Guns, Mental Health & Finding Common Ground | Mike Sodini

<p>What happens when someone from the firearm industry decides that reducing gun-related deaths requires talking <b>with</b> people on the other side—not fighting them?</p><p>In Episode 71 of <i>Love, Growth &amp; Narratives</i>, Tiffany and Fredrick sit down with <b>Mike Sodini</b>, founder and CEO of <b>Walk the Talk America (WTTA)</b>, a national nonprofit working at the intersection of mental health and responsible firearm ownership.</p><p>Mike shares how his career in the firearm industry eventually led him to create WTTA and its <i>Guns &amp; Mental Health</i> podcast. The organization works to bridge a divide that often seems impossible to cross—bringing gun owners, mental health professionals, researchers, and others into conversations centered on preventing suicide and reducing negative outcomes involving firearms.</p><p>But this conversation goes beyond guns and mental health.</p><p>Mike explains why he refuses to view people in the gun-control community as enemies. Despite major disagreements over policy, he has found that people on opposing sides often begin with the same goal: <b>fewer people dying and fewer families experiencing tragedy.</b> WTTA's approach is built around creating the trust and shared language necessary for those conversations to happen.</p><p>We also discuss <b>Kids to Kings</b>, Mike's initiative bringing firearm training, mentorship, discipline, and positive role models to young people in Atlanta.</p><p>It’s a conversation about firearms—but even more, it’s about what becomes possible when we stop assuming bad intentions, find the goals we share, and actually talk to one another.</p><p>Learn more about <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://walkthetalkamerica.org/about-us" target="_blank">Walk the Talk America</a>.</p><p><b>#LoveGrowthAndNarratives #MikeSodini #WalkTheTalkAmerica #GunsAndMentalHealth #MentalHealth #GunOwners #GunSafety #SuicidePrevention #ResponsibleGunOwnership #CommonGround #GoodFaith #KidsToKings #GunCulture #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast</b></p>