In Part 2 of this deeply moving two-part conversation, and return to continue sharing the heart behind their work with and the ongoing movement surrounding Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women  (MMIW).

Together, we explore the spiritual foundation of their advocacy and the sacred responsibility they carry as they support families impacted by unimaginable grief and loss. Teyana and Norm speak openly about the emotional weight of this work, the importance of ceremony, and how prayer, community, and connection to the land guide everything they do.

In this episode, listeners will hear about the meaning behind the Red Teepee, prayer runs, mountain climbs, and the powerful healing spaces they create for families to share their stories and honor loved ones who have been taken too soon. They also reflect on resilience, generational healing, Indigenous identity, and the importance of transforming grief into action while continuing to fight for visibility, accountability, and justice.

This conversation is not only about advocacy, it is about humanity, remembrance, healing, and hope. It is a powerful reminder that healing happens in community, that stories matter, and that every voice has the power to create change.

Way of the Sacred Mountain 

You Tube Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGydeK4RmMw&t=5s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdzO_oVT7v0

https://wayofthesacredmountain.org/

In this powerful first installment of a two-part conversation on Finding Your Voice, host Jason Carrasco sits down with Teyana Viscarra and Norm Sands from Way of the Sacred Mountain to explore the devastating reality of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW).

This episode shines a light on the heartbreaking statistics, systemic failures, and generational trauma impacting Indigenous communities across North America. Together, they discuss why Indigenous women, men, girls, boys, and two spirit relatives face disproportionately high rates of violence, why so many cases go underreported or unsolved, and how awareness, advocacy, and community action are critical in creating change.

Through honest conversation and education, this episode invites listeners to move beyond headlines and truly understand the human impact behind the MMIW crisis. More than statistics, these are stories of daughters, mothers, sisters, families, and communities whose voices deserve to be heard.

This conversation is difficult, emotional, and deeply important. Our hope is that by bringing greater awareness to MMIW, we can help amplify Indigenous voices, honor those who have been lost, and encourage meaningful action and healing.

Topics discussed include:

•  The origins and meaning of the MMIW movement 
•  The alarming statistics surrounding violence against Indigenous women 
•  Why many cases receive little media attention 
•  Historical trauma and systemic barriers 
•  Advocacy, education, and community healing 
•  How listeners can support awareness and change 

Part Two will continue the conversation by focusing on healing, advocacy efforts, and the work being done through Way of the Sacred Mountain to support Indigenous communities and protect future generations.

Way of the Sacred Mountian 

You Tube Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGydeK4RmMw&t=5s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdzO_oVT7v0

https://wayofthesacredmountain.org/

In this powerful episode of Finding Your Voice, host Jason Carrasco, LMFT, sits down with Jim Zenner, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, U.S. Army veteran, and national leader in veteran policy and services.

Jim shares his journey from enlisting after 9/11 to serving in Iraq, and how those life-and-death experiences shaped his leadership, resilience, and commitment to serving veterans. This conversation explores the real impact of military service on mental health, the challenges veterans face transitioning back to civilian life, and the importance of trauma-informed care, therapy, and community support.

Jim also discusses his groundbreaking work to end veteran homelessness in Los Angeles County, expand the Veteran Peer Access Network, and build systems that better support veterans and their families at the local, state, and national levels.

This episode is a powerful conversation about leadership, healing, purpose, and what it truly means to continue the mission after service.

Military Veteran Affairs, Los Angeles County

https://mva.lacounty.gov/executive-bios/james-zenner/

Veteran Peer Access Network (VPAN)

https://mva.lacounty.gov/veteran-peer-access-network/

Warrior Heritage Foundation (scroll down to see video of Jim Zenner speaking)

https://warriorheritagefoundation.org/about

In this episode of Finding Your Voice, I sit down with Los Angeles County Fire Department Captain Eric Eastlund, a leader, a servant to his community, and a man who understands what it means to show up in the middle of chaos.

Eric shares what it’s like to live a life of constant response, running toward crisis when others are running away. From his experiences during the Altadena Fires to the everyday realities of being continuously exposed to trauma, he opens up about the emotional weight first responders carry and how they learn to keep going.

