NASW Social Work Talks

EP 142 - Beyond Burnout: Understanding Moral Injury

14 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Social Work Talks, we discuss Moral Injury and how it manifests in social work with Pari Thibodeau, PhD, LCSW. Pari is a licensed c...

EP 141 - When a Therapist's Diagnosis is Not a Secret

07 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this powerful episode of Social Work Talks, host Elisabeth Joy LaMotte chats with psychotherapist, speaker, and author Rebecca Alexander for a deep...

EP 140 - A Journey To Becoming a Social Worker and Social Justice Leader

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In the debut episode of the Power of Social Work Podcast, and as part of Social Work Talks Careers in Social Work Series, the NASW New York Chapter si...

EP 139 - What Every Social Worker Must Know About Motherhood, Stress, Alcohol Use and Practical Ways to Help

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Kelley Kitley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25 years of experience. In this episode Kelley discusses, What Every Social Worker Must Know A...

EP 138 - Social Workers, Investment Funds & Evictions

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Joslyn Berndt founded the innovative CARES program in collaboration with the University of Texas Steve Hicks School of Social Work in 2017. In this ne...

EP 137 - Trauma, Veterans, and Healing: How SHEEPDOG and Social Work Tell the Real Story

02 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this powerful episode of Social Work Talks, filmmaker and actor Steven Grayhm discusses his film SHEEPDOG, now streaming online. Grayhm directed, p...

EP 136 - The Impact of Climate Change on Vulnerable and Marginalized Americans

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Social Work Talks, moderator Mel Wilson is joined by Nina Schlegel and Daniel Faber both of the Global Center for Climate Justice t...

EP 135 - Dying My Way: Living with Dignity When Facing Serious Illness and Death

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this powerful episode we chat with , palliative care social worker Dr. Arden O'Donnell, PhD, MPH, LICSW, APHSW-C about what it means to live—and...

EP 134 - Strengthening Community: Social Workers at the YMCA

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the YMCA for an inspiring conversation about the vital role social workers play in strength...

EP 133: AI and Social Work

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When Artificial Intelligence enters social work conversations, we often rush to warn colleagues about the potential harm it could cause—almost as if...

EP 132 - Building a Macro Social Work Career

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The NASW's Social Work Talks Podcast is embarking on a NEW occasional series on careers within the Social Work Profession! In our inaugural episode we...

EP 131 - Menopause and Mental Health

17 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

NASW Social Work Talks podcast episode 131 - Menopause and Mental Health with Lauren Tetenbaum LICSW, Author of the book, Millennial Menopause: Prepar...

EP 130: The First Gen Madrina: Bridging Professional Growth Emotional Wellness & Financial Empowerment

04 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The First Gen Madrina: Bridging Professional Growth Emotional Wellness & Financial Empowerment | With Sara Diaz, LCSW, Founder of The First Gen Madrin...

EP 129: Navigating the Now: Self Care for Social Workers

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this special episode for Mental Health Awareness Month, we will delve into the intersection of mental health awareness and social work practice, pr...

EP 128: Cannabis Use in Pregnancy

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Social Work Talks, we discuss cannabis use and the impact it has on pregnancy and help social workers bring awareness to women who ...

EP 127: Understanding Traumatic Grief

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Grief and trauma are universal experiences and, as social workers, we know these issues will show up in our work, no matter our practice area. Grief i...

EP 126: Established and Emerging Practices in Public Defender Social Work

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In NASW's latest episode of Social Work Talks, sponsored by Illinois Department of DCFS, we converse with the Maryland Office of Public Defenders abou...

EP 125: Forever Family for Children in Foster Care

17 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For more than 30 years, Rita Soronen, President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has worked on behalf of abused, neglected and vulne...

EP 124: Fractured Families: When to Stay and When to Go

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine this scene. You are sitting in your office when a call comes in. A man and his wife are on the line. The wife says she was given your name fro...

