Best John Shrader Podcasts (2025)

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TYLER CAVALLI, KRVN Radio and Rural Radio Association 45:23

2h ago45:23

45:23

TYLER CAVALLI has worked for the Nebraska Rural RadioAssociation [NRRA] for more than a decade. He has anchored news, done sports broadcasting and is now operations and programming manager in Lexington. KRVN and 14 other stations are owned by the NRRA, which is owned by farmers and ranchers in Nebraska. Tyler talks here about what he does, the valu…

1
Stephanie Beilin: Mother's Journey Through Mental Illness and Incarceration 26:56

2h ago26:56

26:56

Send us a text A mother and clinical social worker shares her heartbreaking journey navigating the legal system after her high-achieving son developed serious mental illness, revealing how our justice system criminalizes rather than treats mental health conditions. • Licensed independent clinical social worker with 40+ years experience working with…

1
Animal Communication | Interview with Penelope Smith

2h ago

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Penelope Smith is the founding pioneer of interspecies telepathic communication, having practiced professionally since the 1970s. Communicating with animals telepathically throughout her life, she discovered in 1971 that animals could be relieved of emotional traumas and other problems through the same counseling techniques that helped humans. Pene…

1
Justin Volpe : How Peer Support Changes Lives 28:20

5h ago28:20

28:20

Send us a text Justin Volpe shares his journey from being diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and incarcerated to becoming a certified recovery peer specialist who has trained over 3,500 police officers in crisis intervention. His story demonstrates how individuals with lived experience can transform systems and save lives by bridging gaps betw…

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Jessica Ferguson : Brother in Crisis: A Family's Desperate Fight for Mental Health Support 28:24

7h ago28:24

28:24

Send us a text Jessica Ferguson shares the deeply personal story of her brother's struggle with serious mental illness and how systemic failures led to his incarceration after being accused of a triple homicide when he should have been in psychiatric care. • Her brother had been stable with his mental illness for a decade before showing concerning …

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Jhilam Biswas Reveals Paths to Mental Health Reform From Forensic Hospitals to Freedom 31:24

22m ago31:24

31:24

Send us a text Dr. Jhilam Biswas, a board-certified adult and forensic psychiatrist, discusses how mental health issues intersect with the criminal justice system and the urgent need for reform. She shares insights from her research and clinical experience working with incarcerated individuals with mental illness, explaining why mental health care …

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Eric Smith: From Music Prodigy to Mental Health Advocate 30:47

22m ago30:47

30:47

Send us a text Eric Smith shares his remarkable journey from child piano prodigy to mental health advocate after battling psychosis and addiction. His story reveals how finding the right medication after a decade of failed treatments transformed his life from hospitalization and FBI involvement to becoming a Texas Judicial Commissioner on Mental He…

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Seth Kahan's Journey Transforms Mental Health Advocacy in America 29:37

2d ago29:37

29:37

Send us a text Seth Kahan shares his journey from personal tragedy to leading a national movement against mental health stigma after his mother developed schizophrenia when he was 10 years old. His experience pioneering frameworks for grand challenges led him to launch Stop Stigma Together, a collaborative initiative uniting major mental health org…

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526: The Damaging (& Insidious) Effects of Glyphosate and What Bayer is Doing to Avoid Liability with Kelly Ryerson 37:48

1d ago37:48

37:48

Glyphosate is a toxic carcinogenic chemical found in RoundUp, a weedkiller that is routinely sprayed on our lawns and crops. But the bad news doesn't stop there! It is making its way into the food we eat, the air, and the water. Worse still, the maker of glyphosate, Bayer, is working on passing liability shield legislation so that they cannot be su…

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Sylvia Mignon: When Your Expertise Can't Save Your Child 30:01

1d ago30:01

30:01

Send us a text Sylvia Mignon, licensed clinical social worker and professor of criminal justice, shares her heartbreaking journey navigating the mental health system while trying to secure proper care for her son with schizoaffective disorder. Despite her professional expertise, she's experienced nine years of struggling against bureaucracies that …

