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

When Life Changes with One Phone Call | Episode 510

A friend goes from celebrating 40 years of sobriety to landing in the hospital with a heart number that shocks everyone. That whiplash is where we start, because it’s the moment a lot of us recognize: life can feel stable, and then a call comes that changes your whole week, your whole mindset, sometimes your whole faith. We talk through what we understand as non-medical people, including the basic idea of ejection fraction and why “within range” matters when doctors are watching your heart work overtime. But this is not a medical deep dive. It’s a human story about fear of hospitals, the memories that come back when you’ve lost someone before, and the surprising peace that can show up when you choose to sit with a friend for two or three hours and just be there. We also reflect on recovery and resilience, because Don’s journey of living drug-free is a reminder that transformation is real and hard-won. Then we move into what compassion looks like in practice: keeping someone company, refusing to let them be alone, and showing support without needing the perfect words. A small moment of generosity, including a gift of blessed holy water from Venezuela, becomes a symbol of how people can keep giving even while carrying their own burden. If this conversation hits you, share it with someone who needs encouragement, subscribe for more stories that center empathy and service, and leave a review so more people can find Voices for Voices. Who can you check on 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. #hospitalvisit #mentalhealthawareness #compassionatecare #showingup #supportingothers #unexpectedconnections #humanexperience #healingjourney #justiceforjustin #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #Episode510 Support the show [https://cash.app/$VoicesforVoices]

You Don't Have to Carry the Storm Alone | Episode 509

Life doesn’t usually tell you right away whether you’re making the “right” choice and that silence can mess with your head. I talk about what it feels like to chase validation, second-guess everything, and carry a storm of thoughts you can’t quite shut off, even when you look fine on the outside. From there, I get real about mental health support: why I resisted therapy for years, what finally pushed me to take counseling seriously, and why having one person who won’t judge you can be a turning point. We also dig into the fear that stops so many people from reaching out, like worrying about what others will think, feeling embarrassed about seeing a psychiatrist, or assuming you “shouldn’t” need help. We go straight at the stigma around mental illness, diagnoses, and medication. Labels can feel heavy, but they can also help your care team support you in specific ways. And while I don’t enjoy taking medication, I’d rather do what helps me function than slide back into the worst version of my thoughts. If you’ve been putting it off, my ask is simple: just have a conversation. Subscribe for more honest talks, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find Voices for Voices. *Donate Today: LoveVoices.org [https://www.voicesforvoices.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 Support Request * 0:52 Tour Rehearsals And Time Away * 2:15 Life Feels Hard Without Feedback * 4:35 Why Talking To Someone Helps * 6:59 Faith Identity And Fear Of Judgment * 9:49 Diagnoses Labels And Mental Health Stigma * 14:10 Medication Care And Taking The Next Step * 19:01 Closing Thanks And Share The Show #Support #MentalHealth #SelfCare #EmotionalSupport #Resilience #LifeChallenges #YouAreNotAlone #WellnessJourney #justiceforjustin #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #Episode509 Support the show [https://cash.app/$VoicesforVoices]

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]