The Stepping In It Podcast with Renee Schulte & Jason Haglund

Renee Schulte
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

The Stepping In It Podcast is a weekly discussion of the latest news and trends in behavioral health policy development and practice. Each episode features interviews with experts from across the field, including policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and advocates. The podcast provides listeners with practical tips and resources for improving the quality and access to behavioral health care. 

  1. 1d ago

    162. Unmanaged Mental Health in the Workplace: When Stress Starts Affecting the Whole Team

    Mental health doesn’t stay at home when we walk into work. In this episode of Stepping In It, Renee and Jason explore what happens when stress, burnout, mental health concerns, or substance use begin affecting the workplace—and why ignoring the signs can create problems for everyone. They discuss what unmanaged mental health can look like in leaders and coworkers, the importance of knowing and following workplace policies, and how HR and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) can help. They also look at the significant productivity costs associated with workplace mental health challenges and share why meaningful check-ins, ongoing conversations, training, and access to resources can make a bigger difference than a one-time initiative. In this episode, you will be able to: Recognize signs that stress, burnout, or unmanaged mental health may be affecting a leader, coworker, or entire workplace.Understand why workplace policies and HR involvement are especially important when substance use or safety concerns arise.Explore the impact mental health challenges can have on productivity, absenteeism, presenteeism, and life outside of work.Learn why ongoing check-ins and debriefing can be more effective than relying on one-time workplace trainings.Discover how Employee Assistance Programs can provide counseling, financial support, referrals, crisis response, training, and other resources.Understand why leaders need to address their own stress and well-being to create healthier, more sustainable workplaces. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:23 - Introduction & Unmanaged Mental Health in the Workplace 00:01:31 - Recognizing When a Workplace Is Struggling 00:04:00 - What Happens When the Leader Isn’t Well 00:05:35 - Self-Awareness, Stress & Leadership Behavior 00:06:46 - Addressing Mental Health & Substance Use Concerns with Coworkers 00:07:29 - Workplace Policies, HR & Managing Risk 00:10:24 - The Productivity Cost of Unmanaged Mental Health 00:11:40 - Workplace Stress & Access to Mental Health Support 00:12:46 - Why One-Time Workplace Trainings Aren’t Enough 00:14:33 - Using Training, Debriefing & Check-Ins to Support Employees 00:18:17 - How Employee Assistance Programs Can Help 00:20:13 - EAPs as a Bridge to Longer-Term Support 00:22:13 - Creating a Workplace Where People Can Ask for Help 00:24:03 - Self-Care Policy: Dealing with Stress Head-On 00:25:34 - Finding Practical Ways to Manage Stress 00:27:40 - Closing Thoughts & The Business Case for Workplace Mental Health Links: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work https://www.osha.gov/workplace-stress  Connect with us:  https://ruralpolicypartners.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/linkedin.com/company/rural-policy-partners/  https://www.facebook.com/facebook.com/ruralpolicypartners https://www.youtube.com/@ruralpolicypartners Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tTaObmJ3ddA

