Rachel Winter and Rachel Steinman are best friends, co-authors, and co-hosts of this special collab between the Dear Family, Podcast with Stay Forever Gold.    Rachel Winter is a writer, director, and an Academy Award®-nominated producer for Dallas Buyers Club. She produced LeBron James’ biopic, Shooting Stars, and produced and directed the audio drama, Supreme: The Battle for Roe starring Maya Hawke and William H. Macy. It’s a nine-part series weaving together the incredible story of the young female lawyer who argued Roe V. Wade in front of the Supreme Court and the Justice who wrote the opinion. She made her directorial debut with The Space Between, starring Kelsey Grammer, for which they both received awards from various Film Festivals. She’s got a killer sense of design and a flair for life that always involves color.   Rachel Steinman is a writer, teacher, and mental health advocate who hosts the Dear Family, Podcast with inspirational guests who have overcome mental health obstacles to thrive. She received her Masters in Education and teaching credentials from UCLA, has taught every elementary school grade, and has even been the school librarian. She is a lead presenter for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), going into middle and high schools to educate students, parents, and staff about warning signs while offering resources and hope. She’s passionate about getting people to talk about mental health by replacing stigma, shame, and secrecy with love, compassion, and understanding. She loves to laugh and is a great audience.   The Rachels call themselves Friendship Ambassadors who believe we should celebrate friendship for how it benefits the community, connection, mental health, longevity, and overall happiness. It’s why they wrote Stay Golden, Girls: Friendship is the New Marriage, a fun and bright hardcover gift book made up of light essays, poignant and fun celebrity quotes, and bold, joyful illustrations. We are in the midst of a Barbie/Female empowerment movement and a cultural shift and it’s great to see women of all ages embracing "platonic romance.”   Together, the Rachels discuss:   *Their platonic romance- a best friendship that has lasted over three decades through the ups and downs of careers, marriage, kids, the loss of a parent, and more.   *How the pandemic changed how we view friendship.   *Why Galentine’s Day is the best holiday.   *The benefits of mommunes.   *An article about seven young Chinese women who pooled their resources and bought a run-down mansion outside the city for their retirement but ended up using it as a gathering place- the inspiration for their book.   *The Rachels’ amazing group of women friends, in addition to other groups of women worldwide, are starting to prioritize their relationships with their best friends and living healthier, happier lives.    *Studies (including The U.S. Surgeon General and the Harvard Happiness Study) show how friendship leads to happiness. Why married men live longer when they are married to women but the reverse is not true for women who are married to men.   *What makes old friends so golden.   *Why the Rachels partnered with Girls Inc., an organization that is 160 years old that mentors girls and young women.    *Why Rachel Winter, who has a full-time job as a producer and a director, puts so much time and effort into getting the book and the message out into the world.    *Why Rachel Steinman, a mental health advocate, believes friendship is the best medicine and therapy, and a way to combat the epidemic of loneliness so many are facing.   *Why friendship is the new marriage, why we should celebrate platonic romance, why there’s a shift in prioritizing friendship, and why you can be intimate with a friend without sex.   *How friends can be soulmates and how the Rachels are happily married (to men) and have kids but are each other platonic soulmates.   *The Rachels’ relationship is like a marriage in that they gave each other rings, opened a joint bank account, swirl each other around when they go dancing, and tell each other they love each other… among other things.   *How much fun it is to learn about all the women’s friend group chat names.  *What happens when there is competition among friends, and how even women of a certain age can feel jealous and competitive with their girlfriends.  *What happens when you lose a friend because the relationship feels irreparable. *How to foster friendships and create community and connection.    *Examples of how to be a better friend.   *What happens when women work together and why we’re so much stronger when we’re together.    *Mother/Daughter relationships and how lucky you are if you can move into the phase of becoming close friends.   *Why the ritual of women all over the world getting together to imbibe beverages (coffee, tea, booze) is so important for stress relief, relaxation, connection, and celebration.    *Why Ladies' Night/Girls' Trips are so important and how much better we feel afterward.    *An example of a great friend date.   *The Rachels discuss the new brand they’re building, Stay Forever Gold, all about friendship, community, and connection.   *The Rachels’ letters to their younger selves.   *The Rachels’ happiness habits. *****   SHOW NOTE LINKS:   Stay Forever Gold Website SGG on Amazon Shop SGG on Etsy Instagram- Stay Forever Gold Facebook- Stay Forever Gold TikTok- Stay Forever Gold Blog- Stay Forever Gold on Medium   CONNECT WITH DEAR FAMILY,! *Dear Family, Podcast Page *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram   WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe! Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.   Big Thanks and Gratitude to: Coordinator - Camille Stidham Cinematographer - James Bragg Editor - Connor D’Angelo Sound - Kyle Farmer Music- Ari Silberman Intro- Benjamin King

