Shows
The Unheard ForumEpisode 18: After the Strike, Relfecting on a Long YearAfter nearly a year on strike, Morocco’s medical students returned to their classrooms. In Part 2 of my conversation with Iman, we explore the psychological toll of the student-led protest that shut down hospital rotations and classes nationwide. Iman recounts encounters with riot police, the losing two peers to suicide, and the what it took to keep going in the face of media pressure and silence. She discusses the hobbies she took up like learning Spanish, hypnosis, and trading, with her newfound time to keep busy. Then, with a new Minister appointed and a deal created, what did the st...2025-07-3015 min
The Unheard ForumEpisode 17: Morocco's Medical Student ProtestsIn this episode, I sit down with a Moroccan medical student, Iman Dahbi who participated in a year-long national protest against the government's decision to shorten medical training from 7 to 6 years. We explore what started the strike, what students lost, and how future doctors organized and banded together to protect their education.2025-07-1617 min
The Unheard ForumEpisode 16: The Three Pillars of Identity that Drive Change (Ellis Chung)In this second part of my conversation with Ellis Chung, Ellis reflects on her experience working with Action Youth Media, where she helped shape educational programs through film and learned the importance of building support systems for young leaders. We talk about where her love for film and her focus on uplifting unheard voices stemmed from. She says that three pieces of her identity (AAPI, young, and female) are integral to who and what she advocates for. We discuss why adult mentorship and a strong support system are essential for creating lasting change. You can't do it all alone. 2025-06-2610 min
The Unheard ForumEpisode 15: Youth Power in Feminism and AAPI AdvocacyIn this episode, I speak with Ellis Chung, an incoming freshman at Harvard University, and a filmmaker and activist using storytelling, advocacy, and leadership to create space for girls and the AAPI community. From tackling hate crime legislation and women's political representation in her films to leading initiatives like Girls Who Start and her school's Korea Club, Ellis shares the privilege and responsibility that comes with being taken seriously at a young age.We explore why media is such a powerful tool for change, and how being an Asian American girl means both challenging stereotypes and uplifting...2025-06-2413 min
The Unheard ForumEpisode 14: Making Room for Every StudentIn this final part of my conversation with Ms. Jennifer White, we shift from identifying problems to thinking of possible solutions. We discuss how restorative justice can transform school culture, but also how rare true implementation is. The conversation explores the importance of knowing your rights, the power imbalance between families and school systems, and how many parents are unaware of what their children are entitled to. We are very grateful for you, Ms. Jennifer, for all of the advice and information you have provided us throughout the series!2025-06-0716 min
The Unheard ForumEpisode 13: What Happens When IDEA Is Not Met?In part two of my conversation with Jennifer White, Education Staff Attorney at MAC, we unpack how students with disabilities are impacted by school discipline systems and what legal protections exist to advocate for their rights. Ms. White breaks down the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the importance of IEP meetings, and what happens when a child is suspended, excluded, or labeled as "disruptive." We explore due process and the Chapter 222 legislation in Massachusetts, pushing schools toward equitable disciplinary practices.Important Definitions: FAPE – Free Appropriate Public Education: The right of students with disabilities to receive a fr...2025-05-0711 min
The Unheard ForumEpisode 12: Breaking the School-to-Prison PipelineToday I spoke with Ms. Jennifer White, an Education Staff Attorney at the Massachusetts Advocates for Children. We discussed her journey from social work to law, and how her background in both fields shapes her advocacy to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline. Jennifer shared insights into her early work defending students in Massachusetts and highlighted the systemic issues that push vulnerable kids out of school. We also spoke about her day-to-day work at MAC, from answering helpline calls to systemic advocacy, and discussed the disproportionate impact of school discipline on students with disabilities, Black students, and Latinx students...2025-04-2910 min
The Unheard ForumEpisode 11: The Pressure is Real... But So is the SupportIn the final part of my conversation with Ms. von Jess, we dive into the everyday realities of student stress, from academic pressure to the challenge of simply finding time to care for yourself. She breaks down the misconception that therapy is only for major problems, encouraging students to see it instead as a space for reflection, clarity, and connection.We talk about the mental toll of high expectations, the guilt of taking breaks, and how even small changes, like a walk or a five-minute check-in, can have a big impact. Ms. von Jess reminds us...2025-04-1709 min
The Unheard ForumEpisode 10: The Impact of Comparison on Mental Health: Social Media + Boarding SchoolToday's episode is Part 2 of my conversation with Ms. von Jess, a social worker of 30 years and the Director of Counseling at The Hotchkiss School, where she has worked for the past 12 years.Ms. von Jess and I spoke about how social media affects mental health, particularly in the context of high-pressure environments like boarding schools. She describes Instagram and TikTok as “both exposing and comforting,” and invites students to reflect on whether their online behavior is helping or hurting their self-image as well as how they treat others.We also explore the impact that livi...2025-03-2011 min
The Unheard ForumEpisode 9: Mental Health in High-Pressure Education InstitutionsIn today's episode, I have a conversation with Ms. von Jess, a social worker of 30 years and the Director of Counseling at The Hotchkiss School, where she has worked for the past 12 years. Ms. von Jess shares how mental health issues most commonly manifest in high-pressure academic settings, resources that students can rely on, and recent trends or changes in how students experience and manage stress. She also speaks about the role of parents in supporting students' mental well-being, especially at boarding school when kids do not live with their parents. Subsequently, Ms. von Jess emphasizes the...2025-02-2212 min
