Hope Illuminated Podcast: Helping the Helpers Bring Light to Life’s Darkest Moments
Health, Fitness & Longevity
About
Welcome to the Hope Illuminated Podcast, your source for the stories, science and strategy of suicide prevention, mental health promotion and resilience where we live, learn, and work. I’m your host, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, and I am on a life mission to empower communities with solutions that help people overcome isolation and despair and rekindle a passion for living. Each episode we’re joined by international experts who inspire hope and offer real guidance. Welcome to the show! I am so grateful you are here.
Episodes
- How Well-Being Multipliers Create a Mental Health Tipping Point at Work with Laura Putnam
Laura Putnam, author and founder of Motion Infusion, shares insights on changing workplace mental health culture by focusing on well-being multipliers at the team level, rather than just awareness campaigns. She highlights the significant…
- Healing Trauma Beyond Words: Brain, Body, and Spirit with Julia Hassall
Julia Hassall shares her journey of healing after profound loss, exploring how trauma impacts the body and discussing therapies beyond traditional talk therapy, such as brainspotting and somatic work.
- How Men’s Groups Help Men Make Meaning in Dark Times with Rabbi Baruch HaLevi ("Dr. B")
This episode features Rabbi Baruch HaLevi discussing how men's groups can help men address silent struggles like grief and loneliness. Drawing on logotherapy, he explains how finding meaning can aid men in overcoming difficult life experie…
- Leadership Under Assault -- Caring for People and Institutions in a Polarized Age with Jeff Gorter
This episode discusses leadership in polarized times, focusing on the emotional and physical dangers leaders face. It features Jeff Gorter discussing how organizations can provide clarity, compassion, and care during crises, impacting indi…
- Inside the Black Box: What Digital Clues Reveal Before Suicide with Kim Burdett Bartlett
This episode of Hope Illuminated features Kim Burditt Bartlett discussing the Black Box Project, which analyzes digital device data to understand behavioral patterns before suicide. The conversation draws from the Black Box Project White P…
- After the Unthinkable: Workplace Suicide Postvention, the First 48 Hours & Peer Support with Dr. John Gaal
When a suicide, overdose, or traumatic death happens in the workplace, the response in the first 48 hours can either stabilize the organization or unintentionally increase harm.Yet most workplaces have no clear postvention plan.In this Hea…
- A Year in Review: Mental Health, Healing, and Hope
In this special year-in-review episode, I reflect on a year of global travel, impact, and learning across workplace mental health, suicide prevention, clinical training, and lived-experience storytelling. Recorded for both Headspace for th…
- When the Hits Don’t Heal: Athletes, CTE, & Suicide Risk with Dr. John Gaal
We tell athletes to “shake it off,” “tough it out,” and “get back in the game.” But what happens when the injury is inside the brain, quiet, cumulative, and deadly?In this episode of Hope Illuminated, Dr. John Gaal shares the devastating s…
- Transforming Grief Into Meaning: How Stories and Art Support Children After Suicide with Ryan Abramowitz
What happens when a child loses someone to suicide — and the adults around them are silent because they don’t know what to say? In this episode, we explore that question through art, science, and story.Australian author and illustrator Rya…
- Sowing Hope in Rural America: Tackling the Farm Mental Health Crisis with Monica Kramer McConkey
In this powerful and deeply compassionate episode, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas talks with Monica Kramer McConkey, one of the nation’s leading voices on rural and agricultural mental health, about the silent crisis facing farm families across…
- Tech for Transformation: Building Mental-Health Skills with AI Tools that Work – with Alex Willis
Ever wondered how to partner with AI tools without losing the human element, or how to integrate mental health skills into daily workflows? This episode delivers.A former NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneer who once battled the silent pressure of “lon…
- Healing the Healers: Moral Injury, Privacy, and Pathways to Hope with Corey Feist
