Mental Health Trailblazers: Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up

Indrias Kassaye, Minority Fellowship Program at the American Nurses Association
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The groundbreaking journeys of psychiatric mental health nurses are featured in this podcast brought to you by the Minority Fellowship Program at the American Nurses Association. Follow these outstanding behavioral health nurses in their quest to meet the urgent and unmet needs of underserved communities across America. Funding for this podcast was made possible (in part) by Grant# 1H79SM090074-01 from SAMHSA. The views expressed by the speakers and host do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.

  1. Dr. Eugenia Flores Millender on Healing, Leadership, and the Power of Nurses

    10/27/2025

    Dr. Eugenia Flores Millender on Healing, Leadership, and the Power of Nurses

    Dr. Eugenia Flores Millender traces a path from a young nurse searching for her voice to a force reshaping psychiatric-mental health care. An Afro-Indigenous Latina from Panama, she brings lived experience to the front lines of innovation—championing culturally grounded care, trauma-informed healing, and data-driven solutions. Today, she is a national and international leader advancing mental-health equity, building systems that meet communities where they are, and setting a new standard for how mental health care is delivered. She calls on nurses to claim their rightful role not only as part of the conversation, but as architects, leading AI and digital-health design and shaping the systems that will define mental-health care for generations, nationally and globally. Authentic, hopeful, and filled with hard-earned wisdom, this conversation is a moving reflection on what it means to nurse the future — with courage, compassion, and purpose. Learn more about Dr. Eugenia Flores Millender at https://emfp.org/about-us/national-advisory-committee/eugenia-millender Nurses can earn free Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credits for listening to this episode. Full details will be announced at the end of the season.

    59 min
  2. Healing Beyond the Symptoms: Nephetalie Jules on Trauma-Informed Nursing

    10/13/2025

    Healing Beyond the Symptoms: Nephetalie Jules on Trauma-Informed Nursing

    From her early nursing experiences in Tampa, Florida, to her advocacy for culturally responsive and compassionate care, Nephetalie shares how listening with empathy—and asking, “What happened to you?” instead of “What’s wrong with you?”—can change everything. Discover how nurses can break cycles of trauma, address stigma in communities of color, and bring healing to both patients and themselves through mindfulness, empathy, and advocacy. Nephetalie also discusses how technology and telehealth can integrate trauma-informed practices and what it means to “nurse the future” in today’s rapidly evolving mental health landscape. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation that reminds us that every patient’s story matters—and that healing begins with understanding. Learn more about Nephetalie Jules at https://emfp.org/mfp-fellows/nephetalie-jules Nurses can earn free Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credits for listening to this episode. Full details will be announced at the end of the season.

    45 min
  3. Rural Men & Substance Use: Breaking the Silence With Dr. Serge Wandji

    09/29/2025

    Rural Men & Substance Use: Breaking the Silence With Dr. Serge Wandji

    Substance use disorder is one of the most pressing health challenges in rural America. According to the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), nearly 65% of all federally designated primary care shortage areas are in rural communities, and more than 60% of mental health professional shortage areas are rural as well (HRSA, March 31, 2025). These provider shortages are persistent and growing, leaving millions of Americans without timely or reliable access to behavioral health services—even as rural communities continue to experience high rates of substance use and related harms. In this episode of Mental Health Trailblazers: Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up!, Dr. Serge Wandji, MFP at the American Nurses Association alumnus and nurse scientist, shares with host Indrias Kassaye how his early research uncovered the struggles of rural Black men living with addiction. Today, his work expands to underserved communities across the rural South, showing how untreated substance use destabilizes families, harms children, and weakens entire communities. Dr. Wandji discusses why behavioral health must be integrated into primary care, how nurses and behavioral health specialists can apply research to real-world rural settings, and the importance of community-driven, culturally grounded approaches to recovery. According to Dr. Wandji, breaking the silence around substance use in rural America is the first step toward building healthier, more resilient communities. Learn more about Dr. Serge Wandji at https://emfp.org/mfp-fellows/serge-wandji For more information on access to care and mental health professional shortages, visit: https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bureau-health-workforce/state-of-the-primary-care-workforce-report-2024.pdf https://data.hrsa.gov/Default/GenerateHPSAQuarterlyReport https://data.hrsa.gov/topics/health-workforce/nchwa/ahrf Nurses can earn free Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credits for listening to this episode. Full details will be announced at the end of the season.

    59 min
  4. From Trauma to Tech: Dr. Nia Josiah on Nursing the Future of Mental Health

    09/15/2025

    From Trauma to Tech: Dr. Nia Josiah on Nursing the Future of Mental Health

    From tackling intergenerational trauma with Bowenian Family Therapy, to confronting bias in reproductive health, to exploring how climate change and artificial intelligence shape pediatric mental health, Dr. Josiah is redefining what compassionate, culturally responsive care looks like. Listeners will hear how her journey from home health aide to nursing scholar fuels her passion for justice, how she’s pioneering simulation-based training for crisis response, and how her nurse-led EBAN Wellness Initiative, a community mental health program she designed to integrate nutrition, movement, and emotional wellness for children and families in underserved communities, is transforming community health from the ground up. Whether you’re a nursing student, a mental health professional, or simply curious about how we can build systems that honor culture, equity, and humanity, this episode offers hope, insight, and a roadmap for the future of care. Learn more about Dr. Nia Josiah at https://emfp.org/mfp-fellows/nia-a-josiah Nurses can earn free Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credits for listening to this episode. Full details will be announced at the end of the season.

