Jake Wiskerchen is the co-founder, co-owner, and chief clinical officer at Zephyr Wellness, a mental health outpatient practice in northern Nevada.
In mid-2019, Zephyr Wellness was instrumental in organizing the inaugural Walk The Talk America (WTTA) Intersection of Guns and Mental Health Workshop in Reno, NV. WTTA is a non-profit organization that “funds research and development for outreach and promotion of mental health to reduce the misconceptions and prejudices that exist when it comes to mental illness and firearms. We believe we can be a catalyst for change by working with experts in the mental health industry.”
Jake’s strengths lie in understanding and appreciating a broad variety of people from all walks of life. Having worked numerous jobs across a multitude of industries from food service to security, warehousing to education, and retail to event planning, he takes great pride in being able to connect with all types of folks. Jake believes to his core in treating people as human beings rather than labels; he works to help clients address their longer standing problems and not just treat their temporary symptoms. He also believes in the infinite capacity of the human mind and that it can conquer anything with the right amount of awareness and intentionality.
Never satisfied with the status-quo, Jake recently spent three years on his state’s licensing board, two of which as president, where he re-wrote many of the laws and codes that govern his profession. Nevada has consistently ranked 51st in the country in behavioral health care provision and Jake’s enthusiasm to elevate his state from the cellar drives his involvement in many of his endeavors.
Jake has a wife named Heather and two boys ages 4 and 2, is an avid home-brewer and Jesus follower, and enjoys Giants baseball. You can hear more of Jake on his weekly podcast, Noggin Notes. You can also check out the Zephyr Wellness YouTube channel or visit RenoDads.com, where he is a regular columnist
Michael Sodini is the founder of Walk The Talk America (WTTA). The Walk the Talk America initiative is a non-profit organization dedicated to making positive change in relationship to mental health, and firearm awareness. Through organizing a profound team of experts from different fields, and all walks of life, unbiased by politics, media, or personal prejudice – WTTA seeks to input opportunities to enhance communication, compassion, calls to action and education.
Michael is a 3rd generation firearm industry professional, and known by many as the “most un-gun, gun guy.” He is the President of Eagle Imports, Inc, that imports fine firearms from all over the world, such as the Bersa, Llama, Metro Arms, and Grand Power, and Avidity Arms firearm brands.
After graduating from ASU in 1998 with a degree in communication, Michael spent a few years working as a fashion model, traveling the world, and garnering respect from some of the leading names within the niche. He left the fashion industry in 2001, and went into real estate marketing for five years, before he went on to work for the family business, Eagle Imports Inc., in 2006.
After a series of unforeseen tragedies from 2006 – 2009, Michael eventually became President of Eagle. Over the last 9 years, he has successfully cultivated and evolved the Bersa, Metro Arms, and Grand Power firearm brands. The latest brand to be added to the Eagle family, Avidity Arms, is a partner-project with Rob Pincus, and is currently in the early stages of development before production.
Michael is a visionary thinker, known for his loyalty, and unique sense of humor to his industry colleagues (and friends). More than anything, he is dedicated to creating conversations that will help pave the way for a brighter future, allowing synergy through new ideas, and action through the power of awareness.
In 2021 Journalist Connie Wray of Fox News Reno filmed a Documentary titled A Conversation About Guns And Mental Health With Walk The Talk America as part of her show called The Next Stage.
CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION ON YOUTUBE
CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION ON GUNSTREAMER
We are doing a series called Ameri-CAN. Talking about the CAN-DO spirit that is part of our American DNA. So much about our lives has been turned upside down by this Corona Virus / Covid-19, and we have been hearing a lot about what we CAN’T do and where we CAN’T go, but our guests during this series are going to talk to us about their area of expertise and all of the ways we still CAN learn and grow, train, connect, and expand our freedoms in ways we maybe haven’t thought about before.
Our guests today are Michael Sodini, Founder of Walk The Talk America and Jake Wiskerchen, the co-founder, co-owner, and chief clinical officer at Zephyr Wellness, a mental health outpatient practice in northern Nevada. (And a couple of very special guests at the very end of our chat! Be sure to watch until the end!)
During this time fear, loss and having our daily routines restricted one thing we don’t hear enough about is how all of that impacts us emotionally.
1) Jake, talk to us, from a mental health professional’s perspective, what are you seeing people struggle with and how are you offering them help?
2) Michael, when you started WTTA, no one could have imagined HOW important it would be to have your organization up and running. At WTTA you have some free and anonymous tools available – what are those and how do people accss them?
3) Jake, you are also helping to train the helpers. You and I met at an event in Reno, NV where you were part of bridging the communication and culture gap between Mental Health Professionals and clients who might be gun owners. And now there are literally millions more first-time gun owners, so the timing could not have been more important. How is that bridge-building going?
4) Mike, WTTA is a not-for-profit organization – for people who have a heart to help continue and further the work you are doing, how can they donate?
5) How do people find and follow you both and the work you do?
CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION ON YOUTUBE
CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION ON GUNSTREAMER