The Unheard ForumEpisode 8: Creating Inclusive Mental Health Support SpacesIn a continuation of my conversation with Chloe, we touch on the racism, sexism, and ableism that pervade the mental health support system, and how some may not be able to access help for their condition due to these issues. Chloe says that in her role as a Peer Support Group Coordinator, she tries to serve everyone no matter where they come from, their positionality, or what they’re able to give in return. Chloe discusses how you can reach out to your school’s guidance and counseling department to promote the dialogue around mental health. Beyond that, you can...2025-01-1910 min
The Unheard ForumEpisode 7: The Biggest Barriers in Accessing Mental Health SupportIn today’s episode, I speak with Chloe, an advocate for mental health. As with the previous episode, we discuss the largest misconceptions in her specific line of work: assumptions that those with serious mental health conditions are violent, and that a mental health diagnosis defines your life. Chloe feels especially passionate about changing the notion that we have to fear people with mental health conditions. As a Peer Support Groups Coordinator, Chloe brings groups of people together, whose experiences are related in some way. For example, they may share the same mental health illness. Chloe says that “having the...2024-12-2010 min
The Unheard ForumEpisode 6: Mental Health Advocacy and Support - How Can YOU Help?In the second part of my conversation with Caitlin, we discussed the most pressing issues she sees daily, ways YOU can become a mental health advocate in your community, what you can do to seek out support, and the concept of having others around you to lean on if you're having a tough time. Thank you, Caitlin, for this wonderful introduction to mental health and mental health advocacy. We appreciate it very much. "Understand that [family members and supporting figures] can not like their loved one's illness but still love their loved one."2024-11-1511 min
The Unheard ForumEpisode 5: Introduction to the Importance of Mental Health AdvocacyTo begin our focus on mental health awareness and advocacy, today I had a conversation with Caitlin, Manager of Public Policy and Advocacy at the National Alliance on Mental Illness' NYC branch. In Part 1, she speaks about the definition and purpose of mental health advocacy, her daily routine and responsibilities at NAMI-NYC, and common misconceptions regarding mental health. "The big thing we always say is that one in five people live with mental illness. The other four are their friends, families, and colleagues." Thank you Caitlin, I learned so much. Looking forward to Part 2! 2024-10-1811 min
The Unheard ForumEpisode 4: Ms. Nicole Talks Special Education (Part 3)This third and final episode of a three-part series is a continuation of a conversation with Ms. Nicole, a preschool teacher in Bergen county who used to be a special education teacher and behaviorist. Ms, Nicole informs us that every child in the public school system is entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education; no matter how costly or time-consuming a student’s education is, the school district must fund all aspects of it. Ms. Nicole points out that schools may not always be transparent with families about available resources due to financial constraints. Ms. Nicole says, “I don’t thin...2024-09-1210 min
The Unheard ForumEpisode 3: Ms. Nicole Talks Special Education (Part 2)This second episode of a three-part series is a continuation of a conversation with Ms. Nicole, a preschool teacher in Bergen county who used to be a special education teacher and behaviorist. We talk about the role that parents play in a child’s special education and how there are so many guardians who have no idea what they can ask for from the school district. Α parent has to be an advocate. But no one informs them. Ms. Nicole also speaks on how a child’s school district affects their education; “if you can afford to live in...2024-08-2410 min
The Unheard ForumEpisode 2: Ms. Nicole Talks Special Education (Part 1)In this first episode of a three-part series, we get an introduction Ms. Nicole, a preschool teacher in Bergen county who used to be a special education teacher and behaviorist. Ms. Nicole talks about her job as a parent trainer, someone who works closely with parents, teaching them how to be successful in a special education environment. She says her role as a parent trainer is her favorite part of her career. We also discuss Ms. Nicole’s shocking experiences teaching “COVID-babies” and the impact of lack of sufficient funding for the special education system. This is only the beginn...2024-07-0112 min
The Unheard ForumEpisode 1: A Conversation with Mrs. MIn this episode, I spoke with Mrs. M, a special education teacher, an in class supervisor and a math teacher who teaches middle school. Mrs. M absolutely adores her job as a teacher and makes it her mission to make her students feel welcomed. We talked about a variety of topics: a typical work day for her, her favorite part of her job, how she collaborates with teachers/parents, a story that really resonated with her and more! Thank you, Mrs. M for setting the stage for future discussions about the special education system and the marginalized voices within i...2024-05-2314 min
The Unheard ForumEpisode 0: Introduction to The Unheard ForumA quick 3 minute chat with me about what The Unheard Forum is! A trailer on what I will discuss, who I will talk with, and how I will do it.Welcome to The Unheard Forum, a podcast where I will investigate and share the voices of the marginalized. Every episode serves a different purpose, whether it's providing background information, offering a new perspective, or sharing a personal story. However, each contributes to the empowerment of disenfranchised voices and your understanding of a group's challenges. This podcast dives into the special education system, immigrant stories and elderly care...2024-04-2703 min