Reduce The Stigma Podcast
The Reduce The Stigma podcast amplifies silenced voices by providing real people the opportunity to share their true stories for big impact. Our mission is to reduce the stigma that surrounds addiction, mental health, substance use, incarceration, LGBTQIA+ and other challenging life experiences. Too often, stigma creates barriers and restricts access to services. Our hope is that by spreading the stories of individuals with lived/living experience, raising awareness of organizations, and discussing often avoided topics we can break down barriers and build bridges.
In addition to being available to watch here on reducethestigma.com, our show is also available on all podcasts directories, including: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and more!
We’d love to hear from you. Share your feedback to help us make sure we deliver the podcast you want and deserve!
Reduce The Stigma is sponsored by Straight Up Care, the HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform for peer support services.
Host
Whitney Menarcheck
she/her
Host | Producer
Whitney Menarcheck is the Chief Innovation Officer for Straight Up Care, and Syndicate12 Co-Founder. Whitney is a trained professional counselor who recently completed training as a peer specialist. With over 12 years of experience serving individuals with substance use and/or mental health needs, among other impactful life events, Whitney is passionate about reducing stigma and elevating the voices of those with lived experience. Whitney’s personal lived experience is with depression, ADHD, grief, and trauma. Watch Dr. Mo interview Whitney.
Podcast Guests
Interested in being a guest on the show? Complete this form.
Season 1
Episode 1
Melissa Dittberner, “Dr. Mo”
Co-Founder and CEO, Straight Up Care
Episode 2
Mel Saady
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Virginia
Episode 3
Angel Fuller
Certified Peer Support Specialist, North Carolina
Episode 4
Matthew Thompson
Synopsis
Episode 5
Mickayla Hanzlik
Peer Support Specialist, South Dakota
Episode 6
Amanda Bosley
Certified Peer Specialist, Ohio
Episode 7
Rodney Hough
Certified Peer Specialist, New York
Episode 8
Kevin Hyer
Founder & CEO, The Hyer Calling Foundation
Episode 9
Christma Rusch
Certified Peer Support Specialist and Recovery Coach, Wisconsin
Episode 10
Denise Bertin-Epp, CEO & Mary Beth Collins, Director of Programs
National Association for Children of Addiction (NACoA)
Episode 11
Roger Crouell, Jr.
Certified Peer Specialist, North Carolina
Episode 12
Amory Mowrey
Episode 13
Vanessa Needles
Peer Support Specialist, South Dakota
Episode 14
Rachel Shuster
Episode 15
Taylor Roberts
Peer Support Specialist, South Dakota
Episode 16
Whitney Menarcheck
Host, Reduce The Stigma; CIO, Straight Up Care
Episode 17
Tim Reck
Peer Support Specialist
Episode 18
Adam Martin
Founder & Executive Director
Episode 19
Ryan Spillane
Peer Specialist & Recovery Coach, Hawaii
Episode 20
Anna Meredith
Education & Survivor Services Supervisor, River City Domestic Violence Center
Episode 21
Jennifer Lazarus
Certified Peer Support Specialist, North Carolina & South Carolina
Episode 22
Mary Beth O’Connor
Author, “From Junkie to Judge”
Episode 23
Sam Mason
Peer Support Specialist, South Dakota
Episode 24
Alicia Nolan
Owner, Choose to L;ve
Episode 25
Belinda Ennis
Peer In Training, Arkansas
Episode 26
RL Kramer
Author, “Hocus Focus: Coming of Age with ADD and its Medications”
Episode 27
Ken Dunn
Certified Peer Support Specialist and Recovery Coach
Episode 28 – Mel Saady Episode Revisit
Episode 29
Jonathan Lewis
Co-Founder, Syndicate12; Co-Founder & CTO, Straight Up Care
Episode 30
Toni Morrison
Peer Support Specialist, South Dakota
Episode 31 – Announcement
Episode 32
Dr. Danielle Dick
Author, “The Child Code”
Episode 33
Tom DeCoteau
Peer Support Specialist, South Dakota
Episode 34
Elizabeth Kipp
Author, “The Way Through Chronic Pain: Tools to Reclaim Your Healing Power“
Episode 35 – Angel Fuller Episode Revisit
Episode 36
Joe Soel
Author, “The Broken Mirror of Memory, Iraq and Other Tales”
Episode 37
Brandi Eastman
Peer Support Specialist, South Dakota
Episode 38
Claire Jones & Amaranthia Sepia
Sista Creatives Uprising
Episode 39
Reduce The Stigma – Unfiltered
Mindset
Whitney Menarcheck, Dr. Mo, Roger Crouell, and Angel Fuller
Episode 40
Raven Ariola
Co-Creator, Advocacy Against Stigma Conference
Episode 41 – Mickayla Hanzlik Episode Revisit
Episode 42
Kathleen Totemoff
iExist
Episode 43 – Announcement: 7/30/24 Live stream – Culture
Episode 44
Dr. Angela Colistra
Founder, Aligned Coaching & Consulting
Episode 45
David Whitesock
Founder & CEO, CommonlyWell
Episode 46
Ken Dunn
Recovery Coach & Founder, Recovery Expedition
Episode 47
Courtney Hays
MediCal Peer Support Specialist
Episode 48
Unfiltered: Embracing Diversity & Culture for Wellness
Dr. Mo, Robert Cooper and Tom DeCoteau
Episode 49
Crystl McCall
Peer Specialist
Episode 50
Savannah Murray and Wesley McDonald
Episode 51
Robert Cooper
CEO, Zero Hour Life Center
Episode 52
Kurt Lebeck
Founder & Director of Research and Consulting, RCADE Tools
Episode 53
Nikki Soda
Executive Director, Soda Consulting
Episode 54
Patrick Bibza
Founder, Steel City Hardcore Recovery
Episode 55
Nathan Smiddy, AKA “Narcan Nate”
Episode 56
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Greg Coni, Meredith Peterson, Macee, Hannah, Justin and Teresa
Episode 57
Jessica Von Erlendson
Certified Yoga Therapist and Advocate for Women’s Health
