The Okay Days

In this season finale episode, Mike Tadesse, founder of Hewot, a virtual care platform that provides nutrition therapy, lifestyle coaching, and remote patient monitoring to slow progression and reduce complications of chronic kidney disease, joins The Okay Days to talk about behavioral change. Mike developed advanced stage kidney disease six years ago. While he was able to delay his progression of kidney disease by a few years, he realized that his success was not affordable to many. This led him to use his management consulting career to develop a start-up that focused on kidney care transformation. Mike is a forward-thinking entrepreneur and seasoned business development leader. He loves solving complex problems and pursuing ideas that bring value to society. He is currently finishing up his book Press On and recently finished his MBA at the George Washington University. We talk about Mike's immigrant story, how his entrepreneurial spirit never wavered as his businesses evolved, and why change is so hard. Follow along at @miketadesse8.

In this episode, Prameela Boorada, Chief Growth Officer at MannMukti, a non-profit organization dedicated to removing the stigma surrounding South Asian mental health, joins The Okay Days to talk about race and youth mental health. Prameela is a social-impact storyteller with an artsy, entrepreneurial spirit. Growing up in India, she was raised on a wonderful selection of fables, mythology, biographies and experiences. Shortly after moving to the United States, she attended UC Davis and graduated with a degree in Quantitative Psychology. Through college, she suffered through several mental health issues and struggled to find culturally-competent resources. In an attempt to find healing and community, she got involved with on-campus mental health advocacy. That passion stayed well beyond college, and she went on to build an anxiety care app, conduct several research projects on youth wellbeing, publish a wellbeing magazine featuring creatives of color, got involved in grass-roots mental health advocacy and launched a national South Asian Youth Fellowship. Prameela is also a part of Mental Health America's 2021-2022 Youth Mental Health Leaders Council. And when she's not out building programs or products, you can find her painting, writing poetry, baking or learning how to gracefully fall on roller skates. We talk about the next generation of mental health advocates (spoiler alert: they are already here!), and how to start the conversation about race and mental health. Follow along at @mannmukti.

In this episode, Kyrah Altman, co-founder & CEO of LEAD Inc., the industry leader in mental health and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice & Belonging (DEI-JB) education, joins The Okay Days to talk about mental health education. Kyrah's story of social entrepreneurship began at a young age. Let's Empower, Advocate, and Do (LEAD) was founded in 2012 when Kyrah was in high school. The organization's creation was directly catalyzed by the Newtown tragedy, as many of the school shooting's victims were similar ages to Kyrah's younger siblings. Since Kyrah began raising her younger siblings as a pre-teen herself, this horrific tragedy catapulted her and her peers into action. In 2016, Kyrah won $32,500 of seed funding in The George Washington University's New Venture Competition, and incorporated LEAD as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Through a variety of training, consulting, and coaching services, LEAD empowers individuals with no-fluff and practical education to move beyond awareness. And since LEAD's founding, Kyrah was named one of 25 Under 25 leading social entrepreneurs, and one of 10 Outstanding Young Leaders by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, among other outstanding recognitions. We talk about LEAD's 10 years of programming, the differences between mental illness and mental health, and how we can't have mental health education without DEI-JB education to turn awareness into action. Follow along at leadnow.org.

In this episode, Kayla Mills, a "life enthusiast" sharing moments on the internet, joins The Okay Days to talk about body image and mental health. “Life enthusiast” is a term she uses to describe herself because aside from the daily struggles of life, Kayla believes there are always moments to be excited about. We talk about body image and mental health: how Kayla uses her Instagram platform to celebrate self-discovery and body neutrality, if we even like resolutions (and checking back in with them), and words for our past and future selves. Follow along at @kaylaleemills.

In this episode, Dr. Bailey, Dr. Sawyer, and Dr. Grabarek join The Okay Days to talk about how organizations can actually take care of their people. Dr. Bailey is a Professor at the George Washington University School of Business, who has designed and delivered hundreds of executive programs for a variety of firms. Dr. Sawyer is an Assistant Professor of Management at GWSB, as well, and her areas of expertise include diversity, work-life balance, leadership, and negative workplace behaviors. Dr. Grabarek has spent her career implementing Industrial/Organizational Psychology solutions to improve wellness, retention, performance, and engagement within organizations. We talk about the connections between psychology and business, how to turn a “trend” into action, and what it looks like to bring your heart to work. Learn more about Dr. Bailey at lessonsonleadership.org and Dr. Sawyer & Dr. Grabarek at workrbeeing.com.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, in this episode, Ilana Dunn, host of Seeing Other People podcast, joins The Okay Days to talk about dating and mental health. Ilana is widely known as the face of millennial dating. Her podcast Seeing Other People made its way onto the Spotify Top 50 Viral Podcasts chart and her content has over 100 million views worldwide. Formerly the face of Hinge and the host of Hinge's Dating Sucks podcast, Ilana helps people navigate the struggles of modern dating. She is here to help you feel less alone and more empowered in your dating life. We talk about dating and mental health: what to do with those "Am I good enough?" thoughts, why ghosting sucks for everyone, and how to normalize asking about someone's intentions from the very beginning. Whether you're in a relationship, dating or not dating, swiping or deleting dating apps for the 100th time, this episode is for you. Follow along at @seeingotherpeople.

