Healthy Mind, Healthy Life

Sometimes the feelings we cannot explain directly become easier to recognize when we meet them inside someone else's story.
In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Swati sits down with Nigerian American author and physician Nneka Oluoha to explore how fiction can create a safer reflective space for conversations around mental health, emotional struggle, family relationships and healing.
Nneka shares how her upcoming novel, Live for Me, Nkem, explores depression, motherhood, marriage, cultural expectations and the struggles people can carry quietly behind closed doors. Rather than announcing everything a character is experiencing, she uses story, behavior and perspective to allow readers to gradually understand what is happening.
The conversation explores why people sometimes remain silent when they are struggling, what happens when we recognize ourselves in fictional characters, and how stories can give us language for emotions we have never been able to describe.
Nneka also speaks candidly about the emotional weight of writing difficult material. While writing from the perspectives of children affected by a parent's mental health struggles, she found some sections especially difficult. Her response was not to force the work, but to pace herself, walk, spend time in nature, lean on supportive relationships and sometimes put the manuscript away until she could return with greater clarity.
Importantly, Nneka emphasizes that fiction is not a clinical textbook or a substitute for professional mental health support. Characters make mistakes, hold false beliefs and take actions that should not automatically be treated as real-world guidance.
About Nneka Oluoha:
Nneka Oluoha is a Nigerian American writer and physician. She completed medical school in Nigeria before moving to the United States, where she completed an internal medicine residency and now works as a hospitalist. Her writing is influenced by her Igbo heritage and an interest in family dynamics, identity, cultural expectations and the silent battles people carry.
Her novel Live for Me, Nkem explores depression, marriage, motherhood, family expectations and hidden emotional struggles, and is scheduled for publication by Koehler Books on September 9, 2026.
Key Takeaways:
Fiction can create emotional distance that makes difficult experiences easier to explore.
Recognizing yourself in a character can give language to feelings you have struggled to name.
Human beings are complicated, and powerful characters rarely fit neatly into "good" or "bad."
Silence may come from pain, fear, unreadiness or not feeling safe enough to revisit an experience.
Stories can encourage reflection without becoming instructions for how someone should manage their mental health.
Emotionally demanding creative work sometimes requires rest rather than more pressure.
Walking, nature, supportive relationships and intentional breaks helped Nneka reconnect with her writing.
Stepping away is not always giving up. Sometimes distance is what allows clarity to return.
Chapters:
03:03 Why stories can help us approach difficult emotions04:49 The power of fiction in mental health conversations06:28 Writing complex characters without reducing them to good or bad08:10 What can sit underneath emotional silence09:40 Writing what a character isn't ready to say11:28 When readers recognize themselves in a character13:21 Can fiction give us language for difficult feelings?15:27 Fiction as reflection, not a replacement for care17:20 How readers responded to Live for Me, Nkem19:14 The emotional cost of writing heavy material21:50 Why stepping away can help writers move forward23:39 Where to find Nneka and her book
Connect With Nneka:
Nneka Oluoha's official website
Nneka Oluoha on Goodreads
Instagram as @nneka.oluoha. Her book is available for pre-order ahead of its September 9 release.
 
Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatchDM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik
Disclaimer: This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements.
If you have concerns about any content, please contact us here
By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here.
Healthy Mind By Avik™️is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, and wellness advocate.
With over 6500+ episodes and 200K+ global listeners, we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters.👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey.
Contact:💼 Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™📧 Email: https://www.podhub.club/contact🌐 Website: https://www.podhub.club📍 Based in: India & USA
🎧 Listen to all podcast shows: https://www.podhub.club/podcastnetwork🤝 Be a guest: https://www.podhub.club/beaguest📩 Newsletter: https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/
 
#HealthyMindHealthyLife #NnekaOluoha #LiveForMeNkem #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #Storytelling #Fiction #BooksAndMentalHealth #EmotionalWellbeing #DepressionAwareness #Healing #FamilyMentalHealth #NigerianAuthor #ImmigrantStories #HealthyMindByAvik

