SPEAKER_00 0:00

When most people discuss community, they'll talk about jobs, schools, parks, housing. Today, my guest is going to be adding an important component to that list: mental health. Today, I am joined by Liz Stern, who is a licensed clinical social worker who serves communities both rurally and inner city across Indiana and Ohio. We will be discussing all things mental health as they pertain to helping a community thrive. This is We Plural Podcast. Hi guys, welcome back to We Plural Podcast, where we are talking about community on purpose. And when we've been talking about the health of communities, many of us think of jobs, schools, economic growth. As I promised, that we weren't going to just check the box. But today we're going to talk about the importance of mental health in regards to helping communities thrive. And my guest today comes with 17 years of experience as a clinical social worker. And two years ago, she took a huge leap of faith to start her own consulting practice called Guided Vision. And Liz guides school-based mental health in rural communities, in her city communities. And just because I know so many incredible people, I need to tell you, she was social worker of the year in 2020. And what a year that was, right? And so what a distinct honor it is for me to have Liz Stern with us today. And I don't want to waste any more time. I want her to tell you about more about what she does and the fabulous Liz that she is. So, Liz, welcome to the show. Thank you for coming down from Indianapolis to join me today. I so appreciate it.

SPEAKER_01 2:02

Yes, of course. Thank you so much. Again, it's been a pleasure getting to know you just in different realms. And so this opportunity to talk to you and just, you know, follow you in general is so exciting. So again, thank you. Definitely an honor. Um, as I kind of share just a little bit and back up, I want to just share. I've, you know, spent really the majority of my time over the last 17 years or so in community mental health. Um, I started with my master's in social work as a school-based therapist and found my passion and love for youth in the school setting. And I really loved being in that role where I was able to be someone who was bridging a gap between home and school. Um, I then had the opportunity to kind of grow and prosper doing more macro level work and leadership after a few years in the specific role of therapy. And I just found my calling. I love macro level leadership opportunities. I love um just what does that mean?

SPEAKER_00 2:59

Explain from your perspective, what does macro leadership mean for our viewers?

SPEAKER_01 3:05

Yeah. For me, to me, I feel, and I think macro just being a little bit more broad and kind of providing oversight, you know, kind of top work, not necessarily top-down as in hierarchy, but really a holistic approach to doing leadership versus being kind of siloed in one specific sector. So macro kind of taking on all entities is how I see it. So the whole person, the whole person approach. The whole approach, yes, absolutely. Whole entire communities, you know, whole programs. And I I love having that opportunity to again kind of look at, you know, specific um areas of concern or just different issues that might come up and be part of that and in solving problems. So once I really realized, okay, this is where I feel like I'm falling into place, um, I shifted from that clinical side of social work and really into leadership and um program development. And that is what I've spent the last 10 or so years doing. Um, and I and I love that opportunity to just be able to really network, build connections, and get to know people within the communities that I'm working in and serving, but also just, you know, other areas in communities that need additional support and um just someone to kind of bring questions to the table.

SPEAKER_00 4:20

When I read that in your description, and because I can personally attest to this, when you said in this consulting role that you really are a connector, I thought, oh my gosh, that is the perfect way to describe how I know you because you connect conversations, you connect people whose goals align with one another or complement one another. I have such confidence knowing there are people like you in our schools helping to fill the gap for kiddos between school and home. You and I both know how much that's needed in our communities. And uh, oh my gosh, but that whole connection piece is you. I mean, that is who I know you to be. And I may not have had the words for it, but when I read that, I thought, yes, that's Liz. She's my connector. So yeah, that was really fun.

SPEAKER_01 5:10

Yeah. That's super nice. I actually recently, um within the last year, took a personality assessment. Connection, uh, storytelling, and mobile were the top three. And I never heard of mobile, and I think it very much resonates with me. Just always on the go, loves to like bop around and not necessarily stay in one area. And I think for me, that's because I see so much opportunity. I love being on the go. I'm a fast-paced person. But at the end of the day, I think, again, that word from the assessment side of it is really being able to see things again, holistically, bigger picture, but also wanting to really bring people together from the connection piece. But there is so much work to do that we don't need to stay in our own individual silos either. So for me, I just I find those three words just to be I'm endearing, I would say, but also just kind of it really is.

