

Hope Starts With Us
National Alliance on Mental Illness
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

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.

Oct 19, 2022 • 49min
Depression and Three Generations of Black Men Healing – Episode 7
In this episode of NAMI’s podcast, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. speaks with Juno Pitchford, NAMI’s HBCU manager, and Daniel, a member of NAMI Baton Rouge, about their experience with depression and navigating resources over the years, across different generations. Each having attended Southern University, they share insights about how the mental health field can better engage with HBCUs and specifically young Black men, who are reported to be struggling at disproportionate rates. 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.

Oct 5, 2022 • 35min
You Are Not Alone: NAMI’s New Book – Episode 6
In this episode of NAMI’s podcast, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. speaks with NAMI Chief Medical Officer and author of NAMI’s new book, You Are Not Alone, Dr. Ken Duckworth, alongside three individuals whose stories are featured in the new book: including model, actor, producer and NAMI ambassador Corinne Foxx; actor, comedian and NAMI ambassador Brad Gage; and former NAMI Santa Barbara County president George Kaufmann. 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.

Sep 21, 2022 • 27min
Co-Occurring Substance Use - Episode 5
In this episode of NAMI’s podcast, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. highlights National Recovery Month and Hispanic Heritage Month by speaking with Odette Cressler about her experience living with depression and recovering from an eating disorder and alcohol use as a member of the Latinx 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.

Sep 7, 2022 • 30min
Life After Suicide – Episode 4
In this episode of NAMI’s podcast, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. speaks with April Simpkins about their shared experience of losing a family member to suicide. They talk about what life is like after losing a loved one to suicide, what resources are available to cope, and how to keep holding on to hope. 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.

Aug 24, 2022 • 38min
Back to School Anxiety – Episode 3
In this episode of NAMI’s podcast, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. speaks with Willa (NAMI ambassador, singer/songwriter and newly enrolled Harvard student) and Angel Zhong (NAMI Next Gen youth advisor, rising senior and newly elected class president at University of the Pacific) about students' anxieties as they head back to school. How are students feeling in this time where we are kind of done with the pandemic, kind of not? How can students cope with anxiety about school shootings? How are students balancing not just the pressure to perform at school, but on social media? Listen in to get real insights from real young people.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.