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Cryptids: Monsters or Myths | Interview with Linda Eastburn

2d ago

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Linda Eastburn is the author of "Threshold to Encounters," and a seasoned investigator in the realms of UFOs, cryptids, and the paranormal. She shares her fascinating journey into the world of the unexplained, beginning with her introduction to a UFO research group in the early '90s. Her experiences have led her to explore the connections between U…

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Jack Wood:: A Father's Fight for Mental Health Reform 27:59

5d ago27:59

27:59

Send us a text Jack Wood shares his son Jonathan's journey through Florida's mental health system, revealing how management failure rather than lack of resources creates catastrophic outcomes for those with severe mental illnesses. • Jonathan's early life included kidney disorder requiring powerful medications including cancer drugs • At 18, Jonath…

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Justyna Rzewinski : A Whistleblower's Fight for Mental Health in Prisons 28:07

4d ago28:07

28:07

Send us a text Justyna Rzewinski shares her experience as a whistleblower after working at Rikers Island and her ongoing advocacy for criminal justice reform focusing on mental health treatment. • Working with different organizations to close Rikers Island and advocating for better treatment of mentally ill inmates • Fighting for smaller borough-ba…

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Midnight Mysteries | Interview Dr. Dennis W. Carroll

4d ago

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Dennis has 50 years of experience in the field of the paranormal. He has studied, researched, and investigated many aspects pertaining to the supernatural and occult with many personal paranormal experiences. He is an authority on folklore, legends, superstitions, and cryptozoology. He is a supernaturalist and paranormal consultant who has advised …

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Leslie Carpenter: Breaking the Mental Health Crisis Cycle 29:25

5d ago29:25

29:25

Send us a text Leslie Carpenter, co-founder of Iowa Mental Health Advocacy and Legislative Advocacy Manager at the Treatment Advocacy Center, shares her journey from concerned mother to dedicated mental health advocate after her son was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder 19 years ago. She discusses the barriers families face when seeking help …

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Joel Corcoran: Welcome, Needed, and Valued: The Clubhouse Approach 29:09

8d ago29:09

29:09

Send us a text Clubhouse International is transforming lives through intentional communities where people with mental illness rebuild their lives after disruption and isolation. Joel Corcoran joins us to tell the Clubhouse story. • Clubhouse International operates 377 clubhouses across 32 countries using a specific 37-standard model • Members volun…

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Denise Paley: From Crisis to Advocacy 30:09

10d ago30:09

30:09

Send us a text Denise Paley shares the harrowing story of her son's sudden onset schizophrenia at age 18 and his subsequent five-year imprisonment without sentencing, revealing critical failures in how our justice system handles mental illness. • Son Ellis was an honor roll student with a bright future before experiencing first-episode psychosis • …

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Judge Milton Mack's Mission to Reform Mental Healthcare 27:14

12d ago27:14

27:14

Send us a text Judge Milton Mack shares his mission to reform the mental health system by moving from crisis intervention to early treatment and prevention. His groundbreaking work in Michigan demonstrates how changing laws and procedures can dramatically improve outcomes while reducing costs. • Moving from an inpatient model to an outpatient world…

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KEITH O'BRIEN Journalist and Author 35:11

8d ago35:11

35:11

KEITH O’BRIEN is a journalist and author. In April2024 he wrote a piece in The Atlantic, “You’re Going to Miss Sports Journalism When it is Gone.” In this conversation, recorded in April 2025, he says not much has changed in that year to make him optimistic about where the business is going. We talk about the conditions in the industry, about young…

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525: How To Find The Best Olive Oil And Why It’s Good For Your Gut, Brain, And Heart With Bianti Danaj 45:14

8d ago45:14

45:14

In Albania, olive oil is called “ilac”, medicine. It’s included as a daily ritual for generations--a source of nourishment, healing, and tradition. For many of us, in other regions of the world, we have less familiarity with olive oil. And then we see labels on olive oil bottles that say "cold-pressed", "extra virgin", and "organic". What do these …

