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© 2026 A Mental Health Break
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Learn from others sharing their mental health stories each week. Your time is valuable. That's why we get right to it with no fluff and keep each value-filled show under 30 minutes.
Ranked in the Top 5% of Globally Ranked Podcasts, welcome to the #1 podcast dedicated to mental health: where you are never alone. This Top Weekly Show provides a safe, supportive platform to normalize conversations around mental health through authentic, inspirational testimonials.
Since 2020, Traumatic Brain Injury Survivor, 3x Mental Health Author, and host Vincent A. Lanci and his guests have shared vulnerable stories and powerful insights that remind you—you are not alone on your journey.
Each week, we dive into real-life experiences from mental health advocates, professionals, and individuals who’ve overcome adversity. Together, we tackle a wide range of topics, including trauma recovery, anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and both life and family challenges. From grief and social media addiction to mental health in the workplace and life after divorce, every episode offers valuable tools, advice, and understanding for anyone navigating life’s toughest moments.
As someone who survived a traumatic brain injury (TBI), Vincent uses his personal journey to help others, blending his lived experiences with the wisdom of experts to empower you on your own path to healing. Whether you’re struggling with a mental disorder or simply looking for support, A Mental Health Break is your weekly source of hope, guidance, and connection.
Tune in each week for honest conversations, practical tools, and the reassurance that you're not alone. Let’s break the silence together.
327 Episodes
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In this final episode of the year,Vincent A. Lanci shares his ongoing journey of recovery from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) + his surprise announcement: a Brain Injury Recovery Book for Families and Survivors and his TBI Recovery Coaching Practice. He reflects on the challenges faced during his hospital stay, the confusion between dreams and reality, and the importance of a support system. Lanci discusses the ramping up of therapy sessions and the emotional rollercoaster of recovery, emphas...
Welcome to A Mental Health Break. In this incredibly raw and empowering episode, we sit down with Shelly Grimm, Financial Consultant, Author, and Founder of The Perpetual Caregiver. Shelly’s journey is one of profound resilience: from being legally emancipated at 13 while caring for her chronically ill mother to fleeing a dangerous home situation at 17. These harrowing experiences became the "broken bricks" she used to build a new foundation of advocacy and emotional preparation for others. T...
What happens when your entire identity and life plan are obliterated in a single, devastating phone call? This week, we sit down with Jenny Brandemuehl, author of Forever Fly Free, whose life shifted from managing C-suite responsibilities in Silicon Valley to navigating hospital corridors after her husband survived a fiery plane crash with burns over 80% of his body. Jenny’s journey through caregiving, loss, and radical rediscovery is the ultimate testament to human resilience. She doesn't ju...
Chapter 1: The Impact and the Silence (The Hospital & Immediate Aftermath) Once per month, Host Vincent A. Lanci will release a solo episode. It will start out with his The Road Back: My TBI Recovery Journey series. This week, Vincent dives into a vulnerable and honest conversation about: What happenedWhat he remembers right before the accident (or the lack thereof)The coma & the confused reawakeningThe terror of realizing he can't walk, talk properly, or rememberThe Daily Battle...
Join us for a deeply human and candid conversation with someone who has mental health experiences from every angle. Melissa Fors Shackelford is a healthcare executive and the author of the Amazon #1 Best Seller, Harnessing Purpose. While Melissa is known for building compelling brands and advising Fortune 100 leaders, her path to purpose was forged through personal adversity. In this episode, we normalize the conversation on family mental health and substance abuse as Melissa shares: The Impa...
Join us for a powerfully honest and incredibly relatable conversation with Will Craig of Mental Health with Will LLC and the host of Sunday Reset w/ Will & Friends. Will is an open book, sharing his profound journey through mental health struggles that began early in life after being born with hydrocephalus, leading to six brain surgeries. He candidly discusses his battles with depression and suicidal ideation, the devastating loss of his partner, and his personal fight to overcome a deep...
The Shattering Point: What Happens When Childhood Trauma Finally Breaks Through Meet Andrea Leeb, a successful Manhattan attorney, writer, and high-functioning adult who learned the hard way that survival is not the same as healing. Andrea’s childhood was marked by severe sexual abuse and an environment of agonizing denial—a trauma so deep that when her mother discovered it, she was struck with literal "hysterical blindness." For decades, Andrea buried the pain under a polished exterior, achi...
What if your mental struggle isn't a personal failure, but a logical reaction to a broken society? This week on A Mental Health Break, we are joined by poet, playwright, Yale graduate, and cultural critic D.C. Copeland, author of the forthcoming book, Societal Dropout: A Culture Manifesto for the New Millennium. D.C. brings a unique, potent voice to the show, leveraging the philosophy of Jung, Freud, and Nietzsche to dissect our modern anxieties. In this profound and provocative discussion, w...