    45 min
  5. How Trauma Made a Nurse—and a Leader: Steve Li on Mental Health and Resilience

    09/01/2025

    How Trauma Made a Nurse—and a Leader: Steve Li on Mental Health and Resilience

    Tune in as Steve discusses: How community saved his life — and how he's paying it forwardThe mental health toll of immigration-related traumaWhy culturally competent care and bilingual nursing matterWhat the U.S. can learn from global mental health systemsThe power of nursing in advocating for equity and justiceThis is more than a conversation — it's a call to action for nurses, policymakers, and advocates to lead with empathy, cultural understanding, and courage. Listen now and discover how Steve Li is nursing the future with heart, advocacy, and grit. Learn more about Steve Li at https://emfp.org/mfp-fellows/steve-li Nurses can earn free Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credits for listening to this episode. Full details will be announced at the end of the season.

    45 min
  6. Every Child Deserves to Thrive: Nurse Enyo Dzata on ADHD & Advocacy

    08/18/2025

    Every Child Deserves to Thrive: Nurse Enyo Dzata on ADHD & Advocacy

    Discover how she navigates the complexities of diagnosing and treating ADHD, anxiety, and trauma, the disparities in care that leave many children unseen, and the role nurses play in ensuring no student “falls through the cracks.” Whether you’re a nursing student, educator, parent, or advocate, this conversation is a masterclass in compassionate, culturally responsive, and evidence-based care. Listen now and learn how early intervention, family engagement, and nurse-led advocacy can transform a child’s life — and their future. Learn more about Enyo Dzata at https://emfp.org/mfp-fellows/vivian-dzata  Nurses can earn free Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credits for listening to this episode. Full details will be announced at the end of the season.

    45 min
  7. From Combat Boots to Clinical Care: Nurse Monique Swaby's Fight for Veteran Mental Health

    08/04/2025

    From Combat Boots to Clinical Care: Nurse Monique Swaby's Fight for Veteran Mental Health

    From her firsthand experiences in the military to her work at the VA and Department of Defense, Monique shares deeply personal and professional insights on the urgent mental health needs of veterans, military families, and underserved communities. She opens up about how her own experiences with intimate partner violence and traumatic brain injury shaped her nursing journey—and why she believes psychiatric nurses must lead the charge in dismantling stigma, improving access to care, and making behavioral health support culturally relevant and family-centered. Whether you’re a nursing student, behavioral health professional, or policymaker, this is a must-listen conversation about resilience, purpose, and reimagining care for those who serve. Learn more about Monique Swaby at https://emfp.org/mfp-fellows/monique-swaby Nurses can earn free Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credits for listening to this episode. Full details will be announced at the end of the season.

    1h 6m
  8. Breaking the Shame Spiral: Kim Kim on Diabetes, Mental Health & Culturally Grounded Care

    07/07/2025

    Breaking the Shame Spiral: Kim Kim on Diabetes, Mental Health & Culturally Grounded Care

    Kim shares her deeply personal journey from being a young caregiver for her daughter and mother to becoming a nationally recognized nurse educator and advocate. Along the way, she opens up about confronting diabetes distress, navigating intergenerational trauma, and breaking through the stigma and shame that often surround chronic illness—especially in medically underserved communities. Listeners will learn how mental health support, community-informed approaches, and compassionate nursing care can transform lives—not just for individuals living with diabetes, but for their families and support networks as well. Whether you’re a nursing student, behavioral health provider, diabetes educator, or someone caring for a loved one, this episode offers insight, healing, and hope. Tune in to hear how Kim Kim is reimagining care, advocating for mental health for all, and building a future where no one has to navigate chronic illness alone. Learn more about Kim Kim at https://emfp.org/mfp-fellows/kim-kim Nurses can earn free Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) credits for listening to this episode. Full details will be announced at the end of the season.

    50 min
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About

The groundbreaking journeys of psychiatric mental health nurses are featured in this podcast brought to you by the Minority Fellowship Program at the American Nurses Association. Follow these outstanding behavioral health nurses in their quest to meet the urgent and unmet needs of underserved communities across America. Funding for this podcast was made possible (in part) by Grant# 1H79SM090074-01 from SAMHSA. The views expressed by the speakers and host do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.

Information

  • Creator
    Indrias Kassaye, Minority Fellowship Program at the American Nurses Association
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    68
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Indrias Kassaye, Minority Fellowship Program at the American Nurses Association
  • Show Website
    Mental Health Trailblazers: Psychiatric Nurses Speak Up