Anne Hallward is a very powerful woman who wants to help advocate public health. Hallward believes that telling our silenced stories can help change the world. In addition to Hallwards Ted Talk, she also created a website called Safe Space Radio. On this website she has posted numerous podcasts in a variety of topics varying from mental health, social justice, family, emotions, and more. Hallwards radio show is a strong, powerful example of social cohesion because in each podcast she speaks with another individual about their experience with a particular topic. The individual openly talks about his/her experience with Hallward and Hallward hopes that this one door of an experience will open many other doors for others with similar experiences to help with a healing process, reminding people that they are never alone.

 

I listened to select parts of two podcasts in the mental health category. The first one was Silence in the Body with Matthew Sanford. Sanford discusses with Hallward his experience of being paralyzed from the chest down as the result of a car accident when he was 13. He takes the “silence” of his paralyzed body as a blessing, he learned to listen to his body instead. Sanford said he was blessed because he believes he lived two lives, one as a normal young man, and the other waking up from a coma half paralyzed. He uses bodies silence as a way of strength and a way to overcome his injury.

 

The second podcast I listened to was about Hiding Depression at Work with Susie Melnick, in this podcast we learned how Melnick suffered depression for over 25 years and had more depressed days than happy days. Her depression began in graduate school, she was in school to be a conductor. Upon graduation, she finally decided to seek therapy for her depression which lead her to end up changing her career. She felt that after seeking therapy, she wanted to help other people with their own mental health, so she became a therapist. As a result, her depression leads her to change career paths.

 

Hallward is a strong woman who really wants to help better others. She believes one door can open many opportunities for others when it comes to sharing these stories, and Safe Space Radio helps her do so.