We have listened to your feedback - you want to see solo episodes, too! This week, Host Vincent A. Lanci dives into 5 major benefits of becoming a podcast guest, where to find potential shows to guest on, and HOW to reach out to the host. No matter your path in life, podcast guest appearances have become more successful than traditional media or print. Learn all about how to level up your story or message today. Send us a text Support the show Be sure to subscribe to stay current. Have a que...
You are not alone in your fight. This week, we welcome DK Kang, a martial artist, author, and wellness expert whose life story is a testament to unwavering human resilience. DK’s journey is one of perseverance and purpose: He bravely navigated a decade of infertility, profound family losses, job loss, financial hardship, and the emotional isolation of becoming the full-time caregiver for his wife during her battle with breast cancer. He walked through every kind of devastation imaginable—and ...
How do you build a thriving life while navigating profound personal challenges? This week, we welcome a truly inspiring guest who embodies resilience, Dr. Michelle Taveras, founder of M Taveras, PsyD & Company Psychological Services. Dr. Taveras shares her powerful, intimate journey of earning her doctorate and establishing a respected practice while living with cerebral palsy. It’s a candid look at what it truly takes to push past limitations and find your deepest sense of purpose. In th...
What does it really mean to be well—and how do we get there? This week, we're taking a deep dive into the practical side of mental and emotional well-being with a true veteran of the field. Join us for a powerful conversation with Aaron Gilbert, founder of Boston Evening Therapy Associates, who has spent 25 years helping tens of thousands of people live more constructively. In this episode, Aaron cuts through the noise and shares his definition of "good therapy," explaining what truly works b...
Are you carrying burdens that aren't yours? This week on A Mental Health Break, we sit down with Jennifer Schrappe, a licensed therapist, pastor, and the founder of Chrysalis Enterprises. With over two decades of experience, Jennifer is a compassionate guide who helps people find hope, healing, and freedom from life's struggles. In this powerful conversation, Jennifer shares her personal battle with food addiction and the unique challenges of walking out of recovery while navigating the press...
Join us for an incredibly raw and courageous conversation with Adriene Caldwell, author of the memoir, Unbroken. Her story is a testament to the profound resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable odds. In this episode, Adriene candidly shares her first-hand account of childhood trauma, from emotional and physical abuse to navigating a family riddled with untreated mental illness, including homelessness, extreme poverty, incest, pedophilia, sexual assault of a child, drowning ...
He's back and more determined than ever. This week on A Mental Health Break, we are honored to welcome back mental health advocate and founder, Jeff Johnston. Since we last spoke, Jeff has turned his personal tragedies—the loss of his son to fentanyl and his wife to alcoholism—into a nationwide movement for change. In this powerful episode, Jeff shares how his profound losses ignited his mission, leading him on a 95-day journey across America to break the stigma around mental health and subst...
Join us for a powerful and insightful conversation with Amber Brown, a true leader in healthcare, the military, and beyond. As a Patient Advisory Coordinator at Tampa General Hospital and a Physical Therapist, Amber is dedicated to integrating a patient's "lived experience" into the very systems of healthcare. She's also an Air Force Officer, overseeing medical readiness and operational health for service members. In this episode, Amber shares her unique journey across these diverse and deman...
What if the darkest moments of your past are not a burden, but a blueprint for your greatest transformation? In this raw and powerful episode of A Mental Health Break, we sit down with Justin L. Shaw, a mystical comedian, Doctor of Divinity, and author of Sourcery 101: 13 Rungs to a Higher Elevation of Consciousness. Justin, a former stand-up comedian, gets real about growing up in a "fight club atmosphere" and his personal battles with substance abuse, PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorders...
What happens when you achieve the pinnacle of athletic success at just 16 years old, only to find yourself struggling with addiction years later? In this deeply personal and powerful episode of A Mental Health Break, we sit down with Carrie Bates, a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and the Director of Strategic Growth and Advocacy for Caron Treatment Centers. Carrie shares her journey from a childhood in an alcoholic home, to the immense pressure of being an elite athlete, to her eventual str...
Have you ever wondered what's really happening inside your mind when you're struggling with anxiety, trauma, or depression? And what if there were specific, proven strategies to help you navigate these challenges and find a path to healing? In this episode of A Mental Health Break, we’re joined by Dr. Catherine Nobile, a licensed Doctor of Clinical Psychology with a specialty in evidence-based treatments for a variety of psychological conditions. Dr. Nobile, who is also a clinical psychologis...
This week on A Mental Health Break, we're honored to host a guest who has turned profound personal struggle into a mission to heal millions. Jason Hopcus, the founder and CEO of Connection Project, is a pioneering entrepreneur who's using cutting-edge technology to revolutionize access to mental health resources. His journey began in 2011 when a personal crisis led him to lose everything. From that moment, Jason transformed his story into a powerful mission to make support radically mor...
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