Podcast
Braving the Waves
Hosted by Mikaela Brewer · EN
Author, speaker, researcher, and storyteller, Mikaela Brewer, brings us Braving the Waves & Bridging the Gap: Stories of Unsinkable Resilience & Resolvving Stigma. This podcast features a series of storytelling-focused conversations with youth in our communities. Inspired and guided by the powerful advocacy, care, and storytelling legacy at Resolvve and Unsinkable, Brewer speaks to some of today’s most empowering young storytellers, writers, musicians, comedians, activists and more about their mental health journey in a deeper, refreshing way.
Season 2 adds a new layer to storytelling. To complement the programs at Unsinkable & Resolvve's work supporting students, Mikaela offers another way to Brave the Waves: crafting words for moments that feel like they don't have any, especially for those who don't feel comfortable writing, speaking, or publicly sharing. Each week, Mikaela gathers anonymous voice notes, memories, journal entries, photos, drawings, and anything that captures a specific, meaningful moment, through a memory box form. She then creates a poem and episode to offer a comforting way to pause in a moment, preserve a memory, and feel seen/heard in it as it's given words and read aloud. Head to tinyurl.com/bravingthewaves to read more about the process and submit!
Season 1 of Braving the Waves featured a series of storytelling-focused conversations with youth in our communities. Inspired and guided by the powerful advocacy, care, and storytelling legacy at Resolvve and Unsinkable, Mikaela spoke with some of today’s most empowering young storytellers, writers, musicians, comedians, activists and more about their mental health journey in a deeper, refreshing way.
Resolvve, driven by a lack of comprehensive mental health literacy being taught in high schools and universities, aims to fill the gap by providing mental health education and rapid access to integrated therapeutic services.
Unsinkable, a charitable organization founded by Olympic hero and mental health advocate Silken Laumann, aims to use storytelling to help people #BridgeTheGap between struggling with their mental health and taking steps towards mental well-being.
55episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
"I still f***ing fight every day."
Jul 17, 202300:24:30Tap to summarizeEpisode Notes Mikaela's six-word story: "I still fing fight every day."* Listen in to hear more of Mikaela's message. "If there is a story there, your pain doesn't end when you choose to give it words." This week, Mikaela checks in with you and herself. She shares thoughts about not being okay right now, telling the truth, and the intricacies of stories and storytelling. Disclaimer: This Podcast, along with Resolvve’s & Unsinkable’s mental health learning, educational content, and storytelling is not therapy and is not a replacement for therapy. Please seek professional help if needed. Go to www.resolvve.ca or weareunsinkable.com to get the support you need. Mikaela offers 1:1 peer support here. Follow Resolvve on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Follow Unsinkable on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Transcribe →Pushing forward even though it's hard.
Jul 10, 202300:30:48Tap to summarizeEpisode Notes Steven's six-word story: "Pushing forward even though it's hard" Listen in to hear more of Steven's powerful words! "We were meant to heal in order to connect. That's how I want to present myself to the world—as someone who believes that. In everything I do, I try my best to understand that I'm dealing with a person at the end of the day, no matter what's going on and that I'm respecting them as people first and foremost because it's what I want." This week, Mikaela speaks with Steven Sharpe Jr., a Brooklyn-based style and wellness content creator. As a proud Afro-Latino, plant father of 20, and a member of the LGBTQ community, Steven uses his platform to exemplify "rest over hustle”—it means understanding that prioritizing rest, wellness, and caring for one’s mental health is just as important as working hard and achieving success. With this as the cornerstone of his work, he’s been able to lend his voice to many mental health initiatives. Through his content work, he’s been fortunate to partner with incredibly successful businesses—including Meta, Target, Primark, and more. His ability to meld a brand’s priorities and his creative perspective into thoughtful media has allowed him to be a reliable creator; and his authenticity and integrity on his public platform has garnered trust with his online community. In this fun episode, we reflect on healing, telling the truth of our stories, embracing the soft life, prioritizing rest, and so much more. Here are just a few tidbits of our conversation: Reflect on your healing—see where you never allowed yourself to break. Remember when you dreamed of the pieces of your life you're living and worked hard for! Language is essential in storytelling—for our own & others' stories. There is value in how we say things! You don't have to sacrifice your well-being to be successful. People are valuable. You never have to justify your worth. Feeling safe is not a privilege it's a right. Don't be afraid to ask for things—say yes to what you like & no to what isn't beneficial. You will achieve so much more if you put your phone down, close your laptop, and make time for rest! Don't be afraid of owing people things—accept support! Ask for clarity if you're not sure if the person wants something in return. When you give people a chance to support you, they will surprise you! Connect with Steven: Socials: IG & TT @stevensharpejr Websites: stevensharpejr.com (personal); nobiuscreative.com (business); stevensharpejr.myportfolio.com (portfolio) Disclaimer: This Podcast, along with Resolvve’s & Unsinkable’s mental health learning, educational content, and storytelling is not therapy and is not a replacement for therapy. Please seek professional help if needed. Go to www.resolvve.ca or weareunsinkable.com to get the support you need. Mikaela offers 1:1 peer support here. Follow Resolvve on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Follow Unsinkable on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Transcribe →Turning pain into passion and purpose.