Healthcare workers give their all, but too often, the system gives little back when it comes to protecting their mental health. In this Hope Illuminated episode, I sit down with Corey Feist, Co-Founder & CEO of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’…
- The Youth Suicide Prevention Breakthrough We’ve Been Waiting For: The Sources of Strength Story
In this powerful episode, Scott LoMurray, TIME100 Health honoree and CEO of Sources of Strength, shares how his organization has transformed youth suicide prevention through peer leadership, strength-based storytelling, and community-drive…
- The Power of Time -- Slowing Down to Save Lives in Suicide Prevention with Gergö Hadlaczky
What if the most powerful suicide prevention tool we have… is time?In this groundbreaking episode, suicide prevention expert Dr. Gergö Hadlaczky shares insights from science, strategy, and lived experience about how creating time—even just…
- Technology of Survival -- How Emotions Like Fear, Grief, Anger, and Guilt Keep Us Alive with Russell Peterson
Why do we fear emotions, particularly in cultures where strength is defined by stoicism? What if we reframed emotions not as liabilities, but as essential survival systems?When are get stuck in our emotions like fear, grief, anger, and gui…
- Time to Get Noisy -- What Construction Can Teach Us About Suicide Prevention in Every Industry with Sebastian Ison-Jacques
In this episode, we explore one of the most urgent yet often overlooked crises facing high-risk industries: suicide in construction. Our guest, Sebastian Ison-Jacques, brings a powerful blend of personal experience, academic research, and…
- Uncovering Hidden Stories: Psychological Autopsies and Suicide Prevention in Middle Aged Adults with Dr. Eva De Jaegere
In this episode of Hope Illuminated, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas sits down with Dr. Eva De Jaegere from Belgium to explore the stories behind suicide through the lens of psychological autopsy. Together, they discuss Dr. Eva’s research on suic…
- Meeting People Where They Are: A Global Vision for Suicide Prevention with Dr. Sandersan Onie
In this inspiring episode of Hope Illuminated, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas sits down with Sandersan Onie, a global leader in mental health promotion and suicide prevention, for a powerful conversation about the importance of intellectual humi…
- From Grief to Advocacy: Young Voices Changing Mental Health Conversations with Alex Bush
In this powerful episode of Hope Illuminated, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas sits down with Alex Bush, a resilient young advocate who began sharing her story after losing her father to suicide at 16. Together, they discuss the vital role of pers…
- Surviving and Thriving: Intersection of Identity, Mental Health, and Trans Resilience with Lyseria Kursave
Join Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas as she sits down with Lyseria Kursave, a resilient trans woman and union electrician, for an honest conversation about living authentically, navigating personal and professional challenges, and the intersectio…
- Unlocking Agency in Suicide Prevention with Dr. Selma Gaily-Luoma
In this thought-provoking episode, I sit down with Dr. Selma Gaily-Luoma to explore the transformative role of agency in suicide prevention. Agency, defined as the sense of control and capacity to influence your thoughts, behaviors, and ci…
- The Power of Testament: Addressing Social Justice in Mental Health Research with Dr. Simon Hatcher
Join host Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas in a compelling conversation with Dr. Simon Hatcher from the University of Ottawa. The discuss the intricacies of police suicide, mental health challenges, and how these insights can aid high-risk industr…
- Upstream Suicide Prevention: Changing Lives Using the Good Behavior Game with Dr. Holly Wilcox
In this episode of Hope Illuminated, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas talks with Dr. Holly Wilcox from Johns Hopkins University to explore the transformative impact of the Good Behavior Game. They cover upstream approaches to suicide prevention, e…
- How Scotland's Panel Is Shaping Suicide Prevention with Personal Insights from Keir McKechnie & Seonaid Stallan
Join Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas as she discusses into the powerful role of lived experience in transforming suicide prevention strategies. In this episode of "Hope Illuminated," featuring guests Kier McKechnie and Seonaid Stallan from Glasgo…
