"Expanding Access," a podcast by Behavioral Health Tech, explores how technology and innovation are transforming mental health, substance use, and autism/IDD care. Tune in for expert discussions on key topics like employee benefits, health equity, investment and M&A landscape, neurodiversity, Medicaid, value-based care, and the future of behavioral health.
How Crisis Text Line Expands Support Before Crisis Escalates with Jana French, Public Sector Partnerships Director at Crisis Text Line
Mental health support is most effective when people can reach it before their hardest moments.
In this episode, Jana French, Public Sector Partnerships Director at Crisis Text Line, talks about how text-based support can make crisis care more accessible. She explains that people can text 741741 or 988 for more than suicidal thoughts, including anxiety, grief, relationship challenges, and other difficult moments. Jana also shares how Crisis Text Line brings together trained volunteers, clinical supervision, and technology to support people across the country, while giving volunteers valuable communication skills. She discusses the role AI can play in triage and in spotting broader trends, while emphasizing that human connection remains at the heart of crisis support.
Tune in to learn how low-barrier, human-centered crisis support can help people get care when they need it most.
Resources:
Connect with and follow Jana French on LinkedIn.
Explore Crisis Text Line and learn how to text 741741 for free, 24/7 mental health support.
Learn about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
8 Oct 2026
Whole-Person Care: Unifying Behavioral Health and Social Care with Jaffer Traish, Chief Operating Officer at findhelp
Finding the right behavioral health provider can be surprisingly difficult, even with hundreds of thousands of practitioners across the country.
In this episode, Jaffer Traish, Chief Operating Officer at findhelp, talks about the challenges of making behavioral health services easier to find and navigate. He explains why social care and behavioral health need to be integrated into a single workflow and how fragmented, outdated provider directories can create unnecessary barriers to care. Jaffer also discusses the problem of “ghost networks,” where provider listings may no longer reflect who is actually available, and why greater transparency, accuracy, and accountability are needed. Finally, he shares how better matching, closed-loop referrals, and more integrated search tools could help connect people with the care and support they need.
Tune in to hear how findhelp is working to build a more connected and transparent approach to behavioral health access!
Resources:
Connect with and follow Jaffer Traish on LinkedIn.
Follow findhelp on LinkedIn and explore their website.
2 Oct 2026
Why Manager Enablement Is the Missing Layer in Workforce Mental Health ROI with Brad Swingruber, CEO at meQuilibrium (meQ)
Managers are often the first people to notice when something is off with an employee. But do they have the tools to know what to do next?
In this episode, Brad Swingruber, CEO at meQuilibrium (meQ), talks about how managers can play a bigger role in connecting employees with mental health support. He explains why giving managers another training course or dashboard isn't enough, and why support needs to be simple, practical, and available where managers already work. Brad also shares examples of how meQ has helped organizations make these resources easier to use, including work with Citizens Bank that led to higher engagement and lower burnout. He discusses what organizations should measure, why psychological safety is an important place to start, and how understanding the needs of different groups within the workforce can shape a more effective approach.
Tune in to hear Brad's take on what managers actually need to support their teams!
Resources:
Connect with and follow Brad Swingruber on LinkedIn.
Follow meQuilibrium on LinkedIn and explore their website.
Check the Burnout Impact calculator from the meQ team here.
Who has been a guest on Expanding Access
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Kristi Huber
Lauren Fusco
Tasneem Sanwarwalla
Dominik Middelmann
Paige Dustmann
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 42 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
71
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact Expanding Access
Guest appearances
Books guests
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