Outreach With Reggie | Community Advocacy & Mental Health

Outreach With Reggie | Community Advocacy & Mental Health

by Reggie Holloway | Community Advocacy & Mental Health
Mental HealthSociety & Culture
Season 3
Who Are You Without an Audience? | Finding Your Authentic Self
Who are you when no one is watching? We spend so much of our lives performing. For our jobs. For our families. For our communities. For social media. For the expectations placed on us by the people around us. We become the strong one, the reliable one, the funny one, the successful one—until the role we’ve been playing starts to feel more familiar than the person underneath it. In this deeply reflective episode of Outreach with Reggie, Reggie Holloway explores the tension between public identity and private authenticity. Why do we seek validation? How much of ourselves do we sacrifice to belong? What happens when the applause stops, the phone goes silent, and we’re left alone with our own thoughts? Together, we’ll unpack the hidden cost of performance, the weight of carrying expectations, the danger of living for approval, and what it truly means to become your authentic self—both publicly and privately. This isn’t an episode about having all the answers. It’s an invitation to ask a better question. Who are you without an audience? If this conversation challenged or encouraged you, share it with someone who may need the reminder that they don’t have to perform to be worthy. Topics Covered: Public identity vs. private identity Performance vs. authenticity The search for validation The pressure of expectations Relationships and emotional labor Learning to be alone with yourself Rebuilding after rock bottom Becoming your authentic self Hosted by Reggie Holloway Outreach with Reggie | Season 3, Episode 9
S3 · E9
Jun 30, 2026
1:05:35
Men’s Mental Health Month: Soft Life vs. Purpose-Driven Life | Can Men Heal Without Running From Their Calling?
Men are often told to “man up,” stay strong, and push through life’s challenges. But what happens when the pressure becomes too much? In recognition of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, host Reggie explores the growing conversation around men’s mental health and the rise of the “soft life” movement. Is the soft life truly about healing, or can it become a form of escapism? Can men prioritize peace and mental wellness while still pursuing purpose, responsibility, and calling? In this episode, we discuss: ✔️ The history and importance of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month ✔️ What mental health really means ✔️ The “boys will be boys” culture and its impact on emotional wellness ✔️ The pressures and responsibilities men carry ✔️ Mental health stigma among men ✔️ Unique challenges facing Black men ✔️ Emotional regulation and healthy coping mechanisms ✔️ Safe spaces for men to have honest conversations ✔️ Rest vs. responsibility ✔️ Escapism vs. healing ✔️ Is softness a privilege? ✔️ When it’s time to ask for help This episode is an invitation for men to be honest about where they are mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically—and a reminder that seeking help is not weakness, it’s wisdom. 💙 If this episode resonates with you, share it with a friend, brother, father, mentor, son, or someone who may need this conversation.
S3 · E8
Jun 22, 2026
46:13
“Can We Talk?” – What It Means to Create Healthy Spaces & Conversations
In this powerful episode of Outreach With Reggie, Reggie explores what it truly means to create healthy spaces and have honest conversations in a world where connection can often feel surface-level and performative. “Can We Talk?” challenges listeners to reflect on the environments, relationships, and conversations shaping their lives. Are the spaces you occupy helping you heal and grow — or are they simply familiar places you’ve learned to survive? This episode dives into the difference between healthy and unhealthy spaces, the impact of performative relationships, the importance of emotional safety, mental health conversations across communities, and how to recognize when it’s time to fight for a space, walk away, or build one of your own. Drawing from lived experience, advocacy, and community leadership, Reggie offers honest insight on vulnerability, accountability, friendship, inclusion, and the courage it takes to create spaces where truth can exist without fear. This week’s challenge: Ask yourself — Are you in a healthy space… or just a familiar one? Because healthy spaces don’t just exist. They are built.
S3 · E7
May 30, 2026
1:11:29
Never Know What Will Be the Last Words: A Love Letter to My Mother
In this deeply personal episode of Outreach with Reggie, Reggie reflects on grief, closure, motherhood, and the reality of navigating life after the passing of his mother on Mother’s Day 2024. Continuing his foster care journey from last episode, Reggie opens up about the psychology of loss, the weight of last conversations, healing without closure, and what it means to keep showing up for others while grieving privately yourself. This episode is a love letter to his mother — and to anyone learning how to carry loss while still moving forward.
S3 · E6
May 10, 2026
56:23
National Foster Care Month: My Story, My Survival, My Purpose
In honor of National Foster Care Month, this episode of Outreach With Reggie is one of the most personal I’ve ever recorded. This is more than awareness—this is my story. From entering foster care as a child, being separated from my siblings, and navigating constant instability… to facing trauma, loss, and mental health battles during my teenage years—this episode walks through the reality of growing up in the system. I share what it felt like to: • Be placed into foster care for the first time • Reunite with my mother—and lose that stability again • Move from home to home and struggle to build relationships • Experience deep grief while still trying to survive • Have my story publicly shared through FOX 5’s Wednesday’s Child • Face suicidal thoughts and identity struggles as a teen • Lose an adoption opportunity at 17 • Age out of foster care during college—and experience homelessness But this isn’t just a story about what I went through. It’s about who I became. In this episode, I also open up about: • Rebuilding relationships with my family • Reconnecting with my sister and my mother • Graduating from college against the odds • Finding purpose through advocacy, storytelling, and impact This episode is for anyone who has ever felt overlooked, displaced, or misunderstood. And it’s for those who want to truly understand foster care—not just as a system, but as a lived experience. Because behind every statistic… there’s a story like mine. 🎧 Listen. Learn. Share.