  2. Sep 29

    161. Podcast Guests: The Value, Challenges, and Opportunities

    Podcasting has become a powerful way to build credibility, expand your network, and create conversations around topics that may not have a platform anywhere else. In this episode of Stepping In It, Renee Schulte and Jason Haglund pull back the curtain on their own podcasting experience and, more specifically, the value of bringing guests into the conversation. They discuss how guests can grow listenership and introduce new perspectives, the challenges of scheduling and navigating spammy guest requests, and the opportunities podcasting creates to establish niche expertise, promote important issues, and even generate speaking, training, and consulting opportunities. Plus, they explore the unique role podcasts can play in rural communities where traditional local media has become increasingly limited. In this episode, you will be able to: Discover how podcasting can build credibility and establish expertise in a specific niche.Learn why bringing guests onto a podcast can expand both your audience and your professional network.Explore the challenges of scheduling guests, managing requests, and recording from rural or remote locations.Understand how podcasts are filling gaps left by traditional local media, particularly in rural communities.Learn how podcast appearances can lead to speaking engagements, educational opportunities, contracts, and other professional connections.Hear what Renee and Jason look for in potential Stepping In It guests and how behavioral health experts can get involved. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:22 - Introduction: The Value, Challenges & Opportunities of Podcast Guests 00:01:05 - Harvest Season & Remote Farming 00:01:42 - Why Stepping In It Has a Podcast 00:03:28 - The Value of Bringing Guests Into the Conversation 00:05:24 - What Makes a Great Podcast Guest 00:07:34 - The Challenges of Appearing on Other Podcasts 00:08:16 - Podcast Listenership & the Growing Reach of the Medium 00:09:33 - How Podcasts Are Replacing Local Media in Rural Communities 00:11:20 - Scheduling, Follow-Through & Guest Challenges 00:12:34 - AI, LinkedIn Spam & Finding Legitimate Podcast Opportunities 00:14:10 - Equipment, Connectivity & Recording From Rural Areas 00:15:48 - Growing Your Audience Through Podcast Collaboration 00:16:13 - Using Podcasting to Elevate Other Voices & Issues 00:17:39 - Opportunities Beyond the Podcast: Speaking, Training & More 00:18:34 - Establishing Yourself as a Niche Expert 00:20:35 - Recovering Politician Self-Care Policy: Creating New Routines 00:22:38 - Want to Be a Guest on Stepping In It? Links: https://rss.com/blog/the-current-state-of-podcasting/  Connect with us:  https://ruralpolicypartners.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/linkedin.com/company/rural-policy-partners/  https://www.facebook.com/facebook.com/ruralpolicypartners https://www.youtube.com/@ruralpolicypartners Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/73uQeG7t2iw

  3. Sep 22

    160. Building Sustainable Behavioral Health in Rural Communities with Dr. Elise Healzer

    Rural communities face significant behavioral health challenges, from workforce shortages and clinician burnout to limited resources and professional isolation. In this episode, Renee and Jason sit down with Dr. Elise Healzer, a clinician, researcher, practice founder, and consultant focused on strengthening behavioral health leadership in rural communities. Elise shares insights from her doctoral research on clinician burnout, why strong clinical skills don't automatically translate into strong leadership, and how better infrastructure, peer support, and management practices can create healthier workplaces and more sustainable access to care. They also discuss the unique pressures rural behavioral health leaders face and how bringing leaders together can create opportunities for collaboration, problem-solving, and long-term change. In this episode, you will be able to: Discover why leadership and management development are critical to reducing burnout and strengthening rural behavioral health organizations.Understand the unique challenges rural practice owners face, including limited resources, professional isolation, dual relationships, and workforce shortages.Learn why addressing clinician burnout requires looking beyond individual self-care to the systems and leadership structures surrounding clinicians.Explore how peer networks, clinical supervision, collaboration, and stronger organizational infrastructure can help create sustainable rural behavioral health services.Hear how Dr. Elise Healzer's Behavioral Health Summit is bringing practice owners and experts together to share solutions and build stronger support networks. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:10 - Introduction & Harvest Season on the Farm 00:01:43 - Meet Dr. Elise Healzer 00:03:27 - The Leadership Gap in Behavioral Health 00:06:14 - Clinician Burnout & the Role of Management 00:08:28 - Unique Challenges Facing Rural Behavioral Health Leaders 00:11:36 - Building Community & Support for Rural Clinicians 00:15:40 - Rural Behavioral Health Shortages & Access to Care 00:17:40 - Creating Sustainable Rural Behavioral Health Practices 00:19:37 - What Policymakers Need to Understand About Rural Infrastructure 00:23:21 - Workforce Competition & Supporting Private Practices 00:25:26 - Dr. Healzer's Behavioral Health Summit 00:28:09 - The Power of Collaboration & Peer Support 00:30:30 - The Recovering Politician Self-Care Policy of the Week 00:33:51 - Seasonal Self-Care & Slowing Down in the Fall 00:34:56 - Closing Thoughts & Resources Links: https://cornerstonestrategypartners.com/  Connect with us:  https://ruralpolicypartners.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/linkedin.com/company/rural-policy-partners/  https://www.facebook.com/facebook.com/ruralpolicypartners https://www.youtube.com/@ruralpolicypartners Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gFvtBCC0mjM

