The Catalyst Podcast

The Catalyst Podcast
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Conversations with scientists, clinicians, thought leaders, end users (business leaders, agency heads, practitioners) and people (“profiles in resilience”) on real-world integrated health solutions and their impact on recovery, resilience and the realization of human/organizational potential. 

  1. Homing in on Solutions for America’s Homelessness Crisis

    2D AGO

    Homing in on Solutions for America’s Homelessness Crisis

    Most states are overwhelmed by the rising tide of homelessness and grappling with its various downstream effects.  Max Seely, Director of Government Affairs at the Supportive Housing Providers Association (SHPA), joins us to discuss the complex root causes of homelessness and what SHPA is doing to turn the tide. Max reveals how flexible, individualized supportive services—like addiction treatment, mental health care, and job support—are significantly reducing homelessness. In this episode, we break down: What people (policymakers, business leaders, the general public) get wrong about homelessness.  How Illinois’ full continuum of care (prevention → shelters → supportive housing) works as one interconnected system. Why criminalizing homelessness only makes the problem worse, and what actually breaks the cycle. The staggering costs of underfunding these services. The single biggest policy change that could dramatically reduce homelessness. If you care about social justice, urban solutions, or what it will take to fix America’s homelessness crisis, this is essential listening.

    24 min
  2. Inside the Rise of Sports Betting: America's “Hidden” Epidemic

    MAR 31

    Inside the Rise of Sports Betting: America's “Hidden” Epidemic

    Most people underestimate the rapid rise of sports gambling addiction—until it hits close to home. Amanda Arrowsmith, Associate Director of Residential Programs with Chestnut Health Systems,  exposes the “hidden epidemic,” fueled by mobile betting apps, aggressive marketing, and the normalization of in-game wagers. This is a particularly timely topic as sports gambling is very much in the news, as we recorded this during the NCAA basketball tournament, when offices around the country are obsessed with betting pools –  a far more benign manifestation of the broad, rapid, and alarming rise of sports gambling that’s going on in our country right now.      Amanda breaks down how sports betting has exploded from $400 million in revenue in 2018 to over $13 billion today, with nearly 40 states now legalizing it. She discusses the subtle signs that indicate someone is developing a gambling problem—like obsessive score-checking, mood swings, and secrecy—and why these behaviors often go unnoticed because sports betting lacks the physical cues of substance abuse.   You’ll discover how the brain’s reward system is hijacked, making recovery even more complex. We delve into practical steps to help loved ones -why simply offering money often worsens the problem -and what supportive interventions like professional therapy, family counseling, and behavioral health programs look like. Amanda highlights Chestnut’s proactive approach: universal screening for gambling disorder and community education about recognizing and addressing risky behaviors. She warns that without proper regulation and awareness, we risk amplifying a crisis that can lead to devastating consequences, including higher suicide rates among compulsive gamblers.

    25 min
  3. Digital Addiction on Trial: Unpacking the $6 Million Verdict Against Meta and YouTube

    MAR 27

    Digital Addiction on Trial: Unpacking the $6 Million Verdict Against Meta and YouTube

    Employment law expert Jon Hyman joins us to unpack the groundbreaking $6 million judgment that held social media giants Meta and YouTube liable for addictive design, which caused the plaintiff to develop severe mental health issues, including anxiety, body dysmorphia, and suicidal ideation, starting from age six. Could this case reshape the future of mental health, workplace liability, and digital/AI ethics? We discuss how courts could attribute liability for psychological harm from addictive apps, what this would mean for employers requiring social media use, and potential openings for future litigation. We break down the core arguments: from social media's addictive algorithms to the broader conversation about AI’s role in mental health and workplace safety, and whether organizations will be required to undertake expanded duty-of-care responsibilities.  Whether you're a mental health professional, business leader, legal professional, or simply curious about the future of digital/AI addiction and accountability, you’ll leave with a clearer picture of the challenges ahead in our increasingly AI-driven world.

