if you want to learn more about how our generation can create lasting change in mental health, this episode is for you!

today’s guest is hailey hardcastle—a gen z mental health advocate who helped pass landmark legislation in oregon allowing students to take mental health days off from school. she was honored by teen vogue as one of the "21 under 21: young women changing the world," and her ted talk on student mental health has been viewed more than 4 million times.

fun fact: this episode was recorded live at the active minds 2026 mental health conference—the nation’s leading mental health conference for young adults!

during this conversation, we discuss our personal mental health journeys, how hailey’s advocacy helped turn an idea into a state law, the most effective ways to advocate for gen z mental health, and so much more– including answering audience questions! 

i’ve recently made a big career change and learned a LOT about my mental health along the way… so let’s talk about it! 

in this solo episode, i’m explaining what sparked this transition in my life & how i’m planning on optimizing this period of change to improve my routines, habits, and overall mental health. 

so, if you’re also going through a major life shift in your 20s– or are wanting to figure out whether you should take the plunge into a new chapter of life– here’s how to do so while optimizing your mental health!

how can someone have high self-esteem but low self-worth??! today’s guest is dr. marisa g. franco— a psychologist, author, professor, and friendship expert. she writes about how to build relationships with yourself and others for psychology today and has been a featured connection expert for major publications like the new york times, the telegraph, and vice. in this episode, we continue last week’s conversation on self-worth and relationships. this time, we’re focused on the internal factors behind self-worth, such as your emotions, identity, and more!

why do some people struggle to accept love?? today’s guest is dr. marisa g. franco— a psychologist, author, professor, and friendship expert. she writes about how to build relationships with yourself and others for psychology today and has been a featured connection expert for major publications like the new york times, the telegraph, and vice.
in this episode, we talk about how our self-worth impacts our ability to love ourselves– and receive love from others. 

wanna know what over a decade of therapy, a psychology degree, and my own podcast have taught me about mental health?! in this solo episode, i’m breaking down the key takeaways that i’ve learned throughout my mental health journey.

in honor of it being mental health awareness month, i’m condensing everything i’ve learned from receiving intensive mental health care and years of dbt therapy as a suicidally depressed teenager– combined with my psychology education at upenn and my experience creating this very podcast– to make your 12-step guide to maintaining your mental health.

by the end of this episode, you’ll know all the mental health tips + tricks i wish i’d known when i was struggling!

if your mental health is getting worse, but asking for help feels like too much, this episode is for YOU. 

in this solo episode, i explain why so many of us can be reluctant to open up about our mental health before breaking down the techniques you can try to be more vulnerable. 

by the end of this episode, you’ll learn how to lower your anxiety around asking for help– because vulnerability is the key to recovery! 

how do you help someone who’s struggling with depression??

in this solo episode, i answer a mom's question on how she can best support her son with his depression. i explain how my mental health journey taught me what the best– and worst!– ways are to be there for someone who’s depressed– and three conversation ideas you can try out.  

whether you’re a parent, sibling, or friend, this advice can apply to anyone who wants to be a support system for their loved one.

when i think about a major turning point in my mental health journey, this one conversation is truly what kickstarted my recovery. 

in this solo episode, i break down the moment in intensive mental health treatment that changed my outlook on mental health recovery, what led me to being hospitalized for my mental health in the first place, & how i began to recover from severe depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. 

if you are on the fence about whether to ask for help with your mental health (or have a loved one in that exact spot), this episode details when i was in the exact same spot: i explain how i went from not believing i could get better to feeling hopeful that i could recover & build a life worth living. 

are you a chronic emotional over-invester?! in this solo episode, i explain how a simple mental health mantra transformed my mentality around emotional boundaries and even lowered my anxiety!

by the end of this episode, you’ll know how to stop the emotional over-involvement and start prioritizing your mental health. 

why is the college experience SO different for our generation??! today’s guest is dr. scott barry kaufman— a psychologist, coach, professor, keynote speaker, and best-selling author who is passionate about helping all kinds of minds live a creative, fulfilling, and self-actualized life. he is a professor of psychology at columbia university and host of the psychology podcast, which has received over 30 million downloads worldwide. 

in this episode, we break down why gen z students are having such a unique college experience– and what that means for our mental health.

are you tired of constantly choosing between your mental health versus everything else on your plate?! in this solo episode, i answer a listener’s question that a LOT of college students and postgrads struggle with: how do you prioritize success while still taking care of your mental health? 

by sharing some of my favorite mental health tips and routines, this episode can serve as your template for how to optimize your mental health without sacrificing your goals. 

if you struggle with panic attacks and haven’t found a way to stop them, this episode will change that completely! in this solo episode, i share my psychology-backed hack to end 100% of your panic attacks.

by the end of this episode, you’ll have a mental health skill in your toolbox designed for curbing every panic attack– no matter how much anxiety you’re facing.

if you struggle with depression, you might be facing a brain bias that’s stopping you from healing. this solo episode explains how your brain is holding you back and why daily diaries can move your mental health forward. 

by the end of this episode, you’ll know the three easy aspects of your mental health you can keep track of to change your life!