S3 · E5
May 2, 2026
58:44
Beyond Test Scores: Kevin Cripe on Intelligence, Empathy, and Real Learning
In this thought-provoking episode of Outreach with Reggie, I sit down with educator, author, and speaker Kevin Cripe for a powerful conversation on what it really takes to help young people succeed—both inside and outside the classroom. With over two decades of experience working with students from diverse and often underserved backgrounds, Kevin brings a perspective that challenges how we define intelligence, measure success, and support the next generation. From building a nationally recognized after-school chess program to shaping the lives of first-generation college students, his work goes far beyond traditional education. We dive into the realities of public education today—where it’s working, where it’s falling short, and what needs to change. Kevin also opens up about his personal journey through adoption, offering insight into identity, family, and the deeper emotional layers that shape who we become. This episode explores: • Why intelligence can’t be reduced to test scores • How parents and educators can better nurture cognitive and emotional growth • The role of empathy and moral development in raising strong leaders • How tools like chess can unlock critical thinking and life skills • What meaningful, long-term change in education actually looks like This conversation is for anyone who cares about young people, systems change, and building a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive. 🎧 Tune in and rethink what learning, leadership, and impact really mean.
S3 · E4
Apr 17, 2026
1:25:00
The Power of Therapy: Unlocking Youth Mental Health
In this episode of Outreach With Reggie, we delve into the transformative power of therapy in promoting youth mental health, especially within foster care and community advocacy contexts. Host Reggie Holloway explores how therapy can serve as a critical tool in trauma informed care, fostering systemic change and personal healing for vulnerable populations. Through engaging personal stories and expert insights, listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the role of therapy in nonprofit leadership and social impact. Join us to learn how embracing therapy can amplify youth voices and inspire meaningful community development and policy advocacy.
S3 · E3
Apr 10, 2026
51:38
Misunderstood: The Truth About Foster Youth & Juvenile Justice | Trauma Informed Care Insights
In this powerful episode of Outreach with Reggie, we delve into critical issues surrounding foster care, youth mental health, and juvenile justice. Too often, young people navigating the juvenile justice system—especially those from foster care backgrounds—are misunderstood. This episode explores the connection between foster care and juvenile justice, highlighting how trauma, instability, and early life experiences shape behavior and contribute to the pipeline from foster care to incarceration. We examine gaps in the current system, including the widespread lack of trauma-informed care, and how these challenges call for systemic change driven by community advocacy and youth advocacy. Through personal stories and social research, we learn why punishment alone fails these youth and why social impact efforts must center on understanding and compassion. Join host Reggie Holloway as he calls on listeners to rethink foster care reform, mental health awareness, and juvenile justice policies. This conversation is a crucial step toward fostering real community development and inspiring nonprofit leadership committed to supporting vulnerable youth and championing equity within social systems.
S3 · E2
Apr 7, 2026
45:08
Community Advocacy and Foster Care Reform: Insights from Outreach with Reggie Season Three Premiere
Outreach with Reggie is a weekly podcast dedicated to community advocacy, youth advocacy, foster care reform, and social impact. Hosted by Reggie Holloway, the show delves into critical topics such as child welfare advocacy, nonprofit leadership, mental health, trauma-informed care, and policy advocacy, providing listeners with valuable insights and practical strategies for creating community change. Through in-depth research, lived experiences, and engaging conversations with advocates, professionals, and change-makers, Outreach with Reggie highlights real stories and actionable solutions to systemic challenges affecting our communities. The podcast emphasizes social equity solutions, foster youth voices, and nonprofit strategy to inspire and empower listeners to take impactful action. Whether you are a community leader, social worker, advocate, or passionate about fostering social justice and supporting vulnerable populations, Outreach with Reggie offers thoughtful discussions on nonprofit funding, outreach, activism, and social research designed to inform and motivate meaningful change.
S3 · E1
Mar 31, 2026
11:21
Season 2
Season Two Finale: Advancing Social Impact and Foster Care Advocacy
In our Season Two Finale of Outreach with Reggie, we reflect on the most impactful moments around social impact, foster care, and community organizing from this season. Host Reggie Holloway brings together insights from advocacy, social research, and nonprofit leadership to highlight how collective efforts are driving social policy impact and meaningful community change. Tune in to hear inspiring discussions and actionable strategies that empower listeners to become effective advocates in their communities. Whether you're involved in social activism or nonprofit leadership, this finale offers a powerful look at the progress made and the work still ahead in building stronger, more supportive environments for vulnerable populations.
S2 · E16
Mar 21, 2026
29:27
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