Mental Perk
Real people...Real Issues...Real Talk. Destigmatizing misconceptions about mental health and encourage conversations about tough topics. We understand all of us are impacted by the effects of mental health in different ways. We want to highlight guests who are winning the battle, their very real struggles, and how honest talk can change the way we view mental health. We want everyone to know "You're Worthy...We're in this together".
Episodes
In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Katie Norris Tipton, who shares her incredible story of dedication, resilience, and purpose. From earning her Bachelorâs in Criminal Justice with a double minor in Sociology and Social Work to building a 28-year career with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Parole Division, Katie opens up about life on the front lines of the justice system.
She reflects on:
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Youâre in a bad place." Sometimes, the truth hits hardest when it comes from someone who knows you best.
On todayâs episode of Mental Perk, weâre joined by Scott Harwerthâa husband, father, and fighter whoâs reclaiming his life one day at a time.
After a back injury in 2014 led to a prescription for painkillers, Scottâs path spiraled from pills⌠to Kratom⌠and then into full-blown alcohol addiction. What began as a...
Leadership Coach | Veteran | Founder of the Total Engagement System
Brian Maddocks is no stranger to high-stakes performance and purpose-driven leadership. A military veteran turned leadership expert, Brian created the Total Engagement Systemâa results-driven training method inspired by the precision and pressure of military jet pilot training. Why? Because you donât learn to fly a jet by reading a manual⌠you fly the ...
On todayâs Mental Perk, we sit down with Peri Roseâa powerhouse in branding and real estate whose real-life story is raw, real, and radically resilient. From childhood bullying and toxic relationships to traumatic workplace assaults, Periâs path wasnât paved with easeâbut with courage. Just three months into a dream relationship, she found herself pregnant and alone, when her partner was incarcerated the same day they...
In this episode, Brandi and Karla dive deep into the struggles of getting back into the office after being forced to work from home. They talk about the challenges of re-adjusting to office life and share exciting details about their upcoming online training course to help you get back into the swing of things full-time!
Follow us for more real talk and stress-busting tips:
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Today on Mental Perk, weâre joined by Chris Jonesâa Dallas native whose journey from the boxing ring to the boardroom is all about grit, growth, and heart. Once a fighter, now a leader in roofing and life, Chris brings discipline, resilience, and real talk to everything he does. From training others to building his business, to raising a beautiful familyâChris shows us that the fight doesnât end in the ring. Letâs div...
From New York to Nevada, Texas to Tennesseeâyâall showed UP with the real questions about anxiety, depression, burnout, boundaries, and everything in between. đ
In this powerful Q&A episode, Karla and Brandi dive into raw, relatable mental health questions sent in from listeners all over the United States.
 đĽ No filter. No fluff. Just real talk that might be exactly what you needed to hear today.
đ§ Whether yo...
đď¸ Welcome to Mental Perk! đď¸
Todayâs episode is all about healing with paws and purpose. đž
Weâre joined by Traci Pryor from the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program to talk about how YOU and your pet can become a therapy animal team and bring real comfort to those who need it most. From hospitals to schools, this volunteer opportunity is changing lives one tail wag at a time. đśđą
⨠Whether itâs a dog, cat, or s...
Amber DeWittâs birth story turned into a fight for her life. What was supposed to be a peaceful water birth in a birthing center quickly turned into an emergency C-section and life-threatening complications. After battling sepsis shock, multiple surgeries, and months of recovery, Amber is sharing her journey of healing, faith, and mental health struggles.
In this raw and emotional testimony, Amber opens up about the tr...
Meet Bridgette King: wife of 30 years to Travis, mom to Lydia, Emily, and Ryan, mother-in-law to Noah, and Honey to Joshua. As an assistant principal in a top-tier school district, Bridgette balances her passion for education with a deep commitment to family and faith.
But Bridgette's journey took an unexpected turn in 2004 when she was diagnosed with HHT (Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia), a rare genetic dis...
Join us as we welcome our inspiring guest, Carter Kindla (@carterkindla)! Carter is a college student at the University of Texas at Arlington, majoring in Audio Production and a proud member of the university band. Beyond academics, Carter is passionate about health, wellness, and mental resilienceâspending time at the gym with friends, enjoying outdoor walks with music, and living a life committed to growth.
Through p...
Navigating Mental Health as a Single Mom to a Child with Special Needs
This week on Mental Perk, we sit down with Faith Longbottomâa resilient single mom and passionate mental health advocate. Faith opens up about her personal journey navigating the highs and lows of mental health while raising a child with special needs.
Through raw and honest conversation, Faith shares how her struggles became the foundation for her a...
In todayâs episode, Brandi and Karla dive into a powerful and essential conversation:
How Women Can Protect Themselvesâcovering everything from self-defense tips and situational awareness to what it really means to feel safe, prepared, and confident in todayâs world.
Weâre also talking about our exciting upcoming eventâUNSTOPPABLE: A Day of Empowerment for Women, happening May 17th, 2025! đĽ
This one-day expe...
Coming Wednesday! Episode 67
Amy Land is a survivor, advocate, and entrepreneur who has spent the last 20 years in Western North Carolinaâseven of those in Brevard. Alongside her husband of 32 years, sheâs served in full-time ministry and helped launch Grace Brevard Church. As a top-producing fitness trainer and founder of PurplPlace, Amy brings over 16 years of experience in personal training and holistic wellness.
In this thought-provoking episode, Karla and Brandi tackle a question thatâs becoming more relevant every day: Can artificial intelligence take the place of a human therapist? đ¤đ§
With the rise of mental health apps and tools like ChatGPT, many people are turning to AI for support, guidance, and even emotional validation. But what are the benefitsâand what are the potential risks? Is it just a helpful supplement, or c...
Welcome back to Mental Perk! In this episode, weâre thrilled to have Kirstine Openshaw, a real estate powerhouse who has turned adversity into triumph through the power of mindset, manifestation, and determination. Kirstineâs journey is nothing short of inspiringâfrom immigrating to a new country to facing the challenges of IVF and raising a son with a congenital heart defect. Despite these obstacles, she built a thri...
Welcome back to Mental Perk! In this episode, we sit down with Heather Graham, an elementary school counselor with over 21 years of experience in public education. Driven by her passion for helping others, Heather recently opened her own private practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor after completing her third masterâs degree and state licensing requirements.
Heatherâs journey took a powerful turn about five yea...
Welcome back to Mental Perk! In this episode, weâre joined by Brian Ulch, a seasoned security professional with over 32 years of experience in close contact knife and firearms training and multiple martial arts styles. As a licensed instructor with the Texas Private Security Bureau, Brian has spent the last 12 years as a Personal Protection Officer and the past 10 years training others in defensive tactics and firearm...
With over 27 years of experience, Abby Pagud is a trailblazer in the fitness and wellness industry, dedicated to transforming lives through personalized health strategies. As the founder and CEO of Kapitol Health, she empowers individuals to achieve their ideal well-being through innovative, customized approaches. Her expertise is backed by a Bachelorâs in Health and Wellness and over eight certifications spanning mul...
Today on Mental Perk, we're excited to introduce Sarah Strackhouse. From her early days as a journalist reporting for major networks and covering national news, Sarah has evolved into a dynamic multimedia business owner. Now at the helm of Strackhouse Media, she specializes in videography, photography, and live event production, transforming stories into visual masterpieces. She's also the visionary creator ...
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Iâm Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and Iâm so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood youâre able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and lifeâs ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them weâve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I donât take it for granted â click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I canât wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
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