EP 123: Mass Deportation: Unjust and Harmful to the Nation

01 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Wendy Cervantes is the Director of Immigration and Immigrant Families at the Center for Law and Social Policy. In this episode, she and Mel Wilson, NA...

EP 122: Something's Really Wrong Here: What Social Workers Should Know About Families with Adult Children With Mental Illness

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Judith R. Smith, LCSW is author of the new book, Difficult: Mothering Challenging Adult Children Through Conflict and Change. We chat with her ab...

Ep 121: Voting Information Day with Vot-ER

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Vote ER and NASW on mobilizing for the extremely important 2024 presidential and down ballot elections. It goes without saying that the upcoming elect...

Ep 120: Getting Real with Relationship Expert & Author Terry Real

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In our latest podcast we chat with Relationship Expert, Author and Social Worker Terry Real!  An internationally recognized family therapist and best...

EP 119: Update on the EAP Landscape

05 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Dale Masi is  a pioneering social worker renowned for her work in Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Dr. Masi, who recently edited the Fifth In...

EP 118: Career Pivots — It's Never Too Late to Become a Therapist

08 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this NASW podcast episode of Social Work Talks we examine why it's Never Too Late to enter the field of therapy. Our host NASW member Elisabeth Joy...

EP 117: Why Social Workers Make Great Leaders

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Michael Kaufman, MSW, PhD., author of the new book, Doing Good & Doing Well: Inspiring Helping Professionals to Become Leaders in Their Organizati...

EP 116: Psychedelic Assisted Therapy

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mary Cosimano, LMSW, has been with the Department of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the Center for Psychedelic and Co...

EP 115: Social Workers in Public Healthcare - Is it the career path for you?

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jasmin Saville, RN, MPH, MSSW, is whole health and equity director for Amerigroup, a health insurance and managed health care provider that covers old...

EP 114: Marijuana reform policies and their impact Black and Brown communities

19 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As of April 20, 2024, recreational use of marijuana has been legalized in 24 states, three U.S. territories, and Washington, D.C. But how have marijua...

EP 113: Student Initiated Confrontations' Impact on Social Work

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Social Work Instructor Dr. Thalia Anderen, MSW, RCSW, LCSW, and Social Work Talks Podcast Host Lorrie Appleton, LCSW, dive into the concerning trend o...

EP 112: Social Work is Everywhere Campaign

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

During Social Work Month 2024, the University of Kentucky College of Social Work is celebrating with the campaign "Social Work is Everywhere." The col...

EP 111: Ending our nation's gun violence epidemic - a Brady campaign update

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Gun violence remains a serious public health issue in the United States. About 46,000 Americans died due to gun violence in 2023, with half using guns...

EP 110: Health Behavior Assessment and Intervention Services Payment Update

09 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mirean Coleman, LICSW, director of clinical practice at the National Association of Social Workers, talks about a new regulation that will allow clini...

EP 109: Partnering with White Ribbon VA to end sexual harassment, sexual assault and domestic violence

28 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

White Ribbon VA is a national call to action to eliminate sexual harassment, sexual assault, and domestic violence across the Department of Veterans A...

EP 108: EcoSocial Work

13 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Rachel Forbes, MSW, Associate Professor of the Practice of Social Work and Western Colorado MSW Program Director at the University of Denver Graduate ...

EP107: Hip Hop Therapy in the South Bronx

19 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

JC Hall, MSW, LCSW, is a hip hop therapist and school social worker in the South Bronx, New York. He works at a high school there, where he is the Hip...

EP106: EMDR Therapy Training for Social Workers

06 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) is a form of psychotherapy designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories....

EP105: Hawai'i Fires Update

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In Maui, more than 115 people have died after wildfires struck in early August. Some 1,000 people remain missing, and the death toll is expected to ri...

EP104: Social Work in an Online World

06 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with David A. Wilkerson, PhD, MSW, and Liam O'Sullivan, MA, NQSW, co-editors of "Social Work in an Online World: A Guide to Digital Practice"...

