflections on Race From a Privileged Son
Tim Wise
Speak Out
Hosted by Tim Wise
White Kids: Growing Up With Privilege in a Racially Divided America
Margaret Hagerman
Further Reading & Listening
Books
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
Robin DiAngelo
So You Want to Talk About Race
Ijeoma Oluo
Between the World and Me
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? and Other Conversations About Race
Beverly D. Tatum
Me And White Supremacy Workbook
Layla Saad
Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America
Ibram X. Kendi
The New Jim Crow
Michelle Alexander
General Resources for White People Wanting to Become Anti-Racist Allies
What is White Privilege?
Cory Collins—Teaching Tolerance
The Costs of Racism to White People
Paul Kivel
The Cost of Racism to White People and Why They Should Care About Racial Justice
Diane Goodman—Focusing Initiatives International
100 Ways to Be a White Ally
Kesiena Bloom—Broadly
Anti-Racist Checklist for White People
Robin DiAngelo (adapted from Dr. John Raible)
Silence-Breakers for White People
Anika Nailah & Robin DiAngelo
Research Says There Are Ways to Reduce Racial Bias—Calling People Racist Isn’t One of Them
German Lopez—Vox
Parenting & Teaching
How To Talk to Kids About Race: Books & Resources That Can Help
Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich—Brightly
They Were Raised To Be Colorblind—But Now More White Parents are Talking About Race
Caitlin Gibson—The Washington Post
24 Books for Anti-Racist Teachers
Joe Truss—Culturally Responsible Leadership
Talking About Race, Learning About Racism
Beverly Tatum—Harvard Educational Review
31 Children’s Books to Support Conversations on Race, Racism, and Resistance
Embrace Race
Classroom Resources
Teaching Tolerance
Race & Education
The Utter Inadequacy of America’s Efforts to Desegregate Schools
Alana Semuels—Atlantic
The Data Proves That School Segregation Is Getting Worse
Alvin Chang—Vox
Segregation Now
Nikole Hannah-Jones—ProPublica
Unequal Opportunity: Race and Education
Linda Darling-Hammond—Brookings Institution
Inequality at School
Kirsten Weir—American Psychological Association
Race & Housing
Racial Residential Segregation and Neighborhood Disparities
Solomon Greene et al—U.S. Partnership on Mobility from Poverty
The Shocking Truth 50 Years After the 1968 Fair Housing Act
John Wake—Forbes
The Test Used to Expose Housing Discrimination and Its Chicago Roots
Natalie Moore—WBEZ
Race & Employment
Workplace Discrimination is Illegal. But Our Data Shows It’s Still a Huge Problem.
Maryam Jameel & Joe Yerardi—Vox
The Mark of a Criminal Record
Devah Pager—American Journal of Sociology
Race & Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice Facts
The Sentencing Project
Tipping Point: Maryland’s Overuse of Incarceration and the Impact on Public Safety
Eric Lotke & Jason Ziedenberg—Justice Policy Institute
Ending Mass Incarceration: Ideas From Today’s Leaders
Inimai M. Chettiar et al.—Brennan Center
Left and Right Agree on Criminal Justice: They Were Both Wrong Before
Maggie Astor—The New York Times
There’s Overwhelming Evidence That the Criminal Justice System is Racist. Here’s the Proof.
Radley Balko—The Washington Post
Report: Who Pays? The True Cost of Incarceration on Families
Ella Baker Center for Human Rights & Partners
Race & Healthcare
Doctors and Racial Bias: Still a Long Way to Go
Aaron E. Carroll—The New York Times
Implicit Bias in Healthcare Professionals: a Systematic Review
Chloe FitzGerald and Samia Hurst—BMC Medical Ethics
Reducing Racial Disparities in Healthcare By Confronting Racism
Martha Hostetter and Sarah Klein—The Commonwealth Fund
Helpful Organizations
Teaching Tolerance
Equal Justice Initiative
The Conscious Kid
Embrace Race
ERASE Racism
Cultures of Dignity
DreamYard
Showing Up for Racial Justice
Community Change Inc.
Justice Mapping Project
White Privilege Conference
Center for Racial Justice in Education
We’d love to hear from you! If you are a parent or teacher, and you have a story about talking to kids about racism—or a comment for one of our guests—please leave us a voicemail at 617-600-8419.