My So-Called High School Rank, premiering on HBO and HBO MAX, is a special documentary that gives an unfiltered view into the private loneliness and pressures of teenage life. This was especially true in March 2020 when students were forced to settle into new realities, feeling isolated and frustrated with so much out of their control. This timely documentary chronicles the creation of a musical theater production at Granite Bay High School in Sacramento, California, and is inspired by students’ stories of the constant pressures to achieve a top rank in every part of their lives to get ahead in today’s fierce college admissions process. In an uncanny case of art anticipating real life, Granite Bay’s musical “Ranked” was in the works weeks before Rick Singer and the “Varsity Blues” scandal made headlines in 2019. The play’s apt timing and subject matter speak to a culture where many students feel driven to succeed at any cost. As news emerged of the production of a musical exploring these critical issues, other schools reached out to stage their own productions. High schoolers around the country connected with the show’s themes as they themselves struggle to find their place in the world amid intense college admissions competition.    The film chronicles auditions and rehearsals at three high schools from Ripley, West Virginia to Cupertino, California to the Bronx, New York where students face similar challenges despite dramatically different life circumstances. It also charts the success of the musical and the first steps towards the realization of the creators’ dream to mount the show on Broadway only to be sidelined by the global shutdown. Shot over two years in public schools representing vastly different communities,  My So-Called High School Rank reveals the remarkable resilience and similarities that bind this generation across economic and racial divides.    The award-winning producers and directors, Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg’s films and series have been shortlisted for the Oscars and earned multiple Emmy and Peabody nominations, among other honors. They are joined by two fabulous and inspirational students featured in the documentary. Anvita Gattani who played the original role of Jordan in Ranked at Granite Bay High School is currently studying at NYU Tisch. Nahiely Urbaez Cruz is a former student at Fordham High School for the Arts and is currently at Cornell University. You are not going to want to miss this meaningful conversation.    SHOW NOTE LINKS: My So-Called High School Rank Trailer Ranked- Movie Link Break Thru Films NAMI- National Alliance on Mental Illness Rachel’s Article About Becoming and Letting Go of a Newborn Adult Rachel’s Podcast About Becoming Grown and Flown   CONNECT WITH US! *Dear Family, Podcast Page *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram   PLEASE JOIN: *Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group   WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe!   Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Kevin Hines is a storyteller, best-selling author, global public speaker, and award-winning documentary filmmaker. In the Year 2000, Kevin threw himself off the Golden Gate Bridge in an attempt to end his life. He needed his immense mental pain to end but regretted his decision the moment he jumped. Many factors contributed to his miraculous survival including a sea lion who kept him afloat until the Coast Guard arrived and an amazing team of doctors. Kevin now travels the world sharing his story of hope, healing, and recovery while teaching people of all ages the art of wellness and the ability to survive pain with true resilience.  Kevin is in pre-production of his new Docu-Series The Journey and is working on a comic book version of his life in a cosmic and supernatural form called Hope Dealers. His fight has been long and arduous, beginning with being born into abject poverty, being put up for adoption, and having his biological older brother pass away as a child. His mental health was further challenged because he was bullied because of his unknown mixed race, his bipolar, and his suicidal ideation.  Kevin survived the unimaginable, jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge to see another day- a true miracle. He’s determined to remain committed to life until its natural end. He reminds us all how much we have to live for. His motto Be Here Tomorrow and every day after that has touched and saved countless lives. You can’t help but be moved by Kevin’s strength and determination.    SHOW NOTE LINKS:   Kevin Hines YouTube   Kevin Hines Story- Website Kevin’s Film- Suicide- The Ripple Effect Cracked Not Broken by Kevin Hines @KevinHinesStory across all socials   Text CNQR to 741-741 or dial 988 for crisis services    CONNECT WITH US! *Dear Family, Podcast Page *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram   PLEASE JOIN: *Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group     WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe! Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Dr. Ran Anbar is a pediatrician board certified in pulmonology who offers hypnosis and counseling services in La Jolla, California, and Syracuse, New York. He’s past president, fellow, and approved consultant of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. He’s here today to discuss the power of hypnosis, which has long been looked upon with confusion and skepticism. He shines a light on this underutilized field of medicine and why it should be the first line of defense before medication for mental health symptoms. With 25 years of experience, Dr. Anbar is a leader in clinical hypnosis who has successfully treated over 7,000 children. He’s served as a professor of pediatrics and medicine and the director of pediatric pulmonology at SUNY Medical University in New York for 21 years. He’s worked as an editor for the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis and directed more than 20 clinic workshops on pediatric hypnosis. He’s trained more than a thousand healthcare providers, been the principal investigator in 10 published case studies of pediatric hypnosis, is involved in research trials of children with cystic fibrosis and other pulmonary disorders, and has lectured all over the world. Dr. Anbar is a published author of more than 50 articles, abstracts, and book chapters on pediatric functional disorders and pediatric hypnosis. He’s just published a book titled, “Changing Children’s Lives with Hypnosis” to help parents, kids, and anyone interested in using hypnosis to increase their well-being. SHOW NOTE LINKS: Changing Children's Lives with Hypnosis: A Journey to the Center CenterPoint Hypnosis 6 Ways to Use Hypnosis for Improved Well-Being | Psychology Today 988 Official Lifeline CONNECT WITH US! *Dear Family, Podcast Page *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram PLEASE JOIN: *Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe! Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Three years ago, I was nervous to put myself out so publicly with a brand new mental health podcast about family and secrets. I didn’t know where it would take me or if anyone would listen or even care. All I knew was I wanted to cut generational trauma from family mental illness, I had a story to tell, and I wanted to hear others’ stories. I never predicted a disruptive worldwide pandemic would shine a blinding spotlight on the priority of taking care of our families' wellness. 