Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

---

Say It Brave On Campus, Episode 2

In part two of our mini-series, Shannon Kopp sits down with neuroscientist and data analyst, Sam Funderburk, to talk about high-functioning depression, male mental health stigma, and the quiet pressure to keep pushing toward the next milestone.

Sam shares his experience with anxiety, depression, and suicidality during college and graduate school — including how gender norms and emotional aloofness made it easier to hide his struggles in plain sight. Together, they explore the difference between crisis care and prevention, the impact of stepping away from academic pressure to seek treatment, and why prioritizing mental health didn’t derail Sam’s future — it made it possible.

Links:

Sam Funderburk: eatingrecoverycenter.com/profile/sam-funderburk Mental Note Podcast mentalnotepodcast.com Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center: pathlightbh.com Eating Recovery Center: eatingrecoverycenter.com Free Group Support: pathlightbh.com/support-groups Free Evaluation with a Trained Therapist: (877) 850-7199