Understanding Teen Mental Health - Turning Winds Podcast Series
Many of us can relate to what it’s like to be teens trying to figure themselves out. In the final years toward adulthood we set the course for a lifetime. Its confusing for them and sometimes overwhelming for parents - but we believe in providing the resources to help to create positive change.
Episodes
What does real healing from trauma look like for a teen? In this episode of the Turning Winds podcast, you'll hear directly from an alumna who shares her personal journey from arriving guarded and disconnected to discovering trust, community, and a stronger sense of self.
She opens up about the challenges of treatment, the emotional growth she experienced, and how staff support, peer connection, and consistent therapeutic care ...
In this special episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, an alumnus returns to campus and sits down with host Kevin Zundl to reflect on the journey that changed his life. Years after completing the program, Aiden shares how the emotional support, academic structure, and peer connection he found at Turning Winds continue to guide his path forward.
Now studying psychology and helping others as a peer mentor, Aiden talks about t...
This is what it sounds like when a treatment provider steps up, not only for the families they serve, but for families across an entire state.
In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl speaks with John and Owen Baisden about their pivotal role in helping write and advocate for Montana Senate Bill 191 (SB191). This bipartisan legislation creates a new license for Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs) in Montana, e...
What happens when teens leave behind comfort, technology, and familiar surroundings—and instead step into a world of service, connection, and humility?
What happens when teens leave behind comfort, routine, and screen time to immerse themselves in a new culture focused on service, connection, and perspective?
In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl speaks with therapist Kimberly Sparks about...
Why do parents react so emotionally when teens make mistakes? How do we balance authority with empathy without robbing kids of their self-worth?
In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl talks with Carl Baisden about what really happens in the heat of parenting challenges. From late-night gaming arguments to school stress and emotional shutdowns, they explore how these moments often reveal deeper emoti...
What does it really mean to hold boundaries with compassion, and why do so many parent-teen power struggles miss the mark?
Parenting a teen comes with hard decisions, especially around discipline. Do we let kids face the natural consequences of their actions, or do we step in with structure to guide them? In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl is joined by Carl Baisden to explore how parents can str...
In this powerful episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl sits down with therapist Sean Carlin and addictions counselor Tara Steven to reflect on one of the program’s most impactful international trips: a week in Greece that pushed teens beyond their comfort zones and into real-world therapeutic growth.
This journey was much more than a cultural experience. Through service projects like preparing meals for th...
In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, clinical director Jared Sartell joins host Kevin Zundl to explore the surprising power of gratitude. Not just around Thanksgiving, but as a daily practice that improves mental health, supports better sleep, and builds emotional resilience.
Drawing from his work with teens in treatment, Jared explains why gratitude is often one of the first tools he introduces to students strugg...
What happens when military families finally find a treatment team that truly understands their journey?
In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl sits down with Turning Winds Founder John Baisden Jr. and Admissions Director Eric Loesch to discuss the unique struggles and incredible resilience of teens growing up in military families.
From frequent relocations and parental deployments to emotio...
What happens when teens who’ve put in the hard work at Turning Winds come back to lead others?
In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl sits down with Program Director Enid to talk about everything happening on and off campus. From Halloween festivities and impactful group therapy themes to the launch of a new alumni-led weekly support group, there’s a lot to explore.
You’ll also hear about t...
What happens when a military family finally finds the help their teen needs, right when it matters most?
In this heartfelt episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl speaks with a military couple who opens up about their son’s mental health journey, the warning signs they missed, and the emotional toll of trying to find effective care.
They share what ultimately led them to Turning Winds, how TRICARE c...
From Rebellion to Reflection: A Teen’s Journey Through Change
What does real personal growth look like in a teen’s life? In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl speaks with a recent Turning Winds alumnus about the transformation that happens when a young person commits to self-discovery, healing, and maturity.
Through honest reflection, they explore the emotional turning points, from initial...
In this powerful episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl is joined by Carl Baisden and Enoch Stump to explore a crucial back-to-school question: When is academic structure enough, and when does your teen need more?
They unpack why school environments may temporarily stabilize behavior but often fall short of addressing the emotional or mental health issues beneath the surface. You’ll hear real insights from ...
In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl sits down with educators Kathy Miller and Greg Hall to explore how individualized support empowers students, especially those with IEPs and 504 plans, to rediscover academic success. With small class sizes, tailored learning plans, and integrated therapeutic support, Turning Winds helps teens not only catch up but often surpass their previous academic benchmarks.
MUST LISTEN EPISODE
This is what it sounds like when real relationships don’t end at graduation.
In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl sits down with Carl Baisden and Enoch Stump to explore one of the most critical but often overlooked phases of a teen’s recovery journey: the transition home after treatment. Together, they unpack what truly happens when teens leave a structured environment and re-en...
This is what it looks like when collaboration fuels transformation.
In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl speaks with Danny Baccum about what it truly takes to help teens before, during, and after treatment. From coordinating care with school districts and outpatient therapists to understanding why longer stays often lead to better outcomes, Danny shares insights from both the road and the heart.
What Happens When a Teen Returns 13 Years Later?
In this heartfelt episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl sits down with Justin, an alumnus who returns to the campus that helped shape his life. From a struggling teen to a confident leader and tennis coach, Justin reflects on how Turning Winds created the foundation for growth, resilience, and lasting success.
He opens up about the challenges of rei...
In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl reconnects with Owen and Enoch to discuss their return to Belize with a new group of students. Building on the success of a previous trip, where students constructed and painted a new classroom for a preschool, the team is heading back to complete a covered play area, paint game-based murals, and reconnect with the children they served.
Learn how this service e...
This episode of the Turning Winds Podcast tells the heartfelt story of a military family’s struggle to find meaningful treatment for their son after traditional approaches and programs failed. From emotional outbursts and academic disruption to serious safety concerns, their journey led them to Turning Winds—a therapeutic program that offered a lifeline when things felt hopeless.
Listen as the parents share:
* The...
You can do incredible therapeutic work, but without sleep, structure, and nutrition, it won't stick.
In this episode of the Turning Winds Podcast, host Kevin Zundl sits down with Clinical Director Jared Sartell, LCSW, to explore why the basics like sleep, meal routines, and daily structure form the foundation for emotional stability and long-term success in treatment and beyond.
Learn how Turning Winds helps ...
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