I've Been Better

43: w/ Sarah Smith on the Fs: fathers, friends, and finding frogs

On this week's episode of I've Been Better, our host Susan Youngsteadt talks with good friend and fellow griefy, Sarah Smith. The two cover everything from the shared experience of the death of a parent, finding joy in the metaphysical world, and our healthy skepticism of the unknown being challenged.
Sarah currently serves as the Assistant Director of Civic Engagement at the Campus Y (UNC-Chapel Hill). The Campus Y is the hub for social justice at UNC and serves 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students who are passionate about making positive social change in their communities. She is a graduate of UNC (2010) with a BA in Anthropology and minors in Social & Economic Justice/Asian Studies. Sarah also earned her M. Phil in International Peace Studies from Trinity College Dublin in 2015. Her fun fact, Sarah has won 2 Blue Ribbons at the NC State Fair. Sarah’s life mantra comes from the poem Andrea Gibson, “Let your heart break so your spirit doesn’t.” 
 
CW: death, sudden illness, dementia, the metaphysical world, mediums, suicide, and loss
 
Instagram: @ssarah31488
 
Links:
LA Adkins | Sound Bath
Transitions Lifecare
NAMI

42: w/ Greg Womack-Adams on The Dawn of Greg

Welcome back for Season 8 of I've Been Better!
 
On our first episode of the season, our host Susan Youngsteadt, talks with friend Gregory Womack-Adams about his work, his passions, and what happens when the two no longer align. 
 
Greg is the Senior Structural Engineer and founder of his own consulting firm and is a licensed Professional Engineer in NC. Graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering and a MS in Civil Engineering from NCSU in 2014 and 2016, respectively. He is passionate about the STEM education (especially for rural and underserved communities), his Scottish heritage, and the great outdoors. He has volunteered with North Carolina Science Olympiad for 13 years, where he helps run events and teach students across the state about structural engineering. As for hobbies, Greg competes in Scottish Highland (Heavy) Athletics, which are a traditional test of strength and athleticism. Fun fact: Greg currently plays the bass drum for the North Carolina State University Pipes & Drums Band, which is the oldest continuously running Scottish Pipe Band in North Carolina. 
 
CW: Depression, mental health
 
Twitter - @YouveGotGreg
Instagram - @auldmacgregor
 

41: w/ Kayleen Schepper on ”Am I going to hell for this?” and breaking up with religion

On this week's episode, join host Susan as she talks with guest/friend and colleague, Kayleen Schepper, about her journey with religious deconstruction and how this influenced various aspects of her life. 
 
Kayleen is a fellow LCSW and completed her MSW at Wayne State University (Detroit). She loves to travel and has done solo traveling in Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia. For fun she enjoys podcasts, reading, standup comedy, and hiking. Her Instagram feed is mostly drag queens, cats, and progressive politics.
 
CW: religious and spiritual trauma, evangelizing, discussions about various religious practices and beliefs
 
Resources:
The Liturgists - Spiritual Trauma
https://theliturgists.com/the-podcast

40: w/ Amanda Jones Stanforth on reckoning with the meaning of failure and success

Join host Susan on this week's episode as she sits down with colleague and friend, Amanda Jones Stanforth. The two talk about Amanda's transition from teacher to therapist and how she came to shift her understanding of what it means to fail and succeed. 
 
Amanda is a psychotherapist, specifically a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and holds a graduate degree in social work. She is intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and uses this often in her work. She is also a fellow member of the DPC. Amanda enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, her dad and her friends. She also enjoys practicing hand-lettering and maintaining an unhealthy obsession with Bravo and binge-worthy tv.
 
