Where health, culture, and community meet.

We've been told that if we just show people the data on racial health disparities, change will follow. It hasn't. In this episode, Corey sits down with Dr. Sarah Gollust (University of Minnesota) and Dr. Neil Lewis Jr. (Cornell University), researchers with the Collaborative on Media and Messaging for Health and Social Policy (CommHSP), to unpack why the numbers alone never move people — and what does. They dig into the fear of "backlash," why context changes everything, and the surprising finding that the communities most affected by inequity are often the most ready to act, yet are routinely left out of the research about them.Show NotesWhy does telling people the facts about health disparities so often fail to create change? Dr. Sarah Gollust and Dr. Neil Lewis Jr. have spent two decades studying exactly that question — how media and messaging shape what the public believes about health, race, and who deserves care. In this conversation, they make the case that data without context can backfire, while stories grounded in lived experience can mobilize people across racial and political lines.In this episode:Why "just show them the data" is an incomplete strategy — and what people actually need to understand the why behind health outcomesThe moment a governor called COVID "the great equalizer," and why it crystallized the urgency of getting health communication rightThe study that found 94% of racial-equity messaging research relied on majority-white or all-white samples — and what that bias erased"Beyond fear of backlash": why explaining the causes of disparities removes defensiveness instead of triggering itHow America's individualistic culture pushes people toward blaming individuals ("just eat healthier," "just exercise") instead of seeing systemsWhy people of color, often excluded from the research, turn out to be the most willing to mobilize for changeThe power of narrative transportation — and why Neil opens academic papers with a quote from Dr. King's The Other AmericaHow the collapse of local health journalism makes community-grounded stories harder to tell, and why independent platforms matter more than everKey takeaway: Don't go quiet because the conversation is hard. You're likely in the majority — and the right words, with real context, can bring people in rather than push them away.Connect with our guests:CommHSP: https://commhsp.org/Follow the collaborative on LinkedIn for new research and accessible summariesConnect with The Healthy Project:Subscribe to the Live, Work, Play, Pray Substack for more on population health, advocacy, and community wellnessThis episode touches on heavy topics, including structural racism and health inequity. Take care of yourself as you listen.A Word From Our SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Goodfeed.Good conversations like this one deserve a place to live and grow — and that's exactly what Goodfeed is built for. If you're a creator, advocate, or community builder who's tired of fighting the algorithm just to reach the people who actually want to hear from you, Goodfeed gives you a better way to share your voice and connect with your community on your own terms. No gatekeepers. No noise. Just your work, reaching the people who care about it.Check it out at https://www.goodfeed.co/ and start building your feed today.

Some conversations start one place and end up somewhere you didn't expect.This one started with a simple question — why are people afraid to be original? — and ended up somewhere much closer to home. About the fear of being seen. The exhaustion of putting something real into the world and waiting to find out if it lands. The quiet courage it takes to keep showing up anyway.Ben is a community builder, author, and one of those people who has spent years doing the work before anyone was watching. He's been showing up to the same community event every single Wednesday for 14 years. He wrote one book about entrepreneurship and connection, then spent three years writing every week until a second one — Brew Within — found its shape. He also ended up with 21 contributing authors, including Corey, whose words live on page 284.This conversation is for anyone who has something brewing inside them and hasn't shipped it yet.What we got into:Ben pushes back on the idea that people are afraid to be original — it's more that the environment changes everything. You can be fully yourself with your people. The wild is where it gets complicated. They talk about what it actually means to show up in community spaces without hiding, without performing, and without leading with "so what do you do?"There's a whole thread about the tension between creating and marketing — that shift from building something in the quiet to having to shout about it every day on LinkedIn. Ben is honest about how that wears on you. About checking pre-orders. About your closest people knowing your book exists and still not clicking the link — and what you do with that feeling.Corey shares what he noticed about Ben from the very first email. How collaboration showed up differently here than it usually does. And why he thinks a lot of people miss that piece when they're building something. They also get into writing as a mental health practice — not journaling in the private sense, but publishing your thinking over time until you have a library to pull from. A digitized version of yourself that can keep showing up even when you're not in the room. And somewhere in the middle of all of it, they land on the real thing: if your work never gets seen, it never gets to help anyone. That's not humility. That's selfishness. Ship the art.A moment worth finding:Ben's final words to the camera. About originality. About belonging. About what happens when you stop waiting for permission and just make the ruckus.About Ben:Author of Brew Within and a community-driven entrepreneur who has spent over a decade building genuine connection through consistency, creativity, and showing up in the wild. His work lives at the intersection of entrepreneurship, community, and the belief that generosity builds trust — and trust caffeinate everything you care about.Brew Within — https://pouroverpublishing.square.site/product/brewed-from-within-softcover/3A5KIYHRMGTZW7MCW5DYXLTH?cs=true&cst=customResources:These resources are for information only and may not replace professional medical advice. If you are in immediate danger, please contact your local emergency number.Crisis support (U.S.)988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call/text/chat 988) – Free, confidential support 24/7 for suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, substance use, or if you’re worried about someone else.988lifeline.orgNAMI HelpLine Phone: 800‑950‑NAMI (6264)Text: “NAMI” to 62640nami.org/helpU.S. mental health information & treatmentSAMHSA Mental Health samhsa.gov/mental-healthCDC Mental Health Resources cdc.gov/mental-healthCulturally responsive & identity‑affirming careTherapy for Black Men therapyforblackmen.orgTherapy for Black Girls therapyforblackgirls.comInclusive Therapistsinclusivetherapists.com

