Garry Graham Talks How Mental Health Manna is Changing the Conversation

Mental health is more important than ever in a fast paced world, yet honest conversations about it that can impact individuals positively can still be hard to find.

Garry Graham, MA, MPH, LMHC, is a host of the weekly radio program Mental Health Manna. He has created a trusted space for listeners on his gospel radio station platform, who are seeking real talk on emotional wellness, resilience, and healing, that can hopefully put them on a path for real solutions.

The show’s explosive growth reflects that there is a community eager for meaningful dialogue and authentic guidance, against the backdrop of soothing and stirring sounds of Gospel music.

We spoke with Graham to learn what makes Mental Health Manna resonate so deeply.

Q: Garry, what inspired you to start Mental Health Manna?

Garry Graham: I wanted to create a space for honest, judgment-free conversations about mental health. Too often, people feel alone or stigmatized when it comes to emotional wellness. The show is about guidance, connection, and community, helping listeners know they are not navigating this journey alone.

Q: The show has seen impressive growth recently. What does that mean to you?

Garry Graham: Since November 2025, we’ve seen a 94 percent increase in total listening hours, a 42 percent rise in cumulative audience, and more than 400 percent growth in session engagement. Those numbers tell me people are trusting the program, engaging deeply, and finding value in conversations that are honest and culturally responsive.

Q: How do you make mental health discussions relatable to your audience?

Garry Graham: My background as a licensed mental health clinician and public health professional allows me to bring clinical expertise, but I also blend in lived experiences and real community stories. That combination makes the conversations credible, human, and practical for everyday life.

Q: What impact do you hope your show has on listeners?

Garry Graham: I hope listeners feel supported, understood, and empowered to take control of their mental wellness. Ultimately, Mental Health Manna is about dismantling stigma, fostering growth, and reminding people that mental health is a collective journey, not a solitary one. I also want them to know personally and professionally, that I believe in and subscribe to the power of Gospel music to initiate a positive response on mental health.

Q: How can people tune in to Mental Health Manna?

Garry Graham: The Mental Health Manna show airs every Saturday at 5:30 PM on WYCB 1340 AM / 99.3 FM in DC but it is available nationally online as well at: myspiritDC.com and also if you download the myspiritDC.com app, you can also listen in and join the conversation from anywhere. We have listeners who tune in from around the country and my HBCU family members have been enjoying the program as well.

As mental health becomes a central conversation in communities across the country, Mental Health Manna is only going to grow to be a space where honesty, empathy, and expertise meet.

Through his experience and authenticity, Garry Graham continues to educate, engage, and empower listeners. His unique program is proving that meaningful dialogue can strengthen communities in a formal clinical setting or in an informal gospel radio setting, but the end goal for Graham, is to ensure that no one faces the journey alone.