Libsyn Directory

S3E7: Phillip Schermer’s Mastermind Approach to Mental Health for the Masses

Release Date: 09/08/2022

S3E16: Empowering Gen Z to Explore Their Passions Featuring Morgann Noble

Couched in Color

In this episode, guest Morgann Noble, daughter of Dr. Alfiee and an intern at The AAKOMA Project, gives unique insights for parents about the challenges that children of color experience. With a passion for bringing ideas to life, Morgann calls herself “a dreamer” at The AAKOMA Project, with a long list of people of influence she would like to engage in the non-profit’s mental health initiatives. Topics covered in this interview: The anxiety that arose for Morgann growing up affluent as a person of color with well-educated parents in what was considered a progressive...

S3E15: Expanding the Narrative for Black Men Featuring Shaka Senghor

Couched in Color

In this episode, guest Shaka Senghor shares his inspiring story from incarceration to becoming a two times bestselling author, influencer and one of Oprah’s “SuperSoul 100” – teaching lessons of redemption and vulnerability to the masses. He grew up spending 19 years in prison, seven of them in solitary confinement. Through reflection and writing, he later came to understand his story of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). At age 17, he was shot multiple times, and also has two brothers who were shot, one of whom ended up paralyzed. At the same time, he takes full...

S3E14: Building Bridges Featuring Kheira Bekkadja

Couched in Color

In this episode, guest Kheira Bekkadja, a Muslim Algerian American college student making an impact in mental health, inspires listeners with her insights on grounding in self-care and positive affirmations. As an example, she shares the Muslim practice of praying five times, at set times during the day, as challenging as it can be to stay persistent. There are movements that go with the prayer, including putting the forehead on the floor, which helps release negative energy and connect with God. “My faith is what rejuvenates me,” Kheira says. Surrounding oneself with good people...

S3E13: Spreading Hope Through Content Creation Featuring Gigi Robinson

Couched in Color

In this episode, 24-year-old guest Gigi Robinson, a master content creator, graduate student and model, shares insights for living with chronic illness and addressing mental health issues, inspired to use her story to move the masses through her highly successful social media channels. She calls the Internet “an oyster” for Gen Zers to see beyond the corporate world and live their dreams, based on their unique passions and dreams. Topics covered in this interview: Sharing the vulnerabilities that come with chronic illness and mental health issues to help others (and letting go of the...

S3E12: When You Hear Me, You Hear Us Featuring Brooke Simpson

Couched in Color

In this episode, singer-songwriter Brooke Simpson, who just made her Broadway debut in the revival of 1776, shares the impact her culture as an Indigenous woman has had on her creativity. From her early days dressing and dancing for her tribe’s “pow wow” ceremonies, she learned “to bleed creativity” into the foundation of who she is today. She has been a finalist for both The Voice and America’s Got Talent, and she also represents Nike's N7 campaign for Indigenous youth, supporting their mental health by promoting movement. Brooke sees her style of movement as...

S3E11: Creating the Right Parenting Mindset Featuring Dr. Ann-Louise T. Lockhart

Couched in Color

Couched In Color | Season 3 | Episode 11 In this episode, guest Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart, a pediatric psychologist, parent coach and widely followed social media expert, shares profound insights on ways to create a healthy mindset that takes the blame off the child. This mindset empowers parents and primary caregivers. Many parents come to the role without a plan, based on what they saw growing up, not understanding that it is normal to experience both positive and negative sides to parenting. “If I knew parenting was going to be this hard, I wouldn’t have signed up for it,” is one...

S3E10: How Sneakers Saved and Ruined My Life Featuring Trent Out Loud

Couched in Color

In this episode, guest Trent Out Loud, founder and CEO of Exclucity, a multi-million-dollar footwear and apparel company, shares his story of seeking therapy after losing $2.3 million dollars in his sneakers’ business. That loss came when he forgot to tend to his own mental health during the ups and downs of his business, including the shifts occurring in the sneaker industry. As a result, he said started making wrong decisions. His therapist helped him deal with issues related to hypomania, mania and bipolar, and trained his brain to work in ways that benefited him. He continues...

S3E9: Mental Health Advocate, Mom, Veteran, Latina: A Hidden Healer Featuring Ayanna Kelly

Couched in Color

In this episode, guest Ayanna Kelly, an Afro-Latina advocate, disabled veteran and mom, shares an inside look at her mental health journey from burnout to standing at the White House as a leader of the Mental Health Youth Action Forum. () That forum, which took place in May 2022, was created in partnership with MTV Entertainment Group and coordination with the Biden-Harris Administration. In a “surreal” moment, Ayanna found herself standing next to President Joe Biden and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, and other highly accomplished people. She saw herself as...