In this episode, Jennie Dockser, a registered dietitian concentrated in intuitive eating and eating disorder care, joins The Okay Days to talk about food and mental health. Jennie graduated from New York University with a degree in Nutrition & Dietetics. As a HAES-aligned (Health at Every Size) provider, she feels passionate that health looks different for everyone. Jennie makes us rethink our relationships with food, our bodies, and society. She works to challenge clients' pre-conceived ideas of health and reminds us that food is meant to be enjoyed, not feared. She currently splits her time between a private practice and a higher level of care for eating disorders. We talk about food and mental health: how to nurture that relationship and how to rewrite our own “food rules.” Follow along at @jennied_rd.

New year, new season! Season three kicks off with Becca Milligan, Marketing & Events Director at Sip of Hope, and Allison Herman, Director of Education at Sip of Hope, who join The Okay Days to talk about how they helped turn a bag of coffee into suicide prevention. As a part of Hope for the Day, a non-profit movement empowering the conversation on proactive mental health education, Sip of Hope is a community coffee roaster with 100% of proceeds going towards suicide prevention. Becca is a marketing professional and mental health advocate. She enjoys creating an experience for any new idea that comes to the table. Allison is a peer educator in mental health, suicide prevention, and LGBTQ+ communities. She will also talk endlessly about houseplants if given the opportunity. Together, they serve Sip of Hope's mission to start conversations around mental health, one cup at a time. We talk about rituals, how Sip of Hope can point you in the right direction, and what "It's Ok Not To Be Ok" really means. Follow along at @hopefortheday & @sipofhope.

In this special final episode of season two, 15 classmates from my Global MBA cohort at The George Washington University join me to talk about mental health in grad school. I talk to Tayler Le Grair, an electrical engineer and small business co-owner, Ad Lane, a frequent traveler of the world who chases the rush of being beyond his comfort zone, and Kim Conway, a former competitive cheerleader who made a cross-country move for the first time to start grad school. I talk to Sebastian Ewel, originally from Bolivia who is marveled by creativity, whether in a business setting, as he is an aspiring entrepreneur, or in the arts, as a hobby musician, Lana Snyder who has always been surrounded by a family in psychology, and Carlos Navas who wants to influence the strategy of healthcare companies to better serve their consumers. I talk to Raagini Bhalla who wants to use her MBA to better understand the human psyche, Luke Duffy who is getting his MBA to try to relaunch his career after having his path derailed by COVID-19, and Tallia Popowycz who is also a pilates coach at [solidcore] as she pursues her degree. I talk to Sachin Kumar who is passionate about cross-cultural communication and inclusivity in today's increasingly diverse business world, Millicent Li who hopes her passions, values, and identity remain her guiding light as she finds her way through a new career journey, and Kaihan Lin who has lived and worked in the U.S., Singapore, and more recently, China, pre-MBA. I talk to Camila Zamalloa who began her career in the Peruvian sports industry before creating journals that celebrate the beauty of the universe, Naomi Davidar, a biopsychology major, and Alem Bekele, an entrepreneurial first-generation American from Ethiopia who is making a difference back home. We all talk about what we've learned about our own mental health between undergrad and grad school, how competition in a school setting can influence our mental health, and advice for our younger selves.