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From Diagnosis to Detention: How Schizophrenia Changed Two Lives Forever 24:04

9d ago24:04

24:04

Send us a text Carly, a licensed clinical social worker and mother, shares her 30-year journey navigating her son's schizophrenia diagnosis and the healthcare system's failures that led to his year-long incarceration. • Son diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 17, now 47 years old • Early signs included not wanting to get out of bed, not going to sc…

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Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy 28:57

10d ago28:57

28:57

Send us a text Ashley Smith, an advocate, author, and speaker, shares her powerful journey of recovery from schizophrenia and how she transformed a legal crisis into a platform for mental health advocacy. Through her blog "Overcoming Schizophrenia," seven self-published books, and work with organizations like NAMI and the Curious Foundation, Ashley…

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Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy 27:29

11d ago27:29

27:29

Send us a text Katie R. Dale shares her journey from hospital patient to mental health author and advocate, offering insights into living with bipolar disorder type 1 with psychotic features and how writing became her path to healing and helping others. • Started blogging in 2014 after hospitalization as self-therapy before expanding into professio…

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Tim Murphy's Fight for Mental Health Reform 30:22

12d ago30:22

30:22

Send us a text Tim Murphy, former congressman and psychologist, shares his journey advocating for mental health reform through the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act and highlights the systemic failures in America's approach to serious mental illness. • Serious mental illness requires different treatment approaches than general mental hea…

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Haley Graham : A Conversation on Mental Health, Autism, and Finding Your Way 26:04

17d ago26:04

26:04

Send us a text Psychotherapist Haley Graham shares her journey from pharmacist to mental health advocate after her son's struggle with school led her to found the Bounce Brighter Futures Foundation. Her personal experience with neurodivergence drives her passion for supporting children, parents, and teachers through therapeutic storytelling and com…

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TAYLOR TWELLMAN & JAKE ZIVIN MLS Sunday Night Soccer announcers 1:00:06

14d ago1:00:06

1:00:06

This episode is mostly about TAYLOR TWELLMAN. We chatted on the phone about his life and career. How that career ended and why he is so committed to making people aware of TBI (traumatic brain injury.) He talks about his broadcast career, its process and so much more. You can read more about Twellman in a Soccer America profile I wrote, at socceram…

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Patrick Kennedy on Autism,Mental Health, Addiction, and Political Change 33:14

14d ago33:14

33:14

Send us a text Patrick Kennedy shares his journey from Congressman to mental health advocate, revealing how his family history and personal struggles with addiction shaped his mission to transform America's approach to mental health care. • Passed the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act by attaching it to the 2008 bank bailout bill • Advo…

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Judge Liefman: Breaking the Cycle of Autism and Mental Illness in Criminal Justice 31:40

19d ago31:40

31:40

Send us a text Judge Steven Leifman shares his remarkable journey from witnessing horrific conditions in a state psychiatric hospital as a teenager to becoming a leading judicial advocate for mental health reform. His work in Miami-Dade County has transformed how the criminal justice system handles people with mental illness, saving millions of dol…

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Monsters and Cryptids | Interview with Gregory Fedora

16d ago

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Whether he is sitting around a campfire or in a studio Gregory will enlighten and entertain you with the most amazing stories. He has been seeking out the mysterious from a very early age. His goal is to document the history, mythology and tales of the peculiar creatures from around the world. When he is not in search of mysterious beasts, he is sp…

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524: Beyond Blood: How To Address The Trauma Messages Your Body Is Sending You With Adam and Josh Bigelsen 45:02

15d ago45:02

45:02

"If we don’t understand how nature works, we’re just guessing at trying to fix things." Adam and Josh Bigelsen provide insight today in how to listen to the body's messages, in order to address them. If you have trauma (and, naturally, most of us do), it doesn't mean just doing emotional work for healing. The physical has to be addressed as well. T…

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Christine Vester: Humanity Over Handcuffs: Protecting Autistic Lives in Legal Battles 16:59

16d ago16:59

16:59

Send us a text Christine Vester shares her mission with Humanity Over Handcuffs, a national advocacy movement protecting autistic individuals from being criminalized by the justice system. Her organization supports families, educates legal professionals, and works toward reforming a system that often treats neurological differences as criminal beha…

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Carol Nesteikis: Autism and the Justice System 25:06

17d ago25:06

25:06

Send us a text Carol Nistakis shares her family's painful journey through the justice system after her autistic son was manipulated into illegal activity by a neighbor. Her decade-long fight for justice led her to cofound D3, an organization helping families navigate the unique challenges autistic individuals face in legal proceedings. • Began advo…

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Areva Martin: How One Mother Became an Everyday Autism Advocate 27:19

21d ago27:19

27:19

Send us a text CNN contributor and civil rights attorney Areva Martin shares her personal journey of raising an autistic son while becoming a powerful advocate for disability rights and creating systemic change. • Son Marty's autism diagnosis at age two prompted an intensive learning journey • Navigated overwhelming and often inaccurate information…

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Ruth Johnston: Autism and Schizophrenia: A Mother's Fight for Change 30:54

19d ago30:54

30:54

Send us a text Ruth Johnston shares her harrowing journey as the mother of an autistic son who developed schizophrenia, and how this experience drove her to advocate for Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania following a family tragedy. • Ruth's son was diagnosed with autism as a teenager, after she had already been h…

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Shadows and Whispers | Interview with Cyn Shrader Hill

20d ago

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Cyn Shrader Hill is a native of Fayetteville and founder of Elk Valley Paranormal. She's investigated the Old Fayetteville Hospital where she worked closely with the owner recording EVPs and hosting investigations. Cyn discusses her paranormal-themed books: "Whispers in the Dark: True Ghost Stories and Eerie Tales;" "Web of Terror: A Short Story Co…

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Angela Calzone's Vision:Integrating disabilities into the workforce 24:53

20d ago24:53

24:53

Send us a text Angela Calzone shares how Inroads to Opportunities supports individuals with disabilities through comprehensive programs designed to facilitate meaningful employment. The organization's business-oriented approach focuses on integration, skills development, and changing employer perceptions about hiring people with both visible and in…

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Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System 28:24

21d ago28:24

28:24

Send us a text Brian Shrader, a criminal defense attorney with experience as both prosecutor and defender, exposes how the justice system profoundly fails people with autism and mental health conditions. • Autism often leads to escalation during police encounters rather than directly causing criminal behavior • Mental health training is virtually n…

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Judge Kim Taylor:A Judge's Journey with Autism 26:30

24d ago26:30

26:30

Send us a text Judge Kim Taylor shares her journey as a pioneering female judge and mother of a son with autism, revealing how personal experience fueled her advocacy for autism awareness in the criminal justice system. Her work began after learning about Sidney Templeton, a young man with autism who died in police custody due to officers' lack of …

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PAULA LAVIGNE Investigative Reporter, ESPN 37:38

25d ago37:38

37:38

PAULA LAVIGNE is in her 18th year at ESPN, doing investigative reporting, working with the Enterprise andInvestigative unit. Paula, a Nebraska native, has worked at daily newspapers all over the country and has settled in nicely at ESPN. In this conversation we talk about what she does, how she does it and how the industry is beinginnovated [32:45]…

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523: Holographic Blood: The Surprising Way Your Blood Communicates The State Of Your Health With Adam And Josh Bigelsen 51:54

22d ago51:54

51:54

What if your body was trying to tell you something about your state of health...through your blood? And not just through blood tests or "live blood analysis" but via a holographic image?! Adam and Josh Bigelsen are carrying on the important work of their father, Harvey Bigelsen, the author of "Holographic Blood" and "Doctors are More Harmful than G…

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Understanding Autism Through Music: An Acoustic Evening for a Cause 15:47

