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Hope Illuminated Podcast

Hope Illuminated Podcast

By: Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas
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About this listen

 Welcome to the Hope Illuminated Podcast, your source for the stories, science and strategy of suicide prevention, mental health promotion and resilience where we live, learn, and work. I’m your host, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, and I am on a life mission to empower communities with solutions that help people overcome isolation and despair and rekindle a passion for living. Each episode we’re joined by international experts who inspire hope and offer real guidance. Welcome to the show! I am so grateful you are here.Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • Technology of Survival -- How Emotions Like Fear, Grief, Anger, and Guilt Keep Us Alive with Russell Peterson | Ep 150

    Technology of Survival -- How Emotions Like Fear, Grief, Anger, and Guilt Keep Us Alive with Russell Peterson | Ep 150
    Jun 24 2025
    Why do we fear emotions, particularly in cultures where strength is defined by stoicism? What if we reframed emotions not as liabilities, but as essential survival systems?When are get stuck in our emotions like fear, grief, anger, and guilt, we’re not failing. Our emotions are over-functioning. Emotional systems have evolved "fail-safe" systems; they won’t stop to help us survive. And while that keeps us alive, it can also overwhelm us. In this powerful episode of Hope Illuminated, I sit down with Russell Peterson, a counselor, military mental health specialist, and wilderness survivalist. Russell introduces his compelling “Technology of Survival” framework, illustrating how emotions such as fear, grief, anger, and guilt have evolved to keep us alive.When emotions are seen through a survival lens, we begin to understand their purpose, reduce shame, and reclaim our humanity.For more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/hope-illuminated-podcast/150
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    49 mins
  • Time to Get Noisy -- What Construction Can Teach Us About Suicide Prevention in Every Industry with Sebastian Ison-Jacques: Ep. 149

    Time to Get Noisy -- What Construction Can Teach Us About Suicide Prevention in Every Industry with Sebastian Ison-Jacques: Ep. 149
    Jun 10 2025
    In this episode, we explore one of the most urgent yet often overlooked crises facing high-risk industries: suicide in construction. Our guest, Sebastian Ison-Jacques, brings a powerful blend of personal experience, academic research, and sector insight to this critical conversation. From digital construction to workplace mental health, Seb’s mission is to expose what’s broken and help build something better. for more information on this episode go to https://www.sallyspencerthomas.com/hope-illuminated-podcast/149
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    44 mins
  • Uncovering Hidden Stories: Psychological Autopsies and Suicide Prevention in Middle Aged Adults with Dr. Eva De Jaegere | Ep. 148

    Uncovering Hidden Stories: Psychological Autopsies and Suicide Prevention in Middle Aged Adults with Dr. Eva De Jaegere | Ep. 148
    May 27 2025
    In this episode of Hope Illuminated, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas sits down with Dr. Eva De Jaegere from Belgium to explore the stories behind suicide through the lens of psychological autopsy. Together, they discuss Dr. Eva’s research on suicide risk in middle-aged adults, revealing surprising findings about the role of work stress, financial worries, and the importance of open conversations about suicide and mental health. Discover how listening to the stories of both survivors and those left behind can bring healing, challenge stigma, and shape more effective prevention strategies. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in suicide prevention, lived experience research, and the power of storytelling to spark change.
    Follow Dr. Sally at www.sallyspencerthomas.com
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    45 mins
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