It wouldn't be the year 2022 without social robots lending a hand in the fight against a growing teen mental health crisis fueled by chronic stress levels in teens. Meet the team at the University of Washington behind Project EMAR - a social robot designed to help teens recognize mental health needs and serve as an intervention to improve teen mental health. Designed with input from local Seattle teens, this robot is nothing like C-3PO. What began as a wild idea to try something new, has been nurtured by a female-led research team into a fully functioning robot that has the potential to revolutionize robotics within the mental health space. One of our interviewees said it best, “There is a need, especially in terms of mental health and health in general that robots can sustain and serve because health is for everyone, but not accessible to anyone at the same time for many reasons. Robots can serve as an alternative that can come in times of needs when you cannot go see a doctor. Not as an alternative, but as a support tool." - Patricia Alvez, post-doctoral researcher, UW Computer Science and Engineering Project EMAR is currently funded by the National Science Foundation as part of the National Robotics Initiative and is housed in the Human-Centered Design and Engineering department at UW. The development team includes cross-campus researchers at the University of Washington, based at UW Tacoma and UW Seattle. Press play to learn more!…

Tune in to this dynamic conversation about yoga and the queer trans experience in yoga and well-being spaces. We begin by exploring how yoga can be a space for learning, growing, and community, and quickly find that no topic is off limits when it comes to the intersectionality of yoga and well-being for all people, but especially queer bodies. We discuss capitalism and the wellness industry, challenge societal standards for image, and explore how to improve the experience of groups excluded from the fitness & wellness industry. Our guest is Allé K, a queer, fat, trans masc activist, educator and certified Yoga Instructor currently based in Asheville, North Carolina and all over the world (on Zoom). He provides LGBTQIA+ inclusive, trauma-informed, weight-neutral yoga classes online. Allé is a spaceholder, a connector and a disruptor. Website: https://transyogateacher.com/about Connect with additional resources and learn more about Allé K at: www.wholeu.uw.edu/podcast…

Burnout and stress are at all time highs as we head back to work, school, and press play on another fall quarter. We talked with Dr. Jane Compson about mindfulness based stress reduction, how to alleviate burnout symptoms, and practices to incorporate into your daily life for mental and emotional well-being. Connect with additional resources and learn more about Dr. Compson at: www.wholeu.uw.edu/podcast…