Mental Health in Tech

In this podcast series hosted by Schalk Neethling and Schalk Venter, the conversation revolves around mental health in the tech industry. Each episode features a guest who joins the hosts in an honest and open discussion about their personal struggles with mental health. The hosts and guests offer valuable insights into tech workers' challenges, such as burnout, imposter syndrome, and work-life balance. They also explore the stigma surrounding mental health issues in the workplace and discuss practical strategies for promoting positive mental health. schalkneethling.substack.com

Mental Health in Tech is a health podcast hosted by Honest Conversations About Difficult Topics, with 18 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Honest Conversations About Difficult Topics hosts Mental Health in Tech, a health show with 18 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #3

  Beyond the Box: Rethinking Women in Tech Groups and Inclusive Workplaces

  Sep 17, 20251h 32mS4

  <p>In this candid conversation, guest Salma Alam-Naylor joins hosts Schalk Venter, Schalk Neethling, and Kate van Niekerk to unpack her thought-provoking article "Why Women in Tech Isn't Enough." The discussion explores why segregated tech groups, while well-intentioned, may be perpetuating the very problems they aim to solve.</p><p>Key topics covered:</p><p>* The paradox of "women in tech" spaces that exclude those with the power to create systemic change</p><p>* How forced categorization and "boxes" can further marginalize people, especially those with intersectional identities</p><p>* The exhaustion of constantly explaining and justifying one's existence in...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #3

  Roundtable: AI, Accessibility, and Staying Human in a Precarious Tech World

  Aug 14, 20251h 36mS3

  <p>In this roundtable, the hosts and guests, Miriam, Geoff, and Hidde, dig into the messy overlap between mental health and technology. We talk about the real human consequences of modern tooling, from the ethics of AI and how it’s changing labor, to the ongoing fight for web accessibility and the moral obligations designers and engineers carry.</p><p>The conversation ranges from personal stories about precarious work and layoffs to concrete acts of care, mutual aid, community organizing, and practices that help when cynicism or nihilism creeps in.</p><p>Expect candid takes, practical coping strategies, and debate ab...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #2

  Choosing What’s Worth Pursuing

  Jul 16, 20251h 27mS3

  <p>What happens when the work you love starts to drain the life out of you, or disappears altogether? In this episode, the two Schalks sit down with Kate van Niekerk (She Can Do), design strategist, researcher, and wordsmith, for an honest and compassionate conversation about burnout, identity, and navigating the messy middle of tech careers.</p><p>Kate shares her story of being laid off, the emotional weight of suddenly losing direction, and the very real challenges that come with being stuck in between jobs, not just financially, but personally. From the struggle to find meaningful work to the...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #1

  Who Am I Without the Mania?

  Jul 2, 20251h 12mS3

  <p>In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Mental Health in Tech, we’re joined by developer, entrepreneur, and educator Saron Yitbarek. Saron opens up about her experience living with bipolar disorder, confronting the fear that her manic highs were tied to her creativity and identity, and the emotional journey toward accepting medication and treatment.</p><p>“I was scared that if I took medication, it would cure the parts of me I actually liked. What would be left of me?” - Saron Yitbarek</p><p>We explore the intersection of mental health and self-worth, how the tech industry’s cultur...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Mental Health in Tech

  The Emotional Rollercoaster of Tech Layoffs, Reviving CSS-Tricks, and Recovery - Geoff - Part 2

  Aug 12, 20241h 13mS0

  <p>In this episode of "Mental Health in Tech," Geoff Graham, alongside hosts Schalk Neethling and Schalk Venter, delves into the complexities of content creation in the age of AI, reflecting on the challenges of maintaining quality and authenticity in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. Geoff shares his personal and professional journey, marked by the emotional impact of the CSS-Tricks acquisition by DigitalOcean, his subsequent layoff, and the ensuing mental health struggles.</p><p>Geoff's story is one of resilience. When CSS-Tricks, a beloved web development resource, was acquired by DigitalOcean, a turbulent period began in his career. The subsequent...

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on Mental Health in Tech. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.