To wrap up Season 2 of The Resilience Zone, we flipped the script! On this episode, our Executive Producer, teacher and coach Andrew Harding, hosts Anyia and a future host of The Resilience Zone, Janessa, as guests for the week. They talk about the importance of focusing on mental health, overcoming the stigma of going to therapy, and what actions could be taken to build a more resilience-friendly environment at school, especially for their peers facing substance abuse. They also talk about their future hopes and dreams for The Resilience Zone podcast.

Today’s high school students are under unprecedented levels of stress, and some lack the coping skills to deal with the difficulties of their own trauma. Easily-abused substances have never been easier to hide or obtain. On this episode, Anyia sits down with two of her high school peers for an honest conversation about the trauma they have faced in their own families due to substance abuse, and how similar patterns show up on a daily basis at school. They also discuss the climate of reporting drug use at school, and how the criminalization of certain behaviors can make students afraid to speak up or seek help for their issues.

Resilience comes in many different forms. For Elijah, a 15-year-old youth pastor, it’s a spiritual experience. In his church and community, Elijah works with many young people who have difficulty coping with the trauma in their life. His goal is to meet people where they are, without judgment, and to use his faith to guide them toward more effective, sustainable, and resilient coping mechanisms. Anyia and Elijah discuss the challenge of aiding those trapped in cycles of abuse, especially substance abuse, and how they can make a difference, particularly with other people of color.