It's hard for many of us to wrap our heads around how we could be so different from our neighbors and so much of our country. Many are asking where the humanity is, but we're challenging ourselves and you to ask whether we're really looking for it and offering it right now.

If you need somewhere to start, we're re-releasing a podcast episode today from 2021 with a man named Graham Finochio. If ever anyone has given us insight and empathy on how one gets into and away from harmful ideologies and behaviors, it’s Graham. His story and work brings understanding, hope, practical tools, and a place to put your money if you want to invest in programs that offer real and profound transformation for men in similar circumstances.

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In today's episode, we continue our series with the men of Success Stories Program and one of their Transformational Coaches, Graham Finochio. Throughout this conversation, we discuss some of his early trauma, how he came to identify as a skinhead, how prison reinforced his beliefs around toxic masculinity and white supremacy, and the moment things started to change for him.

He walks us through his personal transformation and his thoughts on forgiveness, amends, and what healthy love looks like. He shares more about the curriculum Success Stories offers to help guide men toward a similar path, and leaves us with tips on how to approach these types of conversations within our own relationships.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Success Stories Program

The Feminist On Cellblock Y

Thoughtful Human x Success Stories

Donate to Success Stories

If you want to follow along in our journey or check out our products, find us at our website thoughtfulhuman.co, or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

P.S. If you or someone you love needs access to a month of free online therapy: betterhelp.com/thoughtfulhuman.

Today marks a bright new season for Thoughtful Human — I am so proud and excited to be joining forces with Maya Enista Smith and introduce you to her as the new President of Thoughtful Human.

Maya is an absolute force — by this I mean a lifelong change-maker, community builder, kindness champion, political, social, and mental health advocate and — lucky for me — a greeting card fanatic. She offers a robust background in leadership roles across non-profits, technology, and social entrepreneurship, most recently serving as the Executive Director of Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation for over a decade, where she led initiatives to support youth mental health and empower young people to create a kinder, braver world.

Join Maya and I as we get to know each other, as we reconnect with you, and as we start to build the future of this company.

In this episode:

[00:21]: (Re) Introducing Thoughtful Human

[6:05 / 19:31]: Maya’s background and personal mission

[27:25]: Mental health and misconceptions about Gen Z

[32:25]: How to create a movement around a social issue

[25:20]: How one comes to work with Lady Gaga

[48:43]: Grief – what people are getting and right and wrong

[1:09:52]: What lead Maya to send 524 greeting cards in 2012

[1:05:10]: Who dumped a jug of orange juice on Maya’s head and why

[1:16:16]: Maya’s beef with Thoughtful Human

[1:22:26]: Where we’re heading and what we need from you!

Resources:

• The JED Foundation
• Bring Change to Mind

If you want to follow along in our journey or check out our products, find us at our website thoughtfulhuman.co, or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Today’s conversation is all about body image and eating disorders.

This episode touches on both the everyday challenges related to body image, as well as a deeper discussion about clinical eating disorders and how we can create honest, safe spaces to talk about them with our loved ones.

To help us do this, I am joined by Dr. Margo Maine. Dr. Maine is a clinical psychologist who has specialized in eating disorders and related issues for over 35 years. She is one of the founders of the National Eating Disorders Association, as well as an author and speaker, in addition to her private practice.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The differences between different types of EDs
• Language that may be helpful and harmful in approaching conversations about body image
• Common misconceptions about EDs vs how and why eating disorders develop
• Effective ways to open up conversations about an eating disorder
• Relational Cultural Theory (RCT) and Dr. Maine’s psychoeducational approach to treatment
• Prevention and some practical tools for self acceptance

Resources:

• The Body Project: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/get-involved/the-body-project
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• You can also call or text the NEDA helpline at (800) 931-2237.

If you want to follow along in our journey or check out our products, find us at our website thoughtfulhuman.co, or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

P.S. If you or someone you love needs access to a month of free online therapy: betterhelp.com/thoughtfulhuman.