Glow For Hope: Sparking Conversation on Mental Health

Sean Carey: I Was Holding Everything Together… Until I Wasn’t

What happens when the man holding everything together is quietly falling apart inside? In this deeply honest episode of Glow For Hope: Sparking Conversation on Mental Health, Sean Carey shares the real story behind his message of discipline, ownership, and personal growth. Sean opens up about surviving years of alcoholism in the home, protecting his children during chaos, becoming a single father, emotional exhaustion, grief, survival mode, and the moment he realized he had to rebuild himself from the inside out. This conversation explores: ✔ Men’s mental health ✔ Emotional suppression ✔ Fatherhood and resilience ✔ Entrepreneurship and burnout ✔ Addiction’s impact on families ✔ Vulnerability and leadership ✔ Learning to ask for help ✔ Rebuilding after trauma If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, isolated, or like you had to carry everything alone — this conversation is for you. 🎙 Hosted by Kelly Poelker ✨ Glow For Hope: Sparking Conversation on Mental Health #MentalHealth #MensMentalHealth #SeanCarey #GlowForHope #MentalHealthPodcast #AddictionRecovery #Fatherhood #EmotionalHealth #SuicidePrevention #Resilience

Maliha Khan: Identity, Belonging & Finding Your Voice

Glow For Hope: Sparking Conversation on Mental Health MALIHA KHAN: IDENTITY, BELONGING, AND FINDING YOUR VOICE The good girl blueprint, code-switching, cultural stigma, and the freedom of finally showing up fully Host: Kelly Poelker Guest: Maliha Khan Category: Identity & Mental Health · Belonging · Women’s Wellbeing · Cultural Stigma · Finding Your Voice What happens when you spend years being too much for some spaces and never enough in others? In this episode of the Glow For Hope Podcast, host Kelly Poelker sits down with Maliha Khan, founder and CEO of Khanect the Dots and Khancepts Studio. Behind a successful career in marketing strategy and AI is a deeply personal story — one about navigating layered identity, silencing yourself to fit in, and the long journey back to showing up fully and unapologetically. Maliha talks about growing up between cultures, the “good girl blueprint” she was handed from birth, the mental exhaustion of constantly adjusting herself for every room she walked into, and what it actually cost her. She also gets real about mental health stigma, why she sought therapy in college, and how motherhood became the turning point that finally made her stop dancing to everyone else’s tune. This conversation is for anyone who has ever toned themselves down, waited for permission to take up space, or wondered when it would finally feel okay to just be themselves. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN * What the “good girl blueprint” is — and how it shapes the way women show up in every area of life. * What it means to be too much for some spaces and not enough for others — and the mental toll that takes. * How code-switching creates a specific kind of exhaustion nobody talks about. * Why high-functioning people often suppress emotion until the body pushes back. * How cultural stigma impacts mental health decisions like seeking therapy. * Why motherhood became the turning point that unlocked her voice. * What finding your voice actually looks like — boundaries, honesty, and letting go of guilt. * Why setting a boundary is one thing — and holding it is another. * How to remove the noise when everything feels overwhelming. * How conversations can begin to shift mental health stigma in communities. GUEST SPOTLIGHT: MALIHA KHAN Maliha Khan is the founder and CEO of Khanect the Dots and Khancepts Studio, a marketing consultancy helping brands find clarity and direction. She is a recognized voice in marketing and AI, known for helping organizations communicate with purpose. Behind the business success is a story of navigating identity — American, Pakistani, and Muslim — in spaces that didn’t always make room for all of her. Maliha spent years shrinking herself before choosing to show up fully and unapologetically. She now speaks openly about identity, belonging, and mental health stigma, encouraging others to claim their voice and stop living small. KEY QUOTES “Belonging isn’t always handed to you. It starts with self.” “I was too much for some spaces and not enough for others.” “The more I focused on everyone else’s opinion, the more I doubted myself.” “Eventually you have to choose authenticity over everyone else’s comfort.” “I don’t need anyone else’s permission.” RESOURCES & NEXT STEPS * Connect with Maliha Khan: * Khanect the Dots Website [https://www.khanectthedots.com] * Khancepts Studio [https://www.khanceptsbyktd.com/] * Start a conversation: Share this episode with someone who has ever felt like they had to shrink to fit in. * Visit Glow For Hope: https://glowforhopenfp.org [https://glowforhopenfp.org] NEXT EPISODE We’ll continue sparking conversations that help people feel seen, heard, and supported. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. SUPPORT THE SHOW Glow For Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to mental health awareness and suicide prevention through conversation, community, and connection. Make a Donation [https://glowforhopenfp.org/donate] Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/glow-for-hope-sparking-conversation-on-mental-health/id1837796801]  CRISIS RESOURCES If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. * United States: Call or text 988 * Emergency: Call 911 DISCLAIMER This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional care. The post Maliha Khan: Identity, Belonging & Finding Your Voice [https://glowforhopenfp.org/maliha-khan-identity-belonging-finding-your-voice/] first appeared on Glow For Hope | Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness [https://glowforhopenfp.org].