The post Talking to White Kids About Race & Racism appeared first on Safe Space Radio.

May 13, 2019 • 53min
Loneliness
This episode is about loneliness: what it is, why so many of us feel it, and the surprising toll loneliness takes on our physical and mental health. The health effects of chronic loneliness are akin to smoking 15 cigarettes every day—it literally shortens our lives. Yet it can feel vulnerable to name it when we feel lonely. This show examines the risk factors for loneliness, the influence of social media, and how creative approaches to loneliness can leave us more connected and resilient. We also explore why two groups in particular—teens and the elderly—are most at risk for chronic loneliness. We combine compelling storytelling with practical expert guidance to give you the tools you need to start your own courageous conversations.
Tips & Strategies for Combating Loneliness (PDF)
Listen to Stories from the Episode
Resources
From Our Guests
Full Interview with Julianne Holt-Lunstad Transcript (PDF)
Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality: A Meta-Analytic Review
Julianne Holt-Lunstad et al—Perspectives on Psychological Science
The Potential Public Health Relevance of Social Isolation and Loneliness: Prevalence, Epidemiology, and Risk Factors
Julianne Holt-Lunstad—Public Policy & Aging Report
Loneliness in Older Persons: a Predictor of Functional Decline and Death
Carla Perissinotto et al—JAMA Internal Medicine
Alyson Thompson’s Mixed Feelings on Instagram (@mixedfeelingsstl)
Further Reading & Listening
General Resources on Loneliness
A Cure for Disconnection
J. Latson—Psychology Today
The Loneliness Effect
B. Sadick—US News
Loneliness is Harmful to Our Nation’s Health
C. Pomeroy—Scientific American
How Loneliness Changes Across Your Lifetime
K. Newman—Greater Good Magazine
Why Loneliness May Be The Next Big Public Health Issue
J. Worland—Time
The Big Business of Loneliness
L. Entis—Vox
10 Ways to Combat Loneliness in a New City—And Even Embrace It
C. Galasso—Bustle
Postpartum Loneliness
The Excruciating Loneliness of Being a New Mother
L. McLaren—Today’s Parent
The Lonely Terror of Postpartum Anxiety
S. Bregel—The Cut
Black Moms Are More Likely to Suffer From Postpartum Mental Health Problems—But Getting Help is Almost Impossible
A. Goodson Kingo—Working Mother
Loneliness & Gender
Social Isolation Key Risk Factor for Suicide Among Australian Men—Study
M. Davey—the Guardian
Men Have No Friends and Women Bear the Burden
M. Hamlett—Harpers Bazaar
3 Surprising Truths About Gender and Loneliness
K. Asatryan—Psychology Today
Aging & Loneliness
One in Three Seniors is Lonely. Here’s How It’s Hurting Their Health
J. Ducharme—Time
Loneliness is Lethal
C. Gandel—AARP
How to Combat Loneliness and Isolation As We Age
D. Inns—Forbes
Teens & Loneliness
“I Have Likes, But I Don’t Have Friends”: Teenage Girls Talk Loneliness
S. Raphael—Refinery 29 (part of their Lonely Girls Club series)
Teen Girls Are Now Poisoning Themselves At Alarming Rates. There Are Ways to Help.
B. Resnick—Vox
Teenagers on Loneliness: ‘We Want to Talk to Our Parents. We Need Their Guidance.’
S. Marsh—The Guardian
Mixed-Race and Biracial Identity
The Psychological Advantages of Strongly Identifying as Biracial
L. Miller—The Cut
The Mixed Race Experience: ‘There Are Times When I Feel Like the Odd One Out’
A. Moshakis—The Guardian
Coming Out
Out-Takes: the Unheard Stories of LGBTQ Teens
Safe Space Radio Special, 2016
Feeling Lonely and an Imperfect Coming Out
G. Nicholl—Medium
Nobody Wants to Be Lonely: How to Deal With Post-Coming-Out Blues
J. Appugliesi—Logo
Helpful Organizations
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
MamaGlow
La Leche League International
Black Women’s Health Imperative
Campaign to End Loneliness
Connect2Affect
Senior Center Without Walls
Where You Live Matters
National Poll on Healthy Aging
Foster Grandparents
Safe Space
Stomp Out Bullying
Self Esteem Team
Amistad Peer Support & Recovery
The Trevor Project
We’d love to hear from you! If you have a story about loneliness or a comment for one of our guests, leave us a voicemail at 617-600-8419.