In this episode, Kassandra & Sophia Nealon, the sister-duo behind Bye Bye Bad Blood, a book for the youngest leukemia patient by a young leukemia patient, join The Okay Days to talk about how their child's tale came into being. Kassandra attended Boston University and earned her bachelors in human physiology on the pre-med track in 2017. Her career aspirations of becoming a physician were cut short when she was diagnosed with acute t-cell lymphoblastic leukemia at the age of 23. Upon completing chemotherapy, total body irradiation and a stem cell transplant, Kassandra felt propelled to turn her misfortunate into something that would benefit others. Now at 25, Kassandra has teamed up with her younger sister and stem cell donor, Sophia, to create the child's tale, Bye Bye Bad Blood, which explains leukemia in a light-hearted manner that pediatric patients will understand. Sophia is currently a sophomore at the University of Miami majoring in chemistry on the pre-med track, as well. Bye Bye Bad Blood follows the story of Benny Blood, a rebellious police immune cell who chooses to be bad, and goes on an unauthorized vacation. We talk about what Kassandra & Sophia have learned from each other along the way, where to buy or donate a copy of Bye Bye Bad Blood, and how they are helping families and kids talk about cancer. Follow along at @byebyebadblood.

In this episode, Adrianna Naomi & Kimberly Marcotte, co-managers of Ananda Shala Healing, a Brooklyn-based yoga studio, join The Okay Days to talk about yoga as more than just a physical practice. Adrianna is a bilingual yoga teacher who specializes in vinyasa, power vinyasa, yoga sculpt, restorative yoga, and meditation. In June 2018, she graduated from her 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training focused on Baptiste-inspired vinyasa. Since then, Adrianna has consistently taught yoga, led numerous yoga teacher trainings and Yoga Alliance continuing education workshops. Kimberly is a former professional dancer and dance instructor. She specializes in power vinyasa, yoga sculpt, and restorative yoga. Kimberly's incorporation of yoga dates back to 2007 as a natural movement practice that encouraged a deeper connection within herself, and opened reflection of how she may best radiate this energy to others. In 2021, Adrianna launched and incorporated her yoga school—Ananda Shala Healing. Through in-studio, livestream, rooftop, and private yoga classes, Ananda Shala Healing has become a beacon of support to Adrianna's student community. We talk about their bliss (Ananda) home (Shala) where we can cultivate our mind-body's innate capacity to heal. Follow along at @anandashalahealing.

In this episode, Chris Bullard, Executive Director of Sound Mind Live, a national non-profit focused on ending the stigma around mental health through the power of music, joins The Okay Days to talk about using your voice. A former touring musician, Chris performed with acts such as Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. Subsequent to receiving his MBA, he oversaw portfolio management at Acumen, a global non-profit investing funds focused on poverty alleviation. Chris founded Sound Mind Live based on personal experiences overcoming mental health stigma after he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his mid-twenties. He has also founded a music support program for those affected by mental illness with National Alliance on Mental Illness in New York City. We talk about Sound Mind Live's belief that collectively our voices are stronger, how music can help find those voices and why creatives tend to experience their mental health more than others. Follow along at @soundmind_live.

In this episode, Nirmala Nataraj, a New York-based writer, editor, book midwife, theater artist, and myth-maker, joins The Okay Days to talk about storytelling. As a South Asian American woman who thrives in liminal spaces, her work lives at the crossroads of creativity, mythology, storytelling, and collective liberation. As a multi-genre collaborator and creative facilitator, Nirmala believes in generative solutions in the midst of chaos, the coexistence of messiness and magic, and breathtaking beauty as a natural consequence of this wild ride. She is trained in a variety of methods of narrative-based collective healing, including Family Constellations, Psychodrama, Playback Theatre, and Theatre of the Oppressed. Some of the passions she brings to facilitation include movement (especially 5 Rhythms), guided visualization, and creative writing from unexpected prompts. Nirmala is also a MNDFL Certified Mindfulness Instructor and a Depth Hypnosis Practitioner who is especially passionate about working with BIPOC womxn and femmes to reclaim their creative autonomy and mythic geographies. Through her Infinite Field work, she has developed a powerful method to lead people through guided meditation and free-writing prompts that help them to unearth deeper truths and step into deep personal and ancestral wisdom. We talk about Nirmala's Infinite Field, moving through the different spaces we all find ourselves in, how to turn "I" into "we" and what storytelling can do to our mental health. Follow along at nirmalanataraj.com.

In this episode, Lindsey Hickman, founder of Soul Flower Wellness, a woman-owned wellness village, joins The Okay Days to talk about True Freedom. Lindsey founded Soul Flower Wellness in 2012. This Boston-based, small practice of amazing women are working to grow and support their community. Her greatest hope is to inspire others to find the the compassion for themselves to take the journey in healing what needs mending. Her personal experience around mental health is long and winding. From addiction, trauma, sobriety and even becoming a mother, she has gained a unique perspective on life and what it means to be human. With free monthly Women's Circles, multiple modalities such as massage, yoga, energy work and mentoring, True Freedom is just on the other side. We talk about what True Freedom is, what it means to be human and self-compassion. Follow along at @soul_flower_wellness.