SPEAKER_00 5:59

Well, you all could also can be a mobilizer of ideas and programs, which you are. And that was one of the other things, is that you know, you stay with uh a mobilization of two people until that becomes a program where it can then be implemented to serve our families, students, communities. And I've also witnessed that, you all, that she does that. So um it's just really fun uh to have you come on and share some of this today. And you know, we plural is about inspiring communities to look at themselves to say, how can we thrive? How can we get healthy? You and I met through The Addicts Wake, my documentary series, y'all, it's available. Just go to the AddictsWake.com. Uh, we met through understanding that that was a tool for communities. And um we've had many sidebar discussions as what happens to a community when they don't have access to mental health care and they don't feel safe in seeking it. And so many of our people in recovery experience this. Could you speak to that? Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 7:10

I think when we oftentimes think of just mental health or access to mental health, we kind of need to unpack that because mental health really is community health and it really should be the foundation, the structure of how we all function. If you don't have access to food or housing or hygiene products, even if you don't have access to any sort of transportation, you're not going to get the resources that you need to be able to function and thrive. And when we think of, you know, youth that are at risk and families who do not have those resources, you continuously are going through a lot of adversity and you have even more, you know, stressors that are happening within the school day. If you are an older adult that doesn't have access to their own mental health care, whether that is because of, you know, insurance or lack thereof, and there is no funding source, um, don't have a job because you can't afford to send your child to child, you know, daycare, or you don't have transportation. All these specific barriers are impacting mental health. And so when we think of it from a preventative lens, access to those specific things are going to really allow us to um mitigate crisis. It's going to be more prevention focused because we all should have those types of, you know, we should all have access. Um, and at the end of the day, when you think about just the community sense, is we need to make sure that resources are available, but also we need to be able to provide the education and make sure that people even know where to start from the beginning.

SPEAKER_00 8:43

There's so much there that you just said that is so profound. But one of the things is do you believe communities have resources and people just don't know how to access them if they are under all those stressors and they have the barriers of transportation, um, court fees, probation dates, whatever it is. There's, you know, a hundred reasons why. Uh, or do we need to really continue to encourage communities to develop resources? And maybe it's A, B, and C, all of the above. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:20

I think I would go with all of the above, but I I say that because I think that some are just not aware of what the supports and the resources could be. And that might be because they truly are isolated and they do not have anyone who is a positive support in their life that can link them to those community resources. But we also have several areas, I mean, just within our state of Indiana, that really do not have resources in those specific locations, or it is incredibly difficult to get to them. Or, you know, maybe it's the time of day that they're open. You know, if you can only go between 10 and 2 p.m. to go pick up, you know, food from a pantry, you really could go without, right?

SPEAKER_00 10:00

And you don't get off work until five. Five or six. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:02

Um, so I do. I think it's all of the above. Um, and I think we could all do better for sure.

SPEAKER_00 10:08

So you know how much that I dealt with stigma uh in the film regarding addiction and substance use disorder. Um, I still think, you know, we deal with stigma in so many areas and counseling, for instance, you know, to pursue those things that will help somebody's mental health. How do we tackle and continue to tackle stigma? And in, and maybe that's what you do in the work you do, but I still feel like that holds so many people back from getting resources or getting the help they need in whatever area it is.

SPEAKER_01 10:47

Yeah, I I oftentimes just think of like, how do we truly eradicate stigma? Is it even possible? Is it really even possible? But when you really kind of scale back and think about what is something that we could do better that would decrease stigma, I think it's just making sure that people understand their their worth, that there are opportunities to belong, there is connection, there is support, there are resources. And I think that if if you feel like you have someone in your corner and they can help you, maybe it's just sit with you to make a call because you're just too afraid to do so, or you're so isolated that you really don't know how to interact and ask for that help. You know, how do we really think about getting the help? Well, it's having someone to help you get there. Well, if you get the help and support that you need, I don't know that we would be less likely to talk about mental health support. And again, I just in my mind I think about would stigma dissolve, not necessarily go away forever. People are always gonna have their own bias and that. Sure. But I think just having additional conversations and open communication and asking questions.

