
Hope Starts With Us
On this podcast, Daniel H. Gillison Jr., CEO of NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness), brings important mental health topics to light, one conversation at a time. Hope starts with us sharing our stories. Hope starts with us breaking the stigma. Hope starts with us sharing resources and practical advice. If you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health condition and are looking for hope, this podcast is for you.
Latest episodes

Mar 22, 2023 • 32min
Leading the Way to More Help, Less Handcuffs – Episode 17
In this episode of NAMI’s podcast, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. speaks with former Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton about how the mental health field and the legal system can continue to work together to ensure people living with mental health conditions receive more help and less handcuffs. Tune in to hear about Justice Stratton’s work with NAMI, mental health advocates and criminal justice reform — and learn more about how you can get involved.You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast. "Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. Episode production is provided by NAMI staff, including Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.

Mar 8, 2023 • 53min
International Women’s Day: Gender & Mental Health – Episode 16
In this episode of NAMI’s podcast, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. speaks with actor and advocate Jamie Gray Hyder and NAMI ambassador Elise Banks about gender and mental health in honor of International Women’s Day. Tune in to hear about unique challenges women face, how we can support teenage girls, and more.You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast. "Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. Episode production is provided by NAMI staff, including Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.

Feb 22, 2023 • 35min
Vicarious Racism & Trauma – Episode 15
In this episode of NAMI’s podcast, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. speaks with founder and CEO of Hurdle Health Kevin Dedner about how people of color are affected by seeing hate crimes, police brutality and other acts of racism in the news, online and in the media. Tune in to learn more about vicarious trauma, advice for coping and supporting loved ones, and proposed policy ideas for systemic solutions. You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast. "Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. Episode production is provided by NAMI staff, including Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.

Feb 8, 2023 • 1h 27min
Super Bowl of Mental Health: Athlete Well-Being – Episode 14
Just ahead of Super Bowl Sunday, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. speaks with former NFL players Marcus Smith II, Soul Cole and Zach Moore about their personal journeys with sports and mental health, how the incident with Damar Hamlin has affected the NFL community, and how everyone can play a role in supporting young athletes’ well-being. In honor of Black History Month, they also discuss the further stigmas faced around Black male mental health both on and off the field.---If you or a loved one is seeking mental health treatment or additional information on mental health:• Visit our website at NAMI.org. • Call our HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text “HELPLINE” to 62640, open Mon-Fri from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. • Find your local NAMI at nami.org/findsupport • If you or a loved one is experiencing a crisis, please call or text 988, available 24/7-NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast. "Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. Episode production is provided by NAMI staff, including Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.

Jan 25, 2023 • 40min
Workplace Mental Health – Episode 13
In this episode of NAMI’s podcast, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. speaks with NAMI’s Chief Innovation Officer Darcy Gruttadaro, J.D., about presenteeism, psychological safety and how employees and employers alike — in every workplace — can benefit from prioritizing mental health.You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast. "Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. Episode production is provided by NAMI staff, including Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.

Jan 11, 2023 • 36min
Setting 2023 Intentions – Episode 12
For NAMI’s first podcast episode of 2023, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. speaks with world-renowned motivational speaker and former Ohio State Representative Les Brown about how listeners can set mental health intentions for the new year by pursuing healthy relationships, speaking positive affirmations into their life and accessing wellness tools and resources for growth.You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast. "Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. Episode production is provided by NAMI staff, including Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.

Dec 14, 2022 • 52min
Grief During The Holidays – Episode 11
In this episode of NAMI’s podcast, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. speaks with Music Mogul, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and NAMI Ambassador Master P about the recent loss of his daughter to substance use, and how he plans to cope with his first year without her during the holidays. Together, they talk about grief, faith, healing in the Black community and turning pain into purpose. You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast. "Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. Episode production is provided by NAMI staff, including Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.

Nov 30, 2022 • 38min
Why I Give to NAMI – Episode 10
In a special Giving Tuesday episode of NAMI’s podcast, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. speaks with Dr. Sudhanva Rajagopal, a long-time supporter of NAMI, about why he gives to NAMI and how others can get involved with the organization during the end of the year season. Tune in to hear about Dr. Rajagopal’s story, and how his relationship with NAMI over the years is helping him make an impact in his community.You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast. "Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. Episode production is provided by NAMI staff, including Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.

Nov 16, 2022 • 30min
Indigenous Mental Health & Well-Being — Episode 9
In this episode of NAMI’s podcast, NAMI CMO Dr. Ken Duckworth speaks with Dr. Joseph Gone, an enrolled member of the Aaniiih-Gros Ventre tribal Nation of Montana and a professor in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (Anthropology) and in the Faculty of Medicine (Global Health and Social Medicine) at Harvard University, where he also serves as the Faculty Director of the Harvard University Native American Program. In light of Native American Heritage Month, Dr. Duckworth and Dr. Gone discuss what healing looks like outside of the traditional western perspective, how we can promote Indigenous wellness, and what we can learn about resilience and hope from Native communities. You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast. "Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. Episode production is provided by NAMI staff, including Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.

Nov 2, 2022 • 56min
Veteran Mental Health – Episode 8
In this episode of NAMI’s podcast, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. speaks with three veterans about their experiences with mental health: Marine veteran and NAMI’s former chief strategy officer Sherman Gillums Jr.; Army veteran and NAMI Ambassador David Kendrick Jr.; and Coast Guard Veteran and Deputy Legislative Director of Veterans of Foreign Wars Tammy Barlet.You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast. "Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. Episode production is provided by NAMI staff, including Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.