100 episodes later, I learned more than I ever could imagine in what I’m calling the Dear Family Wellness Graduate School. The teacher and mental health advocate in me wants to share the knowledge with you. As the Beatles say, “I got by with a little help from my friends,” some old, some new, all amazing guests. Every Generation- from Alpha to Z to Millenials to X to Boomers- shared with generosity. Our enlightened dialogue was sometimes one-on-one like a dear friend, others like our dear family between a parent and child, siblings, or with three generations of one family. Every time I stopped recording, I was more confident than ever that my guests’ undeniable truths and their awesome vulnerability were healing not to just themselves but to countless others. There was no denying every family had a story involving mental illness and that it was shame and stigma standing in the way of achieving wellness. Dialogue was key.   What an absolute privilege it was to speak to so many inspirational guests- (in alphabetical order) actors, art archivists, best-selling authors and memoirists, brain scientists, comedians, cookbook authors and Food Network stars, COVID patient zeros, creatives, dancers, disability advocates, documentary filmmakers, egg donors, fine artists, first-generation college students, fitness experts, former Stanford deans, hair stylists, homeless shelter organizers, homesteaders, hospice nurses, lawyers, men’s circle facilitators, musicians, neuroscientists, parent coaches, party planners, pediatricians, performing artists, presidential speechwriters, professional organizers, professors, psychiatrists, reporters, researchers, sex coaches, success coaches, teachers, therapists, TV and movie producers and writers, yogis, to youth mental health pioneers. What an absolute gift it was to delve deep into so many fascinating topics- (in alphabetical order) ableism, addiction inoculation, ADHD, adoption, anxiety, bipolar, burnout, ceremony, collective memory, consent, creativity, Crohn’s Disease and IBD, culturally sensitive care, depression, diet culture, disastrous police response to mental health crisis, discrimination, disordered eating, divorce, Eastern and Western medicine, electroconvulsive therapy, empowerment, epigenetics, family secrets, forgiveness, foster care, friendship, genealogy, healing, healthy sexuality, herbalism, hoarding and decluttering, homelessness, homeschooling, hope, how to stay close as a family, incarceration, inheritance, intentional bravery, intergenerational trauma, laughter as medicine, LGBTQ mental health, marriage, meaningful failure, mental and emotional toolboxes, microdosing, mood-boosters, natural stress relief, needs and rights for mental health care, nutrition, OCD, pain and humor, pain into power, pandemic lessons, panic attacks, parenting topics (like newborn adults leaving the nest, how to stay close as a family, sharenting, and how to be an adult), pediatric cancer, physical conditions causing mental conditions, porn addiction, power of storytelling, psychosis, PTSD, schizophrenia, screen time, self-care, self-love, silver linings and new perspectives, single parenting, sleep paralysis, sobriety, special education system, spouse relationships, stigma, suicide in families, suicide survivors, toxic masculinity on men’s mental health, trauma, underserved communities, the value of expression, war trauma, and youth mental health. In celebration of the 100th Dear Family, Podcast, I bring you 40 OF THE MOST BENEFICIAL UNIVERSAL MENTAL WELLNESS TRUTHS!!!   SHOW NOTE LINKS: Read the Corresponding Article-The Dear Family, Wellness Graduate School- 100 Podcasts Later- 40 Wellness Universal Truths   CONNECT WITH US! *Dear Family, Podcast  *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram   PLEASE JOIN: *Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group     WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe! Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Erik and Chris Ewers are brothers and co-directors on a new Ken Burns PBS documentary, “Hiding in Plain Sight.” The two-part, four-hour film is about the mental health crisis our youth are facing. It follows the journeys of more than 20 young Americans from all over the country and all walks of life. The first-person accounts show the seemingly insurmountable obstacles faced by those who live with mental disorders.    Erik Ewers, an Emmy Award-winning editor has worked with documentary filmmaker Ken Burns for more than 30 years, including nearly all of his single and multi-episodic films. He currently serves as Ken’s senior editor and as co-director and editor of Ewers Brothers Productions, a preferred collaborative company in the co-creation of Ken’s films. He’s an expert in all aspects of filmmaking, having served as music producer, writer, director, film producer, picture editor, and sound effects, music, and dialogue editor. He’s open about his own mental health struggles.   Christopher Loren Ewers, Erik’s younger brother, has been working behind the camera for over 20 years and has traveled the world exploring the human experience through the lens. His eclectic work includes a variety of subjects, formats and collaborators, however, it’s the unique mix of Chris’s film and journalism backgrounds that puts documentary filmmaking at the center of his work. His cinematography has been featured in each of Ken’s films since The Vietnam War.   The Ewers Brothers’ timely documentary, “Hiding in Plain Sight” confronts the issues of stigma, discrimination, awareness, and silence helping to push the ongoing shift in the public perception of mental illness today. You will understand why Erik and Chris refer to the youth they interviewed as “heroes” and you will leave feeling hopeful with insight as to how to change the narrative to find wellness and community.   SHOW NOTE LINKS:   Film website with trailer: wellbeings.org/plainsight Website for the Well Beings initiative: wellbeings.org Well Beings social media Twitter @wellbeingsorg Instagram @wellbeingsorg Facebook @wellbeingsorg YouTube - WellBeings   Mayo Clinic Documentary Priscilla Molina on the Dear Family, Podcast- Daughter of Guatemalan Immigrants on the Importance of Culturally Sensitive Care CONNECT WITH US! *Dear Family, Podcast Page *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram   PLEASE JOIN: *Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group     WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe! Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Julian Sarafian was valedictorian and attended UC Berkeley at 17. He got an internship at The White House at 19 and at 20, was accepted at NYU Law before transferring to Harvard Law School. His high achievements and California license allowed him to practice law at what he thought was his dream job, something he’d worked his entire life for. But his mental health had other plans.   