Dr. Patrick Porter: What Chronic Stress Does to Your Brain and How to Reset It

Dr. Patrick Porter joins Glow For Hope: Sparking Conversation on Mental Health for a powerful conversation on what chronic stress is really doing to your brain—and how to take control of your mental health again. As the founder of BrainTap and a leading expert in brainwave entrainment, Dr. Porter breaks down the science behind brain fog, exhaustion, negative thought patterns, and why so many people feel mentally depleted today. More importantly, he shares practical, everyday strategies to reset your brain and improve your mental clarity. In this episode, we discuss: how chronic stress impacts the brain why sleep is critical for mental health and recovery what brainwave entrainment is and how it works how breathwork can regulate your nervous system why negative thoughts drain your energy what’s happening in the brains of children with ADHD how small, consistent habits create lasting change This episode is for anyone feeling overwhelmed, mentally drained, or looking for simple ways to support their brain and overall well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text HOPE to 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).

Dr. Colleen Saringer: Workplace Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, and How Work Can Hurt People

What if the problem is not just what someone is carrying internally, but also what they are walking into every day at work? In this episode of the Glow For Hope Podcast, host Kelly Poelker sits down with Dr. Colleen Saringer, a workplace mental health speaker and researcher on a mission to stop work from hurting people. With more than 25 years of experience as a Global Organizational Health Leader and a lifetime of lived experience inside family-owned construction businesses, Dr. Colleen brings a rare perspective to the connection between work, mental health, and suicide prevention. Together, Kelly and Dr. Colleen explore how workplace conditions such as high job demand, poor support, isolation, lack of recognition, and silenced employee voices can quietly contribute to anxiety, depression, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts. This conversation is practical, eye-opening, and deeply human. It is an important listen for employers, leaders, coworkers, business owners, and anyone who wants to better understand how the environments we create can either harm people or help protect them. What You’ll Learn What the number 267 represents in relation to work-related suicides Why workplace mental health is about more than self-care, EAPs, or mental health days What psychosocial risk factors are and why they deserve more attention How feelings like overwhelm, hopelessness, and being trapped can build over time What the 11-year gap means between early symptoms and seeking help Why fixing the work environment matters as much as supporting the individual How employee voice and psychological safety influence mental wellbeing Why simple acknowledgment and kindness can become protective factors Why the construction industry carries especially high suicide risk What it really means to “show up” for people at work Guest Spotlight: Dr. Colleen Saringer Dr. Colleen Saringer is a professional speaker on workplace mental health and suicide prevention. She describes herself as a blue-collar woman wrapped in a PhD, bringing together deep professional expertise and lived experience in family-owned construction businesses. With over 25 years as a Global Organizational Health Leader, Dr. Colleen now educates blue-collar industries and workplace leaders on the psychosocial risk factors that can contribute to and worsen anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide. Her work focuses on practical, human-centered solutions grounded in kindness, accountability, boundaries, and healthier workplace culture. Key Quotes “Work is a part of us, no matter where we are, no matter what our title is, what our role is, how long we’ve been in it. It is constantly there.” “If we’re not changing the environment people are walking into, then to me it’s kind of a waste.” “Those little things can serve as a protective factor.” “It really doesn’t have to be that hard.” “We can’t always change the work. We can change how we treat each other.” Resources & Next Steps Connect with Dr. Colleen Saringer: Dr. Colleen Saringer Website Find Dr. Colleen Saringer on LinkedIn Learn More: Psychosocial risk factors referenced in this episode. Next Episode We’ll continue sparking conversations that help people feel seen, heard, and supported in every area of life, including the places where they work every day. Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Support the Show Glow For Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention and mental health awareness through conversation, education, and community. Make a Donation Share Glow For Hope Share this episode with a leader, employer, coworker, or friend. Leave a rating or review to help more people discover the show. Follow Glow For Hope on social media for resources, events, and future episodes. Crisis Resources If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. Glow For Hope Mental Health Resources: Explore Mental Health Resources United States: Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) Emergency: Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room Disclaimer This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, workplace, or mental health care. If you are struggling, please seek support from a qualified professional.