EP103: Supporting People Grieving After Losing a Loved One to Suicide

20 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Christine Gilchrist, LCSW, is a specialist in suicide in prevention and in helping those who are survivors of suicide. She speaks about how she and ot...

EP102: Children's Mental Health in Decline

30 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

American children's mental health is worsening. Young people and their families are dealing with the emotional impact of inflation, social injustice, ...

EP101: Preventing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

02 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with Mary Marden Velasquez, PhD, and Anna Mangum, MSW, MPH, about National Partnerships to Address Prenatal Alcohol and other Substance Use a...

EP100: Empowering Men To Be Better Fathers

04 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with Dr. Charles Daniels Jr, PhD, MDiv, LICSW , co-founder and CEO of Fathers' Uplift in Dorchester, Massachusetts.  Fathers' UpLift provide...

EP99: Genetics and Family Life: What Social Workers Need to Know

14 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with Dr. Allison Werner-Lin about genetics and family life. Dr. Werner-Lin is Associate Professor at the School of Social Policy and Practice...

EP98: Environmental Justice as Social Work Practice

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with Christina Erickson, MSW, PhD, about environmental justice. Dr. Erickson is professor and chair of the social work department at Augsburg...

EP97: South Asians in the United States

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with Shreya Bhandari, PhD, LISW, editor of the NASW Press book "South Asians in the United States: A Guide for Social Workers and Other Helpi...

EP96: Sleep Health is a Social Justice Issue

17 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sleep is as essential to human well-being as food and air. Poor sleep habits and sleep deprivation can have negative effects on our physical and menta...

EP95: Identifying Moral Panic

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Michael H. Eversman, PhD, MSW, is the author of "Identifying Moral Panic: The Discourse of Fear in Social Policy" from NASW Press. This book uses hist...

EP94: Economic Well-Being

02 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Deborah M. Figart, PhD, and Ellen Mutari, PhD, are the authors of "Economic Well-Being: An Introduction" from NASW Press. In this episode, we discuss ...

EP93: Social Work and Squeegee Kids in Baltimore

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Kyla Liggett-Creel talks with us about her work to support young people who squeegee car windshields at intersections in Baltimore. She outlines w...

EP92: Why Social Workers Need a Therapist Professional Will

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ann Steiner, PhD, is a certified group psychotherapist, licensed marriage and family therapist and consultant in private practice for 30 years. She is...

EP91: Social Work from a Burmese Perspective

20 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In February 2021, the Myanmar military staged a coup that overthrew the democratically elected government. Since then, the killing of civilians in Mya...

EP90: Meet NASW President-Elect, Dr. Yvonne Chase

06 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Yvonne M. Chase, PhD, LCSW, ACSW, will begin her three-year term as NASW president on July 1, 2023. Dr. Chase is an Associate Professor at the Univers...

EP89: Learning To Take Risks

01 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with NASW member Kristen Lee, Ed.D., LICSW, about overcoming fear and learning to take risks. Visit the show notes page for related episodes...

EP88: Social Workers Tackle Recidivism

29 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Monique Bingham, MSW, is NASW's 2022 Emerging Social Work Leader. She works as a mental health therapist at the Anti Recidivism Coalition, which works...

EP87: Supporting LGBTQIA2S+ Youth in 2022

29 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Social worker Caitlin Ryan, is founder and executive director of the Family Acceptance Project. She talks with us about how her organization has worke...

EP86: Texas Shooting Aftermath

16 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with Will Frances, Executive Director of NASW's Texas chapter about the aftermath of the horrific mass shooting at an elementary school in Uv...

EP85: How To Reach Special Populations with Motivational Interviewing | Connect to End COVID-19

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we talk about how social workers can talk to harder-to-reach special populations about vaccines and use motivational interviewing to ...

EP84: Supporting Families to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect

15 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest Suzin Bartley, is executive director at The Children's Trust, an organization working to stop child abuse in Massachusetts. Their programs p...

EP83: Limited Public Service Loan Forgiveness Waiver

07 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The limited Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) waiver, which is a short-term opportunity for borrowers to seek student loan forgiveness through Oc...