SPEAKER_00 11:53

I feel like as a society, we're talking about mental health more than we ever have. Sure. Yeah. Like if my mom and dad were still alive and I would sit them, you know, sit in a room with them and say, How many times did you guys ever sit around with your families and discuss mental health? It would have been zero. You know, because it just wasn't talked about in a certain generation. So that is changing, but are we getting better? Even though we're talking about it more. I just I wonder, are we getting better? And and that may go back to that lack of resources and talk's not gonna solve anything. Right, exactly. It does bring awareness and it might help to reduce somebody's shame if they feel like they need help. But gosh, I just don't know how much more we can talk about it without saying, okay, and we're getting better. Right. What am I?

SPEAKER_01 12:46

I no, I agree with you 100% wholeheartedly. And I think that that is very difficult. It's a fine line because I think the more that we have conversations, we open up the door for further educational opportunities and such. But at the same time, what is that truly doing? And I know we're not all here to have all the answers. No, but I do think that sometimes we're missing the mark by not necessarily engaging the entire community. We need to be asking questions to those who live in the community, not people just coming and think they have the answers to solve all the problems. Agreed. And I think how do we allow those who live in the community to better understand what resources or connections or what they could potentially have without hearing from them as to what their needs are? What are what is their understanding of resources? You know, do they have a positive support? Um, and and again, just I think being more intentional in our communities um and being okay with conversation, not necessarily just talking to talk to talk to talk. That makes sense. Because I do think we all go in circles.

SPEAKER_00 13:44

Well, I know when Center Stone opened uh a significant office here, oh my gosh, that was so necessary and needed. And I know they've made a huge uh just grown. Yeah. And they've they've moved the needle forward. Now, do we have work to do? Absolutely. We absolutely do. And I think to your point earlier, we always will. But that was huge for this community and because we did not have any resources for folks who just did not know where to turn and who were struggling. And they have put uh folks in the schools. And so it's not just center stone in the building, they're now, you know, in the schools with the kids who may need to reach out in that regard. So I do love that. I don't like giving the pandemic any more credit than it deserves because it deserves none. But have you, because you know, you've got 17 years now, or probably 19 with the two as a consultancy, but did you see a lot of uh change after the pandemic? I mean, what did that do to our kids in schools? I think I know the answer from my sister's work, but I'd love to hear your perspective.

SPEAKER_01 14:56

Yeah, I think that with kids in schools, I mean, it just really caused so much anxiety. There's so many students who really have not been able to fully uh recoup and recover and come back into the general education classroom. Several continue to do online classes. And I think the biggest concern about that is I truly believe that there are specific learning environments for every, you know, child that is appropriate. But at times you have to kind of wonder is that isolation benefiting them? Because now we have an anxious child who is home doing online classes because you we were forced to be home, um, who have not been able to really acclimate. So now that they, you know, maybe they're in middle school, they're graduated now. And so what does that look like for them as a young adult? Are are they able to be out and advocate for themselves, ask questions, go, you know, to an interview and feel like they can, you know, fully engage in that conversation. So um it's not only the anxiety, but I do think that the isolation was such a key component and concern for so many things, lack of food security and oversight for kids. And and to be honest, not even with the pandemic, but just in general, the increase in you know, ACEs and just traumatic events that have happened to youth is so much earlier. We have preschoolers coming in who just don't know how to regulate. And based on whatever their current home life situation is or environment or just lack of resources in there in that home. Um, and we have so many caregivers or sorry, grandparents as caregivers now, raising kids. So it's just you have such a huge need at a young age where we didn't really have that 10 to 15 years ago. So it's not only the pandemic, it's just I think our society and what's happening in general.

SPEAKER_00 16:40

And and what's happening to our communities as they engage in so many of these social issues. Right.

SPEAKER_02 16:45

Right.

SPEAKER_00 16:46

What I we've kind of talked about the things that are problematic for communities, but as you're out there, what gives you hope? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:53

What are the things that bring hope? I appreciate that question. Um, I think for me, and I really couldn't tell you when I came to this revolution or when this evolved, but I think at some point in my career I have realized how much I appreciate being able to join a table, like and join people in messy conversations. Maybe it is just really trying to uh problem solve or or just strategize opportunity. And for me, I feel like I have hope when there is an opportunity for us to be kind humans and come to the table and not pretend that we have every single answer, but utilize the support from each other and you know, really benefit from expertise in the room, benefit from different experiences and lived experiences and just understanding whether that's educational or, you know, just um different lenses. Different lenses, absolutely. Thank you. Um, and so for me, there's hope when there's conversation, there is a sense of connection, and again, just people really being open to problem solving together, not necessarily just leaving, you know, it up for one person to handle, you know, big matters or for one person to really be more of um kind of the person in power, um, I guess I could say. So I see hope in our community when we're having difficult conversations, but people are also just bringing in their expertise, their their different lens and their experience.