  4. Sep 15

    159. Meet JLG Architects: Building Communities That Thrive With Todd Medd & Jennifer Burke Jackson

    What if the buildings where people receive behavioral health care or serve time in correctional facilities were intentionally designed to support healing, rehabilitation, and connection? In this episode of Stepping In It, Jason Haglund sits down with JLG Architects principals Todd Medd and Jennifer Burke Jackson to explore how trauma-informed design is reshaping behavioral health and correctional environments. From the new North Dakota State Hospital to progressive rehabilitation facilities, they discuss how thoughtful design can create safety, strengthen relationships, support caregivers, and help people successfully return to their communities. The conversation also explores the importance of addressing trauma further upstream and building a true continuum of behavioral health care across rural communities. In this episode, you will be able to: Discover the core principles of trauma-informed design and how physical environments can promote safety, choice, flexibility, and healing.Learn how North Dakota is rethinking behavioral health and correctional facilities through rehabilitation, progression, and community connection.Explore how design elements like natural light, acoustics, flexible spaces, and access to nature can impact patients, residents, staff, and caregivers.Understand why behavioral health infrastructure must be part of a larger continuum of care that includes state hospitals, rural hospitals, community-based services, and corrections.Learn how relationships, family connection, and community engagement can support rehabilitation and improve public safety.Hear why addressing childhood trauma and other upstream factors is essential to creating long-term change in behavioral health and incarceration. The key moments in this episode are: 00:10:06 - Introduction: JLG Architects & Building Communities That Thrive 00:11:28 - Meet Todd Medd & Jennifer Burke Jackson 00:15:29 - The Long Road to Building a New North Dakota State Hospital 00:17:46 - Designing Modern Behavioral Health Facilities 00:19:20 - Understanding Trauma-Informed Design 00:22:19 - Bringing Trauma-Informed Principles Into Corrections 00:23:34 - North Dakota’s Four Pillars of Rehabilitation 00:28:17 - Designing a Progression From Treatment Back to Community 00:29:24 - State Hospitals, Community Services & the Continuum of Care 00:32:52 - Rethinking Incarceration by Addressing Trauma Upstream 00:37:58 - How Physical Spaces Can Support Safety & Healing 00:41:24 - Designing Correctional Spaces for Choice, Family & Connection 00:45:10 - Behavioral Health Challenges in Rural Hospitals 00:48:36 - Designing Spaces That Support Caregivers 00:50:09 - Capacity, Rehabilitation & the Challenges Facing County Jails 00:52:15 - Building Flexible Facilities for Changing Behavioral Health Needs 00:56:21 - Self-Care, Family & the Power of Connection 00:59:46 - Bringing Community Connection Home 01:00:38 - Closing Thoughts Links: https://jlgarchitects.com/ https://www.tidsociety.com/ https://medium.com/@kristincooke/designing-for-the-wounded-how-trauma-informed-product-design-creates-digital-sanctuaries-edfe3e72885a https://rosehaven.org/trauma-informed-design-inspiring-safety-healing/ https://perkinswill.com/news/trauma-informed-design-healthcare-designed-to-heal/  Connect with us:  https://ruralpolicypartners.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/linkedin.com/company/rural-policy-partners/  https://www.facebook.com/facebook.com/ruralpolicypartners https://www.youtube.com/@ruralpolicypartners Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sal9ZO2ICoI

