The State of Mental Wellbeing: A Podcast on Mental Health and Substance Use

New Approaches to Nonprofits: Visionary Leadership and the Five & Rising Initiative - The State of Mental Wellbeing Podcast

Join host Mohini Venkatesh and Jody Levison-Johnson, president and CEO of Social Current, for a conversation about what it will take to create a more sustainable social sector and the Five & Rising initiative. They explore leading through constraint, changing how the social sector is valued and funded, and building a bold vision for the future.  In this episode, Mohini Venkatesh speaks with Jody Levison-Johnson about the urgent need to reshape public understanding of the social sector, Social Current’s mission and the Five & Rising initiative. They discuss constrained funding environments, harmful narratives about nonprofits, the importance of bold leadership, and how organizations can build new blueprints for sustainability, innovation, and long-term community impact. Key takeaways include: * How the Five & Rising initiative aims to shift public narratives about the social sector. * Why leaders should stay bold, trust their instincts and resist shrinking in constrained environments. * What boards, funders and communities can do to support a more sustainable and effective sector.  Jody Levison-Johnson is a licensed clinical social worker with over 30 years of experience in the field of human services. She currently serves as the President and CEO of Social Current, a diverse network of nearly 1,600 human service organizations.  Follow for weekly conversations shaping mental health and substance use care.  For more information on the Five & Rising Initiative, visit ⁠https://www.fiveandrising.org/ [https://www.fiveandrising.org/]⁠

From Capitol Hill to Community Care: Federal Policy Update - The State of Mental Wellbeing Podcast

In this episode, host Mohini Venkatesh speaks with Chuck Ingoglia, President and CEO, and Reyna Taylor, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, about the federal landscape of mental health and substance use policy. They explore current challenges and emerging opportunities shaping behavioral health care nationwide. This conversation focuses on federal mental health and substance use policy, a key issue shaping the future of behavioral health care nationwide. Mohini, Chuck and Reyna discuss major developments on Capitol Hill, including federal funding for mental health, workforce pressures, Medicaid implementation and legislative priorities such as the Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act. They offer accessible insight for behavioral health professionals, policy leaders and mental wellbeing advocates navigating a fast‑moving policy environment. Together, they explore how federal policy decisions affect communities, providers and people seeking care. Listeners will learn: * What the current federal mental health policy environment means for mental health and substance use care. * How the National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s top policy priorities are shaped by community and provider needs. * What professionals, organizations and individuals can do right now to prepare for policy changes ahead. Chuck Ingoglia is President and CEO, and Reyna Taylor is Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Their work advances mental health and substance use care policy to strengthen communities nationwide. Follow for weekly conversations shaping mental health and substance use care and learn more about the podcast: https://bit.ly/4u7ERWm

The Leadership Link: Helping Middle Managers Thrive

For more than 20 years, our Middle Management Academy (MMA) has equipped behavioral health leaders with the tools,confidence and community they need to thrive. In our Dec. 10 episode of The State of Mental Wellbeing podcast, we sat down with program lead Jeanne Supin, MA, to explore MMA’s origins, evolution and lasting impact. Tune in to learn how MMA continues to empower the leaders at the heart of our health care system.

Pioneering Pathways: Growing the Behavioral Health Workforce

In this episode of The State of Mental Wellbeing podcast, we explore the behavioral health workforce crisis through a deeply personal and visionary conversation between Chuck Ingoglia, CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and Dr. Joe Lee, CEO of Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Joe shares his journey from an immigrant background to leading one of the country’s largest nonprofits in substance use and mental health care. A major focus is on workforce development, particularly how Hazelden Betty Ford is pioneering alternative educational pathways, including master’s programs that don’t require a bachelor’s degree.  Joe highlights the organization's "ambassadorship culture", their unique graduate school, and their strategic partnerships, including a new collaboration with the National Council to create training pipelines for future clinicians. The conversation ends with a powerful reflection on the definition of recovery—not just sobriety, but thriving through living one's values.

From Complexity to Clarity: Integrating CETA into Behavioral Health Systems

In this episode of The State of Mental Wellbeing podcast, National Council for Mental Wellbeing President and CEO Chuck Ingoglia, MSW, sits down with Laura K. Murray, PhD, MA, sr. scientist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and co-developer of CETA, to explore how this groundbreaking approach: • Breaks complex care into practical, measurable components. • Empowers clinicians and other caregivers to deliver effective treatment. • Reduces burnout and waitlists through smarter workflows. • Uses technology and AI to scale trainings and outcomes.