SPEAKER_00 18:24

One of the things that, you know, I learned over the five years with the film was how siloed, and you've used this term a couple of times, but how siloed the recovery world was around 2019, 2020. And then, you know, the pandemic didn't help that. But one of the goals and hopes that I had for that original film was that it would be kind of a, if you will, a clarion call to say, we got to come to the table together. What you're saying. And we have seen an addition of a lot of coalitions where different members of the community, law enforcement, education, behavioral health, all of that are coming together to sitting around the table. That's made my heart so happy. And that's what g gives me hope in the the whole recovery uh scene, because it it's no longer that, you know, we're working just like this and you know, we're looking like this, where we can share resources, share ideas, share successes and share failures. You know, the the things I've learned the most from have been my failures. Absolutely. And so um, you know, to to I just heard you say Silo a couple of times. Do you see that in uh mental health? Do you see that changing like I've been able to notice it in the world of recovery?

SPEAKER_01 19:45

Yeah, I think things have progressed and gotten better over the years as in in some specific, you know, areas or or communities, I would say. I think that one of the biggest can not necessarily concerns, but you know, an area that I think oftentimes pushes people to kind of stay in, and we'll stay in their lane. We don't want necessarily people going out of their scope or expertise at all. Absolutely not. But I think that there are times where funding is so minimal. Funding. So everyone is applying for the same exact funding source or grant or, you know, just application opportunity. And so then when they're creating their own initiative, it's like, well, we're gonna do this and we're gonna do it really well. And while that is amazing, and I want to support everyone doing great work, I think we also forget that there is so much work to do that having the opportunity to come together and collaborate is going to provide more impact to the community in general. But also it does allow people to sit at the table who do bring different areas of expertise. And in one lens, could open the door for conversation that could do so much change for and offer that to a community. So I think that's where, yes, there's been some major progression, I will say. And I think people wanting to truly do great work and open the doors for resources and make it a lot more um affordable, accessible, and sustainable. Sustainability, I feel like, is the key. But when you also have an opportunity to create a large initiative based on grant funding and you did get it, it's hard to then open the door and kind of invite others. And I think that's where I mean, I would love to see change. That to me is and because of just the connection, you know, piece of me and just like, how do we all do great work together and continue? Because you can have so much more impact when you're all working together.

SPEAKER_00 21:32

And marry our goals, marry our initiatives, you know, find the commonalities of those and say, you know, let's combine our resources and and tackle that together. You you may or may not know this. I don't know if I've mentioned this to you, but we have over a hundred not for profits in this community, which is one of the things I love about Brown County. Everybody is passionate about this community. And yet, to your earlier voice. We're all applying for the same grants, you know, to the great community partners that we have in this area, Duke Energy, Smithville, uh, the foundation, our our beloved, you know, Brown County Community Foundation. But it's gonna I I think it's gonna become a necessity that we learn how to play better together and share resources because the funding is, as we both know, is kind of dried up a little bit since the beginning of 25. Yeah. And uh I've I've seen that. So I think that's gonna become really more dictated and mandated than an option. So um, but I I think that's a positive.

SPEAKER_01 22:39

I I do too. I think on the other side where I I kind of get stuck is because funding is, you know, drying up, going away, or just not even an option at times. I think it's so concerning when we think about though, you know, like programs just stopping. You're just done. And I know we've seen that from the entire state level, from the top down in so many different areas of, you know, public health and mental health.

SPEAKER_00 23:02

But if you It's also happening nationally, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 23:05

Yes, yes, yes. I don't want to, yes, I don't want to discount that. Yeah. I think then the question becomes is there an opportunity to then work together for sustainability purposes so that things and programs and initiatives don't just go away. Yeah. Um, but then you have to really think about, you know, is there a large amount of money that's going to allow that to happen, even if people came together, you know? I just, but that is something I continue to think about is amazing programs that are happening when they have to stop. It's just such a disservice. And then you start back over, you know? And I think this is like starting happening all over the place. Yeah. Um, is people putting so many energy and resources into any area that they can kind of, you know, have momentum and then there's no longer funding and it's just done. And it's done.

