Jennifer from the Block: Recent Episodes
Jennifer Williams
Vulnerable discussions about mental health hosted by a former journalist who knows exactly what it's like to need an ally. Become a patreon to support: https://www.patreon.com/jenniferfromtheblockpodcast
On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I spoke with Holly. We have known one another for close to a decade, but as a private person I was thrilled she felt comfortable enough to come on and share her story.
Holly talks about her journey with anxiety, and how she had to uproot her new life in New York due to to the pandemic.
During that time mom was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and Holly opted to stay home in order to be there to support her. Prior to her seeking help for her anxiety Holly will talk about her leaning on other outlets to cope.
Listen & Enjoy: Healthy on the Inside
On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I talk about my struggles with infertility. This is an extremely personal episode and I just ask you to listen and be respectful.
Listen & Enjoy: Infertile AF
On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I spoke with Katia. In high school Katia was diagnosed with an eating disorder.
Katia talks about what led her to this diagnoses and the importance of talking about mental health. We talk about the stigma and censorship around this topic and her process of healing and recovery.
Listen & Enjoy: More Than Just a Stigma
On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I kicked off season 2 by talking to my damn self. I am so excited for this upcoming season/chapter and all of the healing it has to offer each and every guest that has asked or agreed to come on and share their story.
Listen & Enjoy: Breaking News
On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I spoke with Nicole. Nicole is here to talk about a positive side of social media that she found through grief.
Nicole talks about a recent loss in her life and how she used social media to show her grief and heal from her loss. Social media allowed her to find a positive community of people who have shown her support and love in a dark time in her life.
Listen & Enjoy: Social Media & Grief: Nicole
On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I spoke with Tanner. Tanner is the second guest on the Mental Health & Social Media series.
Tanner talks about taking a much needed break from social media following a dip in his mental health. He talks about why this break was necessary and why he ultimately decided to delete all social media from his life.
Listen & Enjoy: Mental Health & Social Media: Tanner
On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I spoke with Shelby. Shelby is the first victim of the Mental Health & Social Media series.
Shelby talks about how easy it is to compare where you are at in life with what others are posting online. She also talks about the struggles of working in healthcare during a pandemic and seeing the daily posts from others regarding differing views and opinions.
Listen & Enjoy: Mental Health & Social Media: Shelby
On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I spoke with the one and only Cindy Bandow.
This is the third time Bandow has been a guest on this podcast. However, this episode was not intentional. I reached out to Bandow asking her to send me audio for a whole other episode idea and instead she sent me a 'mental health check-in'. After listening to the audio clip I immediately knew she needed her own space to share her thoughts and feelings.
Listen & Enjoy: Mental Health Check-In
On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I spoke with myself.... again.
I am here to talk about how anything and everything you are feeling or going through is valid. I am so quick to validate the feelings of others but do not give myself that same care when it comes to my own feelings. So, I decided to talk about it.
Listen & Enjoy: Your Feelings are Valid
On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I spoke with Whitney Avey. Whitney is a mother, wife, veteran and my cousin.
Whitney served 4 1/2 year in the United States Air Force and asked to come onto the podcast to talk about the stigma around mental health in the military. Whitney shares some stories about people she served with and also overcoming her own fears about seeking help when she was constantly told not to.
Listen & Enjoy: No Job is Ever Worth Your Life
On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I spoke with Addie Stewart. Addie is middle school Language Arts Teacher.
Addie reached out a couple of months ago wanting to come onto the podcast to talk about the importance of going to therapy, and breaking down the stigma around seeking help for mental health. She will not only talk about why therapy has been important to her but also some of her own struggles throughout her mental health journey.
Listen & Enjoy: Let's Talk Therapy
https://www.psychologytoday.com/
On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I spoke with Shelby Blondeaux. Shelby is a Certified Nursing Assistant at a local hospital, and current nursing student.
Shelby talks about some of the difficulties of being a healthcare professional during a pandemic, and how she struggled to find time to take care of herself. In addition to the pandemic this past year, she also lost one of the closest people in her life.
Listen & Enjoy: Self Care is Lost in Healthcare
On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I spoke with myself....
I am here to talk about where I have been the past month and why I needed a break.
Listen & Enjoy: Mental Health Break
On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I spoke with Cole Newman. Cole shares his story from when he was placed on a mandatory psychiatric hold at a local mental health facility.
He also sheds light on some of the holes and failures within the system. Going to a mental hospital is nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed by and Cole hopes that in sharing his story it will empower others to seek help.
There is a certain stigma attached to being a patient in a mental hospital and Cole hopes to break that.
On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I spoke with Kaitlyn Carrier. Kaitlyn talks about navigating the world of dating after getting out of a long term relationship.
We talk about the ups and downs of dating apps and how important finding yourself is before finding someone else.
Back by popular demand. On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I brought back Cindy Bandow.
Bandow breaks down the foundation for her mantra “Be a Good Human”. We both express some of our opinions on current events and Bandow opens up about her frustrations trying to teach people how to be good citizens in our current reality.
All views and opinions expressed are that of my own and the guests I have on this podcast.
On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I spoke with Tanner. He is a 26-year-old who for over a decade has followed a 'straight edge' lifestyle.
Tanner will talk to us about the misconceptions revolving around the lifestyle and help us understand what it means to be Straight Edge.
While straight edge holds different meanings to many different people, a lifetime commitment to abstaining from drugs, tobacco, and alcohol remains the cornerstone of the life Tanner has chosen.
On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I spoke with Dylan. He is a 17-year-old from Oregon who is currently attending the School of American Ballet in New York City.
On this episode Dylan talks about being a male in a sport that is traditionally defined as being more feminine. He will talk about the struggles he has faced as a young young man who has chosen to dance ballet.
On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I spoke with Monique. She is the administrative assistant for a local winery, and former journalist. Monique has a form of OCD known as harm OCD.
- Fear of thoughts that you will cause harm to others (either accidentally or purposely)
- Excessive worry and mental analysis about these thoughts
- Compulsive behaviors to avoid the risk of causing harm to others
In this episode Monique gets personal about those thoughts that pushed her to not only get a diagnosis, but become an advocate for those that also suffer from forms of OCD and anxiety.
For those that need help and resources that helped Monique: NPR Invisibilia podcast called “Dark Thoughts”: https://www.npr.org/2015/01/09/375928124/dark-thoughts
Jeffrey Schwartz’s book called “Brain Lock.”
On this episode of Jennifer from the Block I spoke with Cindy Bandow, but for those of us from Junction City, she's known as Bandow. Bandow opens up about her mental health struggles as a teacher over the past year while adjusting to the new ways of teaching, and also coping with the fear of the virus.
On the first episode of Jennifer from the Block I spoke with Jessica about the struggles of mental health and self image as both growing up in the church and being a mother of three.
So many of us deal with mental health struggles in our every day lives. Yet so few of us feel comfortable or even safe talking about it.
Host Jennifer Williams hopes to change this.