CW: death and dying, depression, passive suicidal thoughts, failure, cancer, illness, hospice
 
Links:
Psychology Today
Therapy For Black Girls
Therapy Den
Transitions Lifecare Raleigh
 

39: w/ James Voltz on being here now; managing trauma through community and support

Join host Susan on this week’s episode as she talks with friend and colleague, James Voltz. The two cover James’ involvement in a local nonprofit, surviving childhood cancer, and experiencing a traumatic health event that has reshaped his view on life. 
James Voltz is a Husband, Raleigh Wine Shop proprietor, and President of SAFEchild Board of Directors; Credentials. He has a PhD from Duke in Cellular & Molecular Biology; Accomplishments - couple of dozen scientific publications, successful small business owner; Passions - Music, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, travel; Hobbies - Reading, exercise, horology (Hey Josh!). Fun fact, James traveled extensively in college & shortly thereafter playing competitive...air hockey. Regarding free time, James says, “Time is the least free thing in the world...we're all here for a short time, and I've never not been in a hurry.”
 
CW: childhood cancer, illness, surgery, child abuse, neglect 
 
Links: 
SAFEchild
The Raleigh Wine Shop
 

38: w/ Kristie Ashton on ”is it gay in here or is it just me?”

On this week's episode, join host Susan and her colleague, Kristie, as Susan hold's space for Kristie to share her coming out story. 
Kristie Ashton is a psychiatric Physician's Assistant. She completed PA school at age 47 as the oldest member of her class. She enjoys endurance sports and frequently participates in marathons and long-distance triathlons. You'll almost always find Kristie outdoors even in inclement weather. She recently went snowboarding in Montana where the temperature was 19 below zero. She also broke both bones in her arm because she isn't as skilled at boarding as she thought she was.
 
CW: LGBTQ+ content, personal story of self-identity and coming out as LGBTQ+

37: w/ Hannah Sherlock on listening to your inner, and outer, child

We’re back! 
Join host Susan for the start of season 7 of I’ve Been Better as she sits down with friend and sibling of a previous guest, Hannah Sherlock. The two discuss how Hannah’s childhood and adolescence shaped her career path and how to care for yourself when feeling alone. Hannah Sherlock is from Asheville, NC but currently resides in Nashville, TN. Her biggest passions are caring for others, music, and art. Her goal is to become a professional nanny and spend time helping parents raise their children. Fun fact, Hannah’s birthday is 9/9/99 and she was born at 10:10 pm.
website: https://nannyhan.wixsite.com/my-site-1
Instagram: @sherlockhs 
CW: disordered eating, addiction, recovery, therapeutic intervention 
Links: 
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
 

Coming soon: Season 7 of IBB

We’re back!!
After taking the summer off to move and get the new podloft set up, host Susan and sound engineer and tech guru, Josh, are preparing to bring you season 7 of I’ve Been Better. 
Get ready for another season of real stories from real people 💚🧡

36: w/ Danny Gallager on more moving, more problems, but it’s worth it

On episode 36, join host Susan as she talks with friend, Danny Gallager about sacrificing for your relationship, Autism, and what it means to be subtle as a brick. 
 
Danny Gallager is a SEO specialist who works remotely for Transcat Calibration. He currently based out of Edmond, Oklahoma, but will be moving to Gainesville, Florida, at the end of May 2022. He is also getting married in June 2022 to the beautiful Elizabeth Moyer.  In no particular order, Danny's passions are ultimate frisbee, lifting, rock climbing, anime, his future wifey, and his animals. 
 
Instagram: @dannygallagher901
 
CW: Autism, relationship discord, couples therapy, generational family dynamics

35: w/ Kate Fox on ditching diets for self-discovery

On Episode 35, join host Susan as she catches up with her friend, co-worker, and roommate from college, Kate Fox. Kate shares about her time in the Peace Corps, learning to ditch diet culture, and her fight for self-acceptance and discovery. 
 
Kate Fox works as an U.S. EPA Outreach and Engagement Strategist, is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Tanzania 2017-19), a badass Pole Fitness Instructor and Competitor, and a travel Seeker. She resides with her partner in North Carolina and has pet chickens she cares for. To learn more about Kate's time in the Peace Corps, check out her blog here: https://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Kewatki2/
 
Instagram: @kedub23 for pole dancing, Goma Women's Group Crafting initiation, and videos of home renovations and chickens!
 
CW: dieting, diet culture, disordered eating habits, trauma, self-discovery, isolation