The post Loneliness appeared first on Safe Space Radio.

May 6, 2019 • 53min
Asking For Help
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This hour-long program is about asking for help: why it’s so hard to admit when we need something from another person, and the surprising effects that sharing our vulnerability can have on our mental health. The episode explores how shame and stigma can prevent us from asking for what we need, why we tend to underestimate the generosity of others, and how asking can make us feel seen in both welcome and uncomfortable ways. Finally, we address the complicated experience of wanting to help to someone who can’t or won’t ask for it. We combine compelling storytelling with practical expert guidance to give you the tools you need to start your own courageous conversations.
Tips & Strategies for Asking For Help (PDF)
Listen to Stories from the Episode
Resources
From Our Guests
Transcript of Full Interview with M. Nora Bouchard (PDF)
Mayday! Asking for Help in Times of Need
M. Nora Bouchard
Interview with Alice Barakagwira
Safe Space Radio, 2016
Five Years Later—Loss, Heartbreak, and the Opioid Epidemic
P. Lynn Ouellette,The Times Record
Further Reading & Listening
General Resources
How to Get the Help You Need
H. GrantHarvard Business Review
7 Effective Ways to Ask for Help—and Get It
A. Boyes, Psychology Today
How I Trained My Husband To Be a Dad
J. Piazza, New York Times
Veteran Homelessness & Mental Health
A City Solves Veteran Homelessness
E. Snow—The Wall Street Journal
Should You Give Money to People on the Street? Homelessness Experts Weigh In.
J. Ewoldt—Minnesota Star Tribune
VA Officials, and the Nation, Battle an Unrelenting Tide of Veteran Suicides
J. Steinhauer—The New York Times
Adoption
Most American Adoptees Can’t Access Their Birth Certificates. That Could Soon Change.
J. Gass-Poore—Mother Jones
Refugees & Asylum Seekers
How Do You Create a Better Asylum Policy? We Asked the Asylum Seekers.
M. Peters—The Washington Post
U.S Asylum Process Fact Sheet
National Immigration Forum
Asylum in the United States
American Immigration Council
Opioid Addiction
The Opioid Epidemic: A Crisis Years in the Making
M. Salam—The New York Times
Rejected By A.A.
K.J. Anderson & C.M. Kallestrup—The New Republic
There’s a Highly Successful Treatment for Opioid Addiction. But Stigma is Holding It Back.
G. Lopez—Vox
Medical Debt
Medical Bankruptcy: Still Common Despite the Affordable Care Act
D. Himmelstein et al—American Journal of Public Health
Americans are Going Bankrupt from Getting Sick
O. Khazan—The Atlantic
Helpful Organizations
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
National Alliance to End Homelessness
University of Oregon’s Adoption History Project
Adoptee Rights Law Center
American Adoption Congress
Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project
Women’s Refugee Commission
New Mainers Resource Center
We’d love to hear from you! If you have a story about asking for help or a comment for one of our guests, leave us a voicemail at 617-600-8419.
The post Asking For Help appeared first on Safe Space Radio.

May 1, 2019 • 53min
Apologies
We all make mistakes. Knowing how to mend our relationships is vital to the mental health of our families and communities. This episode is an exploration of apologies: why saying “I’m sorry” can be difficult, and how we can get better at repairing the relationships that matter the most. Through stories, this show addresses apologies after the #MeToo movement, and the pressure to forgive. It also chronicles the many ways a restorative justice process can change the lives of everyone involved. We combine storytelling with practical expert guidance to give you the tools you need to start you own courageous conversations.