His social anxiety and the intense stress from a high pressure work environment led to panic attacks and hyperventilating. His mental health also manifested into physical ailments, specifically gastro-intestinal issues like gagging. After medical procedures that went nowhere, Julian decided to see if his own mind was worsening his stomach issues. When he threw himself into learning about mental health like it was the most important subject he’d ever studied, his life and his health began to get better. He quit his job and began to share his journey publicly, doling out great wisdom, for example becoming your own best friend as opposed to your own worst enemy. Julian’s content focuses on the importance of mental health both in and out of the legal profession and has gone viral on Tiktok, Instagram, Youtube, LinkedIn, and Twitch, where his cumulative following is over 300,000.    Currently Julian is  the Chief Partner of his own law firm - For Creators, By Creators PC - with the mission of protecting creators in the digital age. He is a co-CEO of the startup Nest Mode - a company on a mission to reinvent shower storage. His advocacy work has been covered by Bloomberg Law & Newsweek.  He’s just shared his story in a TEDx and he’s working on a book about his mental health journey. Julian is engaged to his girlfriend who he credits for pushing him to follow his new dreams. SHOW NOTE LINKS:   Julian Sarafian's Links   Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers   CONNECT WITH US! *Dear Family, Podcast Page *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram   PLEASE JOIN: *Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group     WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe! Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Tembi Locke is an actor, an author, a screenwriter, and a producer who really knows how to connect with her audience. Her New York Times bestselling book, From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home was Reese Witherspoon’s 2019 Book Club pick. Reese loved it so much, she’s executive producing the adaptation for a Netflix series where Zoe Saldana will star as Tembi.  Tembi’s memoir, From Scratch, is a sweeping, autobiographical romance that follows an American woman as she falls in love with a Sicilian man while studying abroad in Italy and then builds a life with him in the United States. When she unexpectedly loses her young Italian chef husband to illness, she’s challenged to pull herself through grief so she can raise their adopted daughter as they would have raised her together: with hope, joy, and infinite love. Cooking becomes a way for her to be close to Saro both in Los Angeles and in his mother, Nona’s kitchen, and why mourning food (morning with a “u”) offers comfort and sustenance. It’s why a bowl of pasta always makes us feel better. Tembi has over sixty film and television credits under her belt as an accomplished actor and is currently recurring on Never Have I Ever, a comedy created by Mindy Kaling. Offscreen, Tembi is a nationally recognized speaker for her keynotes on resilience, loss, and motherhood with her TEDx talk viewed by individuals and nonprofits worldwide. Tembi is here to remind us to embrace resilience, love, and the power of community.   SHOW NOTE LINKS: Tembi Locke's Website Tembi Locke's Instagram Jeanette Yoffe on the Dear Family, Podcast about Adoption and Foster Care   CONNECT WITH US! *Dear Family, Podcast Page *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram   PLEASE JOIN: *Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group     WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe! Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Dr. Jonathan Goldfinger is a nationally recognized pediatrician and an advocate for mental health services for children and families, including in minority and low-income communities. His inclusive approach to health equity and policy has transformed countless lives. He joined Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, an 80-year organization, as the CEO just months after the pandemic began in June 2020. Didi Hirsch is a national leader offering free mental health, substance use disorder, and suicide prevention services. They’re pioneers in specialized therapy and support groups for children, adults, and families while also offering crisis residential facilities. Dr. Goldfinger’s personal connection to Didi Hirsch’s mission stems from his own intergenerational trauma, including behavioral health challenges in family and friends, experienced from a young age. With the support of nurturing grandparents, parents, and other adults, he developed strength and resilience that gave him hope and a desire to help others by combating structural stigma, poverty, and racism. With a BA in Philosophy from Columbia University, Dr. Goldfinger completed his MD and MPH (Masters in Public Health) at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and did his residency and fellowships at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He brings his expertise in intergenerational trauma, integrated care, and health technologies into a more humane, team-based, digital age. As Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Innovation at the Center for Youth Wellness, he oversaw national and statewide collaborations and research addressing childhood trauma, including parent mental illness and substance use, child abuse, domestic violence, and discrimination. Before that, as Chief Medical Officer of ZERO TO THREE, he led a National Office to scale HealthySteps integrating behavioral health and primary care for parents and young children through transformative partnerships with health systems, communities, government, and philanthropy. Dr. Goldfinger currently serves on the California Office of the Surgeon General and Department of Health Care Services’ Trauma-Informed Primary Care Advisory Committee, has published with the CDC among other publications, and has won numerous awards and honors for his advocacy and public health research. Dr. Goldfinger lives with his accomplished, beloved wife and two adorable boys.     SHOW NOTE LINKS: Didi Hirsch SAMHSA Mental Health Coalition  Suicide Hotline- 800-273-8255 or 988 (starting July 16, 2022)     CONNECT WITH US! *Dear Family, Podcast Page *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram     PLEASE JOIN: *Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group     WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe! Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Jeanette Yoffe believes family is so much more than our blood relations. Her strong desire to become a trauma-informed psychotherapist with a special focus on adopted and foster care issues began with her own experiences of moving through the foster care system and being adopted. Jeanette lived with her birth family for the first year of her life until she was put into foster care due to her mother’s schizophrenia. Her father was not willing to take care of his two young children and when he later had a new family, he never told them about his previous children, continuing the cycle of secrecy and shame surrounding adoption. After living with a few foster families, Jeanette was adopted at seven and a half years old. Although she feels lucky to have joined a loving family who adopted more children, she still suffered trauma that led to mental health challenges.  