In this two-part episode, Cameron Ahouse & Grant Mosher, join The Okay Days to talk about men's mental health. Cameron loves a good challenge. After leaving his job in wealth management, he joined the content team of one of the largest running shoe companies in the world, and works as a coach and trainer for EverybodyFights, Row Republic and BronCore Fitness in Boston. He says he has always hid behind an emotional wall that he built since losing his mom when he was 15, but thanks to The Guy Talk Co., he has started to knock that down. Currently living in Austin, Texas, Grant is a mental health advocate, liver transplant donor and founder of The Guy Talk Co., a nationwide men's community bringing guys together to do cool stuff and have meaningful conversations. With meetups and retreats, including an adult summer camp, The Guy Talk Co. is redefining what it means to be a man. We talk about that definition, making friends as a young adult and how we can all support the humans in our lives who are looking for something more. Follow along at @guytalk.co.

In this episode, Daisy Sun, a life & wellness coach, joins The Okay Days to talk about collective healing. Daisy helps people who are feeling lost reconnect with themselves and their purpose through dialogue, movement, and creative expression. She is a healer and a lover of mother natures' creations — big and small, and believes in healing oneself that we heal collectively. Daisy appreciates the wisdom found in silence, but her deepest love is having soul-balming connections with others — a reminder of our oneness and our individual strengths. You can often find her enjoying a cup of tea, reading a book, or tending to her patio garden or senior cat son, Sir Leopold. We talk about holding space for ourselves to hold space better for others, what healing can look and feel like, and how you can work with Daisy. Follow along at daisysun.life.

In this episode, Wes Zhao, co-founder of Therapy Notebooks, an accessible mental health tool backed by psychologists and supported by research, joins The Okay Days to talk about accessibility. Wes grew up in Seattle, WA, and is now based in Brooklyn, NY. He began his career as a software engineer, but after selling his first business, he became more interested in psychology and mental health. After seeing first hand how difficult it was to find a therapist and navigate the mental health space, he decided to start a business to make mental health solutions more accessible for everyone. Therapy Notebooks is designed by mental health professionals. The structured and empowering notebook is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which looks at the relationships between our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. We talk about the creation of Therapy Notebooks, how to use it and what evidence-based research can do to support accessibility. Follow along at @therapynotebooks.

To kick off season two, David Andrade, a survivor of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, who now works to destigmatize mental health issues amongst men and BIPOC communities, joins The Okay Days to talk about how serving others can also support ourselves. After dropping out of high school at 15, David went on to earn his associates in criminal justice from Bunker Hill Community College. When he lost a close friend to suicide, he turned to unhealthy behaviors, including drug and alcohol abuse. But once he found therapy, David rededicated his life to serving his community and fighting the negative stigma attached to mental health issues. He currently works as a life coach and group facilitator at Fathers' UpLift in Dorchester, a non-profit that assists fathers with overcoming barriers that prevent them from remaining engaged in their children's lives. David graduated from Lesley University in May 2021 and will be pursuing his Master's in Social Work in the Fall of 2021 at Boston University. He intends to focus on trauma-based care, to help mitigate the impact of violence and trauma on individuals, families, communities, and society. We talk about therapy, the ripple effect of service & all the magical work David wants to continue to do. Follow along at @davie_boy_02130.

In this final episode of season one, Annie Hubbard & Hanna Derrig, join The Okay Days to talk about finding comfort in the uncomfortable. Childhood friends, Annie & Hanna, both recently graduated from college and are now working on their clothing brand, Cozy but Anxious, high-quality loungewear delivering exceptional comfort along with the permission to own and share your anxieties. They hope to create a safe space to encourage open conversations about mental health. We talk about what it means to be “cozy but anxious,” and how social media can fuel these feelings, too. Follow along at @cozybutanxious.

In this episode, Micaela de la Cruz, meditation and mindfulness teacher, joins The Okay Days to talk about perfectionism. Micaela was connecting to a greater space in search of purpose, healing and light. She made a commitment to herself to enhance her mind, body and spirit. There, Gemme Health came into fruition. Her passion grew as she was able to connect deeper to doing what she loves and doing what speaks to her. We talk about perfectionism - what it is, where it comes up and how to shake it off. Follow along at @gemme.health.

In this episode, Tatyana Frost, mental health advocate and writer, joins The Okay Days to talk about developing pride in one's own mental health journey. Tatyana is currently writing her upcoming memoir, The Madness Effect, which details her learning experiences with mental health, relationships and growing up. At 17, she was diagnosed with bipolar, and since then she's used writing to tell her own story. We talk about vulnerability, how she's developed pride in her own mental health journey and how we can all do the same. Follow along at @bipolar_writes.