Tips & Strategies for How to Apologize Well (PDF)
Listen to Stories From the Episode
Dr. Harriet Lerner Full Interview Transcript (PDF)
Resources
From Our Guests
Why Won’t You Apologize? Healing Big Betrayals and Everyday Hurts, Harriet Lerner
Five Ways Your Apology Has the Power to Heal, Harriet Lerner—Psychology Today
Should We Forgive the Men Who Assaulted Us?, Danielle Berrin—New York Times op-ed
2015 Report of the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth & Reconciliation Commission
Further Reading & Listening
On Apology, Aaron Lazare
Safe Space Radio interview with Aaron Lazare
Guilt: the Bite of Conscience, Herant Katchadourian
Safe Space Radio interview with Herant Katchadourian
How Schools Are Using Restorative Justice to Remedy Racial Disparities in Discipline, Fania E. Davis—Salon
Opening Up, Students Transform a Vicious Circle, Patricia Leigh Brown—New York Times
School Hopes Talking It Out Keeps Students from Dropping Out, Jennifer Guerra—National Public Radio
Introduction to Restorative Justice—Centre for Justice & Reconciliation
Implementing Restorative Justice: a Guide for Schools—Illinois Criminal Justice Authority
Restorative Justice Resources for Schools—Edutopia
Forgiveness and Childhood Sexual Abuse, Alan Jenkins—International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work
5 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Eating Disorders, Megan Jayne Crabbe (@bodiposipanda)
Helpful Organizations
Maine Inside Out
Centre for Justice and Reconciliation
Impact/Justice
National Association of Community & Restorative Justice
Times Up Legal Defense Fund at National Women’s Law Center
Take Back the Night
When You’re Ready
#MeToo Movement
Maine Wabanaki REACH
We’d love to hear from you! If you have a story about an apology or a comment for one of our guests, leave us a voicemail at 617-600-8419.
The post Apologies appeared first on Safe Space Radio.

Dec 29, 2016 • 53min
Still Here: Caregiving and Dementia
This hour-long special is about the unspoken challenges of caring for a family member with dementia. The show explores the experience of ambiguous loss, where the person is both here and not here at the same time. Through stories, we explore why caregivers have such high rates of isolation and depression and how difficult it may be to live with the fear of getting the disease yourself. Host Dr. Anne Hallward has lived with this illness in her own family and offers creative solutions that give hope, reduce stress, and build community.
“One of the hardest things you will ever have to do, is to grieve the loss of a person who is still alive.”
Anonymous
Follow the links below to more audio, information, and resources to support the caregiver you know.
Emotional Care for the Caregiver
Economic, Legal, & Practical Resources
Family & Gender Dynamics in Caregiving
Want to have a conversation?
Use these brief audio prompts to start a conversation about caregiving.
General Resources on Caregiving
Thanks to the Hope and Grace Fund for their Generous Support of this Project.
Canadian Organizations:
Government Programs and Funding for Canadian Caregivers
Canadian Home Care Association / Canadienne de soins et services à domicile
Service Canada, Employment Insurance and Compassionate Care Benefits
Health Canada, Division of Aging & Seniors
National Family Caregiver Support Program
Canadian Mental Health Association: Family & Caregiving Support
Alzheimer Society of Canada
Canadian Hospice & Palliative Care Association
The Family Caregiver, Ontario
CARP: Caregiver Support
American Organizations:
Caregiver Action Network
AARP
Administration for Community Living
Assisted Living Federation of America – Leading national trade association serving companies that own, operate, and support professionally managed senior living communities in the United States.
Eldercare Locator – A public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging connecting you to services for older adults and their families.
Familycare America: Caregivers Library – One of the most extensive libraries for caregiving that exists today.
National Alliance for Caregiving – A non-profit coalition of national organizations focusing on advancing family caregiving through research, innovation, and advocacy.
National Association of Professional Care Managers – Leading the community of Aging Life Care Professionals through education, professional development, and the highest ethical standards.
National Association for Home Care and Hospice – Represents the nation’s 33,000 home care and hospice organizations. NAHC also advocates for the more than two million nurses, therapists, aides and other caregivers employed by such organizations to provide in-home services.
National Center for Assisted Living – The assisted living voice of the American Health Care Association (AHCA).
National Institute on Aging – Researches activities dedicated to understanding the nature of aging, supporting the health and well being of older adults, and extending healthy, active years of life for more people.
Rosalyn Carter Institute – An advocacy, education, research, and service unit of Georgia Southwestern State University.
