Shows
UnmaskedThe Risk of Deceptive Responses in Mental Health AppsWhen tragedy strikes, the questions hit close to home. After the recent shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, my husband asked me if KindPath could have caught the shooter had they been using our app daily. It’s a question without a simple answer, but it opens up an urgent conversation about deception in mental health apps—why people minimize, skip, or mask their answers, and what that means for prevention.In this episode, I reflect on:* The heartbreaking events in Minneapolis and why my husband’s question shook me.* The many forms...
2025-09-0305 min
UnmaskedThe Rise of "Quiet Cracking"In this episode of Unmasked, I dive into the emerging workplace trend of quiet cracking. You’ve probably heard of quiet quitting—but quiet cracking is different. It’s about employees showing up every day while silently struggling with stress, exhaustion, and disengagement. They’re not leaving their jobs because they feel stuck, but they’re not thriving either.I share why this matters for both employees and employers, what the subtle signals of quiet cracking look like, and why recognizing them isn’t about surveillance—it’s about compassion. I also get honest about needing to take a mental he...
2025-08-2808 min
Unmasked95% of AI Deployments Fail — Here’s the Real Reason WhyIn this episode of Unmasked, Melody Mejeh dives into the shocking new MIT study showing that 95% of enterprise AI deployments deliver zero measurable return—despite billions invested. From flawed integration to the “learning gap” between leadership and employees, we uncover the hidden reasons most AI projects fail before they even get off the ground.But this isn’t just a critique—it’s a roadmap. Melody explores what separates the 5% of companies that succeed, why staff training is the overlooked multiplier, and how to actually measure real ROI in AI projects. Plus, she brings it close to home with a...
2025-08-2206 min
UnmaskedAI, Mental Health & Our ResponsibilityIn this episode of Unmasked, Melody Mejeh — neurodivergent founder, product leader, and CEO of KindPath — speaks candidly about the recent wave of headlines linking AI to mental health harm. From reports of “AI psychosis” and bots validating delusions, to new research showing both risks and benefits, Melody dives into the conflicting evidence and what it means for leaders building in this space.She lays out the hard questions every founder, engineer, and policymaker must ask themselves when designing with AI in mental health: Are we reducing harm? Are we transparent about limitations? Are we building for trust, or just...
2025-08-2008 min
UnmaskedThe Gatekeepers: How Startup Accelerators Lock Out InnovationWhat if the very programs claiming to help founders are quietly shutting the door on the most innovative among us? In this episode of Unmasked, I dig into the unspoken barriers baked into accelerator culture—rules that systematically filter out brilliant builders who don’t fit a narrow mold.From full-time founder requirements that exclude parents, immigrants, and those with disabilities, to relocation demands that ignore the realities of community ties and financial constraints, I explore how these policies privilege access over ability. You’ll hear why the “meritocracy” myth falls apart when the starting line isn’t the same f...
2025-08-1610 min
UnmaskedWhen the Noise Never StopsIn this episode of Unmasked, I take you back to where it all started—East 97th Street in Manhattan, where I grew up straddling the line between East Harlem and Yorkville. It was a block shaped by invisible borders and constant noise. Not metaphorical noise—literal, body-shaking, soul-draining noise.Sirens. Car alarms. Yelling. Street chaos. That was my normal.Now? I live in a suburb of Minnesota where the loudest thing on my block is a wild turkey beefing with a rabbit in my backyard.This episode explores what happens to the body, the...
2025-08-0705 min
UnmaskedInnovation Without Empathy Is Just ExtractionEpisode Length: ~5 minutesTheme: Innovation, empathy, ethical tech, trauma-informed design, inclusive mental healthListen if you’ve ever wondered:* Why tech feels so cold even when it’s meant to support people.* How innovation can uplift—or exploit—marginalized communities.* What it means to build with people instead of for them.Episode Summary:In this powerful five-minute episode, I unmask the illusion of “innovation” as we know it—and ask what’s left when we build without empathy. Spoiler alert: it’s not progress.We unpack why mo...