We all have a plan until life decides otherwise. One phone call, one diagnosis, one unexpected loss, and suddenly the path we thought we were on doesn't look the same anymore. Maybe navigating unexpected challenges isn't about having the perfect plan, maybe it's about learning how to find your footing when the plan changes completely.
Bill Derrick, a business leader who guided his family's construction company through the Great Recession before later being diagnosed with incurable blood cancer, joins host Swati to talk about what resilience actually looks like day to day, why hiding struggle rarely works in the long run, and what he's learned about the two things we can always control: attitude and effort.
About the Guest:
Bill Derrick is a Christian business leader, author, and public speaker who led his family's construction and real estate firm, Derrick Companies, through the Great Recession, and later navigated a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer. He is the author of Restored by the Storm: Navigating Through Life's Unexpected Challenges.
Key Takeaways:
Being told "you'll look back and this will be the best thing that happened to you" rarely helps, empathy and a genuine offer to help mean more.
There are two things you can always control, no matter what's happening around you: your attitude and your effort.
Hiding a struggle might work short term, but eventually it shows up in performance, tardiness, or how you treat people, it rarely holds up long term.
The storm always ends eventually, even when it feels permanent, situations change and you'll end up somewhere different than where you started.
Progress often looks like two steps forward, one step back, a setback doesn't erase how far you've already come.
Connect With the Guest:
Website: https://www.billderrick.comBook: Restored by the Storm: Navigating Through Life's Unexpected Challenges (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold)X (Twitter): https://x.com/wmderrick
Episode Chapters:
[00:00] What We Get Wrong About "Just Bounce Back" — the real question behind this episode[01:45] Why Resilience Isn't About Having All the Answers[04:51] What Happens Beneath the Surface When Your Sense of Control Is Shaken[08:31] The Quiet Signs Someone Is Struggling More Than They're Letting On[13:32] Finding the Next Step When You Don't Know Which Direction to Take[19:31] Handling Setbacks Without Feeling Like You've Lost All Your Progress (approx.)
 
Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatchDM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik
Disclaimer: This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements.
If you have concerns about any content, please contact us here
By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here.
Healthy Mind By Avik™️is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, and wellness advocate.
With over 6500+ episodes and 200K+ global listeners, we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters.👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey.
Contact:💼 Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™📧 Email: https://www.podhub.club/contact🌐 Website: https://www.podhub.club📍 Based in: India & USA
🎧 Listen to all podcast shows: https://www.podhub.club/podcastnetwork🤝 Be a guest: https://www.podhub.club/beaguest📩 Newsletter: https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/
 
#podmatch #healthymindbyavik #podhub.club #resilience #unexpectedchallenges #mentalhealthpodcast #faithandleadership #cancerresilience #innerwork #attitudeandeffort #businessleadership #overcomingadversity #onestepatatime #griefandhope #christianfaith #healthymind

You think you know what matters until the phone rings at 2am, until the monitors start beeping faster, until a doctor looks at you and says we need to move now. But what happens after the immediate crisis is over? Survival doesn't always mean everything suddenly feels okay.
Reasa Selph, a Texas marketing strategist and patient advocate whose son Nicholas nearly died from septic shock in December 2023, joins host Swati to talk about the 34 days that followed, the emotional toll that surfaced only after coming home, and how the experience turned into advocacy work aimed at protecting other families from the same outcome.
About the Guest:
Reasa Selph is a Texas-based marketing strategist, patient advocate, and podcaster, and the founder of Reasa's Pieces. After her son Nicholas was twice sent home from an emergency room before going into septic shock on Christmas Day 2023 and spending 34 days in intensive care, she became a vocal advocate for pediatric patient safety, supporting proposed Texas legislation, known as Nicholas' Law, requiring hospitals to disclose their pediatric emergency care capabilities to parents.
Key Takeaways:
Leaving the hospital doesn't mean the hard part is over, aftercare, second opinions, and emotional recovery often bring a whole new kind of work.
Trusting your instincts as a parent matters, if something doesn't add up, it's okay to ask for the records, ask questions, or seek another opinion.
The toll of survival mode is often invisible until afterward, both Reasa and her son needed therapy to process what they'd been through.
Advocacy doesn't require expertise, it can start with writing things down, asking to see test results, and speaking up when something feels off.
Healing doesn't mean the fear disappears completely, it means learning to meet it differently when it resurfaces.
Connect With the Guest:
Website: https://reasaspieces.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rdselph/
Episode Chapters:
[00:00] What Happens After the Crisis Ends — the real question behind this episode[01:41] Coming Home After 34 Days: Aftercare and a House Frozen in Time[06:36] How a Mother's Instinct Became a Turning Point[11:10] What Fear Looks Like When You're Not Being Heard by Doctors[15:06] Small Things That Helped Her Feel Grounded Amid the Chaos[20:44] Turning Pain Into Advocacy: Pushing for Legislative Change in Texas[26:29] Supporting Her Son's Ongoing Recovery and Living Moment by Moment (approx.)
 
Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatchDM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik
Disclaimer: This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements.
If you have concerns about any content, please contact us here
By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here.
Healthy Mind By Avik™️is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, and wellness advocate.
With over 6500+ episodes and 200K+ global listeners, we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters.👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey.
Contact:💼 Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™📧 Email: https://www.podhub.club/contact🌐 Website: https://www.podhub.club📍 Based in: India & USA
🎧 Listen to all podcast shows: https://www.podhub.club/podcastnetwork🤝 Be a guest: https://www.podhub.club/beaguest📩 Newsletter: https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/
 
#podmatch #healthymindbyavik #podhub.club #parentaltrauma #patientadvocacy #mentalhealthpodcast #pediatricsepsis #medicaltrauma #innerwork #trustyourgut #healthcareadvocacy #ptsdawareness #familyresilience #speakupforyourchild #healingaftercrisis #healthymind

Have you ever felt like you've changed, but the people around you still treat you like the person you used to be? You've become more confident, set healthier boundaries, changed the way you think, but every time you go back home or walk into work, it's like everyone is still reading an old version of your story.
Dawn Stebbing, a voice and visibility strategist who has spent 16 years helping accomplished women be seen and heard at the level they actually operate at, joins host Shivam to talk about why growth doesn't automatically get noticed, how to close the gap between who you're becoming and how others still see you, and why some relationships naturally fall away as you change.
About the Guest:
Dawn Stebbing is a speaker, voice and visibility strategist, and certified international image consultant who spent 16 years as President of the Chicago chapter of the Association of Image Consultants International. She is the creator of the Visibility Code framework and the author of The Power Is in the Pearl, helping professional women align their presence, communication, and message with the leader they've become.
Key Takeaways:
First impressions speak before you say a word, how you show up communicates something whether you intend it to or not.
Growth requires stepping out of comfort into the unfamiliar, it's scary, but that discomfort is a sign of progress, not failure.
Not everyone will grow with you, and that's okay, some people become your cheerleaders, others quietly fall away, both are part of the process.
Sharing your story, even in small pieces with one trusted person, is often the first step to reclaiming a voice you've silenced.
Small shifts like genuinely saying thank you can change how people respond to you, changing yourself first often changes the pattern around you.
Connect With the Guest:
Website: https://www.dawnstebbing.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dawnstebbing/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnstebbing/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dawnstebbing/
Episode Chapters:
[00:00] Why Doesn't Everyone Notice When We've Changed? — the real question behind this episode[01:10] Why We Expect Others to Immediately See Our Growth[04:42] Mixed Signals: Are We Sending Them Without Realizing It?[08:30] Moving Forward Without Getting Pulled Back Into Old Patterns[13:50] Closing the Gap: Image, Voice, and Owning Your Story[22:02] Staying True to Who You're Becoming When Old Buttons Get Pushed (approx.)
 
Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatchDM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik
Disclaimer: This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements.
If you have concerns about any content, please contact us here
By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here.
Healthy Mind By Avik™️is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, and wellness advocate.
With over 6500+ episodes and 200K+ global listeners, we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters.👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey.
Contact:💼 Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™📧 Email: https://www.podhub.club/contact🌐 Website: https://www.podhub.club📍 Based in: India & USA
🎧 Listen to all podcast shows: https://www.podhub.club/podcastnetwork🤝 Be a guest: https://www.podhub.club/beaguest📩 Newsletter: https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/
 
#podmatch #healthymindbyavik #podhub.club #personalgrowth #identityshift #mentalhealthpodcast #visibilitycoach #findyourvoice #innerwork #growingapart #authenticself #confidencebuilding #reinvention #selfperception #becomingyou #healthymind

There's a version of fear most of us know well. Your chest gets tight, your mind starts racing, and your body braces for the worst before you've even had time to process what's happening. But what if fear under pressure isn't a flaw in us at all, just a reflex we've developed over time, and one we can actually learn to retrain?
Jenna Schutt, a former cardiac RN who was later diagnosed with a rare incurable disease at age 30, joins host Swati to talk about what she calls the Joy Reflex, training faith, peace, and joy to become as automatic as fear, why healing rarely moves in a straight line, and how ordinary moments of pressure are training grounds for extraordinary ones.
About the Guest:
Jenna Schutt is a former cardiac registered nurse, author, and speaker who was diagnosed with a rare incurable disease at age 30 while raising two young children, undergoing more than ten rounds of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. She is the creator of The Joy Reflex, a framework for training faith, peace, and joy as automatic responses to pressure, and runs Faith with Jenna, a growing community for women navigating hard seasons.
Key Takeaways:
Fear isn't a personal failure, it's a normal human response, and like any trained response, it can be retrained.
Your first fearful thought may be automatic, but what happens next, the spiral or the anchor, is something you can practice and change.
The best time to train your response to pressure is in calm water, before the crisis hits, not in the middle of it.
A joy reflex works the same way brushing your teeth does, repeated practice until faith, peace, and joy become automatic instead of effortful.
Healing and habit change move in hills and valleys, not a straight line, and slipping back doesn't erase the progress you've already built.
Connect With the Guest:
Website: https://www.jennaschutt.comFree Resource: 7-Day Train Your Joy Reflex Guide Substack: https://substack.com/@faithwithjenna
 