In 1999, Jeanette took her New York theater background and wrote a one-woman play about growing up in foster care and adoption called, “What’s Your Name, Who’s Your Daddy” which was later turned into a book and audiobook. With a desire to create what she wished she could have received as a child, she began to work tirelessly to help other families. Now with over 20 years of experience, she provides mental health education and support as a psychotherapist, foster care social worker, clinical director, and trainer for L.A. County Child & Family Services and the Department of Mental Health. She teaches parents, social workers, and therapists all about adoption and foster care challenges, trauma-informed parenting, the impact of pre-adoption trauma, grief and loss, and open adoption.  Jeanette provides support to adult adoptees searching for long-lost family members as well as assists in family reunification. She is a Court Appointed Reunification Expert for Los Angeles Superior Court in cases involving children at risk for separation. She is also the Executive Director and Founder of Celia Center (named after her birth mother), a non-profit support center that meets the critical needs of all those connected by Foster Care and Adoption and all those who serve the community of Foster Care and Adoption in Los Angeles and beyond. She’s just published her first children’s book, “What is Adoption? For Kids.” Her YouTube channel, Jeanette-ically Speaking (with a J) is a fabulous resource for adoptive parents, biological parents, adoptees, and anyone looking to learn more about the foster care and adoption challenges and joys. SHOW NOTE LINKS:  Jeanette-ically Speaking YouTube Channel Jeanette Yoffe’s Website Children’s Book- What is Adoption- For Kids Celia Center What’s Your Name, Who’s Your Daddy- A One Woman Play About Growing Up in Foster Care and Adoption Jeanette Yoffe on Twitter  Jeanette Yoffe on Instagram   CONNECT WITH US! *Dear Family, Podcast Page *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram   PLEASE JOIN: *Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group     WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe! Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Dear Ukrainian Grandparents,   When I watch the senseless human suffering in Ukraine with tears in my eyes, it’s as if my dear Jewish-Ukrainian grandparents' history is being repeated. My family was the lucky ones who were able to escape as is evidenced by me, their granddaughter and great-granddaughter whose Ukrainian blood runs through me and is here today to be able to podcast/write this without fear of censorship. Seeing mothers rushing out of Ukraine with babies in their arms fleeing harm to find safety and peace to live freely is exactly what my great-grandmother had to do with her son, my grandfather more than a hundred years ago. My beloved grandfather was born in a shtetl, a village on the outskirts of Kyiv. Think of Fiddler on the Roof and you’ll get a good idea of the life his family led. Grandpa’s family was forced to flee because of the Russian pogrom, creating a stream of refugees looking for a home, displaced people looking for a safe place to lay their heads at night without fear of massacre. The Ukrainians are living through a crisis that shocks the system like no other. Reports of young children and even animals in zoos hearing sirens going off puts them into a state of pure fright, a heightened state of stress. As a mental health advocate, it goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway, war is very bad for everything, especially mental health. Plain and simple it’s traumatic with a future of PTSD.  It’s impossible to equate the experience of living through war to that of watching it unfold on a screen but the people in Ukraine and around the world are watching the crisis unfold through traditional news outlets and social media. The stream of information is powerful because it forces us to pay attention and it gives us a window into the experiences of the people there- but it’s a lot to process and it is especially harmful to our youth. With footage and photos from Ukraine flooding social media and misinformation spreading rampantly, the implications for public health continue to grow and continue to need to be addressed.  As a granddaughter, daughter, and mother I know one thing for sure… family is everything. My heart is with all the grandparents, parents, and children of Ukraine. I can not begin to imagine the fear and grief gripping the families on both sides of this conflict and so I will continue to pray that this chaos stops and that one day the Ukrainians and Russians will know peace and be able to have children who all can write their own stories or letters without censorship.  Please listen to this short solo-podcast to hear what I’d like to tell my dear Ukrainian grandparents and great-grandparents and the current grandparents, parents, and children of Ukraine.   SHOW NOTE LINKS: Rachel’s Family Photos and Corresponding “Dear Ukrainian Grandparents” Personal Essay Ways to Help the Ukrainians Now Ways to Help the Ukrainians Now CONNECT WITH US! *Dear Family, Podcast Page *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram   PLEASE JOIN: *Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group     WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe! Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Clancey Cornell is an artist, mental health professional, memory worker, and advocate for the arts who considers herself a very nostalgic person. She grew up in a family that was very much about expansion and exploration, the daughter of creatives who raised her in Los Angeles before moving her to attend high school in Italy. She’s traveled the world, volunteering in advocacy efforts to lift up the underprivileged where she always finds beauty mixed in the suffering.    Clancey is keenly interested in the intersection of arts, advocacy, and memory. Since 2015, she’s mobilized arts-centered non-profit efforts in Los Angeles and collaborated with grassroots initiatives advocating for more access to art spaces in the Skid Row neighborhood, the largest homeless population in America. She manages archival projects for the Los Angeles Poverty Department’s Skid Row History Museum, an organization that creates artworks and exhibitions connecting the experiences of people living in poverty to the larger forces that shape their lives.    While remaining connected to community initiatives, Clancey is pursuing a Master’s of Social Work with a focus on Adult Mental Health and Wellness. Since the start of her program, she’s provided group and individual therapy for individuals living with co-occurring psychiatric and substance use challenges in both outpatient and hospital settings.    