In this episode, I sit down with Joe Feldman, founder and CEO of Cover My Mental Health. His website, CoverMyMentalHealth.org, is filled with free resources—including helpful instructions and templates—designed to empower families and clinicians. Joe’s journey began when his child was denied essential mental health care—sparking a federal lawsuit and igniting his passion for advocacy.

He shares how that fight led to the creation of Cover My Mental Health, a nonprofit equipping families and clinicians with practical tools—letters, scripts, and resources—to challenge insurance denials and access care. Drawing on his startup background and collaborations with advocates, clinicians, and even former insurers, Joe launched the organization in just months.

We talk about turning personal struggle into systemic change, the importance of coalition-building, and why encouragement and accessibility are key to reform. If you’ve ever faced a mental health coverage denial—or work on the front lines—this conversation offers hope, strategies, and a reminder: you don’t have to take no for an answer. Learn more at covermymentalhealth.org

For all the podcasts, highlight videos, resources, and everything you want to know about Grand Challenges, click visit grandchallenges.info

In this episode, I talk with filmmaker and mental health advocate Max Blaska, whose short film Last Rung on the Ladder—an adaptation of a Stephen King story—became both a tribute to his late aunt and a lifeline in his own battle with anxiety and depression.

Max shares how the project nearly fell apart amid a personal crisis, how seeking inpatient care became a turning point, and how a dedicated team helped him bring the film to life. Since then, he has screened it nationwide, partnering with local mental health organizations to ensure audiences leave with both inspiration and resources.

Now, Max is launching the Mental Health Warrior Film Festival (Sept 16–30, 2025), featuring over 20 short films from across the U.S. and beyond—each exploring themes of suicide prevention and mental health from diverse perspectives.

Tune in for an honest conversation about art, recovery, and the power of storytelling to save lives.

👉 Learn more at mentalhealthwarriorfilmfest.com
Attend the festival, or connect with Max:
Mental Health Warrior Film Festival
September 16 - 30th, 2025

Email: warrior@mentalhealthfilmfest.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/people/Mental-Health-Warrior-Film-Festival/61557935377670/
Instagram: @mentalhealthwarriormax
TikTok: Max Mental Health Warrior

For all the podcasts, highlight videos, resources, and everything you want to know about Grand Challenges, click visit grandchallenges.info

In this episode of my podcast, I dive into a question every leader faces sooner or later: What do we do when the world around us is filled with uncertainty, challenge, and disruption? While the circumstances of today may feel unique, we’ve been through turbulent times before. Crises like 9/11, the 2008 mortgage meltdown, and the COVID-19 pandemic shook the foundations of our economy and our daily lives. Looking back, we can see what worked—and what didn’t—for leaders who had to steer their organizations through upheaval.

From these experiences, I’ve identified seven elements of leadership for turbulent times that consistently make the difference. They include situational awareness, strategic agility, stakeholder alignment, value-driven decision making, visibility and voice, building a culture of adaptation, and systemic foresight. In this episode, I break each of these down, showing how they apply when the ground is shifting beneath our feet.

For example, situational awareness comes from gathering multiple perspectives so you see the whole picture, not just one angle. Strategic agility means developing nimble game plans that can flex as events unfold. And systemic foresight equips leaders to prepare for what’s coming next—not just react to what’s already here. Together, these practices create resilience and stability even in chaos.

Whether you’re leading a business, an association, or any mission-driven organization, these seven elements provide a roadmap for not only surviving disruption but emerging stronger. My goal is to give you practical insights you can put into practice right now, so you and your team can move forward with clarity and confidence in the face of turbulence.

For all the podcasts, highlight videos, resources, and everything you want to know about Grand Challenges, click visit grandchallenges.info