SPEAKER_00 23:47

And it goes away.

SPEAKER_01 23:48

And someone's just left, just left there, right? Standing right there. Right. And could be in the thick of, you know, treatment, recovery, just any type of current programming, and really just left with nothing. Right. So then I've, you know, pick up those pieces. Absolutely. And move forward and make sure that they're successful.

SPEAKER_00 24:08

Well, you and I met originally through the Kendrick Foundation, and that's in Morgantown. And um, I just have learned such an appreciation for community foundations because I know all the work Brown County's foundation does. I know now, you know, the work Kendrick does, and you consult with them and for them and alongside of them. But without that philanthropic funding that comes from community foundations, where would we be? And what attracted you to work with Keely and her team at the Kendrick Foundation? They're a great team, by the way.

SPEAKER_01 24:49

They're so great. They're wonderful. And it's hard to kind of really put words to that. But I will say I've had the opportunity. I started initially with school-based, um, just in a previous role. And, you know, Keeley really allowed me to work alongside with her and kind of creates a couple different initiatives. But over the last couple of years, just in my consulting role, I will say something that draws me to the Kendrick Foundation and really keeps me motivated by the amazing work that they do and for the entire county, you know, Morgan County in general, is that as a foundation, they are a funder. But I do think that their primary goal is to really they want to be part of community connection that's going to offer sustainability but also innovation, just opportunity to grow programs, but also to really look at what is, you know, an issue or what it from a systemic lens, what is it that we can do as the Kendrick Foundation to contribute to this agency that will then have momentum and bring success and just opportunity and resources to the county. So it's not just this transactional lens of here's your check, do a good job. It truly is building partnerships, building connections, having relationships and seeing the opportunities. And then for some of them, you know, opportunities lead to then sustainability and our continuous, you know, grantees and all of that. So to me, that keeps me um just so you know, happy to be part of it, but also I feel like it just it's so much momentum that is really awesome to be part of something that keeps going in that trajectory.

SPEAKER_00 26:26

And I love, I think it is more sustainable when those partnerships are made that are not just, as you said, transactional, just, you know, thanks for the check. And I go on down the road. And I feel like, you know, what I've been able to observe from our community foundation, and I think Keely leads in the same way, is that it's very much a part of vision casting. Absolutely. Um, and and so, you know, I know they are uh strong believers in the work you're doing for the mental health piece, but have they helped cast a certain vision for Morgan County with mental health that you could speak to? Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 27:01

Um, it is really impressive when you kind of unpack what all the entire Kendrick Foundation is doing. It's a small but mighty team. And the opportunity that they have created just across uh really all entities in Morgan County with their the Morgan County Mental Health Task Force is just, I mean, it's beyond. Um, and it's so cool to see because you really have, you know, a hundred plus uh individuals who want to be part of something that is bigger picture. And they lead that. They lead, you know, the mental health task force, they lead the opioid settlement fund um uh grantees and awardees, which is amazing because that was something that they wanted to support and contribute, you know, to the Addicts Wake and saw how needed it was. Like, let's make sure that people have this opportunity to attend a screening at no cost to them. You know, can we share this in schools? Yes, we're going to have an unlimited license. We're gonna work with our school-based providers. So for them, it is really the holistic approach that I feel is so incredibly impressive. And there is huge impact in the way that, you know, they are approaching all different areas because within, you know, the mental health task force, you're working with nonprofits who are in the mental health and public health and you know, physical health arena. You're in um just so many different like treatment modalities, focusing on treatment recovery, peer um support. Peer to peer. So yeah, you just you have so many opportunities that they are really kind of leading the way in navigation across the county to make sure that residents and just those who are in the community working and giving back are receiving what they need.

