{"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":"Promise to Make a Difference","slug":"promise-to-make-a-difference","published_at":"2025-12-11T03:15:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/scars-to-stars-podcast-6384270/promise-to-make-a-difference","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/scars-to-stars-podcast-6384270","url":"https://scars-to-stars-podcast.captivate.fm/episode/promise-to-make-a-difference","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/8dfcddf9-4563-47a8-8a1b-6ba72e4b569d.mp3","summary":"In this Scars to Stars™ episode, John K. Bates opens up about surviving not just one, but multiple life-threatening health crises; first nearly dying from Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, and years later enduring a severe post-surgery infection that spiraled into clinical depression, anxiety, and akathisia. He shares candidly what it’s like to lose hope, to quietly consider ending it all, and to feel like joy and normalcy are gone forever. How one promise he made to “make a difference” and one person telling him, “You’re going to be okay,” helped him hold on. John’s story is a powerful reminder that our intuition matters, our pain is real, and that even in the darkest seasons, healing and purpose can return. This conversation is for anyone who has felt invisible inside their own struggle and needs to know, deeply, that they are not alone and that conversations truly can save lives.  #scarstostars #suicideprevention #mentalhealthawareness #conversations #community #personalstory #havetheconversation #savealifechallenge #virtualevents #amazonbestseller #suicideawareness #mentalhealthmatters #kindnessmatters #Stevens-JohnsonSyndrome #infection #depression #anxiety #akathisia","meta_description":"In this Scars to Stars™ episode, John K. Bates opens up about surviving not just one, but multiple life-threatening health crises; first nearly dying from…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2655,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/scars-to-stars-podcast-6384270/episodes/promise-to-make-a-difference/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/promise-to-make-a-difference.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}