Clancey loves training in Capoeira (a Brazilian martial art form), dancing, and making music with her fiancé. Her enthusiasm is contagious.   SHOW NOTE LINKS: Clancey Cornell Website Clancey Cornell on Instagram Studio 526 Skid Row History Museum & Archive ~ Walk the Talk Archive  Lost Angels Documentary Los Angeles Poverty Department Skid Row History Museum & Archive Women’s Voices Now- Films by Women   CONNECT WITH US! *Dear Family, Podcast Page *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram   PLEASE JOIN: *Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group   WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe! Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Michael Zibilich is a commercial real estate executive who resides with his wife, Gayle Zibilich, in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael and Gayle had their only child later in life, an astonishing blessing. Keller was a dream come true and as good a kid as you could imagine- a combination of strength and kindness, very mature, an athlete and expert white water kayaker, highly intelligent, and well-loved by everyone. After a very painful relationship issue with his girlfriend, and that information being broadcast through social media, Keller had an uncharacteristic anxiety attack during his second semester of freshman year in college at LSU. Keller attempted to call five hospitals to get help with no luck. An hour after helping out a friend and hours before going to a wedding with his parents, Keller died by suicide, completely shocking his beloved family and friends.   Devastated by their inexplicable loss, Michael and Gayle have dedicated their time and resources to promoting suicide education and awareness to college students throughout America. With the help of family and friends, they partnered with the Sigma Chi Foundation to create a suicide prevention hotline and an in-depth suicide education and prevention curriculum, called Strong Arms, for all 17,000 active Sigma Chi’s across the nation. Ridding shame and stigma, especially among men who are in fraternities, sports, and the armed forces who may consider talking about feelings as weak, has been an important topic of discussion during Michael’s speeches. Michael is also a speaker for Active Minds, the nation’s premier nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness and education with young adults.   Losing a child is the hardest thing a parent can ever go through, pushing Michael and Gayle into a state of post-traumatic growth, where their world was rocked so profoundly they can’t help but make the world a better place so others don’t have to experience the same heartache. They’ve found comfort and new friendships with the young adults who are the recipients of a scholarship they’ve formed to honor their son, Keller’s legacy. Michael and Gayle remind us we all must consider ourselves as first responders, in our own lives, and in the lives of those we know and love and that our mental health is so important.   SHOW NOTE LINKS: Michael Zibilich at Greek Talks- Georgia Tech Michael Zibilich with Active Minds Tracy Hargen on Dear Family,  Suicide Prevention Hotline-1-800-273-8255  CONNECT WITH US! *Dear Family, Podcast Page *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram   PLEASE JOIN: *Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group    WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe! Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Dr. Raghu Kiran Appasani is an Integrative Psychiatrist, Neuroscientist, and Social Entrepreneur focused on bridging the gap between western and eastern practices to create a wholesome society by taking a proactive approach to health. He was born and raised in the Boston area, living in rural India with his grandparents for two formative years when he was young. His father, a biochemist at Harvard Medical School, opened up his labs for him to do research before going to Wesleyan to study neuroscience. He graduated from The University of Massachusetts with his Medical Doctorate in 2018, where he received the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award.  He is currently the Chief Resident of Integrated Care Services at LA County + USC Medical Center and in private practice taking a holistic integrative approach to care. Dr. Appasani is the Chief Medical Officer at PYM Health, which stands for Prepare Your Mind. Partnering with Robin Williams’ son, Zak Williams, PYM is the first neurotransmitter company focused on nutritional psychiatry through mood chews that target the body’s neurotransmitter and amino acid levels to decrease anxiety and stress.   Dr. Appasani is CEO of The MINDS Foundation, a mental health nonprofit he founded that has been globally recognized. Through his extensive scientific research, he’s published over 35 peer-reviewed articles, edited five books, and is a sought-after speaker and writer on mental health, entrepreneurship, global health, and consciousness. Throughout his medical career, he’s focused on the impact of mental health in physicians, developing initiatives at medical institutions to combat suicide and build resilience, working extensively with Graduate Medical Education leadership.    Clinically, Dr. Appasani is trained in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy for Trauma, Motivational Interviewing, Group Therapy, and Exposure Response Prevention. He’s currently a Health Equity Scholar in the MAPS MDMA Psychotherapy Program. His clinical interests lie in mood disorders (depression, bipolar), addiction, anxiety disorders, OCD spectrum, eating disorders, trauma, and personality spectrum conditions.    His passion lies at the intersection of mental health literacy, consciousness, global psychiatry, mindfulness, digital health, personalized medicine, psychedelics, wellness, and social entrepreneurship. Dr. Appasani believes that we all have mental health and therefore believes that healing occurs through the integration of psychotherapy, medication management, supplementation with natural sources, nutrition, and physical fitness. Above all else, he believes building community is very important in his own and everyone’s healing journey.   SHOW NOTE LINKS: MINDS Foundation  PYM- Mood Chews Dr. Raghu Appasani on Instagram Dr. Raghu Appasani on Facebook CONNECT WITH US! *Dear Family, Podcast Page *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram   PLEASE JOIN: *Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group     WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe! Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

