Claim OwnershipThe Stepping In It Podcast with Renee Schulte & Jason Haglund
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© 2026 The Stepping In It Podcast with Renee Schulte & Jason Haglund
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The Stepping In It Podcast is a weekly discussion of the latest news and trends in behavioral health policy development and practice. Each episode features interviews with experts from across the field, including policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and advocates. The podcast provides listeners with practical tips and resources for improving the quality and access to behavioral health care.
136 Episodes
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Welcome back, and thanks for joining us—yep, it’s that time again: planting season, fixing everything for it just to break again… and that’s not just on the farm. In this episode, we’re digging into the escalating issue of workplace violence in hospitals. From chaotic emergency room scenes to underreported assaults on staff, we uncover what workplace violence really looks like and why it’s often swept under the rug. Backed by startling statistics—like healthcare workers being five times more ...
In this episode, we continue our deep dive into the Illinois Rural Health Conference, held in Champaign, IL. Join us as we explore the latest trends and critical topics discussed at the conference, from how Millennials are shaping the future of healthcare to the evolving role of peer support in the workforce. We’ll also cover comprehensive chronic care management, the challenges of rural health clinic care coordination, and the ongoing struggle with the stigma of behavioral health needs in ru...
In the final installment of our On the Ground Impact Series—after traveling 3,500 miles across Iowa—we tackle one of the most talked about, yet least understood concepts in behavioral health: “No Wrong Door.” On paper, it promises seamless access, coordinated entry, and person-centered care. But on the ground in rural and underserved communities, the reality is far more complicated. From fragmented systems and workforce shortages to 30-page “resource guides” that don’t translate into real acc...
Change is rarely comfortable—especially in complex systems like healthcare, policy, and large organizations—but that doesn’t mean it isn’t necessary. In this episode of the On the Ground Impact Series, we dig into the reality of system change: why it often feels exhausting, where resistance really comes from, and how leaders can move change forward without losing momentum or people along the way. From change fatigue and tribal knowledge to data challenges and decision overload, this conversat...
In this episode of the On the Ground Impact Series, we go behind the scenes of what care collaboration really means—and why it’s so often talked about but rarely done well. Moving beyond buzzwords, we unpack how true collaboration requires trust, shared vision, clear roles, and accountability across organizations and disciplines. Using real-world examples from healthcare and behavioral health systems, this conversation explores why collaboration efforts fail, what the data tells us about team...
In this On the Ground Impact Series episode, the hosts move beyond the “big three” behavioral health challenges—funding, workforce, and crisis response—to name the deeper, often unspoken barriers that stall real system change. From policy decisions made far from lived experience, to lack of champions and collaboration, to culture and communication breakdowns, this conversation explores why well-intended initiatives fail and what rural and behavioral health leaders must address to create lasti...
This episode kicks off our On the Ground series, sharing real-world insights from building behavioral health systems across the Midwest. We name the common challenges showing up across states—workforce shortages, inconsistent mobile crisis response, and one-time funding—while grounding the conversation in key 2025 data that reinforces why this work matters. We also preview the next four episodes, where we’ll dive deeper into system barriers, care collaboration, sustainable change, and whether...
In this episode, we dive into what coaching and innovation can look like in the rural Midwest when traditional mental health systems fall short. Joined by Jessica, a longtime healthcare leader and nonprofit founder, we explore the realities of rural mental health access, workforce shortages, and the disproportionate impact on youth and marginalized communities. Through lived experience, data, and practical examples, this conversation challenges the “waitlist-only” model of care and highlights...
In this episode, recorded live from Houston at the Bridge Think Tank, Renee and Jason dive into the complex intersection of economics, human behavior, and the real-world challenges facing behavioral health systems across the country. From the limits of academia and evidence-based models to the nationwide implications of data gaps across parole boards and community reintegration, this conversation explores what truly matters when building policies that work. Together, they unpack how behaviora...
As the new year approaches—and yes, in the middle of tax season—this episode takes a grounded, practical look at goal setting and why it truly matters. From the neuroscience behind writing goals down to the data showing how few people actually do it, the hosts unpack what separates vague intentions from real momentum. The conversation also zooms out to share Rural Policy Partners’ own focus areas for the year ahead, including podcast growth, expanded contracts, and leaning into speaking stren...
