Voices for Voices®

Your Life Isn't Yours to Control—Here's Why That's Good | Episode 508

Who’s holding the pen to your story and how much of it is really yours to control? We sit with that question and follow it where it leads: childhood memories of learning to write, the messy first drafts we all live through, and the uncomfortable reality that the biggest outcomes in life aren’t fully in our hands. From my perspective as a believer, I share why I see Jesus as the author of my life, and how that belief changes the way I think about control, fear, and the clock that keeps moving whether we’re ready or not. We talk about life’s clear arc birth, living, and death and why reflecting on mortality can be healthy when it pushes us toward meaning instead of rumination. If you’ve ever felt stuck between your plans and what life hands you, this conversation gives language to that tension. Then we get practical: procrastination is a habit that steals possibility, and urgency is a gift when you use it well. I connect that urgency to our work at Voices for Voices, built on my mental health, mental illnesses, trauma, and recovery, and I share what it means to cross 500 episodes without a big corporation behind us. What keeps it going is belief, mission, and people like you. If this resonates, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. What’s one thing you’re ready to start today? *Donate Today: LoveVoices.org [https://www.lovevoices.org], CashApp and Venmo **Find our book here: Amazon: https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW [https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW] Publisher: https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN [https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN] ***Website: https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb [https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb] Instagram: @voicesforvoices TikTok: @voices_for_voices_22 Facebook: Voices for Voices *Voices for Voices is a 501c3 nonprofit charity. All donations are 100% tax deductible. Chapter Markers * 0:00 Welcome And Quick Ways To Help * 0:59 The Author Of Your Life * 3:29 What Kids Teach Us About Stories * 5:25 Faith Control And The End Of Life * 15:37 Urgency Beats Procrastination * 18:28 500 Episodes Built On Belief * 23:01 Gratitude And Share The Show #WhoWritesYourLife #LifeChoices #PersonalDevelopment #SelfDiscovery #MindsetShift #PhilosophyOfLife #LifeJourney #InspirationJourney #justiceforjustin #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #Episode508 Support the show [https://cash.app/$VoicesforVoices]

This Viral Airport Prank Exposes a Dangerous Gap in Security | Salish & Jordan Matter | Episode 507

Watching your child scroll YouTube on a school-issued laptop can feel normal right up until the moment you see something that makes your stomach drop. We’re Justin Alan Hayes and Voices for Voices, and we’re putting out a blunt public service announcement about a viral-style airport “challenge” video where an adult uses prosthetics to disguise his identity inside a place that is supposed to run on verification, caution, and security. We walk through why disguises in an airport are not just a goofy prop choice, but a behavior that can normalize deception in a high-security environment. Even if the creator’s intent is entertainment, the message that lands for viewers, especially kids, can be “this is fine if it gets views.” We also talk about consistency: regular travelers deal with ID checks, screening, and security fees, so it’s fair to ask why filmed stunts get treated differently. From there, we connect the dots to child development and digital safety. Kids are still building the reasoning systems that help them judge risk, and platforms plus school devices can make edgy content look approved simply because it’s accessible. We call on YouTube content moderation, school administrators, and parents to take age-appropriate filtering and online behavior modeling seriously. If you care about safer media for kids and clearer boundaries for public spaces, listen, share this with another parent or guardian, and subscribe so you don’t miss what we tackle next. After you listen, what should platforms and schools do differently? *Donate Today: LoveVoices.org [https://www.lovevoices.org], CashApp and Venmo **Find our book here: Amazon: https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW [https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW] Publisher: https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN [https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN] ***Website: https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb [https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb] Instagram: @voicesforvoices TikTok: @voices_for_voices_22 Facebook: Voices for Voices *Voices for Voices is a 501c3 nonprofit charity. All donations are 100% tax deductible. Chapter Markers * 0:00 Welcome And Quick Ways To Help * 1:14 Why This Is A Public Warning * 2:08 The YouTube Airport Disguise Scenario * 4:38 Security Risks And Identity Fraud Concerns * 12:10 Kids Watching And Brain Development * 20:30 School Laptops And Content Oversight * 29:52 Precedent Fairness And Closing Appeal #YouTubeChallenges #AirportSafety #ViralVideos #Salish #JordanMatter #YouTubeTrends #SafetyConcerns #tsa #transportationsecurityagency #dhs #departmentofhomelandsecurity #airportsecurity #ViralChallenge #justiceforjustin #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #Episode507 Support the show [https://cash.app/$VoicesforVoices]

