Rough Edges Podcast with Sarah I. Fox

In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Dr. Martine Laventure, an experienced social worker, mother, and passionate autism advocate to discuss parenting, mental health and the power of community. Dr. Laventure opens up about her personal and professional journey, sharing how raising her autistic son has shaped her advocacy and purpose.

Together we unpack what it really means to parent beyond labels, to sit with the discomfort of ...

Hello and welcome to today’s episode, join host Sarah as she welcomes Ethan A. Poetic, a motivational speaker and mental health advocate who shares his incredible journey from surviving a near-fatal car accident to becoming a beacon of hope for many.

Ethan shared that after his accident he struggled emotionally, especially on anniversaries of the event and only began understanding these feelings after reading about survivor's re...

Welcome back to the second part of this empowering episode with special guest, Justin Raghoo. In this episode, we dive into a compelling conversation with guest Justin about men's mental health within church environments. We explore societal expectations placed on men in spiritual spaces and discuss how to create more inclusive and supportive communities.

Justin offers heartfelt advice encouraging listeners not to give up on the...

Happy Tuesday! In this episode of the Rough Edges podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Justin Raghoo a dedicated professional in the sales and finance sector and an active servant in ministry. We went deep into the important topic of men's mental health, exploring the stigma surrounding men expressing their emotions and seeking help.

Justin shared his powerful faith journey, highlighting how his upbringing in a challengi...

Growing up, Brandon Russ often felt emotions deeply yet found himself navigating a world that questioned his vulnerability. His journey took a significant turn after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2017, a revelation that led him to embrace his emotional depth and channel it into advocacy.

Through our conversation Brandon shares moments from his life illustrating how faith, creativity, and serving others have become his an...

Still growing up in the Black church, Donal faced the formidable challenge of reconciling faith with mental health struggles. This episode of the Rough Edges podcast invites you into his heartfelt journey through the emotional landscapes shaped by post-traumatic slavery syndrome.

We find out how historical and cultural factors have influenced the suppression of grief and lament in the Black community, and also learn how Donal found ...

"Growing up in a Black church, mental health wasn't always the first topic on the table, but everything changed when I discovered the transformative power of counseling during my master's program."

In this episode of Rough Edges, I'm thrilled to welcome Donal Cogdell Jr. also known as Reflect, who shares his journey through faith, justice, and music. Together, we unravel the complexities of men's mental health challenging the outdat...

Welcome back to another episode of Rough Edges! In honor of World Bipolar Day, Sarah is joined by special guest Avantika Bharad.

Avantika, a dynamic 22-year-old social entrepreneur from India returns to the Rough Edges podcast to share her inspiring journey of mental health advocacy. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder type 2 at just 17, Avantika transformed her personal challenges into a powerful mission through her mental health orga...

Happy Tuesday! Today, meet Warrington Chapman better known as Sammy, a dedicated New York City police officer with an inspiring faith journey. In today’s episode Sammy unpacks his experiences with men's mental health challenging the age-old notion that men should just "man up" and hide their emotions.

In his reflections Sammy illustrates how vulnerability is actually a source of strength and how faith can be a guiding...

After years of wrestling with body image issues and insecurities, Brianna Miller found strength through the power of affirmations and faith. Her transformative journey from self-doubt to self-assurance is a testament to the power of community and belief.

In this episode of Rough Edges, Brianna returns to share her inspiring story and the creation of her empowerment brand, I Affirm Me. We explore how her experiences have shaped her ...

Welcome back to the Rough Edges Podcast. In this episode Sarah engages with Mikey Kamuda, the host of the Mikey on Mute podcast. Sarah and Mikey explore the stigma surrounding men's mental health, the importance of emotional expression and the journey of seeking support.

Mikey shares his personal experiences with mental health, the motivation behind his podcast and the significance of values based living in overcoming societal pres...

Happy Tuesday and welcome back to the Rough Edges podcast! In this episode, a certified high school counselor returns to discuss his mental health journey and the challenges men face in seeking support.

Andrew Ramirez shares his personal experience with bipolar one disorder, PTSD, OCD, and offers insights into the importance of routine and the barriers men face when addressing mental health issues. He emphasizes the value of conver...

Why is men’s mental health still such a taboo topic and why do so many struggle in silence?

In this episode Sarah kicks off the sixth season with a focus on men's mental health. Sarah addresses the deep stigma surrounding mental health issues in men and discusses thealarming statistics on male mental health struggles, including higher rates of suicide and depression.

She also shares her goal of creating a season dedicated to underst...

Welcome back to another episode of the Rough Edges Podcast. In this episode Sarah shares her vision for 2025, personal goals, new year’s resolution and emphasizes the importance of having clear goals for the future amidst recent challenges. Sarah also explains the purpose of visions and how they can provide a motivating factor in our healing journey’s and wellness, as well as her personal aspirations including health, travel, caree...

Happy New Year and welcome back!

In this week's episode, Sarah is joined by her beloved sister, Sam Fox as they review Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) and explore the film's themes of navigating loss.

Join these ladies as they share their initial thoughts on Sonic 3, favorite character moments from the film, and how Sonic 3 highlights the importance of processing emotional pain after loss and seeking support from your community during g...

Have you ever felt weighed down by seasonal depression or moments of hopelessness? In this episode, Sarah shares five Psalms from the Bible that have been a source of strength, comfort, and hope during her own struggles with seasonal depression. Join Sarah as she explores how these words can bring light into dark times and guide us toward healing. 

If you are having a difficult time right now and need hope through Biblical Principl...

How can we learn to have hope in dark times?

This week's episode is a rerun of an episode from the first season about having hope during difficult moments. Read the following description below:

In this week’s episode, Sarah will present a marvelous poem which she wrote during her healing journey. “Hope Has Arrived” is a poem about finding hope in difficult times. Listen as Sarah recites this poem and gives a compelling speech on...

What are some helpful tips for managing seasonal depression and grief during the holidays?

In the 100th episode of the podcast, Sarah hears from her listeners and shares their advice or words of encouragement for those who are struggling with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), seasonal depression, and grief during the holiday season. Special thanks to all who shared their responses!

If you want more updates on this podcast, please ...

What does it mean to be a "strong black woman" and how does this stereotype hinder mental wellness?

In this week's episode, Sarah explores the characteristics of the strong black woman stereotype and its effects on mental health, the historical origins of this archetype, how it shows up in various aspects of her life, and lessons that she's learned by dismantling the strong black woman persona.

If you want more updates on this po...