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

Walking Into A Therapist's Office Feels Like Admitting Defeat | It Isn't | Episode 520

Walking into therapy can feel like you’re admitting defeat. Taking medication can feel like you’re “not strong enough.” We reject that story and tell the truth: getting mental health help has real emotions attached to it, and those emotions change over time. Justin Alan Hayes shares a raw, personal look at what it feels like to go from avoiding support to relying on it, including the early shame, the fear of the unknown, and the relief that comes when you finally stop carrying everything alone. We also dig into sobriety and the kind of temptation nobody applauds. Justin describes going years without alcohol after a past of weekend binge drinking, then facing the alcohol aisle again and again at the grocery store. It’s a simple moment that can still be a battle, and we talk about why that quiet restraint is courage. If you care about addiction recovery, staying sober, relapse prevention, and reducing mental health stigma, this conversation keeps it real without turning it into a lecture. We close with the practical emotional arc of support: how therapy can feel before, during, and after a session, how psychiatry and diagnosis updates fit in, and why medication changes often don’t feel good at first even when they’re necessary. The big takeaway is learning to give yourself credit for showing up, for staying clear-headed, and for stacking small wins into a life that feels steadier. Subscribe for more honest conversations on mental health, trauma, and recovery, and if this helped you, share it with a friend and leave a review so more people can find it. *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 Support Request * 2:20 Naming The Feelings Behind Help * 6:40 Shame, Fear, And Starting Therapy * 8:05 Sobriety And Temptation In Plain Sight * 14:40 What Therapy And Psychiatry Feel Like * 20:27 When Help Doesn’t Feel Good * 22:05 Giving Yourself Credit For Restraint * 27:24 Closing Thanks And Final Ask #WellnessJourney #TherapyTalk #HelpAndSupport #MentalWellness #FeelingsMatter #AskForHelp #OvercomingStruggles #CopingStrategies #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #Episode520 Support the show [https://cash.app/$VoicesforVoices]

When Fitness Becomes a Place to Grieve | Episode 519

A broken screen at the gym gave me something I did not expect: relief. No speed readout, no calories, no countdown clock pulling my attention away from my body. I started moving by feel, and that small change opened up a bigger conversation about fitness mindset, anxiety, and why we sometimes need less data to make real progress. If you’ve ever felt trapped by numbers, apps, or “perfect” workout plans, this one hits close to home. I talk through a real-life gym moment where I can’t even remember which body part I trained, so I pivot to cardio instead. From a stationary bike session to spotting an arm bike that reminds me of shoulder surgery rehab, the theme stays the same: movement does not have to be a competition. Sometimes the healthiest choice is simply showing up, listening to your body, and letting consistency beat intensity. Then the episode turns sentimental when I notice men walking the indoor track with walkers and it brings me right back to my dad, his cancer diagnosis, and how much walking meant to him while he still could. It also reminds me why I value a no judgment gym, a place where people just let others be people, help when needed, and leave the politics and noise outside. If this story resonates, subscribe to Voices for Voices, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find a kinder, calmer way to think about health and everyday life. *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 A Simple Ask * 2:10 Picking A Workout On The Fly * 4:45 Shoulder Surgery And Rehab Flashbacks * 8:25 Why Less Data Felt Better * 12:15 Seeing Walkers And Missing Dad * 19:40 The No Judgment Gym Feeling * 23:08 Kindness As The Real Takeaway * 27:30 Closing Thanks And Share Request #FitnessForHealing #MindBodyConnection #MemorialWorkout #LoveAndLoss #HealingThroughExercise #FitnessTransformation #EmotionalWellness #LifeAfterLoss #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #Episode519 Support the show [https://cash.app/$VoicesforVoices]

Handling Doubt From The People Closest To You While You Build Something New | Episode 518

Some losses don’t show up as a single moment. They show up as a look, a laugh, a whisper, or a quiet “that’ll never happen” from someone you love. Justin Alan Hayes opens up about that kind of loss: the loss of belief from your circle when you’re doing out-of-the-box work and building a future other people can’t see yet. We dig into the real rhythm of creative projects, entrepreneurship, and purpose-driven goals: seasons of peaks and valleys, long stretches where progress is invisible, and the mental health battle that happens inside your head. When you’ve been judged as unrealistic or lazy, it’s easy to get trapped in looping thoughts and endless “what ifs.” We talk about resilience, protecting your mindset, and why staying optimistic is not pretending everything is fine, it’s choosing to keep moving anyway. Then we tackle the toughest question: when the work finally pays off, what do you do with the people who doubted you for months or years? We explore “bandwagon” support, forgiveness without forgetting, and how to think about boundaries while still keeping your humanity. If you’re coping with loss, dealing with naysayers, or trying to hold onto self-belief while you build, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review with the one line you needed to hear 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 Why Sharing Matters * 0:51 Redefining Loss Beyond Death * 2:21 Out-Of-Box Work And The Valleys * 5:28 When Friends Doubt Your Dream * 8:04 Mental Battles And Endless What Ifs * 17:25 Bandwagon Support And Who To Include * 22:36 Regrets, Work, And Choosing Optimism * 28:56 Asking For Help And Closing Message #entrepreneurship #motivation #findyourpassion #handlingcriticism #believeinyourself #trusttheprocess #buildingdreams #lifeadvicey #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #Episode518 Support the show [https://cash.app/$VoicesforVoices]

