On this episode of Peer Perspective Podcast, “Let’s Talk About It,” we take time during Mental Health Awareness Month to have an open and honest conversation about the connection between mental health, substance use, addiction recovery, and peer support.

We discuss how these experiences often overlap, impacting individuals, families, workplaces, and entire communities, sometimes in ways that are unseen. Many people are navigating challenges quietly while continuing to show up for daily life, carrying struggles others may never realize.

This episode focuses on the importance of awareness, reducing stigma, and creating space for real conversations that remind people they are not alone.

Burnout is often associated with the workplace—but what about the toll it takes before someone is even employed?

In this episode, we explore how burnout can show up in less visible ways, particularly in the emotional and mental strain of searching for work. From ongoing rejection and uncertainty to the pressure of staying motivated, the journey toward employment can carry a weight that often goes unrecognized.

Joined by special guest Kayla Denny, LEAP Employment Counselor and Workshop Coordinator with Workforce Development, this conversation brings insight into the realities many individuals face while navigating employment systems and expectations. Together, we discuss how burnout can impact confidence, mental health, and recovery, and why acknowledging these experiences is an important step toward support and understanding.

Curiosity is often seen as something light, positive, even playful, but what happens when it feels uncomfortable?

In this episode, we take a deeper look at what it really means to experience curiosity. From the excitement of discovery to the unease of stepping into the unknown, curiosity can hold a wide range of emotions. It can open doors to growth, connection, and new perspectives, while also bringing up uncertainty, vulnerability, and discomfort.

Together, we explore both sides, how curiosity can guide us forward and how it can challenge us to sit with feelings we might otherwise avoid. This conversation invites you to reflect on your own experiences and consider what curiosity might be trying to show you.

Because sometimes, leaning into the questions, especially the uncomfortable ones, can lead to the most meaningful understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

We are going to take a closer look at instant gratification, the pull toward immediate relief or pleasure and how it can quietly shape our behaviors, especially within mental health and substance use recovery.

What often begins as something harmless, even human, can gradually influence the choices we make without us fully realizing it. Instant gratification can show up in the small, everyday moments, such as a message sent too quickly, a habit we fall back into, or a craving we act on before pausing to reflect. Over time, these patterns can grow stronger, reinforcing cycles that prioritize short-term comfort over long-term wellness.

Together, we explore how this urge can evolve from subtle to overwhelming, at times feeling like a force that’s difficult to escape. We also open up the conversation around awareness, self-reflection, and what it means to begin shifting from reactive patterns toward more intentional choices.

This episode invites listeners to consider where instant gratification may be showing up in their own lives and how slowing down, even briefly, can create space for change.

We’re excited to kick off our new series, Moments That Matter, on the Peer Perspective Podcast. This series shines a light on the experiences and pivotal moments in our lives that leave a lasting impact. Moments shaped by the words or actions of someone who inspired, guided, or supported us. It could be a friend, family member, neighbor, coworker, mentor, or even a sponsor, anyone whose presence made a meaningful difference. These stories explore how everyday challenges, including mental health struggles and experiences with substance use, can be shaped by connection, support, and encouragement.

In today’s episode, we will be sharing James's story, who reflects on a specific moment when someone in his life offered guidance and support that left a lasting impression, influencing the way he approaches challenges, recovery, and connection with others.

Please note: all shared stories that names maybe changed for privacy.

In this episode of the Peer Perspective Podcast, we sit down with Mary Morris, Drama Therapist and Program Manager with Dialogue for Justice at the Restorative Justice Initiative in New York City, to explore the role of drama therapy in mental health, substance use, and addiction recovery.

Together, we dive into how creative expression through role-play, storytelling, and performance can help individuals process emotions, build self-awareness, and develop new coping strategies. Mary shares how drama therapy can create opportunities for people to safely explore experiences, reconnect with themselves, and strengthen their recovery journey.

This conversation also takes an honest look at the benefits, challenges, and limitations of drama therapy. While creative therapies can open powerful pathways for healing, they may not resonate with everyone, reinforcing the importance of recognizing that recovery is not one-size-fits-all.

Drama therapy is one of many tools that can support individuals in recovery, reminding us that each person’s path toward wellness is unique.

In this episode of Peer Perspective, we play devil’s advocate and dive deep into hope. We will explore it from every angle.

Examining the bright side, the inspiration, and motivation hope can bring, but we also confront the challenges, disappointments, and risks when hope falters. Join us as we unpack what hope really means, how it impacts our mental health and recovery journeys, and why understanding both its power and pitfalls can help us navigate life with more clarity and resilience.

In this episode, we take a closer look at anger; breaking it down at its core to better understand what it is, how it shows up, and why it’s often misunderstood. While anger is frequently labeled as negative or unhealthy, the truth is more nuanced.

Anger can surface suddenly or build quietly over time, especially for individuals navigating mental health challenges or recovery. It may feel unfamiliar, uncomfortable, or even unsafe to acknowledge. Yet avoiding anger altogether can prevent us from understanding the important messages it carries and how it influences our thoughts, behaviors, and overall mental wellness.

Join us as we explore the complexities of anger, challenge common assumptions, and discuss healthy, constructive ways to recognize, process, and truly own this powerful emotion.