EP82: How Social Workers Can Help People Who Are LGBTQIA+ Overcome Addiction

16 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Guests Kyle Temple and Rio Bauce talk about how social workers can help people who are LGBTQIA+ overcome addiction to substances. Kyle Temple, LCSW, i...

EP81: Addiction and the Pandemic

01 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

NASW members Chelsea Laliberte and Jimmy Salyers talk about how the pandemic has exacerbated the addiction crisis in the United States.  Read the sh...

EP80: Vaccine Education with "Connect to End COVID-19"

08 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about "Connect to End COVID-19," an initiative that helps social workers and their clients to make informed decisions about life-saving vaccines...

EP79: How Can Social Workers Avoid Job Burnout?

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Guest SaraKay Smullens, MSW, LCSW, DCSW, CGP, CFLE, BCD, is a certified group psychotherapist and family life educator, and author of NASW Press publi...

EP78: Co-dependency and Love Addiction

12 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sherry Gaba, LCSW, speaks with us about co-dependency, love addiction, and toxic relationships.​ Gaba is a psychotherapist, life coach, and certifie...

EP77: Infertility and Mental Health

08 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Guest Steven Miller speaks with us about infertility and mental health. He holds a master's in psychology and is earning his MSW at the University of ...

EP76: Smoking Cessation

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Taslim van Hattum, MSW, MPH, Senior Director of Practice Improvement at the National Council for Behavioral Health, speaks with us about how social wo...

EP75: Voter Registration with Vote-ER

17 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with Kristina M. Whiton-O'Brien, MSW, LICSW, Director of Partnerships at Vot-ER, a nonpartisan nonprofit that helps to provide patients the o...

EP74: Housing Insecurity

28 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with Kelly Bruno, MSW, president and CEO of National Health Foundation in Los Angeles, Calif. Bruno helped to create recuperative care progra...

EP73: Every Month is Pride Month

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with Rick Miller, a clinical social worker in private practice in Boston and on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Rick is founder of the nonprofit Gay...

EP72: 2021 Revisions to the NASW Code of Ethics

08 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with Dawn M. Hobdy, LICSW, NASW's Vice President, Ethics, Diversity and Inclusion, about the 2021 updates to the NASW Code of Ethics. The 202...

EP71: Child Welfare and the Coronavirus Pandemic

25 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest is Lesli Suggs, LICSW, President and CEO of The Home for Little Wanderers, a Boston-based organization that helps build stable lives and hop...

EP70: Stop Asian Hate

04 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We speak about how to stop anti-Asian violence and hate with Janlee Wong, MSW, who was Executive Director of NASW's California chapter for over 25 yea...

EP69: Superheroes and Grief

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with Dr. Jill Harrington, DSW, LCSW, creator and co-editor of "Superhero Grief: The Transformative Power of Loss," which provides practical i...

EP68: Battling Burnout

23 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kelley Bonner, LCSW, MA, is a burnout expert and wellness advocate. Her company, Burn Bright, helps high-achieving professionals prevent burnout throu...

EP67: Living With and Overcoming Stress

09 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Darryl Webster, MSW, LICSW, a long-time school social worker and author of "I Think I'm Going Crazy: Proven Strategies for Managing Stress, Overcoming...

EP66: Social Workers in Film

27 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we speak with Matt Anderson and Gerri Matthews are social workers who use film as a way to advocate for people and causes they believ...

EP65: Emotional Intelligence

29 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

George Anderson, is a is a board-certified diplomate in psychotherapy, and author of author of "Gaining Control of Ourselves," among other works. See ...

EP64: Raising Kids with Grit and Resilience

15 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Elisa Nebolsine, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). She's the author of "The Grit Workbook...

EP63: Why We Need More Black Male Social Workers

24 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with Dr. Anthony Estreet, LCSW-C, and Walter Palmer, JD, about why we need more Black male social workers, and how we can support people look...

