The State of Mental Wellbeing: A Podcast on Mental Health & Substance Use

Mental health and substance use systems are evolving, and the conversations shaping their future matter now more than ever.

The State of Mental Wellbeing: A Podcast on Mental Health & Substance Use is a weekly series from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing that explores the people, policies and systems influencing mental health and substance use care across the United States.

Hosted by Mohini Venkatesh, chief of staff at the National Council, this mental health podcast brings together leaders, practitioners and advocates working every day to strengthen mental wellbeing in their communities and advance the field.

What You’ll Hear

Every episode features thoughtful, in‑depth conversations with:

• Behavioral health leaders
• Practitioners and system experts
• Mental wellbeing advocates
• Community and organizational changemakers

You’ll hear real‑world experiences, expert perspectives and practical ideas designed to help you stay informed, connected and grounded in your work.

Whether the focus is national policy or local implementation, every episode’s goal is the same: to bring clarity to complexity and elevate solutions that support making mental wellbeing a reality for everyone, everywhere.

New episodes are released weekly.

Who It’s For

The State of Mental Wellbeing: A Podcast on Mental Health & Substance Use is designed for people committed to advancing mental wellbeing. If you care about system‑level change and want insight you can trust, this podcast is for you.

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Meet the Host

Mohini Venkatesh | Chief of Staff, National Council for Mental Wellbeing

As chief of staff at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Mohini Venkatesh works closely with senior leadership and key stakeholders to advance strategic priorities across mental health and substance use policy, workforce and systems change.

Each week on the podcast, Mohini leads conversations that connect policy to practice, bringing together national experts and on‑the‑ground voices to explore how we can strengthen mental wellbeing in communities nationwide.

Why This Mental Health Podcast Is For You

The mental health podcast space is crowded, but The State of Mental Wellbeing: A Podcast on Mental Health & Substance Use is different.

This podcast is:

• System focused, not lifestyle driven
• Grounded in practice
• Designed for professionals, leaders and advocates
• Rooted in evidence and experience

It’s a space to think critically, learn from leaders and stay connected to the national effort to strengthen mental wellbeing.

Latest Episodes

Listen to the latest episodes of The State of Mental Wellbeing: A Podcast on Mental Health & Substance Use and explore conversations shaping mental health and substance use care nationwide.

A Global Approach to Addressing Mental Health & Substance Use

Addressing Youth Addiction & Recovery with Dr. John Kelly

How Ballmer Group is Transforming Community Wellbeing Through Philanthropy

In this episode, Mohini Venkatesh sits down with Steve Appleton of the Global Leadership Exchange (GLE) and Chuck Ingoglia of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing to explore how global collaboration can strengthen mental health care, substance use treatment and behavioral health systems. They discuss workforce shortages, task sharing, peer support, crisis response, leadership development and cross-sector innovation, offering practical insights for improving access to care, community-based services and systemwide outcomes.

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On this episode, special guest host Philip Rutherford, VP of Growth and Substance Use Strategy at the National Council, speaks with John Kelly, PhD, a leading addiction recovery researcher at Harvard Medical School, about the future of youth substance use prevention, treatment and recovery. They explore recovery science, recovery support services, adolescent substance use disorder, early intervention, high-potency cannabis, polysubstance use and the urgent need for evidence-based, developmentally appropriate care for young people and families.

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How can America meet the growing need for services surrounding mental health and substance use care? In this episode of The State of Mental Wellbeing, we sat down with Andi Smith from Ballmer Group’s Washington team to answer that very question. Mohini and Andi discuss increasing adoption of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model and how it provides timely and personalized care for its communities. They dive deeper into the backbone of a CCBHC and how payment reform through Medicaid, cross-sector collaboration and the role of philanthropy supports the demanding need for large-scale change in behavioral health care services.

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