2025-08-0205 min
UnmaskedWhy Designing for Neurodivergent Users Requires a Deep Dive into UX & UILet’s be real: most apps weren’t built for brains like mine. Or maybe yours.In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what actually goes into designing digital spaces for neurodivergent folks—and why a few rounded buttons and an accessibility statement don’t cut it.We talk:* Why “good” UX isn’t always safe UX* How executive function, sensory load, and shame all sneak into design* What deep UX actually looks like when you build with neurodivergence in mind* How the very things that supp...
2025-07-3104 min
UnmaskedWhen the World’s a Lot, Your Nervous System Knows FirstHey friends—This week, I’m talking about something I know so many of us are feeling right now, even if we can’t quite name it.The world is loud. Politically. Medically. Emotionally.Medicaid is being gutted. Healthcare tech is racing to build solutions that don’t always include us. The current administration is passing executive orders that strip care and access from the most vulnerable. And in the middle of all that, I’m going through neuropsych testing in my 40s—trying to understand my brain while the system around me keeps shifti...
2025-07-2605 min
UnmaskedNeurodivergent, Inc.What happens when you’re trying to build a mental health tech company… while raising a 10-year-old Pokémon-obsessed CapCut wizard who does long division for fun?In this episode of Unmasked, Melody takes you inside her chaotic, hilarious, and heart-filled world as a neurodivergent founder and mom to a neurodivergent kid (aka Miles, aspiring YouTuber and fraction prodigy).From the realities of fundraising as a Black woman building something that’s never been done, to calming meltdowns while mid-Zoom pitch, Melody shares the truth about what it really means to be wired differently in a world...
2025-07-2305 min
UnmaskedSitting with the Real Problem in Health TechIn this bonus episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on something I think we need to talk about a lot more in health tech: what it really means to define the problem space—especially when you’re building from lived experience.As someone who’s bipolar, autistic, and has ADHD, I don’t just experience the world differently—I build differently. I talk about how that shapes the way I approach innovation, why rushing to solutions without honoring the deeper emotional and behavioral patterns just doesn’t cut it, and how slowing down has actually made my work strong...
2025-07-2105 min
UnmaskedDid My Therapist Just Gaslight Me?In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on one of the most confusing and painful experiences in the mental health journey—what happens when you know something’s going on, but the professionals you turn to for help don’t believe you.Yep. We’re talking about what it feels like to be gaslit by your own therapist.I share real stories (including my own), some eye-opening stats, and the silent suffering that happens when our symptoms are minimized, misdiagnosed, or brushed off entirely—especially for folks who are neurodivergent, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, or all of the a...
2025-07-1904 min
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulEp 22: Looking Ahead: March 18-24, 2024Hello beautiful humans! Welcome to your week ahead Astro-Tarot Forecast.
Here is the run of the show:
Welcome & Updates
Intuitive Messages & Collective Energy
Key Transits/ Planetary Journeys
The Oracle
The Tarot - The Assignment
2024-03-191h 14
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulEp17: A Quest for Freedom & The Longing for Change: The Fourth & Final Saturn Square Uranus TransitMel discusses the fourth and final Saturn square Uranus transit that went exact on December 24, 2021. We are still in this energy. Currently, Saturn is still squaring Uranus at a 6° orb, which is still a significant square--- but it's fading, it's wrapping up.
It's the old life vs. the new life. It's that tension, that longing, that confusion/frustration— how do we move through that energy? This will guide you across the threshold. We still feel that one foot in, one foot out feeling --- the old life vs. the new life.
This Astro Chat will help us...
2022-12-201h 17
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulEp 16: December's Love & Relationships Shifts— Solstice Energy: Healing Our PartnershipsTune in for an intimate discussion on the solstice energies' impact within our partnership space. Mel will be deep diving into two important astrological transits taking place during the winter solstice on December 21, 2022.
Overview + Solstice Energy Recap
What does Chiron represent?