    25 min
  4. What We Get Wrong - and Why - About Public Health and Social Justice: a wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Harold Pollack

    MAR 12

    What We Get Wrong - and Why - About Public Health and Social Justice: a wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Harold Pollack

    "Meeting our current challenges requires that we reform and strengthen criminal justice systems, following where the evidence leads to promote public safety, and to integrate such measures within the broader portfolio of economic development, health, and social services to address the causes and consequences of crime.  Meeting these challenges also requires active collaboration among the public health, social work, and law enforcement communities."  Engaging the Victim’s Voice in Public Safety ResearchDr. Harold Pollack, one of the foremost authorities on public health and social justice, joins us to share insights from his decades of work on harm reduction, restorative justice, and community engagement. We discuss: How his training as an electrical engineer applies to his work. Why public policy experts must improve how they communicate - clear, relatable messages are far more effective at building public support. His collaboration with Chestnut Health Systems (calling them “the best at what they do,” with special praise for their exceptional communication skills. Thank you, Dr. Pollack). The critical importance of listening to victims' voices.  Harsh treatment serves no useful purpose—a more meaningful way to honor crime victims is to truly listen to them, address their needs, and respect their values. The persistent resistance to harm reduction strategies, in contrast with their proven effectiveness (such as syringe exchange programs in preventing HIV transmission and reducing overdose deaths). What both the political right and left often get wrong on these issues—with thoughtful prescriptions for bridging the divide, at least in the realms of public health and social justice. How his book "The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn't Have to Be Complicated" (2016) connects to his public health work.  How the rise of AI intersects with public health and social work.   Dr. Harold Pollack is the Helen Ross Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago and the faculty codirector of the University of Chicago Health Lab. In addition to his academic work, Dr. Pollack’s writing has appeared in the New Republic, the Atlantic, the Washington Post, Politico, Vox, among other leading publications.

    1h 10m
  5. Scenarios for Success Amid Unprecedented Change: Open Minds VP Michael Allen on Building Organizational Resilience

    MAR 3

    Scenarios for Success Amid Unprecedented Change: Open Minds VP Michael Allen on Building Organizational Resilience

    The pace and scope of change buffeting behavioral health organizations – large and small – is unprecedented, yet some organizations are thriving while others struggle to keep the lights on. Michael Allen is Executive VP with Open Minds, where he provides executive oversight and leadership for provider and payer client engagements. Michael lays out the most pressing short-term and systemic changes – from federal policy to aging populations to digital transformation – and explains why traditional strategies no longer suffice. He describes concrete frameworks, such as scenario planning and the 6 Ps, that empower leaders - and their organizations - to stay resilient amid uncertainty and rapid, sweeping change. We discuss:  Why systemic changes are more challenging to navigate and often hard to reverse. How scenario planning helps organizations prepare for multiple futures. Why investing in AI and data management is crucial for future success. The importance of focusing on infrastructure to support growth. The lowering of stigma in asking for help among leaders today. The increase in collaboration among competitors in the behavioral health space. Why understanding market metrics is essential for strategic planning. The growing need for integrated care approaches in the industry. This conversation is essential for executive leaders, strategic planners, and innovators seeking insights and guidance on navigating these changes and preparing for long-term sustainability.  For further reading on these topics, I recommend OPEN MINDS Circle Executive Briefings, authored by OPEN MINDS Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Monica E. Oss. Each day, a new briefing is released covering the latest industry developments paired with insights and expert analysis.