  5. Sep 8

    158. When Consultants Miss the Mark: Why Great Reports Aren’t Enough

    Hiring a consultant is often seen as the first step toward meaningful change, but what happens when the final report ends up collecting dust? In this episode, we explore the reasons consulting engagements sometimes leave organizations feeling more frustrated than empowered. From recommendations that don't fit rural communities to overwhelming reports with no implementation plan, we discuss why so many consulting projects fail to create lasting impact. We also examine the research behind unsuccessful consulting engagements and share what organizations should expect from consultants who are truly committed to helping communities move from ideas to action. In this episode, you will be able to: Why consulting engagements often fail to produce lasting, measurable results.The common mistakes that leave organizations with reports instead of real change.How recommendations that ignore local context can do more harm than good in rural communities.Why implementation planning, ownership, and follow-through matter just as much as the recommendations themselves.What organizations should look for when hiring consultants who will create sustainable impact. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:09 - Introduction & Why Some Consulting Projects Fail 00:03:01 - When Consultants Confirm What You Already Know 00:07:08 - Why Generic Recommendations Don't Work in Rural Communities 00:11:45 - Hero Projects, Lost Momentum & The Cost of No Follow-Up 00:16:02 - Research: Why 70% of Consulting Engagements Miss Their Goals 00:20:10 - The Handoff Gap, Change Management & Organizational Ownership 00:24:18 - When Hard Truths Are Necessary—and When Reports Become Overwhelming 00:28:11 - Breaking the Cycle of Repeating the Same Assessments 00:31:04 - Building Sustainable Solutions Instead of Another Report Connect with us:  https://ruralpolicypartners.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/linkedin.com/company/rural-policy-partners/  https://www.facebook.com/facebook.com/ruralpolicypartners https://www.youtube.com/@ruralpolicypartners Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/V-yqwhYspy8

  6. Sep 1

    157. Direct vs. Indirect Consultant Funding: What Works, What Doesn't, and Why It Matters

    Not all consulting projects are created equal—and how they're funded can have a major impact on their success. In this episode of Stepping In It, Renee Schulte and Jason Haglund explore the differences between direct and third-party consultant funding, sharing real-world examples of what works, what doesn't, and why alignment matters. They discuss the opportunities that grant-funded technical assistance can create, the challenges of mismatched expectations, and how organizations can make the most of one-time funding opportunities. Whether you're a consultant, healthcare leader, or policymaker, this conversation offers practical insights for building projects that create lasting value instead of reports that collect dust. In this episode, you will be able to: Understand the differences between direct and third-party consultant funding models.Learn the benefits and challenges of grant-funded technical assistance for organizations and consultants.Discover why alignment between funders, consultants, and organizations is critical for successful outcomes.Explore how Rural Health Transformation funding, opioid settlement dollars, and other federal investments are creating new opportunities for rural healthcare innovation.Gain practical advice for evaluating consulting opportunities and ensuring projects remain sustainable after funding ends. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:02 – Introduction & Preparing for Harvest Season 00:02:07 – Why Funding Structure Changes the Consulting Relationship 00:02:57 – Understanding Third-Party Funded Consulting Projects 00:04:12 – When "Free" Technical Assistance Creates More Work Than Value 00:06:01 – The Benefits of Third-Party Funding and Expert Partnerships 00:07:17 – Why Shovel-Ready Projects Are Best Positioned for One-Time Funding 00:09:06 – Common Pitfalls: Poor Consultant Matches and Misaligned Goals 00:11:02 – Due Diligence: Knowing When to Walk Away from Free Funding 00:12:41 – What Technical Assistance Is—and What It Isn't 00:14:02 – Lessons from Incomplete Projects and Funding That Ends Too Soon 00:17:07 – Asking Better Questions Before Accepting Technical Assistance 00:18:01 – Delays, Federal Funding, and the Challenges of One-Time Dollars 00:19:15 – Rural Health Transformation Funding and Opportunities for Consultants 00:21:20 – Resources in the Show Notes: Rural Health, Healthy Hometowns, and Opioid Settlement Funding 00:21:54 – Why Buildings Alone Don't Transform Care: Policy, Practice, and Coordination Matter Links: https://www.iowapca.org/healthyhometownsiowahttps://www.cms.gov/initiatives/rural-health-transformation-rht-program/overviewhttps://www.iowacounties.org/member-resources/opioid-settlement-resources/  Connect with us:  https://ruralpolicypartners.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/linkedin.com/company/rural-policy-partners/  https://www.facebook.com/facebook.com/ruralpolicypartners https://www.youtube.com/@ruralpolicypartners Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Nk0EJSr-O6A