Episode Chapters:
[00:00] The Fear Response Most of Us Know Well — the real question behind this episode[01:41] What We Get Wrong About Fear Meaning We've Failed[05:07] From Cardiac Nurse to Patient: Facing Her Own Diagnosis[09:25] Where Fear Shows Up in Everyday Life, Not Just Crisis[12:30] Building the Joy Reflex: Training Faith Like a Habit[17:54] Why Healing Isn't Linear, and What to Do When Old Fear Returns[20:15] Where People Are Most Likely to Give Up, and What Helps Them Keep Going (approx.)
 
Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatchDM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik
Disclaimer: This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements.
If you have concerns about any content, please contact us here
By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here.
Healthy Mind By Avik™️is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, and wellness advocate.
With over 6500+ episodes and 200K+ global listeners, we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters.👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey.
Contact:💼 Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™📧 Email: https://www.podhub.club/contact🌐 Website: https://www.podhub.club📍 Based in: India & USA
🎧 Listen to all podcast shows: https://www.podhub.club/podcastnetwork🤝 Be a guest: https://www.podhub.club/beaguest📩 Newsletter: https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/
 
#podmatch #healthymindbyavik #podhub.club #joyreflex #faithoverfear #mentalhealthpodcast #resiliencejourney #cancerresilience #fearresponse #innerwork #faithandhealing #retrainingfear #christianfaith #peacebeforepanic #habitforming #healthymind

There's a moment that happens to most of us, usually in the middle of something small, washing dishes, sitting at a red light, when we realize we haven't actually been here at all. We've been replaying a conversation from yesterday, or rehearsing one that hasn't happened yet.
Heather Elliott, founder of Mindful Change and a mindset expert with two decades of experience, joins host Avik to unpack why mindfulness isn't about clearing your mind, how to work with anxious or racing thoughts instead of fighting them, and a simple way to move into what she calls the observer position when you're feeling overwhelmed.
About the Guest:
Heather Elliott is the founder and CEO of Mindful Change, a mindset and relationship coaching practice she has run since 2005. She holds degrees in psychology and education, is certified in Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Core Belief Engineering, and is the author of Same Shit Different Day, helping individuals, couples, and business owners identify and transform the limiting beliefs behind recurring life patterns.
Key Takeaways:
Mindfulness isn't about emptying the mind, it's about noticing what you're focused on and asking whether it's taking you somewhere you actually want to go.
Move into the "observer position": picture your worry or fear sitting in a chair across from you, then examine it with some distance instead of being consumed by it.
Anxiety and depression often have a story underneath them, tracing that story is frequently more useful than just trying to calm the feeling on the surface.
Writing down racing worries at night can let your mind feel heard, so it can quiet down instead of looping.
Question your own emotional reactions before assuming someone meant to hurt you, most relationship conflict comes from unverified interpretation, not actual intent.
Connect With the Guest:
Website: https://mindfulchange.comFree Course: https://mindfulchange.com/course5D Psychology Info: https://mindfulchange.com/5d
Episode Chapters:
[00:00] The Moment We Realize We Weren't Actually Here — the real question behind this episode[02:22] The Biggest Misconception About Mindfulness[05:22] What People Are Actually Doing When They Practice Mindfulness Well[10:57] How Mindfulness Addresses Anxiety and Depression at the Root[13:41] Using the Observer Position When You're Overwhelmed in the Moment[18:51] One Piece of Advice: Question Your Emotions Before Assuming Intent (approx.)
 
Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatchDM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik
Disclaimer: This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements.
If you have concerns about any content, please contact us here
By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here.
Healthy Mind By Avik™️is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it's become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, and wellness advocate.
With over 6500+ episodes and 200K+ global listeners, we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters.👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey.
Contact:💼 Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™📧 Email: https://www.podhub.club/contact🌐 Website: https://www.podhub.club📍 Based in: India & USA
🎧 Listen to all podcast shows: https://www.podhub.club/podcastnetwork🤝 Be a guest: https://www.podhub.club/beaguest📩 Newsletter: https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/
 
 
#podmatch #healthymindbyavik #podhub.club #mindfulness #presentmoment #mentalhealthpodcast #anxietyawareness #limitingbeliefs #innerwork #observerperspective #mindsetcoaching #emotionalregulation #relationshiphealth #selfawareness #dailymindfulness #healthymind