In this episode, Leandrew Belnavis & Emilia Diamant, join The Okay Days to talk about legacy. Leandrew is a people mover. He founded the Unnamed Run Crew in 2015 when he saw a lack of representation in the Boston running scene. Emilia is the Sales & Operations Manager at TRILLFIT, a black-woman owned and operated boutique fitness studio, a teen educator, social worker, reluctant organizer, Beyhive member, Bostonian, and dog mom. She joined the UNMD team this year to support the vision of bringing equity into fitness, wellness, and active spaces. UNMD centers the leadership and safety of BIPOC runners, while bringing together a diverse cross-section of the running community. Most recently, they hosted a solidarity run with Chinatown Runners, as well as a series of mindful runs. If Leandrew's not getting people on the road, he's creating hand crafted cocktails for them at Banyan, where he (pre-and-hopefully-post-COVID) tends bar. He is a freelance voiceover actor, occasional musician, and devoted plant dad. He has lived in Boston since 2014, and is passionate about the mobilization of all people, be it through health and wellness to advocating for the needs of folks who have been historically marginalized. We talk about community building, their runs for justice and how they leave no runner behind. Follow along at @unnamedruncrew.

In this episode, Keyon, musician, producer and the magic behind that original beat you hear in this podcast, joins The Okay Days to talk about music. Keyon is a jazz guitarist and pianist who has been playing music his whole life. He is most fascinated by the evolution of technology, and how it creates a space for anyone to record, produce and release quality music from just about anywhere. He started writing his own music in college and continues to fall in love with it more and more every day. We talk about how he creates his music, what it means to his mental health and what's next for Keyon Music. Follow along at @keyonmusic.

In this episode, Alexandria Cordero, mindfulness and self-development coach and creator of The Mindful Method, joins The Okay Days to talk about mindfulness. The Mindful Method is her soul project that gives people a one-stop-shop platform to begin to make mindfulness a lifestyle rather than just an exercise. As a coach, Alex helps people get re-connected with their most honest and authentic selves. She found yoga in the midst of being a professional dancer in Los Angeles when, in this new city, she experienced severe anxiety and body image issues, that eventually manifested in her physical body as high blood pressure and other heart issues. She gave herself three months to heal holistically, and now, six years later, she wants to empower others similarly. We talk about her new launch, what mindfulness is and how to turn passion into purpose. Follow along at @themindfulmethod_.

In this episode, Nicole Zizzi, dancer, choreographer, aspiring architect, mental health advocate and co-founder of the dance company, Evolve Dynamicz, joins The Okay Days to talk about authentic movement. Through Evolve Dynamicz, Nicole uses dance and choreography as a platform to share and engage with personal stories to end the stigma around mental health. She is a mental health warrior who is learning to live with ADHD, PTSD, OCD, an eating disorder, and generalized anxiety and depression. This fall she learned that she is also autistic, and suddenly the things that she's silently struggled with all her life are starting to make sense for the first time. We talk about how movement can support mental health, how her dance company responded to the pandemic and what authentic movement feels like rather than looks like. Follow along at @evolve_dynamicz.

In this episode, Ashely Mitchell, Boston-based fitness instructor and co-founder of The Courage Campaign, a nonprofit that provides public schools and communities with physical fitness combined with personal development, joins The Okay Days to talk about courage. Through her work, she aims to share what she has learned from navigating failure, fear, discrimination and use of adversity to redefine success. We talk about the connection of movement, intention and personal empowerment, what it means to be courageous and how we can continue to make both physical and mental health resources more inclusive. Follow along @blackgirlmagicmama.

In this episode, Jessica Waldman, artist and actress, joins The Okay Days to share more about her newest short film, "Saucha." Her piece is on the experience of being a yoga teacher throughout the pandemic. Jessica graduated from Stanford University, where she studied theatre, French, and creative writing before moving to New York City to pursue her artistic career. We talk about how COVID changed the way we connect, how sacred our yoga practices have become since this all started and how creative expression can support one's mental health. Follow along @lapetitejessica.

In this pilot episode, Jake Cohen, the creative behind Basic Emotion, a clothing brand that expresses the “spectrum of feeling universally understood," joins The Okay Days to push boundaries to advocate for emotional wellness. Jake is currently pursuing his masters in Clinical Social Work as he develops his own brand that challenges us to wear our emotions - literally. We talk about his own healing journey, what it means to be understood and the greeting "how are you?" Follow along at @wewearouremotions.