Feeling stuck in your career or life? You're not alone. This week on A Mental Health Break, we welcome award-winning coach and bestselling author Helen Hanison to guide us through the process of purposeful career redesign.

Helen’s new book, Unstuck, quickly became an Amazon bestseller, offering a roadmap to overcoming obstacles and creating a fulfilling, values-aligned career. Featured in Forbes, Thrive Global, and The London Economic, she specializes in helping mid-career and C-suite professionals realign their work with their true purpose.

In this episode, we discuss:
✨ How to purposefully redesign your career and break free from stagnation
✨ The hidden power of perseverance and why it’s rarely talked about
✨ Using nostalgia and personal narratives to shape your next chapter

If you're ready to make a meaningful shift, this episode is for you. Tune in for expert insights and practical steps toward a career and life you love.

Support the show

Have a question for the host or guest? Want their freebee? Are you looking to become a guest or show partner? Email Danica at PodcastsByLanci@gmail.com.

This show is brought to you by the Empathy Set and Coming Alive Podcast Production.

CRISIS LINE: DIAL 988

Has Medicine Lost Its Mind? A Conversation with Dr. Robert C. Smith 🏥🧠

In this episode of A Mental Health Break, we sit down with Dr. Robert C. Smith, a nationally recognized leader in evidence-based mental health care and patient-centered medicine. As a University Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at Michigan State University, Dr. Smith has transformed the way doctors communicate with patients, pioneering a method that strengthens doctor-patient partnerships.

With over 150 published papers and numerous awards, including Master recognition from the American College of Physicians, Dr. Smith is on a mission to reform mental health care. He sheds light on:

🔍 Why mental health issues go misdiagnosed or untreated—and the cost to society
🩺 How medical professionals can integrate mental health into standard care
💡 The hidden consequences of separating mental and physical health
🧘 Why mindfulness and exercise should be part of medical treatment
⚡ Practical steps to fix our broken approach to mental health care

Mental health affects 1 in 4 Americans each year—yet nearly 75% go untreated. Dr. Smith isn't just diagnosing the problem—he’s offering real solutions.

🎧 Tune in now—available on all major podcast platforms!

Support the show

Have a question for the host or guest? Want their freebee? Are you looking to become a guest or show partner? Email Danica at PodcastsByLanci@gmail.com.

This show is brought to you by the Empathy Set and Coming Alive Podcast Production.

CRISIS LINE: DIAL 988

My life has been quite an adventure—spending 8 years in Namibia doing human rights work during the UN-led Resolution 435 peace process; being detained by guerrillas in the south of Angola during a river trip on the Kavango River; working with and representing San living in the Kalahari Desert. These experiences, and others, have deeply shaped my approach to life.

I’m John Ford, originally from South Africa where I studied law at the University of Cape Town. I began my career practicing law in Namibia before moving to the USA, where I transitioned into conflict resolution and workplace mediation, building a successful practice over the past 30 years.

In my work, I’ve discovered that effective conflict resolution hinges on two key conversations: addressing feelings to acknowledge and heal past pain and identifying needs to foster a collaborative future. This insight has inspired the suite of tools I’ve developed, including The Empathy Set of feelings and needs flashcards, a comprehensive dictionary, a versatile app, and talking sticks—all designed to simplify and enhance interpersonal communication.

• The Empathy Set, in particular, has transformed my work as a mediator and coach. It aids clients in safely naming and prioritizing their feelings and needs without escalating conflicts.

🔔 Subscribe for more mental health conversations, tips, and insights

Support the show

Have a question for the host or guest? Want their freebee? Are you looking to become a guest or show partner? Email Danica at PodcastsByLanci@gmail.com.

This show is brought to you by the Empathy Set and Coming Alive Podcast Production.

CRISIS LINE: DIAL 988