S3E8: Carson Daly Feels Your Pain: A Special Conversation on Couched in Color

Couched in Color

In this episode, Carson Daly, co-host of “The Today Show” and creator of its “Mind Matters” digital series, and producer/host of Emmy-award winning “The Voice”, openly shares his mental health struggles. He discusses the trauma of losing his father unexpectedly at age 5 and the subsequent night terrors he experienced. Later diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, Carson believes environment alone is not the cause of his mental health challenges. Rather, he sees them as a combination of both “nature and nurture.” Using his story to help others, Carson is...

S3E7: Phillip Schermer’s Mastermind Approach to Mental Health for the Masses

Couched in Color

In this inspiring episode Dr. Alfiee interviews guest Phillip Schermer, founder and CEO of Project Healthy Minds, a non-profit created for a new era of mental wellness. Phillip, who was previously a Vice President & Chief of Staff to the Vice Chairman at BlackRock, the world's largest asset management firm, was so moved by the story of Logic, a rapper and record producer, he started the non-profit to more impactfully bring together mental health resources. Logic shed light on mental health challenges by writing a song with the phone number of the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline...

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In this inspiring episode Dr. Alfiee interviews guest Phillip Schermer, founder and CEO of Project Healthy Minds, a non-profit created for a new era of mental wellness.

Phillip, who was previously a Vice President & Chief of Staff to the Vice Chairman at BlackRock, the world's largest asset management firm, was so moved by the story of Logic, a rapper and record producer, he started the non-profit to more impactfully bring together mental health resources.

Logic shed light on mental health challenges by writing a song with the phone number of the

US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline as its title. Called 1-800-273-8255, the song has dramatically increased calls for help and been known to save lives:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb24RrHIbFk

With 65 million people in the U.S. alone dealing with mental health challenges, Phillip is focusing on three primary drivers:

1. The stigma.

Where to get help.
Lack of access to mental health resources.

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS INTERVIEW:

–Bi-racial struggles with having a sense of identity.

–”Generational loneliness.”

–Applying to mental health an “aggregate model on scale” (like Expedia, OpenTable and other companies do) by creating one place on the Internet for all mental health services to be part of a hub.

–Even the smartest and most savvy people have difficulty finding what they are looking for, Phillip explains. And, others don’t know the difference between a therapist, a psychologist and a psychiatrist.

–His goal also is to fill in the gaps, with data showing where there is a mismatch between demand and supply.

–COVID has escalated the mental health crisis significantly, with one out of four 18 to 24 years olds having seriously considered suicide. COVID also has brought to the surface mental health issues that have been overlooked for a long time.

–Mental health is now on “the same glide” as climate change has been for the past decade.

–”We have to prove that employee mental health is material to the long-term financial performance of corporations,” Phillip says. Project Healthy Minds partners with some companies, and targets those who have CEOS and members on the leadership team who make mental health a priority, and who can be vulnerable about their own challenges.

Phillip says an ideal partner would be Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, who in 2014 courageously became the first chief executive of a Fortune 500 company to publicly come out as gay.

–The shift from a manual labor economy, where physical strength was important, to a knowledge-based economy means we need workers who are mentally strong and resilient now.

Dr. Alfiee: “I love the imagery and idea that we have to take care of people because the economy is shifting and we want to be able to move in the direction that this economy is going.”

Phillip shares three observations since starting Project Healthy Minds:

How people hide from full view who they are, and the trauma and pain they have encountered. And, when high profile people like Logic share their mental health journeys, it reveals “the shared humanity we all have.”
The shocking stigma around mental health that is also harmful and discriminatory.
The hope of younger people from Gen X and millennials who have a different view of mental health and its priority.

ABOUT PHILLIP SCHERMER
Founder and CEO of Project Healthy Minds

Phillip is also Vice President and Chief of Staff to the Global Chief Marketing Officer at BlackRock.

In his current role at BlackRock, Philip is focused on a range of initiatives relating to the future of purpose-driven capitalism, brand strategy, content creation & distribution model, and strategic growth priorities for the business.

Before joining BlackRock, Phil worked in the Obama White House as an intern for the National Economic Council, for Warner Brothers Entertainment on the movie set of The Dark Knight Rises, for Summit Entertainment on the movie set of Perks of Being a Wallflower, and for Live Nation on U2’s 360 tour.

While in college, Phil founded MUSIC Matters, a student-run non-profit at the University of Michigan that hosts one of the largest social impact lifestyle festivals in the US. Business Insider recognized Phil for his work while on campus by naming him one of “The Most Impressive Students at the University of Michigan”. Today, Phil serves on the MUSIC Matters Board of Advisors.

Phil graduated from the University of Michigan’s Honors Program with a B.A. in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE).

Follow Phillip Schermer:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pschermer/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/philschermer

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-schermer-45007934/

Website: https://www.projecthealthyminds.com/

Follow Dr. Alfiee:

Website: https://dralfiee.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralfiee

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dralfiee

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dralfiee/

Website: https://dralfiee.com