On this week's episode, join host Susan as she talks with guest Kayleen Schepper about her journey with religious deconstruction and how this influenced various aspects of her life.    Kayleen is a fellow LCSW and completed her MSW at Wayne State University (Detroit). She loves to travel and has done solo traveling in Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia. For fun she enjoys podcasts, reading, standup comedy, and hiking. Her Instagram feed is mostly drag queens, cats, and progressive politics.   CW: religious and spiritual trauma, evangelizing, discussions about various religious practices and beliefs   Resources: The Liturgists - Spiritual Trauma https://theliturgists.com/the-podcast

Join host Susan on this week's episode as she sits down with colleague and friend, Amanda Jones Stanforth. The two talk about Amanda's transition from teacher to therapist and how she came to shift her understanding of what it means to fail and succeed.    Amanda is a psychotherapist, specifically a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and holds a graduate degree in social work. She is intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and uses this often in her work. She is also a fellow member of the DPC. Amanda enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, her dad and her friends. She also enjoys practicing hand-lettering and maintaining an unhealthy obsession with Bravo and binge-worthy tv.   CW: death and dying, depression, passive suicidal thoughts, failure, cancer, illness, hospice   Links: Psychology Today Therapy For Black Girls Therapy Den Transitions Lifecare Raleigh

Join host Susan on this week’s episode as she talks with friend and colleague, James Voltz. The two cover James’ involvement in a local nonprofit, surviving childhood cancer, and experiencing a traumatic health event that has reshaped his view on life.  James Voltz is a Husband, Raleigh Wine Shop proprietor, and President of SAFEchild Board of Directors; Credentials. He has a PhD from Duke in Cellular & Molecular Biology; Accomplishments - couple of dozen scientific publications, successful small business owner; Passions - Music, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, travel; Hobbies - Reading, exercise, horology (Hey Josh!). Fun fact, James traveled extensively in college & shortly thereafter playing competitive...air hockey. Regarding free time, James says, “Time is the least free thing in the world...we're all here for a short time, and I've never not been in a hurry.”   CW: childhood cancer, illness, surgery, child abuse, neglect    Links:  SAFEchild The Raleigh Wine Shop

On this week's episode, join host Susan and her colleague, Kristie, as Susan hold's space for Kristie to share her coming out story.  Kristie Ashton is a psychiatric Physician's Assistant. She completed PA school at age 47 as the oldest member of her class. She enjoys endurance sports and frequently participates in marathons and long-distance triathlons. You'll almost always find Kristie outdoors even in inclement weather. She recently went snowboarding in Montana where the temperature was 19 below zero. She also broke both bones in her arm because she isn't as skilled at boarding as she thought she was.   CW: LGBTQ+ content, personal story of self-identity and coming out as LGBTQ+

We’re back!  Join host Susan for the start of season 7 of I’ve Been Better as she sits down with friend and sibling of a previous guest, Hannah Sherlock. The two discuss how Hannah’s childhood and adolescence shaped her career path and how to care for yourself when feeling alone. Hannah Sherlock is from Asheville, NC but currently resides in Nashville, TN. Her biggest passions are caring for others, music, and art. Her goal is to become a professional nanny and spend time helping parents raise their children. Fun fact, Hannah’s birthday is 9/9/99 and she was born at 10:10 pm. website: https://nannyhan.wixsite.com/my-site-1 Instagram: @sherlockhs  CW: disordered eating, addiction, recovery, therapeutic intervention  Links:  https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

We’re back!! After taking the summer off to move and get the new podloft set up, host Susan and sound engineer and tech guru, Josh, are preparing to bring you season 7 of I’ve Been Better.  Get ready for another season of real stories from real people 💚🧡

On episode 36, join host Susan as she talks with friend, Danny Gallager about sacrificing for your relationship, Autism, and what it means to be subtle as a brick.    Danny Gallager is a SEO specialist who works remotely for Transcat Calibration. He currently based out of Edmond, Oklahoma, but will be moving to Gainesville, Florida, at the end of May 2022. He is also getting married in June 2022 to the beautiful Elizabeth Moyer.  In no particular order, Danny's passions are ultimate frisbee, lifting, rock climbing, anime, his future wifey, and his animals.    Instagram: @dannygallagher901   CW: Autism, relationship discord, couples therapy, generational family dynamics

On Episode 35, join host Susan as she catches up with her friend, co-worker, and roommate from college, Kate Fox. Kate shares about her time in the Peace Corps, learning to ditch diet culture, and her fight for self-acceptance and discovery.    Kate Fox works as an U.S. EPA Outreach and Engagement Strategist, is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Tanzania 2017-19), a badass Pole Fitness Instructor and Competitor, and a travel Seeker. She resides with her partner in North Carolina and has pet chickens she cares for. To learn more about Kate's time in the Peace Corps, check out her blog here: https://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Kewatki2/   Instagram: @kedub23 for pole dancing, Goma Women's Group Crafting initiation, and videos of home renovations and chickens!   CW: dieting, diet culture, disordered eating habits, trauma, self-discovery, isolation

On Episode 34 of I've Been Better, join host Susan as she talks with her colleague, Kristin, on her journey to becoming a therapist, grief, and recognizing all of your parts, even the ones you may not be ready to acknowledge.    Kristin Brandon is a LCSW, LCAC, and overall BADASS. Kristin raised 3 exceptional children and then went back to school at age 39 for her Master of Social degree. She is passionate about wellness, riding her bike, connecting, learning and travel. Kristin has ridden her biker along the Danube visiting 6 different countries. Her hobbies include cycling, reading, gardening and hanging with my husband and the amazing Ms. Maisy (dog). A fun fact about Kristin, is that she was in line for a job as an FBI agent but realized she could NOT live with the dress code.   CW: death, grief, mental health, AIDS, divorce, alcoholism

On Episode 33, join host Susan and her yogi inspiration and friend, Logan Wheless, as they talk about not only finding your Zen, but also finding yourself.    Logan works in marketing for the Carolina Hurricanes and is the owner/founder of Zenmeowt Yoga, a local yoga practice. Logan is highly passionate about bringing yoga to all and hope that yoga can help more people with their journey in finding themselves and better/happier mental health. She loves her kitties, Mila and Roo, and her in free time, she likes to find fun new things to do around the area, hang with friends, and spend time outside during nice weather.     Instagram: @zenmeowt Personal: @logsmarie   CW: mental health, anxiety, depression, COVID