    33 min
  6. The Challenges of Finetuning a Therapy Bot and the “PeerBot Paradox”: a Conversation with Dr. Christopher R. Larrison

    FEB 27

    The Challenges of Finetuning a Therapy Bot and the “PeerBot Paradox”: a Conversation with Dr. Christopher R. Larrison

    We’re joined by Dr. Christopher R. Larrison,  Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Larrison’s research includes studying the use of technology to improve mental health services and social interventions. We discussed the study he co-authored, titled “From Reddit to Generative AI: Evaluating Large Language Models for Anxiety Support Fine-tuned on Social Media Data.” We discussed:  How the study was conducted, its aim, and the gaps in extant studies that it sought to address.   The study’s findings, including how fine-tuning on social media data improves accessibility and coherence.   Whether there’s a material difference between genuine empathy and “synthetic” empathy.   The steep challenges in developing a “peerbot” that approximates the behavior of a traditional peer in a therapeutic setting.    The potential paradox at the core of a GenAI-based peer bot: “the more you train it, the less like a peer it behaves.” Additional research that needs to be done, and other research projects Chris is working on.  As more people engage GenAI chatbots for counseling, and as they become increasingly integrated into the therapeutic "space," we must get a deeper understanding of their behaviors, fine-tune them to improve the quality and "sensitivity" of the interactions, and, perhaps most importantly, ensure that the proper guardrails are in place. Anyone with an interest or stake in these issues should make it a point to listen to this important conversation.

    52 min
  7. How “The Ripple Effect” Program Promotes Connection and Social Capital: a Conversation with OWLS CEO Dr. Joel Bennett

    FEB 19

    How “The Ripple Effect” Program Promotes Connection and Social Capital: a Conversation with OWLS CEO Dr. Joel Bennett

    Dr. Joel Bennett is President, Organizational Wellness & Learning Systems (OWLS), a consulting firm specializing in evidence-based wellness and e-learning technologies that promote organizational health and employee well-being. Joel joins us to discuss “The Ripple Effect,” an evidence-based approach for social capital in workplaces and communities.  Joel unpacks what the training consists of, how it’s delivered, and how it brings teams/groups together to promote community, connection, belonging, social capital, and collective efficacy. He explains why the program meets this moment in our society, politics, and at workplaces, what it will take to elevate the training into a movement…and why this is so important.

    41 min
  8. Predicting Risk, Protecting Youth: Inside the e‑Connect Suicide Classifier with Dr. Casey Sarapas

    FEB 11

    Predicting Risk, Protecting Youth: Inside the e‑Connect Suicide Classifier with Dr. Casey Sarapas

    Dr. Casey Sarapas, a research scientist at Chestnut Health Systems’ Lighthouse Institute, unpacks a study he led, titled Predictive Validity of the e-Connect Suicide Risk Classification Algorithm in Youth on Probation (selected as among 2025’s best studies by the senior editors at JAACAP Open).  In this episode, Casey discusses the science behind eConnect’s risk classifier, which combines youth self-report data, substance use patterns, and recent mental health symptoms to assign risk levels more precisely than traditional methods. Casey shares how this tool outperforms many existing assessment measures, with a prediction accuracy (AUC) of around 0.7, capturing more youth at risk than ever before. He breaks down the key components—unsupervised self-report questionnaires, risk classification algorithms, and referral pathways—and how each element addresses critical gaps in behavioral health care for underserved populations. Casey explains how this technology is designed to work seamlessly for non-clinicians, removing the burden of interpretation from probation officers and fitting into their often-overwhelmed workflow. We discuss scalable models for other settings like schools and child welfare agencies, and explore the potential for periodic reassessment to monitor progress and adapt interventions over time. If you're involved in juvenile justice, mental health, or youth advocacy, this episode is essential, explaining how frontline workers can make faster, better-informed decisions in preventing the alarming rise in suicidal ideation among justice-involved youth.

    32 min
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About

Conversations with scientists, clinicians, thought leaders, end users (business leaders, agency heads, practitioners) and people (“profiles in resilience”) on real-world integrated health solutions and their impact on recovery, resilience and the realization of human/organizational potential. 

Information

  • Creator
    The Catalyst Podcast
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 The Catalyst Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Catalyst Podcast