Call Declined

4.7 (92)
MENTAL HEALTH
WEEKLY SERIES

In times of need, who do you turn to? What systems do you believe are there to catch you if you fall? Is there a way to interrupt generations of trauma and family violence? What might the world look like if we decriminalized mental illness, substance use disorder, and poverty? Call Declined follows the lives of two extraordinary women, Kamisha Thomas and Aimee Wissman, and the captivating story of how they fell through a frayed safety net and how resilience, friendship, and the power of creativity enabled them to survive the grim walls of the Dayton Correctional Institution. It is a story of how art became their north star and inspiration for what was to come when they finally were released from prison. Call Declined is hosted by Melissa Beck, the executive director of the Sozosei Foundation. To learn more about our country's mental health system, check out the episodes in this feed marked Call For Help, hosted by Stephanie Wittels Wachs, which explores the promise and perils of the nationwide rollout of the 988 hotline. Call Declined is presented by the Sozosei Foundation, a philanthropic arm of Otsuka. The Foundation’s goal is to increase access to mental healthcare in order to eliminate the inappropriate use of jails and prisons for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness in the United States. Learn more at www.SozoseiFoundation.org. The Sozosei Foundation extends special thanks to Aimee Wissman and Kamisha Thomas, visionary artists and co-founders of The Returning Artists Guild whose creativity, resilience, and lived experience inspire us to build a world where mental illness is not a crime. To learn more about the Guild visit www.thereturningartistsguild.org. Please note that this podcast contains mature content, including explicit language and discussions about drug use and other potentially sensitive topics. The views expressed are solely those of the participants and do not reflect the opinions of the Sozosei Foundation, podcast host or sponsors. Listener discretion is advised. This content is intended for mature audiences and is not suitable for all listeners.

See All Season 2 (6)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus returns for Season 3 of her award-winning podcast, Wiser Than Me™. Each week, she has funny, touching, personal conversations with iconic older women who are brimming with the kind of unapologetic attitude and wisdom that only comes with age. Julia sits at the feet of some extraordinary teachers this season, and of course her 90-year-old mom, Judith. Tune in to laugh, cry, and get wise. All Hail Old Women! Photo: Ryan Pfluger and August Image

4.8 (9315)

COMEDY
…Is this it? That’s the question our host Reshma Saujani asks herself daily. She’s the founder of two successful nonprofits, she’s married to a great guy, and she’s raising two beautiful children. She’s gotten everything she’s ever wanted, so why does she feel so unsatisfied? Is this a woman’s version of a midlife crisis? She’s determined to figure it out, and with the strength of her group chat behind her, she’s calling in reinforcements. From Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, to Emily Oster and Cheryl Strayed, to experts, friends, authors and more, Reshma’s going to help us all figure out how we stop trying to just get through this time of life… and actually start living it.

4.1 (108)

HEALTH & FITNESS
"Compelling and thoughtful listening" - the New York Times Hosted by Kentuckians Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers, Pantsuit Politics is an independent podcast that takes a different approach to the news and culture. Pay attention without the anxiety. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/

4.5 (4770)

NEWS
Scott Aukerman, Lauren Lapkus and Paul F Tompkins abandon their regular formats to focus on the basics of being funny with each other. Can’t wait to hear more episodes? For more info and archive episodes go to www.lemonadamedia.com. Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/

4.9 (3111)

COMEDY
Are you living your best life now? Not always? This is a podcast for you. Duke Professor Kate Bowler is an expert in the stories we tell about success and failure, suffering and happiness. She had Stage IV cancer. Then she didn’t. And since then, all she wants to do is talk to funny and wise people about how to live with the knowledge that, well, everything happens. Find her online at @katecbowler. Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/

4.8 (4721)

SOCIETY & CULTURE
Introducing Hildy’s Happy Hour - a new companion podcast to Hildy the Barback and the Lake of Fire. Melissa McCarthy, Ben Falcone and Steve Mallory will have a beer and chat with their very talented friends - many who voiced characters in season one. It's a fun hangout with hilarious friends sharing a pint of ale. To hear the Hildy original soundtrack, head to: https://hildythebarbackthelakeoffire.hearnow.com/season-one-official-soundtrack For Hildy merch, head to: https://hildy.store/ Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media

4.6 (258)

FICTION

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Melissa Beck

Host

4.7

out of 5

92 Ratings

Inspirational!

04/20/2024

92007 (level 30)

Thank you for giving me strength through your stories. It’s so easy to fall into traps set by racism, poverty, stress, and exhaustion. Of course drugs and mistakes are all part of the “calculated formula.” Thank you for showing the way out through art and the right social support, not punishment.
Powerful

12/25/2023

Papaya678

It is rare to hear the stories of 2 women who make it through drugs, mental health and prison to the other side and start their own nonprofit. You go go go! So inspired.
Important listen

12/04/2023

AJ Hanger

Individual stories can and do encourage people to vote for elected officials that can make positive change - like ending mass incarceration and decriminalizing mental illness. Thanks to Aimee and Kamisha for sharing theirs!
Great host!

12/02/2023

Prisonreformgurl

Melissa Beck is one of the best hosts I’ve heard on a podcast. What a great way to share these unique and powerful stories of these two women. If only there were more podcasts hosted by Melissa Beck… the world would be a better place.

In times of need, who do you turn to? What systems do you believe are there to catch you if you fall? Is there a way to interrupt generations of trauma and family violence? What might the world look like if we decriminalized mental illness, substance use disorder, and poverty? Call Declined follows the lives of two extraordinary women, Kamisha Thomas and Aimee Wissman, and the captivating story of how they fell through a frayed safety net and how resilience, friendship, and the power of creativity enabled them to survive the grim walls of the Dayton Correctional Institution. It is a story of how art became their north star and inspiration for what was to come when they finally were released from prison. Call Declined is hosted by Melissa Beck, the executive director of the Sozosei Foundation. To learn more about our country's mental health system, check out the episodes in this feed marked Call For Help, hosted by Stephanie Wittels Wachs, which explores the promise and perils of the nationwide rollout of the 988 hotline. Call Declined is presented by the Sozosei Foundation, a philanthropic arm of Otsuka. The Foundation’s goal is to increase access to mental healthcare in order to eliminate the inappropriate use of jails and prisons for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness in the United States. Learn more at www.SozoseiFoundation.org. The Sozosei Foundation extends special thanks to Aimee Wissman and Kamisha Thomas, visionary artists and co-founders of The Returning Artists Guild whose creativity, resilience, and lived experience inspire us to build a world where mental illness is not a crime. To learn more about the Guild visit www.thereturningartistsguild.org. Please note that this podcast contains mature content, including explicit language and discussions about drug use and other potentially sensitive topics. The views expressed are solely those of the participants and do not reflect the opinions of the Sozosei Foundation, podcast host or sponsors. Listener discretion is advised. This content is intended for mature audiences and is not suitable for all listeners.