Grand Challenges

In this episode, I spoke with filmmaker and mental health advocate Max Blaska, whose short film Last Rung on the Ladder—an adaptation of a Stephen King story—became both a tribute to his late aunt and a lifeline in his own battle with anxiety and depression. Mental Health Warrior Film Festival Max shares how the project […]

Former CEO of the American Nurses Association, Marla Weston led the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation Grand Challenge to improve nurses’ health and impact patient outcomes. The initiative engaged diverse stakeholders and overcame challenges, but Weston emphasizes defining the problem, allowing flexibility, and meeting people where they are. The pandemic amplified the issues, underscoring the Grand

This episode introduces six grand challenges I’ve helped design and lead, including two I’m actively working on and four in progress. Here’s an overview, followed by details and links to learn more: Thriving Earth Exchange – This initiative, conceived by Chris McEntee during her CEO tenure at the American Geophysical Union, connects communities with scientists to

In this inaugural episode, Seth Kahan introduces listeners to the transformative potential of Grand Challenges as a force for systemic change. He draws on his extensive experience leading initiatives that tackle societal issues, including his work in Earth and space science, nursing, medical ultrasound, mental health and substance use disorders, finance, and physics in medicine.

In this episode, Seth Kahan sits down with Patrick Kennedy, former U.S. Congressman and renowned mental health advocate, for a candid conversation on the urgent need to address mental health and substance use stigma. Drawing from his personal and professional experiences, Patrick shares the challenges and breakthroughs he’s encountered in advocating for mental health reform,