Behavioral Health Today

If 87% of profits come from 5% of gamblers, the game isn’t fair. It’s engineered. In this episode of BHT Bytes, hosts Sharlee Dixon and Peter Fenger take a compelling look at the rapid rise of sports betting and how it’s transforming our culture. Everywhere we turn, our phones, TVs, social feeds, even college campuses, gambling has become woven into the sports experience. But beneath the excitement and ...

Healing isn’t a rescue moment, it’s a long, supported journey. Survivors deserve time, safety, and people who show up. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon sits down with Erin Williamson, the Chief Programs & Strategy Officer at Love146, a leading organization dedicated to preventing child trafficking and providing holistic, trauma-informed care for survivors. Erin brings more than two decades of experien...

Safe communities scale care: when people feel protected, they finally feel seen. In this episode, Peter Fenger sits down with Tamar Blue, Founder and CEO of MentalHappy, a pioneering health tech platform that brings peer-led emotional support to people from all walks of life. Tamar began her career in staffing and co-founded a successful HR tech company before pivoting to health innovation, driven by a ...

Teaching social skills isn’t just about steps, it’s about helping kids understand why connection matters and how to cope when things don’t go as planned. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon sits down with Melissa Connor-Santos, MA, BCBA, Founder and CEO of Oceanview Behavior Solutions and a nationally recognized expert in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). With over ...

Comfort numbs us. Connection heals us. In this episode, Peter Fenger sits down with Mo Edjlali, founder and CEO of Mindful Leader, the world’s largest provider of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training. A former computer engineer with a career that began at NASA and in the tech world, Mo turned to mindfulness after a startup collapse forced him to confront life, loss, and what really matters...

Grief doesn’t shrink, we grow around it. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon sits down with Amy Pickett-Williams, LCSW, a seasoned psychotherapist with over 25 years of experience specializing in grief, trauma, and somatic therapy. She is the founder of LIGHT (Love In Grief, Held Together), a movement rooted in collective care, accessible healing, and the integration of mind, body, and spirit. In addition to...

In this episode of BHT Bytes, hosts Peter Fenger and Sharlee Dixon dive into the world of peer recovery specialists, the unsung heroes of addiction and mental health recovery. These are people who’ve lived through substance use challenges themselves or supported loved ones through them, and now use that experience to guide others toward healing and stability. With over 49 million Americans reporting sub...

Wellness isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s about creating habits that feel good, fit your rhythm, and truly stick. In this episode, Peter Fenger sits down with Andrea Leigh Rogers, wellness entrepreneur, celebrity trainer, and creator of the global fitness phenomenon Xtend, a dynamic blend of Pilates, ballet, and cardio. Andrea’s uplifting approach and expertise have been featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar,...

One coached moment can transform a lifetime of connection. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon sits down with Dr. Alisa Bahl, a clinical psychologist and associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Virginia. Dr. Bahl specializes in child and adolescent psychology and works within UVA Children’s Hospital and UVA Medical Center, focusing on neurodevelopmental and behavioral pediatr...

In every neurofeedback session, the brain rediscovers its own intelligence. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon sits down with Dr. Amy Albright, CEO and Head Facilitator at Holon, where science meets spirit to unlock the brain’s fullest potential. With over two decades of experience transforming lives and guiding organizations toward exponential growth, Amy brings a rare synthesis of executive strategy, cogn...

Curiosity is the antidote to blame. When we replace “Why did you do that?” with “What was going on inside you?”, we open the door to understanding instead of shutting it with judgment. In this episode, Sharlee Dixon sits down with Dr. Jeanne Michele, a trailblazer in personal development who blends over two decades of experience in teaching, modern philosophy, and coaching. With a PhD in Psychology and ...

Resilience isn’t about never falling. It’s about learning, adapting, and choosing hope, every time. In this episode, host Peter Fenger speaks with Andy Pierce, Resilience Expert and founder of iBounceUp, a Honolulu-based nonprofit transforming lives in at-risk communities. Andy brings a Master's degree in Performance Psychology and extensive experience working with elite Special Operations Soldiers, Arm...

Psychedelics offer a fresh snowfall over old patterns, but only you can decide how to sled down the mountain. Education and community are essential guides for that journey. In this episode, host Sharlee Dixon speaks with Linden Schaffer, an award-winning wellness entrepreneur, bestselling author, and expert with over 20 years of experience in the wellness and psychedelic spaces. Linden is the founder of...

Coaches don’t pave the road to recovery; they walk beside you, helping you rediscover purpose, strength, and resilience. In this episode, host Peter Fenger speaks with Dr. Traci Sweet and Emilee Beck of Holon Health. Traci, Co-Founder and COO, brings over 30 years of experience pioneering innovative approaches in behavioral health and substance use treatment. She has been a leader in breaking down barri...

Community Health Partners bridge the gap between the healthcare system and the people it too often leaves behind. In this episode, host Sharlee Dixon speaks with Ruby Mehta, Head of Behavioral Health at Cityblock. Ruby’s journey from investment banker to clinical social worker gives her a rare blend of financial acumen and clinical expertise. She brings years of experience in strategy, operations, and d...

Helping people help people has always been at the heart of what we do, and reaching 400 episodes is only possible because of you, our listeners. In this milestone episode of BHT Bytes, host Peter Fenger and co-host Sharlee Dixon pause to reflect on the journey so far: where we began, how the show has evolved, and the memories that have shaped us along the way. From producing to hosting, from weekly conv...

Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy gives the inner child a chance to finally be heard and healed. In this episode, host Sharlee Dixon sits down with Judi Vitale, a writer, speaker, and empowerment coach with more than 30 years of experience helping people discover their inner strength and live authentically. Judi’s horoscopes have been featured in Marie Claire, Redbook, Seventeen.com, and Tarot.com. She is cer...

Healing babies begins with healing families. In this episode, host Sharlee Dixon welcomes Tara Sundem, Co-Founder of Hushabye Nursery and a nationally recognized advocate for neonatal wellness. With over 27 years in neonatal nursing—18 as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner—Tara has devoted her career to transforming care for substance-exposed infants and their parents. Specializing in Neonatal Abstinence Syn...

True abundance begins when we stop chasing and start embracing who we already are. In this episode, host Peter Fenger sits down with Dr. Bob Rosen, a world-renowned psychologist, bestselling author, and expert in personal and organizational transformation. Bob holds a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and teaches at George Washington University’s School of Medicine. As founder...