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.

Reduce The Stigma – Unfiltered

Reduce The Stigma – Unfiltered is our once-a-month live stream where we dive headfirst into the tough topics often avoided. No subject is off-limits as we tackle the things that most people try to never discuss.. Join us for honest conversations that break down stigma and bring about real change. Each episode features at least one peer specialist working on Straight Up Care that you can connect with. Reduce The Stigma – Unfiltered is live on YouTube the last Tuesday of the month at 8pm eastern. Recorded episodes are later shared here on reducethestigma.com and via our podcast. Vote for our next topic!

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 brought to you by Straight Up Care, the HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform for peer support services.

Who We Are

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.

Melissa Dittberner, PhD – “Dr. Mo”
she/her
Co-Host

Dr. Mo is an award-winning faculty at the University of South Dakota. She is a TEDx speaker, prevention specialist and peer specialist. Dr. Mo is Co-Founder and CEO of Straight Up Care, Co-Founder of Syndicate12, and Co-Founder and Executive Director of Midwest Street Medicine. She is the co-author of The Alcohol Reset. Dr. Mo has lived experience with substances, process addictions, dyslexia, ADHD, trauma, and abuse. Watch Whitney interview Dr. Mo.

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
Founder and Recovery Coach, Expedition Recovery