Rest isn’t laziness—it’s required for healing. In this episode, Corey Dion Lewis and Vanessa talk rest, burnout, high‑achiever anxiety, parts work, inner child healing, and learning you’re worthy beyond your roles or productivity.Welcome to Coffee Can’t Fix Everything: mental health over a cup of coffee with host Corey Dion Lewis.Meet Vanessa: speaker and MSW‑trained coach who works with high achievers on rest, regulation, and reclaiming their center.Rest, worth, and burnoutWhy we were taught to “earn” rest by doing everything first—and how that mindset leads to exhaustion and burnout.Rest as prerequisite, not prize: being in your center so you can pour into work, family, and community without self‑betrayal.The difference between real rest and escape (phone scrolling, overworking, procrastination, numbing out).Identity beyond rolesCorey’s struggle with defining himself as “Corey the father, podcaster, community advocate” and how that fuels burnout.Vanessa’s first step: list every role you identify with, then recognize none of them are your core identity.Remembering yourself as a multi‑dimensional being instead of a fixed job title or label.Parts work and inner child“Characters” vs parts: why you feel different in every room and how internal family systems (IFS) explains it.The five‑year‑old, 25‑year‑old, and “last‑year you” that still live inside you—and why none of them need to be deleted.Letting your most aligned, present‑day self “drive the bus” while still honoring younger parts that once protected you.Parenting and breaking cyclesHow Vanessa and her husband intentionally “program” their kids with safety, permission to make mistakes, and unconditional love.The nightly affirmation: “I love you for who you are, not what you do,” and how our voice becomes our children’s inner voice.Corey on raising teens with calm, safety, and openness so his kids know they can always come to Dad, even when they mess up.Failure, crumbling, and new meaningWhen jobs, money, and opportunities fall apart, and how those “crumblings” uncover what can’t be taken from you.Seeing painful seasons as material for awakening to your inherent worth instead of proof that you’re a failure.“Everything is neutral until given meaning”: going back to old memories, feeling the pain, and choosing a new, truer story.Shadow work and sitting in the tensionWhy sitting with your thoughts for 10 minutes can feel like an hour—and why we grab our phones to avoid it.The difference between wallowing in pain and actually digesting, processing, and integrating it.How doing this work lets you help others from a place of truth instead of performance or people‑pleasing.Vanessa’s world nowLiving unapologetically expressed: saying what she wants to say, when she wants to say it, without needing to play a role.A weekly “rest day”: barefoot in nature, blanket by a tree, breathing and remembering she’s part of the world, not just grinding in it.Centering motherhood, marriage, service, and self‑care so her cup is full enough to pour into others.ClosingVanessa’s final message to the listener who needed this conversation today: you already know the one thing you need to do—trust what’s showing up and stop overthinking it.Corey closes with the mission of Coffee Can’t Fix Everything: the more we talk about mental health, the more normal these conversations becomeCrisis support (U.S.)These resources are for information only and may not replace professional medical advice. If you are in immediate danger, please contact your local emergency number.988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call/text/chat 988) – Free, confidential support 24/7 for suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, substance use, or if you’re worried about someone else.Website: 988lifeline.orgNAMI HelpLine – Information, resource referrals, and peer support for individuals, families, and caregivers. Available Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. ET.Phone: 800‑950‑NAMI (6264)Text: “NAMI” to 62640Website: nami.org/helpU.S. mental health information & treatmentSAMHSA Mental Health – Education on mental health, plus links to treatment locators for substance use and behavioral health.Website: samhsa.gov/mental-healthCDC Mental Health Resources – Overview of hotlines, treatment locators, and basic‑needs support (housing, food, etc.).Website: cdc.gov/mental-healthCulturally responsive & identity‑affirming careTherapy for Black Men – Therapist directory and support specifically for Black men, focused on judgment‑free, culturally competent care.Website: therapyforblackmen.orgTherapy for Black Girls – Directory of Black women therapists, plus a podcast, blog, and community for Black women and girls.Website: therapyforblackgirls.comInclusive Therapists – Therapist directory centering marginalized identities, with filters for race/ethnicity, gender identity, faith, neurodivergence, sliding‑scale fees, and virtual care.Website: inclusivetherapists.com

