podcast 046: the courage to name what we carry
In this episode, Deb sits down with Cat Miller, founder of This Way Up, to talk about what it really takes to make mental health feel accessible, without watering it down or turning it into a buzzword.
“I really wish there were prescriptive, like, here’s what you need to do to feel amazing, but it really just doesn’t work that way.”
Deb’s conversation with Cat sits at the exact intersection where so many “wellness” conversations fall apart: we say we care about mental health, but we still treat it like a private failing rather than a shared human reality. Her work through This Way Up is rooted in a simple premise; if stigma drops, help-seeking rises and that shift can be the difference between someone silently enduring and someone actually reaching for support. What unfolds is less a tidy success story and more a truthful map of how struggle becomes service.
What’s quietly radical here is the insistence on accessibility without dilution. Cat isn’t offering a shiny new framework or a one-size-fits-all protocol; she’s building a place where credible, science-backed resources live alongside lived experience, because people often need both to feel safe enough to begin. Underneath the entire episode is a challenge to the reflex many of us default to, talking ourselves (and others) out of pain, when what’s actually required is validation, presence, and community.
Key Highlights
The moment Cat realized it wasn’t “physical”… and why that realization can feel like an insult
Why lowering stigma is one of the most practical mental health levers we have
What This Way Up actually is and why the simplicity is the point
The surprising part of the site people are clicking on most
Deb’s “Shawshank tunnel” metaphor for getting through hard seasons without doing it alone
Three daily practices Cat treats as non-negotiables for steadier well-being
The 3-by-30 Takeaway
Move your body consistently. Pick an exercise you’ll actually do and make it non-negotiable for 30 days (even short sessions count).
Get outside daily. Pair sunlight + nature as a single habit, especially on days when motivation is low.
Practice mindfulness in plain language. Choose one everyday moment (dishes, walking, driving) and narrate what you’re doing to bring your mind back to the present.
About Our Guest
Cat Miller is the founder of This Way Up, a community and resource hub built to make mental health support feel both credible and reachable. Her story holds an honest tension many high-achieving people recognize: a life that looks “fine” from the outside can still contain deep suffering and naming that reality can be the first step toward change. Cat’s approach blends science-backed guidance with the connective power of storytelling, creating a space where people can feel less alone and more resourced to seek help.
Connect with Cat Miller
Cat Miller on LinkedIn
Visit This Way Up
About The HX Collective:
The HX Collective is a movement to elevate the human experience—at work, in relationships, and with ourselves. Through honest conversations and strategic insight, we explore how connection, context, and compassion can create a more flourishing world, starting right where we are.