Eric speaks candidly about his own recovery journey, the lessons he’s learned about resilience, and how giving back has become a cornerstone of his life, both within the fire department and beyond it. Whether it’s supporting his fellow firefighters, engaging in peer support, or serving his community in meaningful ways, his story is one of purpose, humility, and strength.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/recovery

In this episode of Finding Your Voice, I sit down with retired Los Angeles Police Department Detective Garrett Bush to explore the intersection of law enforcement and mental health crisis response.

Drawing from his work with the SMART team and CAMP unit, Garrett shares about his experience in crisis situations while also opening up about his own childhood trauma and challenges within his family.

This conversation is about service, resilience, and the power of meeting people with understanding in their most vulnerable moments.

National Alliance on Mental Illness

https://www.nami.org/

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

https://988lifeline.org/

Finding Your Voice Instagram Page

https://www.instagram.com/findingyourvoicepodcast/

In this episode of Finding Your Voice, I talk with Dr. Jaime Brown, leader at Brite Psychological Services, for a powerful and honest conversation about identity, strength, and what it truly means to heal.

We discuss:

• Latino community
• Even The “warrior” needs to be vulnerable
• Healing in community instead of isolation
• Reclaiming our shared humanity
• What therapy means to him
• And yes,  how punk rock spirit shows up in mental health

Because sometimes healing isn’t soft.
Sometimes it’s loud.
Sometimes it’s rebellious.

And sometimes the most radical thing we can do is feel. It’s about honoring where we come from without being trapped by it. And it’s about remembering that being human is not weakness, it is courage.

Brite Psychological Services

https://www.britepsych.com/

Regal Beagle

http s://www.instagram.com/regalbeaglesgv/

https://www.instagram.com/findingyourvoicepodcast

In this inspiring episode of Finding Your Voice, I speak with Dr. Melanie Cain, a Native American psychologist whose journey into the field of psychology is as powerful as the work she does today.

Dr. Cain shares her path to becoming a psychologist—what shaped her calling, the challenges she navigated, and the deeper purpose that guides her work. From serving within state systems to building her own private practice supporting women, she brings both clinical expertise and lived understanding to the therapy room.

We explore the core issues she sees most often in her work: anxiety, depression, and intergenerational trauma. Dr. Cain offers thoughtful insight into how trauma can echo across generations, how women often carry invisible emotional burdens, and what healing can look like when culture, identity, and voice are honored in the therapeutic process.

This conversation is honest, grounded, and deeply empowering. It’s about resilience. It’s about representation. And it’s about what happens when someone chooses not only to find their voice, but to help others find theirs too.

If you’ve ever wondered how personal history shapes professional purpose, or how therapy can create space for healing across generations, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Substance Abuse Prevention Control

http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/sapc/

https://www.instagram.com/findingyourvoicepodcast

In this episode, I talk with Daniel French, one of the founding members of Las Cafeteras, for a conversation that moves beyond music and into meaning.

We explore the power of music as healing, the overlap between creativity and therapy, and how Daniel’s work has evolved over time from performing on stages to helping others find their own voice, purpose, and sense of connection.

This is a thoughtful, grounded conversation about art, service, and what it means to use your gifts in ways that truly impact others.

https://www.instagram.com/frenchismexican/

https://www.instagram.com/findingyourvoicepodcast

In this powerful and deeply important episode of Finding Your Voice, I’m joined by Elizabeth Eastlund, MSW, with extensive experience working with survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV).

Together, we break down what intimate partner violence really is beyond the stereotypes and misconceptions, and why it so often goes unseen. Elizabeth shares her on the ground experience from the field, offering clarity around common warning signs, patterns of control, and the emotional complexities that make these relationships so difficult to leave.

We also spend time talking about something many people struggle with: how to support someone you love who may be in an abusive relationship. What helps? 

This episode is honest, educational, and grounded in care. Whether you’re a clinician, a loved one, or someone seeking understanding, this conversation aims to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remind listeners that support and safety begin with listening.

If you’ve ever wondered how to recognize IPV or how to be a safe presence for someone navigating it, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

National Domestic Violence Hotline

https://www.thehotline.org/

California Partnership to End Domestic Violence

https://www.cpedv.org/find-help/

Finding Your Voice Instagram 

https://www.instagram.com/findingyourvoicepodcast