Venus Square Chiron
Venus Trine North Node
The Oracle - What are we letting go
The Astrology of December 21
The Oracle - What's coming in
The Oracle - Realigning with our North Node
The Tarot
Key Questions:
What is shifting/ending energetically, and how is that/will that manifest in your relationships?
What challenges are being presen...
2022-12-1702 min
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulEp 15: Our Hidden Dark Sees The Light: Mercury Trine the North Node in Taurus & Mercury Sextile the South NodeMel discusses two key transits happening on December 15, 2022: Mercury Trine the North Node in Taurus & Mercury Sextile the South Node in Scorpio.
Key Questions:
What truth/habit/pattern/behavior are we keeping hidden from ourselves and/or others?
Have we lost faith in our own “goodness”, in our power to do what it is we set out to do?
How do we identify what is smoke and what is fire? What lies underneath our negative self-talk, and the way we communicate with others? What’s the true root?
How are we robbing ourselves of our own freedom...
2022-12-151h 51
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulEp 14: Astrology & Parenting: Using Astrology to Help Our Children Navigate Their Growth EdgesJoin us for the introductory trailer to our new intermediate astrology series geared towards the moms, dads, bonus moms, bonus dads, teachers, and all caretakers of our little ones.
I'm a mom, and an astrologer, and I'm keenly aware of what a powerful tool Astrology can be. Understanding Astrology can help us uncover where we need growth and can instruct us on how to smooth over those rough growth edges we encounter during the different phases of our life. The same applies to children. This series will take a gentle compassionate look through your child's Progressed Chart.
2022-12-1302 min
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulEp 13: The 12.12 Portal: Detaching, Deleting, & De-conditioning — Cutting ALL Energetic Cords That BindA powerful discussion on the potent energies of the December 12, 2022 portal. Mel deep dives into the numerological significance of the 12.12 portal, and its key aspects, and closes with a special “3&6” Oracle Spread.
What we cover:
Overview
The Numerology of the 12.12 Portal
~~~~~~~~~Key Aspects~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sun in Sagittarius Sextile Saturn in Aquarius
Sun in Sagittarius Squaring Neptune in Pisces
Moon in Leo Sextiling Mars in Gemini Rx
Venus in Capricorn Squaring Jupiter in Pisces
Jupiter in Capricorn Sextiling Pluto in Capricorn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "3 & 6" Oracle Read
Wrap-Up & Closing Words
Tune in for the discussion!
2022-12-121h 19
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulEp 12: Astro Chat: Capricorn Season—December Energies & The Solstice: Firming up a stand on a new, powerful foundation.Hello Capricorn Season!
Tune in for a special Astro Chat on the Capricorn Season, the winter solstice, and key transits and energies for the month of December.
✨✨Bonus: A double Oracle spread + tarot reading!
If you're loving the content you hear here, follow and subscribe to Rise Tarot on YouTube!
2022-12-071h 00
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulEp11: Cutting Through the Fog: An end to delusion. A stand for passionate and authentic decisionsThe Moon represents the physical as well as the emotional body. The Full Moon is a time to be receptive, to take the light and awareness of spirit into your emotional and physical body.
The Gemini full moon is called a “cold moon” and every zodiac sign will be affected by its presence, as is expected whenever a full moon takes place. At its core, the December full moon will bring about a time of both reflection and looking ahead, which is quite fitting as we close out the end of the year. Mutable signs are linked with...
2022-12-031h 40
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulThe Gemini Full Moon— Cutting Through the Fog.Join us for the Gemini Full Moon Livestream on December 1st, 2022 at 7 pm ET. This full moon takes place at 11:09 pm ET/8:09 pm PT at 16 degrees and 2 mins of Gemini.
2022-11-2502 min
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulEp10: Sagittarius New Moon: The Leap of Faith. Understanding our Personal Philosophy and PurposeAs humans, we have an intrinsic need to feel safe, and to have a goal, mission, or philosophy that gives our life meaning. With Moon in Sagittarius, collectively we are deciding what those things are. We are taking risks, and with the buoyant, jubilant Jupiter stationing direct, we have an optimistic approach to life and a strong belief that we will triumph as we traverse through unknown territory with confidence.
