Scoot

Today we sit down with Jackson Polatnick, a traveler, business school student, and dedicated member of The Scooty Fund, which he joined in honor of his late friend, Will. Jackson opens up about his journey with mental health, the misconceptions around masculinity, and how true strength lies in vulnerability and self-awareness.

He shares practical tips for initiating meaningful conversations, embracing routines like journaling and ex...

In this episode, Claire and Howard sit down with Sarah Pribis, an actress, host, and content creator, to discuss her journey through sobriety and self-discovery. Sarah reflects on her 20s in New York City, navigating college and the hospitality industry, where drugs and alcohol were ever-present. She opens up about using substances to quiet her overthinking mind and the low moments that pushed her to seek help—like being sent home ...

In today’s episode, Claire and Howard dive into strategies for resetting your nervous system and finding calm after moments of high adrenaline, such as unexpected emergencies. They explore techniques like ice plunges, dopamine detoxing, and the importance of doing something uncomfortable every day—like staying off your phone while waiting in line.

The conversation touches on setting boundaries with screen time and social media, alte...

Episode 5 dives into the power of resilience, grit, and emotional vulnerability with guest Cason Crane, an entrepreneur, adventurer, and activist with a remarkable journey. Cason opens up about his personal mental health struggles, despite a life filled with privilege and achievements – such as being the first openly LGBT person to climb the Seven Summits, and founding an award-winning coffee business, Explorer Cold Brew.  

Join us for an empowering episode with Gabriella Amaya, a 27-year-old Latina disabled woman from Long Island, New York. Gabriella shares her journey of living with Ollier’s disease, a rare bone disorder that caused malformed growth in her right leg and required multiple surgeries during childhood. Her experiences of navigating a non-typical childhood, physical pain, and later ovarian cancer have shaped her into a passionate advocat...

Episode 3 dives deep with a fresh perspective on healing and self-care! Claire Calfo and Howard Cooke are joined by trauma therapist Devin Brooks, an experienced specialist in the field of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), working with people and communities across diverse contexts. They bring a multifaceted lens to understanding mental health, especially for those in high-stress situations and marginalized communitie...

In this episode, Claire and Howard catch up and discuss how they manage burnout while balancing a busy week of work and school. They cover the basics—getting enough sleep, eating balanced meals, exercising, and practicing meditation. Claire leads a brief gratitude-centered meditation to help them recenter.

Today they interview Katie Potratz, a clinical hypnotherapist and author, who shares her unexpected journey into hypnotherapy, s...

Season 4 of the pod brings exciting news! Claire Calfo has been hosting guests solo and led meaningful conversations for Scoot for the past two seasons. But this season she is joined by a new co-host, Howard Cooke, a previous president and vice president of The Scooty Fund! 

Howard brings his passion to uncover various mental health tools, while Claire shares her journey of pursuing a career as a therapist and meditation i...

Jordan Grainger is a young professional on a sober curious journey. On today’s episode, Jordan will share how her relationship with alcohol has evolved in her post-college years. Her journey started as a 30-day challenge to quit drinking, and led to so much more.

As Jordan experimented with various levels of drinking (or not drinking), she paid attention to the changes in her body and mindset. After cutting out alcohol, her anx...

Today we welcome Craig French to the pod. Craig is a performance and mindset coach from Long Island, NY. His clients range from individuals, couples, corporate businesses and sports teams. Craig knew from a young age that he was drawn to spirituality. He was interested in what goes on beneath the surface, and understood that people were chasing more than money, fame, and success. Through his own self-exploration and commitment to a...

***Content warning: mention of suicide and body dysmorphia.

Today we welcome Clayton Echard to the pod. Clayton is a physical and mental health advocate, former NFL player, and season 26’s Bachelor. Clayton shares his journey with body dysmorphia, which started in 7th grade. He struggled with feelings of inadequacy, body insecurity, and felt like he was in constant competition with his younger brother. Often, Clayton projected his o...

***Content warning: mention of suicidal ideation and disordered eating.

Today we welcome Christie O. Tate to the pod. Christie is a writer and essayist based out of Chicago, and she has two books on group therapy and friendship. Christie was raised in a home where she wasn’t encouraged to openly share her emotions. She felt compelled to keep secrets and joined group therapy as an affordable alternative to seeing a therapist. At firs...

Today’s episode features Logan Cohen, a marriage and family therapist, trauma professional and author. At the core of Logan’s work, he is dedicated to helping individuals heal from unresolved trauma and work through painful transitions. In today's episode, Logan will define trauma and trauma bonding, while also describing the signs of a survival response. He shares the importance of reality training, which helps individuals re...

Today we welcome Dom Leventini and Kevin Mertz.  These two friends went to high school together, but that isn’t their only common thread.  Both Dom and Kevin underwent life threatening medical conditions. Kevin was diagnosed with Diffuse large B cell lymphoma in August of 2021 and began chemotherapy weeks later. Dom was hit by a cement truck in January of 2022 while biking and woke up 6 weeks later. While the cause of their trauma ...

Today we welcome Dr. Cortney Warren to the pod. Dr. Warren is a Clinical Psychologist and Adjunct Professor with an expertise in addictions and eating pathology. She offers deep insights into the psychology of self-deception, unraveling the ways in which we can hide uncomfortable truths from ourselves. Along with this insight, we will learn small steps towards practicing self-honesty and taking daily inventory of our emotions. We d...

Today we welcome Chrissy King to the pod. Chrissy is a writer and speaker who educates on lack of representation and racism in the fitness space. We will discuss diet culture, fitness trends, and how each of us can individually impact inclusivity at the gym.

Chrissy’s fitness journey began with the idea that she needed to “shrink” herself. Not just her body, but also her voice. Considering the unrealistic beauty standards that were ...

Today we welcome Kalina Silverman to the pod. Kalina is the creator of Big Talk, and her mission is to skip the small talk and start having more meaningful, genuine conversations. These conversations can be with yourself, people close to you or complete strangers. The point of big talk is to reconnect with yourself and others using universal questions everyone can relate to. You don’t need to have an education or specific skillset ...

*** Trigger Warning: Mention of suicide.

Today on the podcast we welcome Jeff Kober, who has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. Jeff is an actor, photographer, writer and meditation teacher.

At the age of 15, Jeff was involved in a fatal car accident where he lost a dear friend. Feeling like an outcast in his rural small town, he spent the next several years wandering, working various jobs from farming...

Today we welcome Jinnie Lee Schmid to the pod! Jinnie is an Advanced Certified Grief Recovery Method Specialist who helps others recognize and release their grief. Today, she will help us define grief, debunk a few myths, and assure us that grieving looks different for everyone.

Jinnie’s path to this career started with a chaotic childhood and the loss of her grandmother as an adult. Over time, her grief became heavier, each la...