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

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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.

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.

What the Latest Research Says About Alcohol Addiction

How Growing Strong Leaders Improves Behavioral Health Care

Why Investors Are Banking on Behavioral Health

Alcohol use is evolving in ways that affect public health, clinical care and recovery. In this episode of The State of Mental Wellbeing, host Mohini Venkatesh sits down with Dr. George Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, to discuss alcohol use disorder, emerging research and opportunities to improve treatment.

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Strong leadership is essential to the future of mental health and substance use care. This week, host Mohini Venkatesh talks with Tami Lewis-Ahrendt, president and CEO of CenterPointe, about building leaders, strengthening organizational culture and helping teams thrive amid workforce challenges, change and growing community needs.

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Behavioral health is entering a new era of innovation, and impact investing is helping shape what comes next. This week, host Mohini Venkatesh and Anjlee Joshi explore impact investing, mental health innovation, behavioral health technology and the evolving relationship between providers, startups and investors working to improve care, strengthen organizations and expand community impact.

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