23d ago15:47

15:47

Send us a text We broadcast live from the Nashville Palace for a special remote podcast supporting "An Acoustic Evening for Autism," bringing together musicians who share their personal connections to autism awareness. • Jamie O'Neill describes how having a cousin with autism inspired her participation in the benefit concert • Jamie emphasizes the …

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Rita Williams: How One Woman Transformed Personal Trauma into Criminal Justice Reform 27:28

24d ago27:28

27:28

Send us a text Rita Williams turned personal tragedy into powerful advocacy when her spouse was unexpectedly sentenced to 10-20 years in prison, revealing deep flaws in the criminal justice system and sparking her mission to expose judicial misconduct and support others facing similar challenges. • Former federal employee who pursued a master's in …

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Leigh Anne McKingsley: Creating Pathways to Justice for the Developmentally Disabled 28:49

25d ago28:49

28:49

Send us a text Leigh Anne McKingsley shares her journey as Senior Director of Disability and Justice Initiatives for the ARC, where she oversees the National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability to address the invisibility and injustices faced by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the justice system. • The ARC began as …

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Judge David Fleisher: When Judges Choose Compassion Over Punishment? 28:20

26d ago28:20

28:20

Send us a text Judge David Fleischer, who presides over Harris County Criminal Court in Houston, Texas, shares his groundbreaking approaches to criminal justice reform with a focus on mental health and autism awareness. • Reforming the bail system to prevent wealth-based discrimination in courts • Dropping conviction rates from 60% to 25% through b…

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Bridget Hampstead's Journey: Autism, Community, and Radical Love 25:20

27d ago25:20

25:20

Send us a text Bridget Hampstead shares her journey from discovering her own neurodivergence to founding Fish in a Tree, a virtual community center supporting neurodivergent adults. Her work combines community building, political advocacy, and neuroaffirming practices to create spaces where late-diagnosed autistic individuals can find acceptance an…

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Extraterrestrial Experience | Interview with Nomar Slevik

28d ago

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Nomar Slevik is an independent creator, researcher and investigator in numerous aspects of the paranormal. He delights in sharing stories through different mediums such as books, documentaries and podcasts. He's been fascinated by all things paranormal since childhood, beginning with a UFO encounter at 4 years old. His life's passion has been to re…

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John Puls : Autism, Justice, and Understanding: Navigating the Criminal System 24:26

1M ago24:26

24:26

Send us a text John Puls, a psychotherapist specializing in forensic work, shares critical insights on navigating the intersection of autism, mental health, and the criminal justice system. He draws on his extensive experience working with individuals in crisis to offer practical guidance for families and caregivers. • Working as a psychotherapist …

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Trish Ieraci:Understanding Autism Saves Lives: One Trainer's Mission to Transform Police Interactions 26:00

29d ago26:00

26:00

Send us a text Trish Ieraci, founder of Teaching Individuals About Autism (TIA), takes us deep into the critical gap between law enforcement training and successful interactions with the autism community. With powerful clarity, she dismantles the narrow stereotype that autism only affects severely impaired children, explaining how this misconceptio…

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522: It’s Not Just Food that is Ultra Processed: What You Don’t Know about The Water You’re Drinking! With Isabel Friend 53:13

29d ago53:13

53:13

We are essentially aquatic terrain. From before we were born till the day we die, we are surrounded by and filled with water! Isabel Friend, a water expert and educator, explains why this matters. She goes over the importance of water in ancient cultures and the science behind its many benefits for us (and its amazing properties)!…

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Country Music Meets Compassion: How Artists Are Making a Difference for Autism 16:07

30d ago16:07

16:07

Send us a text Tony Mantor hosts a special remote podcast from Nashville Palace supporting "An Acoustic Evening for Autism." Country music artists Daryl Worley and Dillon Massengale share their personal connections to autism awareness and how music has become a platform for making a difference. • Daryl Worley explains how friends with an autistic c…

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John Shrader Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen