For Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month this July, we are cutting through the clinical jargon and having the conversations that actually matter. In this episode, we sit down with Sharon Holmes (Inspiring Here and Now) and Annette Jones (Jones Community Solutions) for an unfiltered, unapologetic look at the realities of navigating the behavioral health system as Black women. We tackle the exhaustion of constantly explaining your lived experience to practitioners, the systemic barriers that keep minority professionals out of peer support spaces, and what actual, roll-up-your-sleeves allyship looks like in practice. Mental Health America's theme for 2026 is "More Good Days, Together". But getting to those good days takes more than just positive thinking—it requires safe spaces, systemic change, and fierce community support.


#bipocmentalhealthmonth #peersupport #holdingthehope

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Can you make it to NASCAR's national stage without coming from a racing family?

San Diego native Austin Varco is proving that with the right village, it’s absolutely possible.

In this exclusive interview, we sit down with 26-year-old driver Austin Varco as he prepares to make his historic NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in his hometown. Racing the No. 22 Team Reaume Chevrolet at the unique Naval Base Coronado street circuit, Austin opens up about the extreme financial hurdles of modern motorsports, what it means to share a track with San Diego racing legend Jimmie Johnson, and his ultimate mission to inspire others to chase their dreams.

Beyond the track, Austin is the driving force behind the Race4Autism initiative, using advanced racing simulators to create sensory-friendly, accessible motorsport experiences for kids and adults on the autism spectrum.

Thank you for listening to our latest episode. Be sure to tune in for more exciting things happening with The Other 9 podcast in the upcoming months.

Join Mary and Savannah on this conversation about being yourself and the acceptance that goes along with that.

Savannah Carr is a certified peer counselor at an outpatient facility. She recently celebrated 13 years in recovery, 11/14/11. - "I am a mother of six, a wife to an amazing man that has never raised his voice to me. I am a woman who has worked hard to find who I truly am and utilize my past experiences to inspire and support others on their journey. The small moments make the biggest impacts, the one small act of kindness can make all the difference for one person. I've been incredibly lucky to have had some of the most loving and compassionate people that have shown me the importance of human connections. I have overcome obstacles each day and have experienced more loss than most people and I've done it all in recovery."

Since 2003 Holding the Hope has provided expert training and consulting to international corporations, state and county governments and individual behavioral health provider agencies. The company has grown to include a team of trainers, consultants and speakers, all who are experts in their fields and all who bring their personal recovery story to their work.

With a wealth of expertise, insight and experience, Holding the Hope’s team of experts have helped transform the way mental health and addiction are viewed and treated in many counties and private agencies across the country. This team infuses hope into everything they do, and they’ll teach you how to do it too.

With Holding the Hope, it IS personal.

Thank you for listening to our latest episode. Be sure to tune in for more exciting things happening with The Other 9 podcast in the upcoming months.