Podcasts

Nick Williams, CEO of the American Subcontractors Association of Colorado and R.I.S.E. LLC, sat down with Mental Health Colorado’s President & CEO, Vincent Atchity, to discuss his advocacy for mental health, workplace safety, and well-being in Colorado’s construction industry.

In this conversation, Williams shares how his experience in the construction industry and personal mental health journey inspired his commitment to supporting workers. He explores the overlapping factors contributing to elevated rates of suicide and overdose among construction professionals, the importance of naloxone access and recovery-friendly workplaces, and the power of compassionate, vulnerable leadership. Drawing on the principles of Total Worker Health, Williams emphasizes the need for collaboration, meaningful connection, and a holistic approach to supporting workers’ health and well-being.

How will natural and synthetic psychedelic medicines coexist? Join Mental Health Colorado and experts in healthcare, scientific research, public policy, natural medicine, ethics, and lived experience as we explore the opportunities, questions, and challenges of this rapidly evolving field.

-Vincent Atchity, President & CEO, Mental Health Colorado

-Tasia Poinsatte, Colorado Director, Healing Advocacy Fund

-Coakee William Wildcat, Executive Director of Mother Tree Food & Forest

-Scott Thompson, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Director of Novel Therapeutics, Brain and Behavior Innovation Center

-Ean Seeb, Special Advisor on Cannabis and Natural Medicine

-Leigh Morrissey, Director of Public Policy, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals

Jason Santomaso, operator of the Sterling Livestock Commission Company, sat down with Mental Health Colorado’s President & CEO, Vincent Atchity, to discuss his advocacy for mental health in rural communities and the agricultural industry.

In this conversation, Santomaso shares his personal recovery from depression and alcohol misuse, explaining how his podcast, Hard Land, Honest Minds, provides an authentic platform for rural individuals to address isolation and stress. Drawing on his experience as a business owner and chaplain for the local sheriff’s office, Santomaso explores the cultural shame surrounding mental health in agriculture, the necessity of breaking silence to prevent suicide, and the importance of finding trusted support systems to navigate life’s challenges.

Sports psychiatrist Dr. Mark Allen joins Mental Health Colorado President & CEO Vincent Atchity to explore the intersection of athletics, mental health, and youth development.

In this conversation, Dr. Allen discusses the unique mental health needs of athletes, including eating disorders, concussion and its potential mental health impacts, and barriers that can prevent athletes from seeking care. Drawing on his experience in sports psychiatry and advocacy, Dr. Allen explores athlete-informed approaches to care, the role of coaches and families in recognizing concerns, and opportunities to integrate mental health more effectively into athletic environments. He also discusses his work advancing Alyssa’s Concussion and Mental Health Protection Act in Colorado and efforts to strengthen mental health safeguards for young athletes beyond the state.

Dr. Ben Miller, psychologist, health policy expert, and adjunct faculty member at Stanford School of Medicine, joins Mental Health Colorado President & CEO Vincent Atchity for a conversation about the forces that shape our mental health and well-being.

In this conversation, Dr. Miller reflects on how his early work with children in the special education system shaped his understanding of the connection between policy, our environments, and mental health. He discusses the importance of addressing basic needs such as affordable housing and food alongside access to mental health care, emphasizing poverty reduction as one of the most powerful ways to improve health and well-being across communities.

Developmental psychologist Dr. Ashley Brock-Baca joins Mental Health Colorado President & CEO Vincent Atchity to explore how we can better support the mental health and well-being of children and families.

In this conversation, Dr. Brock-Baca explains the importance of trauma-responsive practices, care coordination, and stronger partnerships with youth and families for improving support for children and families, especially those with more complex needs. Drawing on her experience working across systems of behavioral health, child welfare, juvenile justice, healthcare, and education, Dr. Brock-Baca delves into opportunities to strengthen workforces, integrate systems more effectively, and center living/lived experience throughout the process of imaging supports that are responsive and useful.

Mental Health Colorado President & CEO Vincent Atchity joins Summit County Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons for a conversation about reimagining how communities respond to mental health crises.

Sheriff FitzSimons discusses Summit County’s nationally recognized SMART co-responder program, which brings law enforcement, clinicians, and case managers together to help people receive appropriate care and ongoing support in their communities. He reflects on the partnerships and sustained investment needed to make programs like SMART successful and shares how compassionate, collaborative leadership can improve crisis response while reducing unnecessary involvement with the criminal justice system.

Mental Health Colorado’s President & CEO, Vincent Atchity, sits down with former Denver Broncos running back and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Montee Ball, Founder & CEO of Game Plan Life Foundation.

In this conversation, Montee reflects on his journey from early success in football through struggles with alcohol, recovery, and ultimately a new sense of purpose through fatherhood, advocacy, and service. He discusses the pressures athletes can face, the importance of helping coaches, mentors, and loved ones recognize challenges early, and why creating space for honest conversations about mental health and substance use can help people seek support before challenges become crises.

Mental Health Colorado President & CEO Vincent Atchity kicks off the 2026 Voices for Healthier Minds series with Jonathan Singer, Senior Director of Policy Programs at the Boulder Chamber and former Colorado state representative.

Jonathan reflects on his journey from social work to public service and community leadership, and how those experiences shaped his approach to policy and systems change. He discusses the connections between mental health and issues such as housing, child and family well-being, and access to care, while emphasizing the importance of lived experience, advocacy, and collaboration in shaping policies that promote healthier minds across the lifespan.

In this episode of the Marathon Health Denver Roundtable, healthcare and employer leaders discuss how integrated, employer-sponsored care models can improve access, outcomes, and costs by combining primary care, behavioral health, and lifestyle support. The conversation highlights the role of advanced primary care and health coaching in driving behavior change, managing chronic conditions, and strengthening workforce well-being through more accessible, coordinated, and prevention-focused care.