
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

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.

Aug 10, 2022 • 31min
Get The Facts Straight On 988 – Episode 2
In this episode of NAMI’s podcast, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. speaks with NAMI Chief Advocacy Officer Hannah Wesolowski about how 988 came to be, the work that still needs to be done to build out a system that can support 988, and misinformation spreading online about 988. Listen in to get the facts straight and help spread awareness in your 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.

Jul 27, 2022 • 27min
Navigating the Mental Health System – Episode 1
In this episode of NAMI’s podcast, NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. speaks with NAMI board member and psychiatrist Dr. Glenda Wrenn Gordon about her experience navigating the mental health system as a mom, after discovering one of her children has been struggling with thoughts of suicide and tried to take his own life.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.