logo
episode-header-image
Jun 4
39m 8s

“Progress Only Occurs when People Make D...

MAD IN AMERICA
About this episode

Paulo del Vecchio is a person in long-term recovery from mental health and addictions, who has been a leader in the peer recovery movement for 40 years. He recently completed a 30-year career at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, where he served in multiple roles including the director of the Center for Mental Health Services and the founding director of the Office of Recovery.

Paolo is now an independent advocate, working to advance recovery-oriented policies and practices on national and international levels.

In this interview, he speaks with Mad in America’s Leah Harris about his roots as a housing justice activist to his decades of public service at SAMHSA, what worries him most about mental health in today’s America, and where he sees hope in the recovery movement that he helped create.

***

A full transcript of this interview can be found here: https://www.madinamerica.com/2025/06/progress-only-occurs-when-people-make-demands-paolo-del-vecchio/ 

Thank you for being with us to listen to the podcast and read our articles this year. MIA is funded entirely by reader donations. If you value MIA, please help us continue to survive and grow. https://www.madinamerica.com/donate/

To find the Mad in America podcast on your preferred podcast player, click here: https://pod.link/1212789850

© Mad in America 2025. Produced by James Moore https://www.jmaudio.org

Up next
Today
“I Made it Through the Horrors of Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal” A Conversation with Comedian Dex Carrington
Jørgen Kjønø, whose stage name is Dex Carrington, is a Norwegian-American stand-up comedian based in Oslo, Norway. He is also an actor, host of the Truth Train podcast, and former travel show host who gained international recognition as the host of Dexpedition, which aired on MTV ... Show More
42m 16s
Jun 25
Why Psychosis Is Not So Crazy: A Conversation with Stijn Vanheule
Stijn Vanheule is a clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst, and professor of psychology at Ghent University. Trained in the Lacanian tradition, he has written widely on the structure of psychosis, the limits of psychiatric diagnosis, and the importance of attending to the subjectiv ... Show More
44m 33s
Jun 11
A Therapist Navigating Antidepressant Withdrawal: Nelson Lee on the Power of the Present Moment
Nelson Lee is a therapist and mental skills coach with a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling and an MBA. In 2024, he attempted to get off antidepressants that he'd been on for 15 years. This led to significant long-term medication withdrawal that Nelson is still ... Show More
46m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
Optimize This: If You Care About Mental And Physical Health, This May Be The Missing Piece | Kasley Killam
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- Up until now, in our culture, we’ve generally talked about physical health and mental health–but there’s an emerging consensus that the missing piece is soci ... Show More
1h 9m
Mar 2025
Building a Personal Brand in Healthcare | Tom Walters Shares How
🎙️ In this episode of The Modern Pain Podcast, Mark Kargela chats with Tom Walters, DPT—founder of Rehab Science, educator, and digital health innovator.Tom shares how he transitioned from a traditional orthopedic physical therapist to building a global online brand helping mill ... Show More
51m 11s
Aug 2024
96. How to Prevent a Relapse: Understanding the 3 Stages of Relapse in Addiction Recovery
In this episode of Unhooked: The Breaking Porn Addiction Podcast, host Jeremy Lipkowitz discusses the three stages of relapse—emotional, mental, and physical—and provides practical tips to prevent them. This special episode, inspired by a listener's request, emphasizes the i ... Show More
24m 8s
Oct 2024
107. The ONE Thing Keeping You Stuck in Addiction: Why Identity Is at The Heart of Recovery
In this episode, we delve into the pivotal role of identity in achieving deep and lasting recovery from addiction. By examining recent coaching experiences, we highlight how self-beliefs can either aid in healing or perpetuate harmful habits. The discussion focuses on the importa ... Show More
16m 34s
Aug 2023
117: Liz Tran on Mental Health, Success, and Compassion
Welcome to Episode 117 of The Madhappy Podcast. This week, we are excited to welcome Liz Tran on the show to learn more about her career journey and tips for professional and personal success. To kick things off, Mason asks Liz how she grew her social media presence, centered aro ... Show More
52m 24s
Mar 2025
The Ongoing Reality of Healing Trauma With Benjamin Fry
In this episode of the Healing Trauma Podcast, Guest Host, Dr. Mark McNear interviews Benjamin Fry, a psychotherapist and founder of Khiron Clinics. Benjamin shares his personal journey through trauma, detailing his experiences with anxiety, suicidal ideation, and the impact of h ... Show More
40m 29s
Jun 2024
257: Navigating Life Challenge's with Self-Compassion with Dr. Neff
Facing life challenges with self-compassion involves treating oneself with the same kindness and understanding as one would a good friend. Self-compassion can have a profound impact on mental health and overall well-being, filling a critical gap in mental health practices. Ultima ... Show More
52m 35s
Feb 2025
Why compassion isn't just nice, it's essential
Providing quality healthcare is demanding, often stressful, and requires sustained effort. When resources are stretched and pressure mounts, compassion can slip - but compassion is an essential tool for leaders, who need to support their teams to continue delivering the best poss ... Show More
24m 20s
Dec 2024
Why We Don’t Change (and what you can do about it) with Dr. Ross Ellenhorn
Why does change feel so difficult, even when we desperately want it? Dr. Ross Ellenhorn joins the show to explore our resistance to change, and the many good reasons we might have to stay just as we are. Forrest and Dr. Ellenhorn discuss the “fear of hope,” the allure of sameness ... Show More
1h 18m
Aug 2024
320: Impact of Social Media on Mental Health & Relationships | Heather Brown
Are you struggling to find balance in your hectic life? Did you know that women who prioritize holistic well-being are 3 times more likely to report higher life satisfaction? Join Dr. Josh Axe as he interviews Heather Brown, a renowned advocate for holistic health and empowerment ... Show More
53m 10s