Jul 4, 202300:53:37Tap to summarizeEpisode Notes _Lauren's six-word story: "Turning pain into passion and purpose." Listen in to hear more of Lauren's beautiful words. This is a heart-filled episode! "So let us embrace our grief with all its pain and all its relief. Grief is a reminder that love never dies and that our loved ones are forever by our side."_ This week, Mikaela speaks with Lauren Urie, the wonder behind Resolvve's social media! Lauren is a social worker, MSW candidate, and the creator of The Advocacy For Change Project on Instagram. Alongside her lived experience with trauma and mental illness, she's passionate about inclusive mental health education and developing meaningful relationships in her local and online community. In February 2021, she started an Instagram page in hopes of building mental health awareness and a safe space where people feel less alone. In this episode, we explore self-disclosure as a social worker, relationships with our therapists, and the depth of our connection with pets. Lauren also reads us an original poem about grief. Here are just a few tidbits of our conversation: A meaningful symmetry of experiences between client & therapist can be a valuable part of therapy. Grief & anticipatory death anxiety—we don't 'get over' these, we continue to grow around them. Unconditional love from animals. Poetry as the perfect homemade gift! Speaking our stories out loud allows us to be more compassionate with ourselves. Birthdays aren't always happy—sometimes they're painful. Unpacking social work: storytelling as the space between policy & mental health care. Disclaimer: This Podcast, along with Resolvve’s & Unsinkable’s mental health learning, educational content, and storytelling is not therapy and is not a replacement for therapy. Please seek professional help if needed. Go to www.resolvve.ca or weareunsinkable.com to get the support you need. Mikaela offers 1:1 peer support here. Follow Resolvve on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Follow Unsinkable on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Transcribe →You need meaning. You need to matter.
Jun 26, 202300:35:36Tap to summarizeEpisode Notes Noah's six (or seven) word story: "You need meaning. You need to matter." Listen in to hear more of Noah's wise words. This episode is a game-changer! "I am not about myself...the more stories you're a part of that are BIG and transcend yourself—that you get to participate in—the more rich life is in context." This week, Mikaela speaks with Noah Tile, co-founder of Resolvve, about why this podcast is needed now (and from Unsinkable & Resolvve in particular). We explore Noah's incredible six-word story, rooted in Jewish culture & religion, transcendence of time and space, and choosing to see our lives as part of the stories in our past, present, and future. Here are just a few tidbits of our conversation: Your ideas and wisdom are offspring. What does collecting living memories look like? It's dangerous not to care what people think—expand your celebration of someone beyond praise! Youth may tell their stories differently (and older doesn't necessarily mean wiser). We are living in a crisis of meaning—root yourself in something slower, other than 2023 (stories!).
Transcribe →Trailer
Jun 12, 202300:02:47Tap to summarizeEpisode Notes Disclaimer: This Podcast, along with Resolvve’s & Unsinkable’s mental health learning, educational content, and storytelling is not therapy and is not a replacement for therapy. Please seek professional help if needed. Go to www.resolvve.ca or weareunsinkable.com to get the support you need. Mikaela offers 1:1 peer support here. Follow Resolvve on Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube. Follow Unsinkable on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Transcribe →