Mindful Moments Episode 9: Loneliness vs. Being Alone

Episode 12: Seasons of Life

Tell us your story! We'd love to hear from you! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2506509/fan_mail/new] Emma and Anna discuss the seasons of life through the lens of mental health. Just as nature moves through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, our lives are filled with periods of growth, achievement, transition, lost, rest, and renewal. Some seasons bring excitement and possibility, while others challenge us with uncertainty, grief, or change. Each season serves a purpose and offers opportunities for learning about ourselves and strengthening our emotional well-being. If you or someone you know is struggling, please call or text 988 in the U.S. to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you are or if you know someone between 18 and 25 who would like to be on the NAMI Oklahoma NextGen Advisory Council, please use this link:  https://namioklahoma.org/get-involved/next-gen/ If you are interested in attending the Echoes in the Mind show on June 6th at Northwest Classen High School, you can find information or donate using this link: https://secure.givelively.org/event/mysterious-minds-dance-company/echoes-in-the-mind-mysterious-minds-dance-show Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and check out the NAMI Oklahoma website for more information on services and upcoming events. The experiences and opinions shared on this podcast are those of the individuals and are not meant to directly reflect the beliefs of NAMI or NAMI Oklahoma. Hosts: Emma Valgora and Anna Bennett Producer: Halee Harder Questions: Kalyn Delaney Research: Sydney Yaffe Editor: Zack Lewis Recorded at the Village Library NAMI Oklahoma Staff Mentors: Jason Musgrove and Lorna Palmer

Episode 11: Weather Anxiety

Tell us your story! We'd love to hear from you! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2506509/fan_mail/new] Oklahoma is part of what is known as "Tornado Alley." Prior to the release of this episode, an outbreak of tornadoes hit communities in Kay and Garfield Counties. In this episode, Sydney talks to meteorologist Jack Gerfen about weather anxiety, how best to keep ourselves safe and informed during a severe weather event. Zack and Anna discuss the realities of living through a major weather event, and how they have used their experience to guide their ability to respond to one. If you or someone you know is struggling, please call or text 988 in the U.S. to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you are or if you know someone between 18 and 25 who would like to be on the NAMI Oklahoma NextGen Advisory Council, please use this link: https://namioklahoma.org/get-involved/next-gen/ [https://namioklahoma.org/get-involved/next-gen/] If you are interested in registering for NAMIWalks Oklahoma on May 16, 2026, in Lower Scissortail Park, please use the following link: https://www.namiwalks.org/oklahoma [https://www.namiwalks.org/oklahoma] Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and check out the NAMI Oklahoma website for more information on services and upcoming events. The experiences and opinions shared on this podcast are those of the individuals and are not meant to directly reflect the beliefs of NAMI or NAMI Oklahoma. Hosts: Zack Lewis and Anna Bennett, special interview by Sydney Yaffe Guest: Jack Gerfen, Meteoroglogist Research/Producer: Sydney Yaffe Editor: Halee Harder Recorded at the Village Library NAMI Oklahoma Staff Mentors: Jason Musgrove and Lorna Palmer

Episode 10: Mental Health Policy

Tell us your story! We'd love to hear from you! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2506509/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Mindful Moments with the NAMI Oklahoma NextGen Council, we sit down with Daniel Pae to explore what mental health policy really looks like from inside the Oklahoma State Capitol and what it could become. From his early entry into public service to his leadership on the legislative mental health caucus, Rep. Pae shares the personal experiences and policy priorities that have shaped his commitment to mental health advocacy. Together, we dig into the realities of Oklahoma’s behavioral health system, what stability actually means for providers and patients, and how lawmakers can balance accountability with consistency in a system that people’s lives depend on. We also take a closer look at the shift away from criminalizing mental illness, including the growing role of 988 and mobile crisis response. What would it take to build a true continuum of care in Oklahoma, and where do we want to go next? Finally, Rep. Pae offers insight into the realities of bipartisan work at the Capitol and speaks directly to young adults who feel disconnected from the political process, sharing why their voices still matter, even in a system that can feel out of reach. If you or someone you know is struggling, please call or text 988 in the U.S. to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you are or if you know someone between 18 and 25 who would like to be on the NAMI Oklahoma NextGen Advisory Council, please use this link:  https://namioklahoma.org/get-involved/next-gen/ If you are interested in registering for NAMIWalks Oklahoma on May 16, 2026, in Lower Scissortail Park, please use the following link: https://www.namiwalks.org/oklahoma Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and check out the NAMI Oklahoma website for more information on services and upcoming events. The experiences and opinions shared on this podcast are those of the individuals and are not meant to directly reflect the beliefs of NAMI or NAMI Oklahoma. Hosts: Emma Valgora and Anna Bennett Research/Producer: Sydney Yaffe Editor: Halee Harder Recorded at the Oklahoma State Capitol NAMI Oklahoma Staff Mentors: Jason Musgrove and Lorna Palmer