  7. Aug 25

    156. Are You Getting the Most from Your Consultants? How to Turn Expertise into Action

    Organizations invest thousands—and sometimes millions—of dollars in consultants with the expectation that meaningful change will follow. But too often, those investments fall short, not because of the consultant, but because of how the engagement is managed. In this episode, Renee Schulte and Jason Haglund share lessons from years of consulting with healthcare organizations, highlighting the biggest mistakes that waste valuable time and resources. From unclear meeting agendas and missing decision-makers to chasing unsolvable problems and failing to follow through, they discuss practical strategies that help organizations maximize every consulting engagement and create lasting results. In this episode, you will be able to: Why hiring a consultant is only the first step—and why follow-through determines success.The most common ways organizations waste consultant time and resources.How meeting structure, attendance, and accountability can dramatically improve outcomes.Why consultants should challenge assumptions instead of simply validating existing beliefs.Practical strategies for keeping projects on track through timelines, data, and measurable goals. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:11 – Introduction & Why Consultant Time Matters 00:03:06 – Billions Spent on Consulting with Limited Measured Impact 00:03:28 – The Biggest Consultant Time Wasters 00:07:03 – Why Organizations Sometimes Want Validation Instead of Truth 00:09:00 – The Importance of Agendas and Structured Meetings 00:12:05 – Getting the Right Decision-Makers in the Room 00:14:46 – Avoiding "Unsolvable" Conversations That Stall Progress 00:18:20 – Using Data Instead of Opinions to Drive Decisions 00:24:10 – Breaking Down Data-Sharing Barriers 00:29:23 – Using Timelines to Keep Consulting Projects Moving 00:30:00 – Final Takeaways & Closing Thoughts Links: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1126675https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42081210/https://www.missionmet.com/blog/understanding-the-cost-of-hiring-a-strategic-planning-consultant-for-your-nonprofit  Connect with us:  https://ruralpolicypartners.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/linkedin.com/company/rural-policy-partners/  https://www.facebook.com/facebook.com/ruralpolicypartners https://www.youtube.com/@ruralpolicypartners Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7iGX6ngUs2g

  8. Aug 18

    155. Why Every Family Needs a Caregiving Plan Before It's Too Late: With Raymond Lavine

    Most people spend years planning for retirement but very little time preparing for the possibility of needing care. In this episode of Stepping In It, Renee Schulte and Jason Haglund welcome extended care benefits advisor Raymond Lavine for a practical conversation about why every family needs a caregiving plan. From understanding the true costs of long-term care to creating environments that allow people to age with dignity, Raymond shares why planning isn't just about insurance—it's about protecting your independence, your family, and your legacy. Whether you're caring for aging parents, thinking about your own future, or hoping to preserve a family farm or business, this episode offers valuable insights into one of the most important conversations families often avoid. In this episode, you will be able to: Understand why caregiving planning is about far more than long-term care insurance. Learn how preparing your home and finances today can preserve independence later. Discover the financial realities of long-term care and why early planning matters. Explore how caregiving impacts families emotionally, financially, and practically. Gain insights into protecting family assets and creating a plan that reflects your personal goals and values. The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:00 – Introduction & Corn Sweat Farmer Update 00:03:15 – Meet Raymond Lavine & His Work in Extended Care Planning 00:07:15 – What Caregiving Really Means Beyond Insurance 00:12:20 – Aging in Place, Home Modifications & Protecting Family Farms 00:17:30 – The Financial Reality of Long-Term Care Costs 00:22:10 – When Should You Start Planning for Care? 00:27:30 – Building a Personalized Caregiving Plan 00:31:30 – Raymond's Book, Resources & Final Takeaways Links: https://lifehappens.org/long-term-care-insurance-101/how-much-does-long-term-care-cost/  https://investor.genworth.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1005/long-term-care-costs-increase-in-iowa-on-par-with-national  https://www.milliman.com/en/insight/2025-milliman-long-term-care-index   Connect with us:  https://ruralpolicypartners.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/linkedin.com/company/rural-policy-partners/  https://www.facebook.com/facebook.com/ruralpolicypartners https://www.youtube.com/@ruralpolicypartners Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SLqE6OQ6sfI

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The Stepping In It Podcast is a weekly discussion of the latest news and trends in behavioral health policy development and practice. Each episode features interviews with experts from across the field, including policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and advocates. The podcast provides listeners with practical tips and resources for improving the quality and access to behavioral health care. 

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