Youth mental health is in crisis, and Nicole Beeman-Cadwallader is determined to change how communities respond. In this episode of the Behind the Brand Podcast, Adam and Bob sit down with Nicole, Founder and CEO of One in Five, a nonprofit that helps teens design peer-based mental health supports that actually fit their world.
Nicole shares her own high school mental health story and how that lived experience, combined with years of professional work, led her to ask a simple but powerful question: "What if youth designed the supports they need?" The answer became One in Five, a flexible mentoring and curriculum model implemented through schools, camps, and youth-serving organizations for teens roughly ages 12–20.
You'll hear how One in Five:
Catalyzes safe spaces where youth mentors build skills like listening, emotion naming, and conflict avoidance.
Lowers disciplinary issues and time out of class by empowering mentors to positively influence their peers in real time.
Helps adults release control while keeping clear guardrails around safety and confidentiality.
Nicole and the hosts also dig into the impact of smartphones, social media, and post-COVID isolation, why teens still crave "analog" connection like role plays and board games, and how social health is foundational to mental and emotional wellness. She highlights the sobering reality that one in five youth have considered suicide in the last year, and why finding "your others" can be life-changing.
Finally, Nicole previews what's next: growing from two to eleven districts, launching an online curriculum portal, and opening up new mental health career pathways for youth. If you care about the next generation, this is an episode you won't want to miss.
