Making Contact
Making Contact
Frequencies of Change Media
Self Care as Selfless Act: Mental Health at the Root of Activism (encore)
29 minutes Posted May 13, 2026 at 8:00 am.
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Show notes

Activists in the Latinx immigrant community of Los Angeles share what they do to take care of their mental health. The issues these activists work on often impact their personal lives, and people who work in the service of others are particularly at risk of burnout and compassion fatigue. Self-care becomes a "selfless act" when it allows activists to stay healthy and do their work in a sustainable way. This show first aired in August 2020.

Featuring:

**Paulina Velasco's** reporting on Self Care as Selfless Act: Mental Health at the Root of Activism was undertaken as a USC Center for Health Journalism 2020 California Fellow. 

Credits:

  • Writer, Producer, Host: Paulina Velasco
  • Editor: Monica Lopez
  • Voice Over Actor: Mariana Carstens
  • Executive Director: Jina Chung
  • Engineer: Jeff Emtman
  • Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain
  • Transcription Volunteer: Mickey Ellinger
  • Special thanks to USC Senior Fellow, Catherine Stifter.

Music

  • " Elmore Heights", Blue Dot Sessions – 2018 – Skittle
  • " Kid Kodi", Blue Dot Sessions – 2018 – Skittle
  • " The Yards", Blue Dot Sessions – 2018 – Skittle
  • " Copley Beat", Blue Dot Sessions – 2018 – Skittle
  • " Greylock", Blue Dot Sessions – 2018 – Skittle
  • " Boston Landing", Blue Dot Sessions – 2018 – Skittle
  • " Pedalrider", Blue Dot Sessions – 2018 – Skittle

Learn More:

Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.