SAGE Services & Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders – Services and advocacy for LGBT elders.
Maine Organizations:
Maine Chapter Alzheimer’s Association
Eastern Maine HomeCare – Public and private pay options for hospice care in Maine.
Home Care and Hospice Alliance of Maine – Affordable, accessible, quality home care and hospice services.
Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice – Nonprofit Medicare-certified agency.
Maine Hospice Council and Center for End of Life Care – Promoting Excellence in End-of-Life Care.
Hospice of Southern Maine – Hospice of Southern Maine’s mission is to provide compassion, care and comfort through end of life for patients with life-limiting illnesses, and support for their families.
Maine Aging and Disability Resource Center – Dementia Services; Family Caregiver Support Program – Provides many resources available for people living with dementia and their caregivers in Maine.
Memory Works, Memory Cafes – Memory Cafés are places where anyone with any form of dementia, or memory loss, can go to socialize, learn and have fun. At a memory café, people can relax and just be themselves, knowing that no one judges them and all who are there are going through similar challenges.
Maine Aging Agencies:
Central Maine Area Agency on Aging/Spectrum Generations – Augusta
Eastern Area Agency on Aging – Bangor
Southern Maine Agency on Aging – Scarborough
SeniorsPlus – Lewiston
Aroostook Area Agency on Aging, Inc. – Presque Isle
The post Still Here: Caregiving and Dementia appeared first on Safe Space Radio.

Dec 28, 2016 • 52min
Out-Takes: The Unheard Stories of LBGTQ Teens
This show is about the courage of teenagers who come out at a time in life when it is hardest to be different. So many of the legal and social changes in this country that support LGBTQ civil rights are happening because one by one, year after year, thousands of young people dare to come out to their family and friends. Little by little, they open minds and hearts.
Follow the links below to more audio, information and resources to help LGBTQ teens, families, schools and communities.
“Harvey Milk always said that this was how the revolution would happen: one lonely kid at a time.”
from Love on the March, New Yorker, 11/12/12 by Alex Ross
Safe Space Radio Presents
Out-Takes: The Unheard Stories of LGBTQ Teens
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Family
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual young adults who reported higher levels of family rejection during adolescence were 8.4 times more likely to report having attempted suicide, and 5.9 times more likely to report high levels of depression. Pediatrics, January 2009, VOLUME 123 / ISSUE 1 [MORE]
School
The vast majority of LGBTQ kids are victimized at their school. Bullying ranges from negative comments from both peers and teachers, to actual physical assault. Find out more about what you can do in your school to protect LGBTQ teens and make the school safer for everyone. [MORE]
Solutions
The great news is that we know what makes a difference in saving LGBT kid’s lives. The next step is to learn about these strategies, find allies and work together to make these changes. [MORE]
Additional Important Topics:
LGBTQ Homelessness
Transgender issues
Gender Expansiveness
Faith Communities
Inclusive Curriculum
Resources:
Audio:
An interview with Inaugural poet, Richard Blanco:
Part II of the interview with Richard Blanco:
Further Reading:
“How Homophobia Hurts Everyone: A Theoretical Foundation”
We Are the Youth: Sharing the Stories of LGBT Youth in the United States
Climate Survey: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, and Transgender Youth in Our Nation’s Schools
Schools in Transition: A Guide for Supporting Transgender Students in K-12 Schools
“Stop Bullying Now”
Crisis: 40 Stories Revealing the Personal, Social and Religious Pain and
Trauma of Growing Up Gay In America
Organizations:
Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network
Trans Youth Equality Foundation
The Trevor Project
Equality Federation
Maine Organizations
Out as I want to Be
Equality Maine
Downeast Maine GLSEN
Southern Maine GLSEN
Portland Outright on Facebook
Outright Lewiston/Auburn
Discussion questions for Teens:
What was it like for you to hear these stories? What did you resonate with? What could you not relate to?
Were there important parts of your experience that got left out? What are they?
Who are the most trustworthy, and accepting people in your life? Make a list. Can you go to them when things are difficult? Do you? If not, why not, and is this something you can talk to them about?
The post Out-Takes: The Unheard Stories of LBGTQ Teens appeared first on Safe Space Radio.