In this energetic year-in-review episode, Renee and Jason look back on a whirlwind 2025 filled with travel, conferences, chaotic weather, unexpected wildlife encounters, and powerful moments with rural communities across the country. From Alaska to Texas, North Dakota to Georgia, and everywhere in between, they share what they learned on the road—highlighting innovative “hero programs,” persistent gaps in coordination, and the systems-level challenges shaping behavioral health in rural Americ...
This week, we’re stepping in it—live from Indiana! After a chaotic detour through CMA Fest (yes, we accidentally ran into Blake Shelton and Rascal Flatts on Broadway), we’re back with crop scouting updates and a deep dive into a powerful conversation from the Hoosier State. Chief Justice Loretta Rush shares Indiana’s bold efforts to reform how the judiciary addresses substance use and behavioral health, moving away from punishment toward person-centered justice. We explore how the state is em...
We’re on the road in Flagstaff for the Arizona Rural Health Conference, diving into the unique challenges and opportunities facing rural healthcare in the Southwest. From a whiny farmer update about Arizona’s never-ending dry spell (and Iowa’s surprise rain) to on-the-ground conversations about provider recruitment, mobile crisis units spanning multiple states, and age-friendly system goals by 2026, this episode covers it all. We also unpack the state’s hospital dashboard data, the complexiti...
In this special on-the-ground episode, we’re coming to you live from Anchorage, Alaska at the National Association of Rural Mental Health Conference—moose sightings, state fair stories, and all. From the icy beauty of Chickaloon overlooking the Matanuska Glacier to villages with no roads along the Bering Strait, rural takes on a whole new meaning here. We unpack what true community orientation looks like in some of the most remote areas of the country, where resilience is culture and connecti...
In this episode, we take you inside the Louisiana Rural Health Conference, where Renee and Jason delivered the morning keynote focused on the continuum of care and the persistent gaps between high-level inpatient treatment and traditional outpatient services. From powerful conversations about silos, workforce shortages, jail data, and telemedicine reimbursement to unexpected innovations—like a futuristic real-time consultation headset—you’ll hear what rural providers are facing and what oppor...
In this episode, Renee and Jason dive into the science and practice of gratitude—what it is, why it matters, and how it impacts resilience, mental health, and daily life. Through personal stories, practical strategies, and a look at how gratitude shapes mindset and behavior, they explore how small intentional shifts can create meaningful change, especially during challenging seasons. Whether you're heading into the holidays or simply looking for ways to cultivate more emotional well-being, th...
In this episode, hosts Renee Schulte and Jason Haglund sit down with Daryn Nelsen-Soza from NAMI National to explore how the NAMI Provider Program bridges understanding between mental health professionals and the people they serve. Together, they discuss how empathy, education, and lived experience can transform behavioral health care. Daryn shares insights into provider training, NAMI’s mission to close gaps in communication, and how these initiatives are reshaping the culture of care across...
In this on-the-road episode, Renee and Jason broadcast live from the Wisconsin Mental Health and Substance Use Recovery Conference, reflecting on how community-driven solutions, workforce realities, and systemic challenges continue to shape behavioral health in rural America. From their trademark “whiny farmer” intro to honest conversations about burnout, access, and innovation, this episode captures the authentic pulse of recovery work in the Midwest — where collaboration meets resilience. ...
In this episode of Stepping In It, Renee and Jason return to their annual collaboration with Lead DSM to explore one powerful truth: the solutions are in the systems. From the fields to the frontlines of healthcare, they examine how integrated systems can solve some of our most persistent challenges in behavioral health. The conversation opens with a collective check-in—how are we really doing?—before diving into data on isolation, loneliness, and changing social habits. With insights as stri...
In this special “Scary” episode of Stepping In It, we dive into the top 10 most frightening challenges confronting behavioral health in 2025. From looming Medicaid cuts and crushing rural healthcare debt to the persistent stigma, workforce shortages, and the rise of AI in care, we uncover the realities keeping providers, patients, and policymakers up at night. Alongside hard-hitting issues like transportation barriers, lack of evidence-based practices, and growing isolation in rural communiti...
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