When my daughter was about five years old, she announced, “I love myself the most.” In generations past, her declaration may have been viewed as self-centered, selfish, or self-absorbed but I was beyond thrilled by her exuberant proclamation followed by her proud and genuine smile. The reason for my glee was because at her tender age, falling in love with herself would be the secret to her happiness and a fulfilled life. Her positive self-affirmation meant she would always put herself first, never let anyone walk all over her, and make sure she prioritized herself above anyone else. I can honestly say she is not and has never been self-centered, selfish, or self-absorbed and in fact, is just the opposite. She continues to love herself into her young adulthood, attracting like-minded loving people into her life, perpetuating a self-love cycle. She understood then, and she still does, that practicing self-love is the best gift she can give herself for a life well-lived. Self-love is a state of being where you appreciate yourself. It grows from actions that support your physical, psychological, and spiritual growth. Self-love means having a high regard for your own well-being and happiness. Self-love means taking care of your own needs and not sacrificing your well-being to please others. Self-love means not settling for less than you deserve. Self-love, like self-care, is not selfish. Self-love means accepting yourself as you are in this very moment and putting your physical, emotional, and mental well-being first. Self-love motivates you to make healthy choices in life because when you hold yourself in high esteem, you’re more likely to choose things that nurture your well-being and serve you well, especially when it comes to having healthy relationships with others. There’s a reason self-love, self-respect, and self-worth all stall start with the word “self.” You can’t find them in anyone else. You, yourself have to do the work, but it’s always worth the effort and the dividends pay off. If you were never allowed the space to grow up where self-love was encouraged and appreciated like my daughter was, when you start exercising self-compassion and self-love for the first time, you may experience some discomfort and grief. You may come to the realization of how much you’ve missed, how certain people failed you, and what the younger version of you actually deserved. I’m here to remind you, it’s never too late and YOU DESERVE SELF-LOVE! Self-love can mean something different for each person because we all have many different ways to take care of ourselves. Figuring out what self-love looks like for you as an individual is an important part of your mental health. To practice self-love (notice the word practice), start by being kind, patient, gentle, and compassionate to yourself. Self-love is a journey. Enjoy the ride. Listen to Hear 24 Free Gifts to Practice Self-Love. SHOW NOTE LINKS: Read the Corresponding Article- The Best Gift is Self-Love- 24 Free Gifts to Give Yourself CONNECT WITH US! *Dear Family, Podcast Page *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram   PLEASE JOIN: *Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group     WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe! Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Jennie Ostendorf refers to herself as a millennial orphan after recently losing her mother and father to suicide. She’s also a friend, a sister to a Buddhist monk, a future therapist, a present therapy client advocating for mental health, and so much more.    Born and raised in Los Angeles to two native Angelenos, her childhood was idyllic as she grew up by the beach, surrounded by a loving family, and a successful entrepreneur mother as a role model. Jennie had a brief love affair with New York while attending Barnard College at Columbia University where she studied economics, dance, and leadership. After graduation, sunshine and family called her home to California where she began her career in entertainment, media, and marketing. Most recently, Jennie led community and partnerships for the consumer health and biotech start-up Seed Health.    Shifting gears and finding purpose after losing both of her parents to mental illness, Jennie is now pursuing a Master's in Social Work at USC in the Adult Mental Health and Wellness department. She looks forward to continuing to advocate for mental health and bringing therapy practices to areas where mental health is often neglected. She champions the idea that mental health is health and that humanity depends on it being treated as such.    Jennie is deeply passionate about cultivating community and takes pride in her ability to connect people, places, and things with thoughtful care. She loves her family, big friendships, yoga, spending time in nature, pollinator spotting, neighborhood walks, breathing in the ocean air, pizza nights with friends, musical theater, the radio program This American Life, and watching all genres of television (but is especially into reality at the moment).     Jennie is dealing with the grief and loss of her parents by not being afraid to ask for help, to cry in public, and to turn to her community for support whenever she needs it. She is an incredible example of vulnerability mixed with strength to get through even the hardest of times by putting one foot in front of the other, being self-aware, and giving back. SHOW NOTE LINKS: Jennie Ostendorf on Instagram   Jennie’s Article on the Local Optimist- Surviving Suicide Loss   Seed Health on Instagram   Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services/ Suicide Prevention   Rachel’s Mom’s Episode- Laurie Kallen Schwent- My Createive and Eccentric Bipolar Mother Whose Parents Both Died by Suicide on Why Life is Worth Living in Color   Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)      CONNECT WITH US! *Dear Family, Podcast Page *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram   PLEASE JOIN: *Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group     WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe! Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Katie Hanus is a mother and herbalist who some may say is not meant for our current modern cookie-cutter rushed world. She’s the founder of The Handmade Life which offers herbal traditions, small-batch goods, consultations, and workshops. She shares her wisdom with us all today and on her blog, The Nature Wheel where she discusses her suburban homesteading and her two daughters’ homeschool experiences with nature, food, ritual, and ceremony. Her connection with the natural world has played a key role in her most beloved life experiences. Both the Handmade Life and The Nature Wheel were born from a desire to share the abundance of joy and healing the natural world offers. Katie loves helping empower people as they build or refine their own unique paths to thrive.   