In this episode, our hosts dive deeper with Mike and Jeff—longtime guests and mental health advocates—to explore critical themes of empathy, respect, and culture change in schools and communities. We address how pressures from standardized testing, social media, and evolving societal values impact emotional learning and how these challenges require shifts in school culture and community support.
Mike and Jeff share practical strategies for embedding empathy in everyday school interactions, resetting communication norms to foster respect, and using simple behavioral scripts that promote dignity both online and offline. The discussion also includes the realities families face, such as financial strain and support networks, and highlights the importance of building student resilience and coping skills for sustained mental health.
If you're invested in transforming school culture, creating safer educational communities, and empowering students to navigate conflict respectfully, this episode offers actionable insights. For a comprehensive approach, listen to Part 1 on cyberbullying, accountability, and the school-to-prison pipeline as well.
If you’re ready to turn empathy into action, come workshop it with Mike, Jeff, and your hosts on our Discord, "The Struggle Bus." Post one respect-building micro-habit you’ll try this week (classroom, home, or online)—we’ll refine it, check in mid-week, and keep you accountable—and encouraged! (link below)

Beat The Mental Health Out Of It! is a candid mental health podcast with lived experience—schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia spectrum psychosis, BPD, PTSD, trauma recovery, coping skills, and dark humor that fights stigma.

Hosted by Nicholas Wichman (“The DEFECTIVE Schizoaffective”) with frequent co-host Tony Medeiros, ("IndyPocket"), we talk serious mental illness, psych wards, religious trauma, bad therapy, meds, disability, and messy real-world coping.

New episodes drop every other Monday at 6am ET.

Want community and support? Join our Discord, “The Struggle Bus”: https://discord.gg/emFXKuWKNA

All links (TikTok, YouTube, Streaming, etc.): https://linktr.ee/BTMHOOI

Podcast cover art by Ryan Manning