A candid conversation with San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg about mental health

Episode 3: From Living In Silence to Living Out Loud with Talli Dolge

In this episode, host Talli Dolge sits down for an inspiring and real conversation, with San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

Mayor Nirenberg discusses his perspective on the positive shift in the conversation surrounding mental health and wellness in San Antonio.

The candid conversation covers several different topics surrounding mental health, including the mayor speaking on his own priorities in taking care of himself and his family.

“I don’t think realistically I or anyone out there has really reflected on the last three years and processed it enough,” he said. “That being said, I have always been of the belief mental health has been something that I need to take care of actively.”

Nirenberg said that his stress level as mayor can be very high, but he balances that out with an intense exercise regimen and eating healthy.

He acknowledged that everyone’s mental wellness plan is different and mentioned that meditation, therapy sessions as other examples that can work for people.

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Dolge takes a deep dive into the state of mental health in San Antonio.

The city has allocated $26 million through the American Rescue Plan Act funding to help with services.

Talli and the mayor discuss sustainability for mental health programming. The conversation continues with discussing how mental health and wellness has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic.

This discussion shines a light on the high priority that Mayor Nirenberg places on mental wellness in both his professional and personal life.

Please see the additional resources and articles about mental health in San Antonio below:


This podcast wants the listener to dictate where you want to see the topics go in relation to mental health and wellness.


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About host Talli Dolge

Talli Dolge is a vocal mental health and wellness advocate who lives in San Antonio.

Talli has been a mental health contributor with KSAT since the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic began in 2020.

She earned her Master’s Degree in Counseling Education from SUNY(State University of New York).

Talli is the Founder and Creator of the Mobile Mental Wellness Collaborative. The unique program provides a holistic approach to mental wellness by bringing services right into the school districts. This program works to eliminate transportation, cost, and language barriers by bringing wraparound, no-cost mental wellness services to not only students, but their families, teachers, and district staff.

Talli currently is working as a national mental health and wellness consultant; helping foundations and nonprofits build sustainable mental health programs.

She also currently serves on the UTSA College for Health, Community, and Policy Advisory Council. She was a 2022 Distinguished Speaker for SA Health Cell and was featured in the SA Lights section of the SA Express-News in August 2022.

She has an outstanding history of leadership and service in the mental health community, as well as in previous positions with Jewish Family Service of San Antonio, the Witte Museum and Walt Disney World.

Each month she will bring community leaders, experts, and people living with mental illness to talk about various mental health and wellness topics.


About the Authors:

Talli Dolge is the host of the KSAT video podcast "From Living in Silence to Living Out Loud." She is the founder and creator of the Mobile Mental Wellness Collaborative. She has also contributed on-air and online for KSAT 12 since 2020. Talli earned a Master's Degree in School/Community Counseling from SUNY.

Andrew Wilson is a digital journalist and social media producer at KSAT.