Episode 100: Susie Gurley, Creator/Host of The Just A Mom Podcast, interviewed by her friends Debbie, Jen, and Toni

I knew I wanted to do something different and special to celebrate the 100th episode of The Just A Mom Podcast. It seems only fitting to have three of my closest friends interview me. On this episode, Debbie, Jen, Toni and I take a walk down memory lane where they ask me questions about my journey as a parent of a child who struggles with mental illness. We also talk about the inception of The Just A Mom Podcast, lessons learned, and what the future looks like for The Just A Mom Podcast. Don’t miss this celebratory episode where the tables/mics are turned on me!

Susie Gurley

Susie Stapp Gurley was born and raised in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. She married her college sweetheart, Dan Gurley, shortly after graduating from TCU with a degree in advertising and public relations. In her first career, Susie worked in college admissions and academic advising. Simultaneously she pursued a master’s degree from The University of Central Missouri in sociology and then worked for the Sedgwick County, KS Department of Aging as a case worker. Susie stepped away from the professional world in 1997 to become a stay-at-home mom. She spent the majority of the last 25 years as a wife, mother, and volunteer, primarily in her church and her three children’s schools and activities.

Susie became a mental health advocate after her youngest son became a teen spokesperson about his battle with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. In 2018, at the age of 15, Will founded the You Matter Festival, a music festival promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Will shared his personal mental health struggles with the 1,000-person crowd, which started his role as a local KC teen advocate for mental health. Because of Will’s involvement, Susie recorded a video #Zeroreasonswhy (https://zeroreasonswhy.org), a Kansas City area organization working to end teen suicide in the Johnson County, Kansas area. This video was viewed over 10,000 times, which was the impetus of the Just A Mom podcast. Susie decided that she needed to follow the brave trail blazed by her son and became an outspoken advocate for parents of children who struggle with mental illness. The Just a Mom podcast launched in September of 2022 and encourages parents to know that they are not alone and there is hope.

Susie served as the Executive Director of the You Matter Festival and is currently on the Friends of Johnson County Mental Health Board. Susie has grown three children, two daughters-in-law, and a son-in-law.

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Episode 101: Mary Pruitt, Executive Producer and Co-Author, NEVER2LATE Productions

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Episode 99: Cindy Elkins and Dr. Koo Part 2