Mindful Moments Episode 9: Loneliness vs. Being Alone

Tell us your story! We'd love to hear from you! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2506509/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Mindful Moments, Emma Valgora hosts Jason Musgrove, Public Policy Coordinator for NAMI Oklahoma and Staff Advisor to the NextGen Council, for an open conversation about the differences between loneliness and being alone. They discuss the benefits of alone time, types of loneliness, how to recognize loneliness in others, and how to find relationships, both romantic and platonic, that don't erode our sense of self. If you or someone you know is struggling, please call or text 988 in the U.S. to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you are or if you know someone between 18 and 25 who would like to be on the NAMI Oklahoma NextGen Advisory Council, please use this link: https://namioklahoma.org/get-involved/next-gen/ [https://namioklahoma.org/get-involved/next-gen/] If you are interested in registering for NAMIWalks Oklahoma on May 16, 2026, in Lower Scissortail Park, please use the following link: https://www.namiwalks.org/oklahoma [https://www.namiwalks.org/oklahoma] Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and check out the NAMI Oklahoma website for more information on services and upcoming events. The experiences and opinions shared on this podcast are those of the individuals and are not meant to directly reflect the beliefs of NAMI or NAMI Oklahoma. Hosts: Emma Valgora and Jason Musgrove Questions: Kalyn Delaney Editor: Halee Harder Recorded at the The Village Library NAMI Oklahoma Staff Mentors: Jason Musgrove and Lorna Palmer

Episode 8: Productivity Culture & Finding the Right Therapist

Tell us your story! We'd love to hear from you! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2506509/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Mindful Moments, Emma sits down with Stephanie Wangler, LPC, for an honest and timely conversation about productivity culture and its impact on young people’s mental health. From hustle culture and academic pressure to the constant expectation to “optimize” every part of our lives, Emma and Stephanie unpack how productivity has quietly become a measure of self-worth, and why that mindset is harming an entire generation. Together, they explore how burnout, anxiety, and chronic stress are often normalized in school, early careers, and even advocacy spaces. Stephanie shares clinical insight into how productivity-driven thinking can reinforce perfectionism, people-pleasing, and shame cycles, while Emma reflects on what it means to build a life that prioritizes well-being over constant output. The conversation challenges listeners to redefine success, set boundaries, and recognize that rest is not laziness. The episode also offers practical guidance on finding the right therapist. Stephanie walks through what to look for in a provider, how to know if a therapist is a good fit, what questions to ask in a first session, and how to navigate the sometimes overwhelming process of starting therapy. Whether you’re brand new to counseling or considering a switch, this conversation emphasizes that you deserve care that affirms your identity, your goals, and your lived experience. At NAMI Oklahoma, we believe mental health advocacy includes dismantling systems and expectations that push young people to exhaustion. You are more than your GPA, your productivity, your job title, or your inbox. To watch the video of this episode: https://youtu.be/LVEOY8GcbrA [https://youtu.be/LVEOY8GcbrA] For information on and to register for our Change Maker event, use this link! https://namioklahoma.org/event/mind-your-heart-evolve-your-mind/ [https://namioklahoma.org/event/mind-your-heart-evolve-your-mind/] For those in Oklahoma looking for support: Mental health resources available in every county - https://namioklahoma.org/resources/oklahoma-resources/ [https://namioklahoma.org/resources/oklahoma-resources/] Free & Low-Cost mental health services in OKC area - Collaborative Counseling and Training (NW OKC) https://collaborative-ct.com/ [https://collaborative-ct.com/ ] 405-659-0917 Congruence Counseling (Midtown OKC) info@congruenceokc.com 405-548-5781 Integrated Therapy Solutions of Oklahoma (Moore) https://itsofok.com/ [https://itsofok.com/] 405-208-4469 Thousand Branches Wellness (OKC) https://thousandbrancheswellness.com/locations/oklahoma-city/ [https://thousandbrancheswellness.com/locations/oklahoma-city/] 405-442-4498 Healing Place “Alikchi” (OKC) https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/healing-place-alikchi-oklahoma-city-ok/31867 [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/healing-place-alikchi-oklahoma-city-ok/31867] Hosts: Emma Valgora Guest: Stephanie Wangler, LPC Editor: Halee Harder Recorded at The Village Library NAMI Oklahoma Staff Mentors: Jason Musgrove and Lorna Palmer