- Addressing Generational Trauma in Indigenous Communities with John Cornelius
In this powerful episode of Hope Illuminated, host Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas speaks with John Cornelius about generational trauma in tribal communities, his personal journey from Pine Ridge Reservation through military service to peer suppo…
- The Power of Multilingual Support in Recovery with Dr. Pierluigi Mancini | Ep. 139
Dr. Pierluigi Mancini shares his pioneering work in building culturally and linguistically responsive mental health services. Learn how addressing language barriers and cultural understanding can transform crisis intervention and addiction…
- Empowerment Matters: How Understanding Personal Agency Can Transform Suicide Prevention with Luke Bayless EP 138
Explore how agency and empowerment can transform suicide prevention with researcher Dr. Luke Bayliss. Learn why shifting from forced interventions to collaborative approaches that respect individual choice and dignity may be key to helping…
- Supporting Communities In The Aftermath of Suicide. Why We Need To Be Proactive with Barb Smith EP 137
Join host Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas and guest Barb Smith as they discuss supporting communities after suicide through active postvention. Learn about the vital role of loss teams, victim advocacy, and proactive outreach in helping survivors…
- One Minute To Save Lives – Teaming Up with Pediatricians and Families to Keep Kids Safe with Dr. Rinad Beidas | Ep. 136
Dr. Renad Beidas joins me to discuss a compelling study highlighting the critical importance of firearm safety in pediatric care. Dr. Beidas brought profound insights from her recent research involving 30 clinics implementing firearm safet…
- Transforming Medical Culture: Dr. Christine Yu Moutier's Mission for Mental Health and Self-Care | Ep. 135
I had the profound honor of sitting down with Dr. Christine Moutier, the Chief Medical Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) . Dr. Moutier's journey, deeply rooted in a culture of achievement and stoicism, stands…
- Top 5 Episodes of 2024: Hope Illuminated Podcast Highlights & What's Ahead for 2025
Reflecting on 2024, we mark a deeply personal milestone: two decades since the loss of my brother, Carson. His memory continues to inspire and drive the mission of the Hope Illuminated Podcast. As an entrepreneur, Carson always sought inno…
- The Power of Storytelling in Suicide Prevention: Insights from Stefanie Kirchner | Ep. 134
Today, we’re joined by Dr. Stefanie Kirchner to explore the transformative power of storytelling for suicide survivors. Her research highlights how sharing deeply personal experiences fosters hope, connection, and societal change, while al…
- New Frontlines: Trends in Veterans' Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Success with Dr. Joe Geraci | Ep. 133
“We need to leverage the sea of Goodwill in the community to do more than just say ‘Thank you for your service.’ Mentor, hire, help with the transition from active duty to civilian life.” - Dr. Joe Geraci I met Dr. Joseph Geraci on the adv…
- Perfectly Hidden Depression | Interview with Dr. Margaret Rutherford | Episode 132
I had the absolute pleasure of talking with the inspiring Dr. Margaret Rutherford. Let me tell you, Margaret’s journey is nothing short of transformative. She opened up about the pressures we put on ourselves to be perfect and how embracin…
- From Service to Civilian: Addressing Mental Health Stigma and Veteran Suicide with Rachel Oswalt
Veterans suicide death and military mental health has been making headlines for decades, on today’s episode we look at the root causes. I am joined by Rachel Oswalt, an inspiring US Navy veteran and mental wellness advocate. Rachel discuss…
- Suicide Risk among Healthcare Workers with Christopher Wojnar | 130
In this episode of Hope Illuminated, nurse Christopher Wojnar shares his journey through mental health challenges, resilience, and the importance of workplace peer support in suicide prevention. Gain insights into nursing well-being and th…
- Pain, Opioids, Addiction, and Suicide – It’s Complicated with Dr. Stefan Kertesz | 129
In this illuminating episode of Hope Illuminated, I sit down with Dr. Stefan Kertesz, a seasoned researcher from the University of Alabama, Birmingham, to unravel the complexities surrounding pain, opioids, addiction, and suicide.Stefan sh…