EP62: Ending Domestic Violence in the Military and Beyond

27 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Learn about White Ribbon VA, a campaign of the Veteran's Administration (VA) to eliminate sexual harassment, sexual assault, and domestic violence in ...

EP61: Justice and Joy: Self-Care in 2020

20 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sharea Farmer, LCSW, has years of success in helping clients recover from anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. We speak with her about why self-ca...

EP60: History of EAPs

29 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dale A. Masi, PhD, LCSW-C, CEAP, is Professor Emeritus at University of Maryland and author of "The History of Employee Assistance Programs in the Uni...

EP59: Helping People Overcome Eating Disorders

25 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Anxiety, fear, grief, boredom, anger and depression are triggers for emotional eaters. Add a pandemic, and you have a perfect storm for people struggl...

EP58: Meet NASW President Mit Joyner

11 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In July 2020, Mildred "Mit" C. Joyner, DPS, MSW, LCSW, started her three-year term as NASW's President. We talk with her about her vision for the asso...

EP57: Black Lives Matter: The Role of Social Work in Dismantling Structural Racism in the USA

28 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this special episode, NASW's Senior Policy Consultant Mel Wilson is interviewed by Andy McClenaghan on Let's Talk Social Work, a podcast from the B...

EP56: Facing Racism, Moving Forward

14 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Chad Dion Lassiter, MSW, is Executive Director at the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC), and president of the Black Men at Penn School of...

EP55: Treating Substance Use Disorder During the Coronavirus Pandemic

30 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with Carla Monteiro about how the coronavirus pandemic is changing how social workers approach treatment for substance use disorder. Carla is...

EP54: Where We Stand on Racism

05 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

NASW CEO Angelo McClain, PhD, LICSW, speaks about how NASW national and chapter staff are mobilized and increasing our efforts in the face of the Amer...

EP53: Trauma Interventions at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

26 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with Martha Rodriguez, LCSW, service manager of recovery at Broward County Public Schools in Florida. Ms. Rodriguez also works at Marjory Sto...

EP52: Tips for Successfully Implementing Teletherapy

13 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Pat Spencer, LCSW, talks about implementing teletherapy in her social work practice during New Jersey's stay-at-home order. See the show notes for rel...

EP51: Immigration on the Texas Border, Before and After COVID-19

28 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In early March, we spoke with NASW-Texas chapter Executive Director Will Francis, LMSW, and Government Relations Director, Alison Mohr Boleware, LMSW,...

EP50: Hospital Social Work During the Coronavirus Pandemic

14 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Rosanelly Garcia is a trauma social worker in the emergency room at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago. She speaks with us about what it's like right now...

EP49: Supporting Seniors During Social Distancing

31 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Lindsay Brine is a former educator and current social work student at New York University. She speaks about supporting older New York City residents t...

EP48: Self-Care for Social Workers During the Coronavirus Pandemic

17 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with NASW member Kristen Lee, Ed.D., LICSW, about how social workers can practice self-care during the coronavirus pandemic. Lee is a profess...

EP47: Parents Under Pressure

25 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Karen Zilberstein is a psychotherapist and author of "Parents Under Pressure: Struggling to Raise Children in an Unequal America." She's also clinical...

EP46: What Can We Learn from Dreams?

04 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

NASW member Arthur Strock, Ph.D., is a founder of the International Association for the Study of Dreams and author of "Live By Your Dreams: Heartwarmi...

EP45: Clinical Social Work in a Police Department

21 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Heather Burzynski, MSW, APSW, SAC-IT, works as a clinical social worker with the Green Bay Police Department. She talks about the benefits of having a...

EP44: 2019 in Review & 2020 Preview

31 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The hard-working members of the podcast team take a few moments to reflect on the topics we covered in 2019, what we're working on for 2020, and to gi...

EP43: Faith-Based and Secular Meditation

17 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We speak with Raymond Monsour Scurfield, DSW, LCSW, ACSW, author of "Faith-Based and Secular Meditation: Everyday and Posttraumatic Applications" (NAS...