I Couldn't Get The Pills Even Though They Had Them | Episode 506

A prescription can be sitting at the pharmacy, but still be out of reach. I’m Justin Alan Hayes, and I’m putting a spotlight on what happens when prior authorization, insurance approval, and pharmacy systems collide and the patient pays the price, sometimes with their mental health. I walk you through a real timeline: the missing prior authorization notice that should have hit my prescriber immediately, the multi day delay that follows, and the moment CVS tells me my medication is “ready” for $372. After the form is finally approved, the price changes to $90, but the process somehow gets slower, not faster. Then comes the part that makes no sense: the system acts like the medication needs to be reordered even though it was already there when the cash price applied. That’s not just frustrating, it’s dangerous when the medication is meant to be taken daily and anxiety is already high. We also dig into the practical issues people run into every day: generic vs name brand choices, confusing automated phone updates, inventory and billing mismatches, and the way patients are forced to be the middleman between insurance companies and pharmacies. I share why this kind of administrative red tape can push people who are already struggling to a breaking point, and why healthcare accountability has to include the systems and policies that create these delays. If you’ve ever battled prescription coverage, prior authorization, or pharmacy delays, you’re not alone. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find Voices for Voices and feel supported. *Donate Today: LoveVoices.org [https://www.lovevoices.org], CashApp and Venmo **Find our book here: Amazon: https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW [https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW] Publisher: https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN [https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN] ***Website: https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb [https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb] Instagram: @voicesforvoices TikTok: @voices_for_voices Facebook: Voices for Voices *Voices for Voices is a 501c3 nonprofit charity. All donations are 100% tax deductible. Chapter Markers * 0:00 Welcome And The Mission * 1:49 The Prior Authorization Breakdown * 8:20 CVS Pricing Shock And Confusion * 14:40 Out Of Stock Vs Reality * 20:14 When Delays Put Lives At Risk * 26:00 Accountability And A Better System * 29:23 Final Thoughts And How To Help #PharmacyIssues #MedicalEthics #HealthcareAccess #PrescriptionRefusal #PatientRights #PharmacyStories #HealthcareChallenges #PatientAdvocacy #cvspharmacy #justiceforjustin #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #Episode506 Support the show [https://cash.app/$VoicesforVoices]

I Called My Pharmacy Live to Confirm the Damage UnitedHealthcare Surest Did | Episode 505