SPEAKER_00 28:39

We um we're gonna talk a lot about foundation work and what it means to be a family foundation, a funded foundation. And we know Lily created the community foundations in all 92 counties. So I I'm forever impressed by that vision that they saw for the need of foundation work. And I know you and I have both uh, well, I can tell you've benefited hugely, but I've been a recipient of um, you know, the support for the Addicts Wake. And I cannot tell you how grateful I am for that. And and honestly, guys, when people will say to me, what's been your reward for you know this film series? It's meeting people like you and the foundations that have stepped up and said, Yeah, we need this for our community. That's just been really unbelievable for me. So thank you for being a part of that. And thank you. Yeah, and when, you know, counties are defined by geography, right? But if they weren't, um, and and communities are often defined by the geography. This one is in particular because it's so spread out. But what would community look like to you if it if it didn't have those geographical barriers? That makes sense. Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 29:56

I think that and going back to just uh opportunities, resources, um, uh just access. I think though, when I really if there were no parameters, right? Um, and geography was not a concern, I think that it would really be what what is it that we all need? You know, making sure that everyone understands that you matter, you can come to the table, you can be part of discussions and conversations. And in that community who are, you know, community members or just those in the community who are willing to be part of things get to be part of change. And I think that that is incredibly inspiring. And it doesn't have to be that you live in Morgan County or Brown County or Allen County to give back, but it's like if you want to be part of change, you really have an opportunity to be there. Um, but also have to be willing to allow others to talk and speak and embrace change at times. And I think that's super important because I think that the ability to embrace change or accept change is just going to then expand community connection, allow people to see that they belong, allow them to see that there are supports in the area that I live and or um feel that just connection in general.

SPEAKER_00 31:09

It that is such a cool answer. And I love that. And I'm gonna be thinking about that, you know, just the opportunity to be a part of change is a real privilege, really. It is we have a limited time on earth. Yeah, you know, yeah. So how do we want to spend it? And you know, if you get lucky enough or blessed enough to be a part of watching something change for the better, that's that's something. Yeah, it was really something. Yeah. So you have close to 20 years, right? And have met people from A to Z, different backgrounds. Who's taught you the most and what is something that they taught you that you were surprised about? Not who is a specific person, but like was there an opportunity where you entered it and went, whoa, I was not expecting that outcome. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:57

Yeah. And it's kind of interesting because you say who or just kind of what? Um for me, and I'll I'll circle my answer. It'll all come together, I guess, is how I want to say this. Okay. Um, when I think about just the needs of communities, and you think about, you know, data is a driving force to funding. You need to have metrics, you need to have information. I go back to probably 2017, 2018 when I just truly found my love for Brene Brown and was like, this woman is amazing. And I just continued to just embrace when she would talk about data with the soul is so important. So to me, I feel so inspired by metrics and information and numbers. And I never thought I would, but I really feel and wholeheartedly believe that stories and and understanding where people are coming from, everyone has a story. But being able to get the story to me is the data that we all need to be able to drive initiatives, drive programs. And so I just constantly go back to we all love numbers to send to our, you know, inputting. We have to have them. We have to. But we also need the stories. We need lived experiences. We need people to tell us, you know, what it was like in, you know, whatever situation that they might have been part of, so that we can build programs to help people, that we can offer resources to youth and children so that maybe they don't have to go through those adverse experiences. Um, and storytelling to me is just so incredibly important. So I don't, you know, I I love Brene and I'm like, oh my gosh. And that spoke to me, but that is something that has really been a driving force in how I work, is because it is not going to be important if we can't tell a story. People aren't going to get it and understand and embrace that if we don't understand what is truly happening day to day, whether that's a provider who's doing, you know, something new and they, you know, decided they were going to come up with this great new program and have hygiene products available in their office for youth to just grab and you don't have to ask a question to someone, you know, promoting a brand new, you know, treatment or recovery um program or initiative. I just I think there's like such a broad spectrum, but unless we know the story, how do we really know what the needs are in the community if we're not willing to get that to that side of things?

SPEAKER_00 34:14

I love data with a soul. Yeah. I'm gonna be sharing that with our executive director here, who, you know, he told me yesterday, oh, it's such a busy day in this beautiful Brown County visitor center. And I said, Really? Why do you think on a Tuesday, you know? And so we'd start talking about what could have driven those numbers. But I love that. And and and I love that you love stories. You know, one thing I learned about film is film helps you step in to somebody's shoes in such a way that it's unique. You can't read about it and be able to do that, you can't uh just audio hear about it and be able to do that. But if you can see, visually see a story, and I I think that's why the Addicts Wake resonated, not just in Indiana, but around the nation, because it just humanized you know, people's stories. Yeah. And and so I love, I agree with you, and I love that you shared that because I I do think we all have a story and they're all worth telling. Absolutely. And so, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:15

And I was gonna say, I think it's almost an immersive experience as you were talking about just you know, from the um with the documentary, when really um it's different, right? You you get to see how someone is coping and what they're going through because of the story, but you're right there, not necessarily in it with them in the trenches, but at times probably, or you're feeling their story to your core.