Megan Hurley: Hope, Identity, and Finding Purpose After Traumatic Brain Injury

Glow For Hope: Sparking Conversation on Mental Health MEGAN HURLEY: HOPE, IDENTITY, AND FINDING PURPOSE AFTER TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY A brain injury survivor shares how speaking up, community, and resilience helped her rediscover purpose after life changed overnight Host: Kelly Poelker Guest: Megan Hurley Category: Mental Health · Brain Injury Awareness · Resilience · Suicide Prevention Life can change in an instant. For Megan Hurley, that moment came when she suffered a seizure in a library that caused a fall, a fractured skull, and a traumatic brain injury that would alter the course of her life. Before the injury, Megan was a high school teacher working toward her master’s degree. Afterward, she faced profound challenges with cognition, communication, neuro-fatigue, and identity. Everyday tasks became difficult, and the future she had planned suddenly disappeared. In this conversation with Glow For Hope host Kelly Poelker, Megan shares the emotional reality of living with an invisible disability, the isolation and depression many brain injury survivors face, and the survivor guilt that can follow life-altering trauma. Most importantly, Megan explains how finding safe spaces to talk, advocating for herself in the healthcare system, and sharing her story helped her rediscover purpose and resilience. Her journey is a reminder that even when life takes an unexpected turn, hope can still survive. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN * What happened the day Megan suffered a life-changing traumatic brain injury * Why brain injuries are often misunderstood as “invisible disabilities” * How cognitive fatigue, memory issues, and communication struggles affect daily life * Why depression and suicidal thoughts can become common challenges after traumatic brain injury * The emotional impact of survivor guilt and loss of identity after trauma * Why speaking openly about struggles can relieve isolation and build support * How Megan learned to advocate for herself within the healthcare system * The role community spaces like Toastmasters played in helping her rediscover her voice * How resilience and purpose can emerge even after life changes dramatically GUEST SPOTLIGHT: MEGAN HURLEY Megan Hurley is a keynote speaker, traumatic brain injury survivor, author, and disability advocate. After suffering a traumatic brain injury that dramatically changed her life, Megan dedicated herself to raising awareness about brain injury, mental health, and resilience. A former high school teacher, Megan now speaks across the country about her journey and the challenges faced by brain injury survivors. She is an ambassador for the San Diego Brain Injury Foundation and works to support communities navigating life after traumatic brain injury. Her memoir, Hope Survives: Strength After a Traumatic Brain Injury, shares her personal journey of rebuilding life, rediscovering purpose, and finding hope in the face of profound change. KEY QUOTES “Once you start talking, you find people who will help you. It’s so much easier than holding it in.” “For brain injury survivors, depression can come from asking: What do I do now? What am I worth?” “Strength isn’t one definition. The human body and the human spirit are capable of more than we ever imagine.” “Just because the finish line moves doesn’t mean you’re out of the game.” “Your pain is real. Don’t let anyone judge it.” RESOURCES & NEXT STEPS * Connect with Megan Hurley: * Megan Hurley on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/megan.l.hurley] * Megan Hurley on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/hurleyhopesurvives] * Megan Hurley’s Book: Hope Survives: Strength After a Traumatic Brain Injury [https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Survives-Strength-Traumatic-Injury] NEXT EPISODE We’ll continue sparking conversations that make it safer to speak up about mental health, identity, and resilience. Subscribe so you never miss an episode. SUPPORT THE SHOW Glow For Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention and mental health awareness through conversation, education, and community. Make a Donation [https://glowforhopenfp.org/donate] Share Glow For Hope [https://glowforhopenfp.org] * Share this episode with someone who may need encouragement. * Leave a rating or review to help more people discover the show. * Follow Glow For Hope on social media for resources and events. CRISIS RESOURCES If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available. * Glow For Hope Mental Health Resources: Explore Mental Health Resources [https://glowforhopenfp.org/mental-health-resources] * United States: Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) * Emergency: Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room DISCLAIMER This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health care. If you are struggling, please seek support from a qualified professional. The post Megan Hurley: Hope, Identity, and Finding Purpose After Traumatic Brain Injury [https://glowforhopenfp.org/megan-hurley-hope-after-traumatic-brain-injury/] first appeared on Glow For Hope | Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness [https://glowforhopenfp.org].