Some pre-reading: https://www.risetarot.com/aboutsag
*Natal Chart Recommended
To get your natal chart: https://www.astro-charts.com
2022-11-251h 40
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulEp8: Jupiter Rx in Pisces Conjunct Neptune Rx in Pisces - Disappointment & Escapism: Where's the balance?In this astrology chat, we will discuss the Jupiter retrograde conjunct Neptune retrograde both in the watery sign of Pisces. We will discuss the key themes in the transit and how to work with this energy to excavate and lovingly address what is being called to our attention.
0:00 Overview & Collective Weather Report
2:47 Jupiter Rx
7:17 Neptune Rx
13:15 The Conjunction
17:30 Oracle
31:00 Tarot
52:26 Announcements & Upcoming Events
RSVP to the Sagittarius New Moon Livestream on November 23, 2022 - www.risetarot.com/rsvp
2022-11-2254 min
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulEp9: Saturn Square Uranus Rx: Finding softness + maintaining integrity through the discomfort of changeIn this special Astro chat, we will be discussing the Saturn square Uranus retrograde transit that we are moving through collectively. This period began on September 7th of this year and will last through January 15, 2023.
What energy is moving through the collective?
How can we use this energy to move through this intense period of change without losing our integrity?
How can we find our peace and keep ourselves soft as the pieces around us move and shift?
Tune in for the discussion!
2022-11-1557 min
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulEp7: Taurus Full Moon Lunar Eclipse Live!Tune into yesterday's Taurus Full Moon Total Lunar Eclipse Livestream. Attendees that joined either live stream will receive a bonus video that walks through the eclipse energy through all 12 astrological houses!
Livestream Segments:
Livestream Segments
Overview of the Taurus Full Moon Total Lunar Eclipse energies
Key Astrological Transits + Collective Interpretation
Oracle Selection
Collective Tarot Reading
Closing Words
2022-11-091h 20
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulEp6: Mars Rx in Gemini - October 30, 2922: Buckle Up!We will be discussing the Mars retrograde in Gemini, 25° of Gemini starting today, October 30, 2022, and lasting until January 2023. This is some crunchy, crunchy, crunchy energy! Lots of toxic traits will be revealed, many will make demands on our energy without a license.
What can we do to be graceful and grounded? How can we use the added complexity of Scorpio season to get to the truth and on earth all that is hidden? Join us for this astrology chat!
2022-10-311h 08
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulLivestream Announcement! Taurus Full Moon Lunar Eclipse Live!TAURUS FULL MOON LUNAR ECLIPSE
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
www.risetarot.com/rsvp
Join us for the Taurus Full Moon Total Lunar Eclipse Livestream on Instagram and YouTube.
Attendees that join either livestream will receive a bonus video which walks through the eclipse energy through all 12 astrological houses!
Livestream Segments:
Taurus Full Moon Eclipse energies
Key Astrological Transits
Oracle Selection
Collective Tarot Reading
Closing Words
2022-10-3001 min
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulEp5: New Moon Solar Eclipse in Scorpio - October 25, 2022This is your new moon in Scorpio solar eclipse navigation guide.
We will talk about the energies of this lunar event, we will talk about the pivotal transformative energy that surrounds this eclipse, and how we can make the best use of this spiritual gift of healing and change.
Handy quick guide: https://www.instagram.com/risetarot_/guide/new-moon-solar-eclipse-in-scorpio/17982126532712130/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Announcement on Personalized Journey Reports: https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cj_l_LuI72e/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
November and December slots are open!
Use the link below to book: https://squareup.com/appointments/book/wnvuhdaihvx16d/CTCPWR27...
2022-10-2253 min
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulBONUS - Full Moon in Capricorn. It’s ok to know you’re not ok. Your transformation is now.This full moon in Capricorn happening on July 13, 2022 is beckoning us to examine our subconscious. Identify the habits that keep us stuck, pull out the weeds that obscure and create obstacles in the pathways to achieving our goals. The moon beckons us to be honest and speak up about the mask that we may wear, and make a resolute commitment to leave habits that are self-destructive in the past where they belong. We are embarking on a new transformative process that is ending these self-sabotaging behavioral patterns once and for all. We are collectively choosing happiness.
