My career has given me a front-row seat to witness the tension between business needs and clinical needs firsthand. It’s a push and pull that plays out in many mental health startups.
When things are healthy, employees on each side learn to work together and appreciate what each brings to the table. But in unhealthy companies, the business side ignores the clinical side until they end up in the news headlines for unethical practices – or the clinical side wins and the company goes bankrupt.
That’s why I started the Hot Commodity podcast, a place where we can explore the intersection of mental health and startup technology. It’s a chance for me to delve into the tensions that arise when money is wrapped up in mental health and well-being.
To be honest, the podcast is a lot of work. But through it, I have a crazy hope that I can shape the conversation by encouraging thoughtfulness around ethics and client care, and bringing a voice with a clinician background into the conversation.
In terms of guests, I seek out conversations with people who can help my listeners understand the industry and its events and answer the questions floating around in my professional circles and in my own head. There’s so much happening very quickly, and it can be overwhelming for clinicians who feel like they’re left to pick up the pieces. I believe that knowledge is power, and the best thing clinicians can do is educate themselves so they can advocate for themselves.
I’m picky about who I bring on the show because I’m not interested in just selling myself or a product. I’m telling a story – the story of the collision of mental health and tech.
It’s a story that is still unfolding.
And it’s not too late to make it into a tale of triumph rather than tragedy.
I hope both sides of the equation – business and clinical – will learn something from the conversations I host on the Hot Commodity podcast. I believe that we can all work together to make the mental health industry better, and it starts with having honest conversations about the issues at hand.
