Speak your mind Team.

Mario Spano | Founder, Executive Director

Hello, beautiful soul,

My name is Mario and I’m on a mission to make a positive impact in a modern world amidst a mental health crisis. I know what it’s like to feel trapped, alone, and unseen as a man struggling with mental health. At my lowest, I’ve had moments of thinking that this world would be better off without me in it. Thankfully, I found the support and courage to keep pushing towards a more fulfilled version of myself.

So many men in our society struggle in silence and are taking their own lives at alarming rates. I started Speak Your Mind to raise awareness, allow connection, and make positive change within our communities. I’m shocked at the response and I’m so excited about the number of projects, collaborations, events and services that are making a real difference!

With a background in business, a deep spirit, and a fire in my heart towards helping others, it is my greatest joy to connect with so many beautiful souls to build an organization that supports such healing, growth and elevation. We have helped so many people find connection, clarity and peace through our efforts and I can’t wait to continue our mission!

Rachel Harding | Chief Mental Health Strategist

Hello, I'm Rachel Harding!

I hold an MS in Psychology and an MA in Early Childhood Education. I am a former preschool teacher and Assistant Director who is passionate about supporting the self-actualized development of children; which means supporting the healing of both dads and moms. As a second-year Clinical Psychology PhD student with an emphasis on Trauma and Pediatric Behavioral Health, I am a member of the M.A.D.R.E.S. lab which focuses on digital and equitable interventions for maternal mental health. As part of my research role, I am collaborating on the development of an online intervention geared towards supporting fathers in the transition to their new role. As a student therapist, my clinical interests are in supporting parents in healing their past traumas so that they can fully step into their role as parents.

Personally, I am working towards a societal shift where men's vulnerability is valued as much as masculine toughness. I believe that emotional awareness and attunement in men is a sign of strength and that supporting men's mental health is crucial for the wellbeing of women, children, families, and society.

Daniel Kraus | Brand Ambassador

Hiya, I’m Dan!

I’m an outdoor enthusiast with a broad skill set as a small business owner, sales and marketing professional, and I also have a deeply-rooted passion for mental health and suicide prevention.

I've always been an odd duck - figuring things out on my terms. It wasn't until later in life, when I was diagnosed with ADHD and BPD, that I began to understand myself and why doing things other people's way never worked for me. I was meant to find my own path. I have lived my life in two ways: One was a product of me making my own choices, following my own path, doing what I felt suited me best according to what I believed was in my best interests… And I’ve chosen to give my life to Christ and to seek God’s Will for my life, to seek God’s ways, God’s paths, God’s Law, and God’s word as a disciple and follower of Jesus. In one - I experienced depression, anxiety, looping thoughts, a constant striving for more, a love of money, a deeply rooted lack of self worth and shame…And on the other path - it’s not that I can’t experience concern or frustration or anger anymore - but through my connection with the divine, they are now put into perspective. Every experience I deal with under His Will increases the breadth and depth of my affection and love for Him *points up* and deepens the relationship.

I have wanted to help people "just like me" my entire adult life. I've been through darkness - and I found the light. I fell. I got back up. My efforts with Speak Your Mind are the culmination of my life's work and my personal calling.  I've developed the capacity to feel safe in my human experience regardless of what emotion is upon me.

I am passionate about sharing practical tools and strategies with others to navigate the ups and downs of life through my writing and deep conversation. I believe brotherhood and authenticity are missing from the world. I am grateful to have the opportunity to reach and serve like-minded souls wherever they may be in their personal journey through Speak Your Mind.

Alexander Mott | Board Member

Hey! I'm Alex Mott and I'm stoked to be a part of this journey.

I have a degree in Construction Management with a focus on Sustainable Building Systems. I'm blessed to say my construction career has taken me to 3 different countries to work in disaster relief and affordable housing with Samaritan's Purse, Pacific Hope, and Habitat for Humanity. I'm currently a site superintendent for a home builder in Durham, NC "building" a family with my wife and two dogs. 

I know well the stigmas around what society wants masculinity to look like, and I have pushed myself to align with those standards in the past. The pressures to adhere to expectations are at times crippling. But listening to someone say "Wear these clothes. Talk this way. Play these sports." isn’t the path to truth or happiness. The people I have always admired the most are those who grow up to become successful (whatever that means to them) yet never lose their childhood sense of wonder and authenticity. I hope to never lose that wonder and I hope to support other men doing the same through this organization.

Marina Chislett | Website Designer

On September 2, 2018, I found myself dry heaving with fatigued muscles on the false summit of Nevada’s highpoint - Boundary Peak. Struggling with altitude sickness due to lack of acclimation, I could hear my friend crying in the background while phoning her father. We were less than one mile from the summit, but still had 2,500 feet of elevation gain and we were losing light rapidly. We had to make the rational decision to bail on our attempt while we still had visibility to scramble down to base camp and avoid hypothermic conditions. While I began feeling the tears swell up in my eyes, I turned around and began my descent. And that’s when it hit me. The reality of where we were and what we were doing flooded through my body like electricity as I gazed in the distance… we were walking on the moon. This was the first mountain I ever climbed. For years I admired adventurers from afar and created a narrative that I didn’t belong, I wasn’t an athlete, I didn’t start young enough, I’m not fast or strong enough, etc.… but here we were… walking on the moon. And MY body got me there. I thanked my body and the universe for bringing me on that mountain that day, as it had a ripple effect on my life.

This experience shattered every self-limiting belief I had created about myself. As a BIPOC Neurodivergent (OCD + BPD) woman, I have often struggled with imposter syndrome and self-doubt. My sensitivity had made me label myself as “weak”, which was very far from the truth. It takes A LOT of physical, and especially mental, fortitude to be a mountaineer. I learned so much more in that failed attempt than I have from any life successes. I began using that visualization and feeling of strength that day on that mountain in hypnotherapy and somatic practices.

I have since gone back and summited Boundary Peak, as well as many other mountains. I have broken a world record in Switzerland forming the largest all-women’s roped team to summit a 4,000-meter peak, I run an underrepresented climbers and allies climbing club, and I’m a passionate mental health advocate helping others challenge their self-limiting beliefs and embrace radical self-love and acceptance.