SPEAKER_00 35:39

So many people in the audience have said, that was me on the screen, you know, that was me, that was how I felt. That was my so I I knew that, you know, we did something right because we got that reaction. But uh storytelling is important, and I I just think it'd be a great teacher. Well, we have come to the part in this program where I ask for a we plural promise. Okay. Let me tell you what that is. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 36:07

Yes, please.

SPEAKER_00 36:07

A we plural promise. Travis and I thought about this this summer as we were building kind of the platform for this podcast. And he's Travis has been so much fun to bounce ideas off. Because he tells me very directly if that's a bad one. You just feel like you need that, right? No, I love to know where to sugarcoat, pretend it was okay. Need to know where I stand with with everyone. So I'm okay with that. But we came up with the we plural promise, and I feel like it's a it's a you could give one call to action to one person today listening that says, you know, I don't know how to engage with my community. I don't know what, whether it's in mental health, whether it's volunteering, what what would your call be to someone to help their community thrive as one person? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 36:59

And I want to go to just checking in, you know, ask a question. Is there anything I can do? Is there anything I can offer you? But that's not always feasible for some people, right? Yeah. Um, I think that um the one thing would be is just find connection, whether that is with your neighbor, you know, a coach or a friend, you know, that's working with a youth, um, someone who struggles, maybe just finding connection at an appointment that you're at. Or um I think that to me is so incredibly important because you're not going to feel that you're part of a community or feel that you belong if you don't have that specific connection. And I know that is really hard for people. Um, and I I don't ever want to use connection as a buzzword because people use it all the time. And I think as you know, we continue to talk about just mental health and community health and physical health. Um, it is probably one of the most important words though, because without connection, you're really not going to have um a whole lot of opportunity. Um, so I think that's what I would really think about is just, you know, find one person you can connect with, whether that's you just asking how they are and genuinely being intentional about that question or just connecting with someone that maybe you haven't seen in a really long time and reaching out and you know, just asking them to coffee or doing something like that.

SPEAKER_00 38:14

You can have that conversation over a fence. You can have that conversation in an elevator, or in a text, even. In a text.

SPEAKER_01 38:22

I mean, maybe not the best, but it's a start, you know, just I think yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 38:26

I saw a post this week from a gal in this community, and I adore her. And she had lost a really, really dear friend. And I don't know why I was thinking about it on my way back to Brown County yesterday. I thought I'm just gonna call her. And I got her voicemail, but I just said, you know, I want to see how your heart's doing, how are you doing? And you know, um, and I didn't, you know, I just felt really compelled to make that call. Sure. And that's what you're saying. You know, I don't always do that, and I don't always, you know, do it as much as I should. But yesterday she was really on my mind. And I think when when people come to mind, that's that opportunity to say, hey, how are you? Right, absolutely and meaning it. I was gonna say you got to be prepared to listen to the answer and care. Yeah, yeah. Which is sometimes the harder part. But yeah, well, you guys, um, you can see why I had Liz Stern on the podcast today. She is a wealth of knowledge and experience. I've learned so much from her uh just in our few interactions. And I look forward to working together more uh in the future. So thank you for being here. Oh my gosh, you're the best.

SPEAKER_01 39:34

Thank you. Truly, I appreciate it. I just I'm so excited for you and this opportunity. And I know you're gonna have a huge impact. Um, I, you know, when you think about capacity, you're gonna have the impact. But, you know, bringing all these people to the table.

SPEAKER_00 39:45

Share this with anyone you think might wanna wanna hear it. And for you out there, please share if you can think of someone who might benefit from this conversation today. You can go to weplural.com to listen. You can catch us on wherever you like to listen to your podcast, Spotify, Apple, YouTube. And as always, I cannot bring you these incredible conversations without sponsorship. So I have two friends uh in my circle who are part of my Wii that stepped up to say yes, Lisa. So we believe in what you're doing. So they know who they are, and I'd like to thank them from the bottom of my heart for believing in this podcast. So until next time, you guys can't wait to talk to you again.