- The Bipolar General – Resilience and Recovery with Major General Greg Martin | 128
In this episode of Hope Illuminated, I am joined by Major General Greg Martin of the US Army, who bravely shares his journey with bipolar disorder. From experiencing the exhilarating highs that fueled his success in the military, academia,…
- Masculinity, Mental Health, & Suicide with Simon Tyler | 126
In this episode of Hope Illuminated, I am joined by Simon Tyler for a deeply insightful conversation. Together, we dive into the complex relationship between masculinity, mental health, and suicide prevention. Simon bravely shares his pers…
- Compassion, Connection and Recovery Intention – How Faith Communities Can Best Support People Impacted by Suicide with Shannon Parkin | 127
Explore the transformative power of compassion and connection in suicide prevention with Shannon Parkin's research and insights in this compelling episode of Hope Illuminated podcast.For more information on this episode go to https://www.s…
- Technology for Mental Health Equity, Bianca McCall | 125
In this inspiring episode of the Hope Illuminated podcast, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas engages in a deeply insightful conversation with Bianca McCall, a retired professional athlete and passionate advocate for leveraging technology to enhance…
- Ashtanga Trauma-Sensitive Yoga, Dr. Jessa Navidé | Episode 124
The intimate connection between the mind and body cannot be overstated, and nurturing this relationship can lead to profound healing. The remarkable interplay between our mental and physical states is especially highlighted through yoga pr…
- Neurodiversity and Suicide -- A Mother's Search for Answers: Interview with Dr. Jessica Revill : Episode 123
Each year, the sobering statistics remind us of the heartbreaking reality: autistic individuals are six times more likely to die by suicide than their non-autistic counterparts.In our latest episode, we delve into a conversation with the a…
- How Faith Communities and Mental Health Advocates Can Partner to Create Soul Safe Spaces: Interview with David Galvan | Episode 122
Sarah Gaer , my soul sister on a mission, has been talking about “soul exhaustion” and its connection to suicide and poor mental health and about “soul care” as a pathway to healing. Our research on people’s perception of “the soul” reveal…
- CAMS -- The Four Cornerstones of Managing Suicidal Risk: Interview with Dr. David Jobes | Episode 121
For many mental health providers clinical training around suicide — if we received any at all — was rooted in fear and was focused on trying to mitigate risk for the clinician rather than on how to help the person in despair. In this podca…
- It Happens to Men Too -- An Honest Discussion about Men and Eating Disorders: Interview with Ross Sonnenblick | Episode 120
In a world where societal pressures and media influence often focus on women's body image, it's crucial to shed light on a less-discussed but equally pressing issue: men, body image, and eating disorders. Research on men's culture and body…
- Man Kind -- Modernizing Masculinity Promotes Men's Mental Health in the Age of Kenergy: Interview with Dr. Zachary Gerdes | Episode 119
“Kenergy” is all the rage. Why? Because men are ready to modernize masculinity. If you’ve watched the movie “Barbie” released this week, you may understand that Kenergy can be understood as a positive framing of masculinity, which challeng…
- Sinkhole -- Reflections on Generational Suicide: Interview with Juliet Patterson | Episode 118
Many of us bereaved by suicide find ourselves as Frank Campbell describes in a “Canyon of Why” . Our world assumptions are shattered.What happens to a family with multiple losses by suicide? In this interview I speak to Juliet Patterson, a…
- Understanding Adoption through a Trauma-Informed Lens: Interview with Lina Vanegas | Episode 117
Sara Easterly, the author of “Searching for Mom” once said “I entered a long period of death ideation in adolescence when I began wondering about my birth mother almost constantly. The losses due to adoption began to feel overwhelming, but…
- The Long Tail of Trauma -- Adverse Childhood Experiences and Suicide: Interview with Corey Jones | Episode 116
TRIGGER WARNING! This episode shares details of a child’s experiences with domestic violence and suicide and may be activating for some listeners. The research on ”Adverse Childhood Experiences” is clear — The CDC Adverse Childhood Experie…