2022-07-1429 min
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulBONUS - Full Moon in Sagittarius: There is no need to fear this change. You are protected. You are exactly where you need to be.For the first installment of our Rise Moon Series, we will discuss the Sagittarius Full Moon on June 14, 2022, at 23° 15. Follow along with your natal chart and note down any planets or points you have at that degree mark and also what house it falls under. We will cover the following:
Main Aspects
General Themes
Oracle - Moonolgy & Sacred Traveller
Tarot
Enjoy! XOXO,
Mel
2022-06-0957 min
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulEp4: MID-WEEK CHECK- IN: Embrace the Void. We are free to recreate our own world.This week, the message from the spirit was clear. It is time to go deep into our inner selves. We are being cautioned to stop the searching, and enjoy the void, the "winter" of our journey, because the quest we're on, is an internal one. We were lovingly urged to attend to our intuition and emotional space and the perceived stagnation due to being unsure of how things will turn out in the end.
At the start of the week, we began to identify new choices that harmoniously align with what brings us joy. We began to reno...
2022-06-091h 03
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulWelcome to the Rise Moon Series - Sneak Peak! - Full Moon in Sagittarius, June 14, 2022Hey Friends,
Tomorrow is our mid-week check-in. If you're new to the podcast, welcome!
On Wednesdays, we meet for our collective midweek check-in. It's our day to energetically soothe and self-care. We check on the energies of the last three days, talk through any notable events coming up that we need to be prepared for, do a collective wellness check on how we're all feeling, and share guidance to close out the week.
This week is special. This week we are giving you a double-feature: Rise Moon Series! This is a series that g...
2022-06-0705 min
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulEp3: We are strong enough to burn it down and rebuild. The Pluto & Saturn Retrograde SpecialHi, my friends!
It's Sunday, June 5, 2022, and we have two outer planets in retrograde, Saturn retrograde in Aquarius, and Pluto retrograde in Capricorn. This week, we are asked to redefine, reanalyze, and reconsider our relationship to limitations, responsibility, justice, distance from reality, and our comfort zones. We are being asked to burn down what does not serve us so we can rebuild what does.
This will not be easy, but the spirit assures us that we are strong beyond measure and urges us to step into our power. We're being asked to forge a new...
2022-06-061h 16
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulEp2: MIDWEEK CHECK-IN: Shed your petals and surrender. You are held.Today is June 1, 2022. In today's show, we dive deep into what it means to surrender. With the stellium of planets we have in the sign of Taurus, and Mercury currently still being retrograde in the sign of Taurus we are being beckoned to re-examine our values, mental structures, and the way we integrate self-communication with external communication. We are turning our intention inward, and examining how we nurture ourselves, and what we need to feel safe secure, and well cared for.
Collectively, we are going through a death and rebirth cycle (very Scorpio, very Capricorn). We are shedding old thought...
2022-06-011h 33
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulEp1: All Roads (Even Crossroads) Lead Home - New Moon in GeminiThis is your weekly forecast for the week of May 29 - June 4th, 2022. We are on the heels of the Gemini New Moon taking place at 3°18 on Monday, May 30th. The energy beckons us to leave the past in the past, embrace our long-term vision and goals, uproot subconscious fear-based information that we share with ourselves, forge ahead as leaders, not followers, and reveal to ourselves and others what needs to be displayed.
The collective message is to recognize what we have created for ourselves— the sense of security and stability that we now enjoy and to recognize that we have...
2022-05-2937 min
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulWelcome to Rise Tarot!Learn about Rise Tarot and the value of Astrology.
2022-05-1501 min
Rise Tarot: Intuitive Astrology for the Collective + Conscious SoulThe Brown Girl Experiments (Trailer)
2019-11-2500 min