Katie has trained to date with Sacred Journey School of Herbalism in Austin, Texas and with The Herbal Medics Academy in San Antonio, Texas with an emphasis on empowering healthy lifestyles in women and children. She’s been supporting her own family’s complex health, learning, and developmental needs for the past fourteen years through a variety of modalities and therapies. She holds certificates in permaculture design and nature-based coaching.    She practices sit spot, a sense meditation where you sit outside every day in the same spot and notice nature. It can be as little as five minutes a day and it has proven to be a true gateway to her emotional and mental well-being. Katie reminds us to notice, incorporate, and be grateful for the natural world and bring it into our homes and our everyday lives.   SHOW NOTE LINKS: The Handmade Life Website The Nature Wheel Blog The HandmadeLife on Instagram The Handmade Life on Facebook Katie Hanus/ The Nature Wheel on Instagram The Nature Wheel on Facebook Mother’s Quest Podcast Fearless Farmers CONNECT WITH US! *Dear Family, Podcast Page *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram   PLEASE JOIN: *Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group     WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe! Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

It’s been said the two hardest days for parents are the first day home with their newborn and the first day home without their newborn adult. My oldest child has just flown the coop, left her nest, and started her own journey. She’s in a new city two thousand miles from home, an independent young adult no longer under my roof. After moving her in and hugging her goodbye on her new campus, I’m here to report I cried like a blubbering baby in the rental car on the way to the airport without her. I also wouldn’t want and can’t imagine her being anywhere else. Understanding the power of community, I organized a Care Package Party with thirty other families who had new freshmen who’d just left home. Knowing college kids love getting packages from home, they’d be even more excited to receive one with different items from so many families. The party was a success, mostly because all of us parents had time to be together, connect, and share. Before sealing up my daughter’s box with a few things she needed from home, I wrote her an inspirational note I share on this podcast, initially hoping it would make her feel better but now also hoping it makes you feel better too. It sure made me feel better.  How bittersweet it is a parent’s job is to teach their children not to need them anymore. The hardest part of this parenting gig is accepting your success. The moment my newborn’s umbilical cord was cut, my goal was for her to create autonomy and have her need me less. It doesn’t mean I can’t remind my newborn adult I will always be there for her when she needs to rest her wings.  SHOW NOTE LINKS: Corresponding Article- Newborn Adult- From Cradle to College to Care Packages Grown and Flown Article on Care Package Parties Project Dorm Room Website Lisa Heffernan on the Dear Family, Podcast- Grown and Flown- How to Stay Close as a Family and Raise Independent Adults    CONNECT WITH US! *Dear Family, Podcast Page *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram   PLEASE JOIN: *Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group     WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe! Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Good mental health does not have to be expensive but ignoring it can be. There's no denying mental health conditions can require therapy and/or medication but a majority of achievement is within our own hands. Listen to this short-solo podcast on how laughter, dancing, hydration, friendship, exercise, the outdoors, rest, love and more are mood-boosters. The following are 10 of the best things in life (plus bonuses)that are free, make us feel better, and make us feel happier. Good mental health does not have to be expensive but ignoring it can be. May you live life to the fullest with good mental health and happiness.   SHOW NOTE LINKS Read 10 Free Mood-Boosters for Mental Health and Happiness (Related Dear Family, Podcasts): In a Sea of Worry an All-Natural Stress Relief Life Preserver   The Importance of Friendship on Our Health and Happiness   Dancing Around the World and Creating a Mental and Emotional Toolbox   Laughter as Medicine- Laughter On Call for a Mother with Alzheimer’s Becomes a Global Business   I’m a Failure and Proud of It   Trauma Specialists on Empowerment to Heal Your Body, Mind, & Spirit   CONNECT WITH US! *Dear Family, Podcast Page *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram   PLEASE JOIN: *Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group     WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe! Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Julie Lythcott- Haims is a Black biracial woman born to an African American man and a White British mother. Because her parents violated rules and policy by daring to love, she’s always questioned norms. She grew up knowing her existence was problematic in the eyes of some, which has stayed with her giving her the superpowers of compassion and kindness. She believes in humans and is deeply interested in what gets in our way.    She is the New York Times bestselling author of the anti-helicopter parenting manifesto How to Raise an Adult. It gave rise to a TED Talk that has more than 5 million views. She’s just published a new book, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult that speaks directly to the heart and mind of people coming into their adulthood. It’s an inclusive, candid, and comprehensive guide for young adults and for those who love them.   Julie is a former corporate lawyer and a Stanford dean. She holds a BA from Stanford, a JD from Harvard, and an MFA in Writing from California College of the Arts. She serves on the board of Common Sense Media and on the advisory board of LeanIn.Org, among other roles.   Julie identifies as queer and bisexual. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her partner of over thirty years, Dan Lythcott-Haims, their two itinerant young adults, and her mother with whom she and Dan bought a house 20 years ago, the subject of her next book.   SHOW NOTE LINKS: Julie Lythcott-Haims Website Your Turn- How to Be an Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims Julie Lythcott-Haims Instagram Julie Lythchott-Haims Twitter Julie Lythcott-Haims Facebook The Trevor Project Rachel’s Dear Family, Podcast on the topic of Sharenting Rachel’s Article on Sharenting CONNECT WITH US! *Dear Family, Podcast Page *Write Now Rachel Website *Rachel's Blog @Medium *Rachel’s Twitter *Facebook *Instagram   PLEASE JOIN: *Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group     WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST: *PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and Subscribe! Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.