What’s the difference between digital literacy and AI literacy—and why does it matter for the future of work?In this episode, Corey sits down with Nancy Mwirotsi, founder of Pi515, to break down how technology is shaping economic mobility for youth. They explore why basic digital skills are still missing, how AI tools are changing critical thinking, and what it takes to prepare the next generation for real opportunities.Nancy shares her journey building Pi515 to support underserved and refugee youth through tech education. She also explains how exposure, mentorship, and hands-on learning can change a child’s trajectory.If you care about education, workforce development, or closing opportunity gaps, this conversation will challenge how you think about tech and youth development.Show NotesWhat you’ll learn: The difference between digital literacy and AI literacy  Why many students still lack basic tech skills  How AI tools can weaken or strengthen critical thinking  The role of mentorship in shaping career paths  How tech access impacts economic mobility  Why youth need exposure to real-world opportunities  The risks of over-relying on AI tools  How to prepare kids for the future of work Key Moments: 00:00 – Introduction to Nancy and Pi515  03:00 – How Pi515 started and supporting refugee youth  05:30 – Why exposure shapes career possibilities  09:00 – Digital literacy vs AI literacy explained  13:00 – The danger of overusing AI tools  17:00 – Skills youth need for future jobs  20:00 – AI risks: misinformation and deepfakes  22:30 – How parents and educators can guide kids  27:00 – Best AI tools and how to use them wisely  32:00 – Youth, entrepreneurship, and making money with AI  34:00 – Why talent leaves cities like Des Moines  40:00 – Building innovation ecosystems for the future Notable Quotes: “Kids cannot be what they don’t see.”  “Digital literacy is basic skills. AI literacy is understanding the tool, the ethics, and the impact.”  “You can’t let the tool do the thinking for you.”  “We need to empower young people as leaders, not just learners.” Resources & Links: Pi515: https://pi515.orgCall to Action: Subscribe for more conversations on health, community, and opportunity  Share this episode with educators, parents, and leaders  Leave a review to help more people find the show

In this episode of Coffee Can’t Fix Everything, Corey sits down with Christine Her, Executive Director of ArtForce Iowa, for a raw conversation about mental health, healing-centered engagement, and what happens when we ask “How are you?” and actually mean it.Christine shares her story as a Hmong American daughter of refugee parents, navigating generational trauma, cultural expectations, and the pressure to “be successful” while knowing art was the one thing that kept her alive. She explains how ArtForce Iowa uses creativity and community to create spaces where young people—especially those from marginalized backgrounds—can see themselves, tell their stories, and transform through art instead of being “fixed” by systems.Corey and Christine talk about the loneliness epidemic, why community care is essential for mental health, and how healing-centered engagement moves beyond trauma-informed care by focusing on identity, hope, and collective healing. They dig into breaking stereotypes about Black men and vulnerability, what it looks like to normalize “I love you” between friends, and why you shouldn’t ask “How are you?” if you’re not ready to hold the truth.If you’ve ever struggled with shame, family wounds, or the fear of being “too much,” this episode is a gentle invitation to stop saying no to yourself, build community, and meet yourself more deeply.Corey is not a therapist; this podcast is for storytelling and stigma-breaking, not medical advice. If you need support, please check the mental health resources linked in the show notes.About today’s guest: Christine Her (Executive Director, ArtForce Iowa)What is ArtForce Iowa and how art becomes a space for youth to be seen, held, and heard.Moving from “transforming youth in need” to “creating opportunities for youth to transform through art” (dropping the savior complex).The “How are you?” PSA during COVID and what it taught Christine about connection, fear, and youth mental health.Breaking stereotypes about Black men, strength, and silence around therapy.Healing-centered engagement vs. trauma-informed care: focusing on identity, hope, and community-based healing.Generational trauma, refugee parents, and learning that “they didn’t know how to love me the way I needed.”Shame, “pitching a tent but not building a house,” and learning not to live where you feel like you’re the worst version of yourself.The powerful reminder: “Don’t say no to yourself—let someone else tell you no.”Links mentionedArtForce Iowa: https://artforceiowa.orgHealing-Centered Engagement (Shawn Ginwright overview): https://www.boardingschoolhealing.org/resource-database/the-future-of-healing-shifting-from-trauma-informed-care-to-healing-centeredMental health resources (with links)https://www.iowahealthieststate.com/back-the-black988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 or chat via 988lifeline.org for free, confidential support 24/7 if you or someone you know is in emotional distress, suicidal crisis, or experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.Info: https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/988Info: https://www.nami.org/advocacy-at-nami/crisis-intervention/988-reimagining-crisis-responseMental Health America – Screening tools, educational resources, and links to local support and immediate help.Resources for immediate response: https://mhanational.org/resources/resources-for-immediate-response/National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Education, support groups, and help finding local services for individuals and families.Find support and crisis resources via NAMI: https://www.nami.orgSAMHSA National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357), a free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information service for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders in the U.S.https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helplineCrisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the U.S. to connect with a trained crisis counselor, free and available 24/7.https://www.crisistextline.orgFind a therapist (U.S.) – You can search for licensed mental health professionals by location, insurance, and specialty.Psychology Today therapist directory: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists