{"podcast":{"title":"Scars to Stars™ Podcast","slug":"scars-to-stars-podcast-6384270","podcast_index_feed_id":6384270,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/scars-to-stars-podcast/","website_url":"https://scars-to-stars-podcast.captivate.fm","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/9497f43d-d141-4add-9688-50c83ee3084e/W3d2C8ZV5V5jYW8fN1wDcKnu.jpg","author":"Deana Brown Mitchell","episode_count":131,"summary":"Welcome to the Scars to Stars™ Podcast, where we share stories of resilience and hope. Your host, Deana Brown Mitchell is the founder of the Realize Foundation whose mission is to reduce the number of humans who struggle with suicidal ideation by creating a world where having the conversation becomes commonplace. Like many, she kept silent about her own struggles with mental health for 23 years due to shame and stigma. It wasn't until she lost a friend to suicide that Deana realized the power of sharing our stories. In this podcast, we invite guests who have overcome adversity to share their journey and provide a safe space for vulnerability and openness. Our goal is to let other silent humans know that they are not alone and that there is always hope. Whether you are struggling with your mental health or simply feeling alone, this podcast is for you. Come join our community and let's inspire each other to turn our Scars to Stars.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-25T02:19:49.095846+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/scars-to-stars-podcast-6384270"},"episode":{"title":"Journey of Becoming","slug":"journey-of-becoming","published_at":"2026-01-21T16:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/scars-to-stars-podcast-6384270/journey-of-becoming","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/scars-to-stars-podcast-6384270","url":"https://scars-to-stars-podcast.captivate.fm/episode/leandra-mclaurin","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/b036ac5d-7015-4b7b-b0b6-9ffd908fefb8.mp3","summary":"In this Scars to Stars episode, Leandra shares the real behind-the-scenes journey of becoming who you are —not just what you do. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she followed the “get the degree and the job will come” promise… and instead found burnout, long commutes, imposter syndrome, and the quiet pressure of trying to keep up. From public health and nonprofit work to serving pregnant and postpartum moms in the Black Infant Health Program, Leandra’s heart for community has always been clear—but so was the cost of hustle culture on her mind and body. When COVID hit (and family loss hit even harder), she began asking deeper questions about identity, purpose, and what really matters. Leandra opens up about taking a terrifying leap into entrepreneurship, the grief and financial strain that followed, and the hard-but-holy work of untangling worth from titles and paychecks. She also shares what she learned as a domestic violence advocate—reminding listeners: it’s not your fault, and you deserve a safe plan and support. This episode is for anyone rebuilding, pivoting, grieving, or realizing they can’t “push through” anymore—you need your people, your peace, and a path forward. #scarstostars #suicideprevention #mentalhealthawareness #conversations #community #personalstory #havetheconversation #savealifechallenge #virtualevents #amazonbestseller #suicideawareness #mentalhealthmatters #kindnessmatters #PivotWithPurpose #WorthBeyondWork #BurnoutToBoundaries #CommunityIsCare #FromSurvivingToStrategizing","meta_description":"In this Scars to Stars episode, Leandra shares the real behind-the-scenes journey of becoming who you are —not just what you do. Born and raised in Los An…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1599,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/scars-to-stars-podcast-6384270/episodes/journey-of-becoming/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/scars-to-stars-podcast-6384270/journey-of-becoming.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}