Your Body Doesn't Separate Good Stress from Bad Stress | Episode 517

If you’ve ever told someone else “just get help” while secretly thinking, I could never say that out loud about myself, this conversation is for you. We get real about the distance between what’s easy to say and what’s hard to do, especially when life gets chaotic and your mental health starts sending signals you can’t ignore. Justin shares what it was like to reach a late-in-the-game moment and finally accept support after years of pushing through. We talk about the stigma that still follows therapy, psychiatry, and medication, and the fears people carry when they consider treatment: What will it be like? Will people judge me? Will this label stick to me forever? The honest answer is that the unknown can be scary, but staying silent can be worse. Asking for help isn’t weakness, it’s a choice to keep going. We also dig into self-care and burnout with practical, relatable language. You can’t pour from an empty glass, and you can’t run on an empty tank. We discuss why your body doesn’t separate “good stress” from “bad stress,” how modern efficiency culture pushes people to act like machines, and why slowing down and tapping the brake can protect your health, your relationships, and your future. We also point to 988 in the United States as a crisis resource, and encourage listeners outside the US to look up local equivalents. If this hit home, subscribe to Voices for Voices, share the episode with someone you care about, and leave a review so more people can find support when they need it most. *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 Share The Show * 1:06 Easy Advice And Hard Follow Through * 6:20 Ignoring The Signs Until It’s Late * 10:34 Choosing Help And Voluntary Treatment * 12:06 Judgment Fears And Why Life Continues * 17:08 Self Care And Refilling The Tank * 21:08 988 And Showing Up To Listen * 22:28 Stress Burnout And Humans Aren’t Machines * 27:10 Therapy Medication And Rethinking Alcohol * 29:26 Boundaries High Standards And Closing Thanks #burnout #mentalhealth #selfcare #worklifebalance #stressmanagement #wellbeing #mindfulness #burnoutrecovery #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #Episode517 Support the show [https://cash.app/$VoicesforVoices]

The Mindset That Keeps You Steady When Popularity Brings Criticism | Episode 516

Showing up is the hardest part and the most powerful part. We talk about getting back in the gym and why self-care is not a flex, it is a commitment to your health, your mind, and your future. For us, the real win is consistency. It is walking in the door, doing the work you can do that day, and letting that habit support your mental health and longevity over time. Then we zoom out to what it looks like to build Voices for Voices at a bigger level while staying grounded. Popularity does not protect you from criticism, and growth does not guarantee everyone will clap for you. We share the mindset that keeps us steady: if we feel good about the work and we know why we are doing it, we do not waste energy chasing universal approval. That perspective matters in mental illness advocacy, trauma recovery spaces, and any mission-driven organization where the stakes feel personal. We also get candid about secrecy, trust, and why we keep our circle tight. When you have been burned by leaks or watched others run with your ideas, you learn to stop announcing everything ahead of time. And to make it real, we break down the preseason mindset: you win before the “game” by practicing, preparing, and putting in the unglamorous reps. If patience is not your strength, we share a practical way to chunk the work so you keep moving forward. If this connects with you, subscribe, share the show with a few people who need it, and leave a review so more listeners 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_22 Facebook: Voices for Voices *Voices for Voices is a 501c3 nonprofit charity. All donations are 100% tax deductible. Chapter Markers * 0:00 Gratitude And Quick Support Ask * 1:24 Returning To The Gym For Health * 8:32 Consistency Over Numbers And Ego * 9:58 Scaling Up Without Pleasing Everyone * 13:04 Keeping A Tight Circle On Ideas * 18:14 Why They Share Less In Advance * 24:51 Practice Wins The Season * 32:02 What Is Coming Next And Farewell #HealthAndWellness #PodcastEpisodes #FitnessPodcast #HumorInFitness #LooseLipsSinkShips #GymTalk #PodcastCommunity #BehindTheMic #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #Episode516 Support the show [https://cash.app/$VoicesforVoices]