In Episode 5, podcast host Seth Perry explores addiction and recovery in the Hmong population, including its unique culture and the role of encampments.
This episode mentions overdose death and violence. If you are in crisis, call or text 988. More resources are below in the show notes.
Here are the questions to ponder throughout the episode: Have you ever stopped to consider what drives people to live in housing encampments? What steps has your community taken to understand the root causes behind these encampments? Have you heard people in your church or community refer to them as "eyesores" or something similar?
Special thanks to this episode's interviewees: Representative Liz Lee; Representative Dave Baker; Pastor Danny Yang; Dr. Steve Delisi; Jeremy Drucker; and Y. Moua.
About the podcast:
We're finally talking about mental health and addiction in faith communities. But have we really listened? Lutheran Pastor Seth Perry hosts this six-part podcast exploring mental health and addiction in spiritual communities.
For the past year, Perry has looked beyond the statistics to the real stories: rural towns with no treatment options, African American communities facing rising opioid overdoses, Indigenous populations with a 10-fold disparity in statistics, and third-generation immigrant families watching their encampments disappear overnight. Meanwhile, Muslim brothers and sisters seek recovery that honors both faith and culture.
The crisis is deep, the conversations are overdue, and the time to listen is now. "Our Stigma" is a six-part podcast exploring faith, culture and recovery. It's hosted by Seth Perry, pastor of Elim Lutheran Church in Scandia, Minnesota, and himself a recovering addict living with bipolar disorder.
Episodes start dropping weekly on Thursday, May 1, 2025. They will be accompanied by a study resource for small groups focused on developing grassroots mental health outreach. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
Other resources:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines/national-helpline
National Alliance on Mental Health: https://www.nami.org/
National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline: https://www.nami.org/support-education/nami-helpline/
Find Both Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Here: https://findtreatment.gov/
The Trevor Project-Crisis Counseling for LGBTQ+ Youth: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
"Our Stigma" is sponsored by M Health Fairview and the Washington County Opioid Settlement. Writer / creator / host: Seth Perry. Producer: Cliff Vaughn of Good Faith Media. Additional support: Mitch Randall and Cally Chisholm of Good Faith Media. Special thanks: Sean and Rolando from Washington County, and Diane from M Health Fairview. Music: Pond5.
Episode release date: May 29, 2025.
Links:
"Our Stigma" Podcast Page: https://goodfaithmedia.org/ourstigma/
"Our Stigma" Project: https://www.ourstigma.com/
Good Faith Media: https://goodfaithmedia.org/