Strong Minds, Strong Families: Spiritual Health and Parenting

Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Health & Fitness

The goal of the Strong Minds, Strong Families podcast is to share mental health resources and stories from parents and helpers around the state of Michigan with the goal of decreasing stigma and building connections. The Strong Minds, Strong Families podcast is part of the ITCMI's Increasing Health Literacy project funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. For more information on the Increasing Health Literacy project, please visit itcmi.org/increasinghealthliteracy

Episodes

  1. Feb 20

    I'm Here For You

    Guest: Sam In this episode of Strong Minds, Strong Families, hosts Josie and Maddy sit down with Sam, a mother and maternal health nurse from the Gun Lake Tribe. Sam opens up about her postpartum mental health journey and the community support that helped her heal. Together, they explore how her experiences shape her work in maternal and child health and the importance of connection, cultural identity, and reducing stigma around mental health in Native communities across Michigan. To learn more about the Increasing Health Literacy Project, or to access resources visit https://www.itcmi.org/home/departments/maternal-and-early-childhood-services/home-visiting-network/increasing-health-literacy/

  2. 12/03/2025

    We Can Do Hard Things

    Guest: Mel In this episode of Strong Minds, Strong Families, hosts Josie and Maddy sit down with Mel Bailey, a midwife, nurse, and head of Maternal Child Health Services for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. Mel shares her experiences supporting Indigenous families from pregnancy through early childhood, as well as her work training healthcare professionals in respectful and trauma-informed care. The conversation highlights holistic approaches to maternal health, cultural connection, and empowering birth workers to serve in low-resource and remote communities.   Resources: Box breath: Box Breathing Reorienting: Grounding 5-4-3-2-1 Worksheet - General Podcasts: Feminist Wellness: Podcast - Beatriz Victoria Albina We Can Do Hard Things: We Can Do Hard Things   To learn more about the Increasing Health Literacy Project, or to access resources visit https://www.itcmi.org/home/departments/maternal-and-early-childhood-services/home-visiting-network/increasing-health-literacy/

  3. 12/03/2025

    All of the Medicine in your Backyard

    Guest: Tashina In this episode, hosts Maddy and Josie speak with Tashina Emery, a member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. Tashina introduces herself in her language, sharing her spirit name, Clearing of the Sky Cloud Woman, and her Turtle Clan identity. She reflects on her mental health journey through motherhood, describing how her cultural roots, family, and connection to her ancestors have guided and grounded her. The conversation touches on the healing power of community and tradition, emphasizing the importance of reclaiming identity, balance, and self-compassion during major life transitions like becoming a parent. Throughout the episode, Tashina offers thoughtful insights into what it means to heal generationally and maintain mental wellness through cultural connection and storytelling. To learn more about the Increasing Health Literacy Project, or to access resources visit https://www.itcmi.org/home/departments/maternal-and-early-childhood-services/home-visiting-network/increasing-health-literacy/

  4. 12/03/2025

    Unity in the Community

    Guest: Jen & Lexie Keshick In this episode, hosts Josie and Maddy welcome Jen and Lexi Keshick from the Hannahville Indian Community. Married for 24 years with seven children and eleven grandchildren, they share insights from their work as certified facilitators for the Fatherhood and Motherhood is Sacred program through the Native American Fatherhood and Families Association (NAFFA). Jenn and Lexi discuss how the program helps parents give their best in teaching and raising their children by strengthening relationships and connecting generations. Their mission focuses on supporting Indigenous families and returning to traditional teachings that nurture the heart, mind, body, and spirit. They also describe their organization, PIE - Parenthood is Essential, which they founded during COVID as a way to uplift parents and build community. The conversation highlights their dedication to family, culture, and healing, offering both personal stories and practical advice for fostering resilience and connection within families. To learn more about the Increasing Health Literacy Project, or to access resources visit https://www.itcmi.org/home/departments/maternal-and-early-childhood-services/home-visiting-network/increasing-health-literacy/

  5. 12/03/2025

    Welcome to the Strong Minds, Strong Families Podcast

    In this episode of Strong Minds, Strong Families: Spiritual Health and Parenting, hosts Josie Babcock and Maddy Thompson share the story behind the creation of the podcast and the Increasing Health Literacy in the EUP project. Funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, this initiative aims to boost mental health literacy among tribal families in Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula through community-driven approaches grounded in Indigenous values. Josie and Maddy reflect on their personal journeys into maternal and early childhood health, the importance of culturally rooted care, and their hopes for building stronger, more connected families. To learn more about the Increasing Health Literacy Project, or to access resources visit https://www.itcmi.org/home/departments/maternal-and-early-childhood-services/home-visiting-network/increasing-health-literacy/

  • 5 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The goal of the Strong Minds, Strong Families podcast is to share mental health resources and stories from parents and helpers around the state of Michigan with the goal of decreasing stigma and building connections. The Strong Minds, Strong Families podcast is part of the ITCMI's Increasing Health Literacy project funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. For more information on the Increasing Health Literacy project, please visit itcmi.org/increasinghealthliteracy

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