My prescription didn’t change, my doctor didn’t disappear, and the pharmacy had the medication ready, yet I still hit a wall that left me without a key psychotropic med for a day. The wall was insurance prior authorization, and the price tag on the other side was $376 for a 30-day supply. I’m telling this story because it’s not rare, and because medication access should never hinge on a hidden form nobody sends until you’re already out. I break down exactly what happened between my prescriber, CVS, and UnitedHealthcare Surest and why the communication failed at the worst possible moment. We talk about prescription coverage, rejected claims, discount cards like GoodRx, and the basic automation that should exist in 2026: if a medication requires prior authorization, the insurer should instantly notify the provider with the right form and the next steps. Instead, patients get stuck doing crisis-level coordination while anxiety climbs and stability slips. We also zoom out to the bigger mental health realities: why missed doses can be destabilizing, how these obstacles can push people toward relapse or unsafe decisions, and why stigma gets reinforced when the system treats psychiatric care like an afterthought. I share a comparison from my dad’s cancer treatment that shows prior authorization can be flagged quickly when the process is built right, and I even call the pharmacy on air to confirm the cost in real time. If you’ve ever been blindsided by a prior authorization delay or a surprise medication bill, I hope this makes you feel less alone and more ready to push back. Subscribe, share this with someone navigating insurance right now, and leave a review so more people can find Voices for Voices. *Donate Today: LoveVoices.org [https://www.lovevoices.org], CashApp and Venmo **Find our book here: Amazon: https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW [https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW] Publisher: https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN [https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN] ***Website: https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb [https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb] Instagram: @voicesforvoices TikTok: @voices_for_voices Facebook: Voices for Voices *Voices for Voices is a 501c3 nonprofit charity. All donations are 100% tax deductible. Chapter Markers * 0:00 Welcome And Why We’re Here * 2:08 Disclaimer And What This Isn’t * 3:43 Running Out Of A Psychiatric Med * 10:51 The Prior Authorization Breakdown * 19:40 When Delays Push People Over * 20:55 Cancer Care Shows Faster Approval Paths * 30:07 Calling CVS Live For The Price * 32:54 You’re Not Alone And Next Steps #HealthInsurance #PrescriptionCosts #UnitedHealthcare #AffordableMedications #SurestPlan #MedicationsSavings #HealthcareTips #MedicineCostManagement #justiceforjustin #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #Episode505 Support the show [https://cash.app/$VoicesforVoices]

Joy and Panic Attacks Hit the Same Weekend—Here's What Happened | Episode 504

Two big events in one day can feel like a victory or a minefield, depending on what your brain and body are carrying. We’re Justin Alan Hayes and Voices for Voices, and we’re unpacking a recent weekend that held both joy and pressure: celebrating a friend’s 40 years sober and drug-free, then showing up for a child’s recital with all the crowds, noise, lights, and unpredictability that can trigger anxiety and panic attacks. If you’ve ever wondered why “normal plans” can feel impossible, you’ll feel seen here. We talk openly about mental health, major depression, and what it takes to build coping skills over years through therapy, psychiatry, and medication. We also get practical about wellness basics that affect mood and anxiety, including spring weather shifts, heat safety, hydration, clean drinking water, and electrolytes. It’s not glamorous, but it’s real life, and for many of us it’s the difference between spiraling and stabilizing. Then we zoom out to the kind of advocacy we don’t dodge. We react to Texas making human trafficking an automatic first-degree felony with stronger penalties for traffickers of children and disabled people, and we challenge other states to treat abuse with the seriousness it deserves. We close with a personal story about boundaries at home, protecting a family pet, and why “see something, say something” applies in everyday moments, not just headlines. If this conversation helps you feel less alone, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find Voices for Voices. What’s one situation where you’re ready to show up or speak up differently? *Donate Today: LoveVoices.org [https://www.lovevoices.org], CashApp and Venmo **Find our book here: Amazon: https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW [https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW] Publisher: https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN [https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN] ***Website: https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb [https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb] Instagram: @voicesforvoices TikTok: @voices_for_voices Facebook: Voices for Voices *Voices for Voices is a 501c3 nonprofit charity. All donations are 100% tax deductible. Chapter Markers * 0:00 Welcome And How You Can Help * 1:10 Celebrating 40 Years Of Sobriety * 5:50 Weather Shifts And Staying Hydrated * 9:05 Recitals, Crowds, And Panic Attacks * 13:50 Healing Takes Time And Support * 19:25 Perseverance Behind 500 Plus Episodes * 24:10 Protecting Ideas And Moving Faster * 29:06 Texas Raises Penalties For Trafficking * 39:37 Drawing Lines And Saying Something * 46:59 Choosing Better Dreams And Closing #SoberLiving #SpringWeekend #SensoryOverload #MindfulMoments #JoyfulExperience #MentalHealthAwareness #CelebrateSobriety #WeekendVibes #justiceforjustin #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #Episode504 Support the show [https://cash.app/$VoicesforVoices]